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MOSCOW (AP) – The "next" World Cup has had a lot of hype in Russia. A gigantic cube was lit with video images of "Qatar 2022" in Gorky Park, while the ground floor of the upscale shopping center of Red Square was dedicated to displays touting the event.
There was little attention to the (next) next Senior World Cup: the women's tournament next year in France
It was surprising.
For several years, the scandal has enveloped the governing body of football, FIFA has put a point of honor. proclaiming that it aims to increase both the role of women in the organization and profile of women's football. President Gianni Infantino has appointed Fatma Samoura as the first general secretary of the international governing body of football in 2016, while announcing the creation of a women's football division.
The Men's World Cup in Russia could have offered the sport opportunity while pointing to the women's tournament next year. But France 2019 has not been much promoted: no signs, events or exhibitions in tourist areas.
Samoura made a few appearances, but was not visible at the awards ceremony after France's victory over Croatia on Sunday. Deyna Castellanos was considered the ambassador of women's football in Russia and she played in a social media campaign anchored by the #DareToShine hashtag. But while the 19-year-old is considered a rising star in the women's match, Venezuela failed to qualify for France, which seemed odd.
Infantino acknowledged that more could be done for the women's match in Moscow. There is no doubt that the Men's World Cup every four years is the financial heavyweight of FIFA. But women are the second biggest commercial asset of the governing body.
"We need to invest in women's football, we are thinking of a new women's world league, because 50% of the world's population, the ladies, must be treated in the right way in a sport that is macho like football", said Infantino. "We have to invest in women's football, we have programs and we have ideas."
The call for greater equity in football is not new.
In the perspective of the last Women's World Cup in 2015, the group of international players, led by American star Abby Wambach, protested because the tournament would be played on synthetic turf, which is considered by many as inferior to the real turf. The men's tournament had always been played on grass.
Once the point was raised on the turf, the tournament in Canada proved to be a resounding success, attracting the biggest crowd of all FIFA tournaments outside the Men's World Cup. He also broke TV records in North America, with the final draw more spectators than any other previous men's or women's match in the United States.
After their victory over Japan for the trophy, US women negotiated and received a better contract with US Soccer that brought them closer to the pay level of their male counterparts. The Americans were not alone, the national teams of other countries were getting more equitable contracts with their federations, including Australia and Ireland.
France could provide FIFA with the opportunity to make concrete changes at the highest level. more perfect: France won a World Cup and will now welcome it.
Two numbers stand out. It remains to be seen how much the prices will be raised in 2019. The American women won $ 2 million in 2015. In contrast, the men of France won $ 38 million for their victory Sunday.
And there is no word yet if the video replay will be used as it was for men for the first time in Russia
The coach of the women Jill Ellis was in Moscow the last week of the tournament for an appearance on FOX, which has the national television rights for 2019 France. She would like to see an increase in prices and the use of the rebroadcast.
"I do not know what the consequences were in other countries, but you look at our own team, in our own country and the number of viewers." Presence – there is no difference (with men), "said Ellis. "So I think 100% FIFA should consider our game as a game, not like a woman's game or a men's game."
Ron Blum, editor of AP Sports in Moscow, contributed to this report.
Cover of the AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/tag/WorldCup
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