The Women's World Cup Was Just the Beginning of Decolonizing Soccer
As the ninth FIFA Women's World Cup comes to a close on Aug. 20, I find myself reflecting on all the impactful moments since the 1991 inception. There was the US Women's National Team's Carli Lloyd's infamous hat trick in 2015, Brandi Chastain falling to her knees and ripping off her jersey when the US won the final in 1999, and this year, Morocco's Nouhaila Benzina becoming the first player to wear a hijab at a senior-level women's World Cup — all historical moments, of which there are so many more. But this year's tournament, as a whole, stands out for another reason: the 2023 Women's World Cup will go down in history as the most diverse yet.
