The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off on July 20 to August 20, 2023. It is hosted by two countries, Australia and New Zealand, making it the first of its kind. This is the ninth edition of the tournament ever since first played in 1991. The 32 teams will compete in groups and then knock-out in the round of 16. This 32-team feature, similar to men’s FIFA World Cup, is the first in this tournament since it previously featured only 24 teams
The United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) has been the one dominant in this tournament. It has won the Women’s world cup four times (1991,1999,2015,2019), and have played all the semi-finals. According to reports, their dominance is attributed to the sport’s popularity amongst women in the country, especially at college level. Men in the United States (US) usually focus on basketball while women focus on soccer. The support of the US government in women’s sport through legislature has also been a contributing factor.
Nevertheless, the South African Women’s football team, Banyana Banyana, is part of the tournament. Banyana Banyana are African campions and will be facing Sweden, Italy, and Argentina in group G. They performance has been commendable in Africa and in their international friendlies. However, they recently protested on their match with Botswana demanding governments support before they head out for the World Cup.
South Africa now holds a duty and a responsibility to support Banyana Banyana till the end of their journey in the tournament. Already they have faced intense issues in terms of fair pay and equal opportunity and treatment, therefore they should not feel abandoned when they play their first match against Sweden on Sunday, 23 July. Positive spirits and messages of support can go a long way in showing our support for the team. Boosting their national representation pride is vital for their performance.
