Why has the US become a powerhouse in women’s soccer?
The USWNT won their seventh consecutive SheBelievesCup last month. We look at what they have achieved on International Women’s Day.
International Women’s Day is celebrated with events around the world on 8 March and on this special day we take a look at the achievements of the United States women’s national team. Last month the USWNT won their third consecutive SheBelievesCup and days later they settled their class action equal pay lawsuit.
The US Soccer Federation agreed to pay the players $24 million, which includes backpay, and pledged to compensate men and women players equally in competitions such as the World Cup. The USWNT fought to be seen as equal because of the amount of titles they were winning, compared to the men’s team.
Accomplishments of the USWNT
The United States men’s national team failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The USMNT has not made it to the Olympics in four consecutive Games and ave never won a World Cup.
The story with the women’s team is different: they have won four World Cups and four Olympic gold medals. Furthermore, the 2019 Women’s World Cup final between the the United States and Netherlands is the most-watched US international soccer match, men’s or women’s, in history.