Other

BBC World Service Online

The Documentary

Documentaries

Factual

The Documentary Podcast

Investigating global developments, issues and affairs.

The Documentary: The Future of Women's Football

The Documentary: The Future of Women's Football: The Future of Women's Football

Netherlands' players acknowledge fans at the end of qualifying football match, Credit: Getty Images

08/09/2014 GMT

The Future of Women's Football

BBC World Service - The Documentary, The Future of Women's Football, The Future of Women's Football

Could women's football provide a new, more sustainable model to the men's game?

Women's football is one of the world's fastest growing sports, with over 30 million women participating worldwide. Yvonne Macken reports on the struggle to establish the women’s game and explores what it is about football that can have men and women love it with an equal intensity and, seemingly to some, irrational passion.

With the men's elite game under increased global scrutiny, Yvonne Macken assesses whether women's football could be a lifeline. She hears the experiences of young women from Trinidad and Tobago, Iceland, Brazil, Japan, the UK, the USA and Africa. 
Dr Samie, affiliate scholar from the Centre for Sport, Peace & Society, highlights the interest and challenges for women playing in the Middle East. Meanwhile, sports historian Dr Jean Williams reveals football's ancient roots, and financial analyst Steve Clapham challenges the lack of disclosure in the age of global branded leagues. Has commercialisation taken the league too far from its own grassroots and can you mix profit with passion?

With football organisations globally evolving a sustainable business model for the women's game, and with the 2015 World Cup in their sights, Yvonne asks what strategies will allow young girls the option to choose football as a viable career just like the boys.

(Photo: Netherlands' players acknowledge fans at the end of qualifying football match, Credit: Getty Images)

BBC World Service

With men's football under increasing scrutiny, Yvonne Macken asks if the women's game poses a threat or a lifeline to the sport.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Documentary

The Future of Women's Football

The Future of Women's Football

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service