Women’s soccer numbers must grow worldwide, FIFA contends

VANCOUVER — While attendance and TV ratings for the Women’s World Cup are encouraging in North America, the world governing body of soccer is looking to even the playing field for women.

More female administrators, coaches and leagues are needed, as is more funding for the women’s game.

FIFA says its 2014 Women’s Football Survey, which drew responses from 177 of 209 member associations, showed that 30 million women play soccer worldwide.

“We are really happy about this number, but this is not enough … We know we have to work much harder to find more girls that want to play football and to provide them the opportunity,” Mayi Cruz-Blanco, FIFA senior women’s football development manager, told a news conference Thursday.

FIFA’s goal is have 45 million women playing soccer by 2019 when France hosts the next Women’s World Cup.

“We want to see that every woman and girl that wants to play football has the opportunity to do so and we want to have more women involved in football and decision-making levels,” Cruz-Blanco said.

“And we want to build sustainable competition. This is one of the biggest challenges that we have. We need to have more leagues, wellstructured leagues at all levels.”

Cruz-Blanco said the challenge is not FIFA’s alone. Member organizations also must carry the torch.

FIFA does not have a current number for male players.

It’s so-called Big Count survey in 2006 cited 265 million male and female players worldwide. FIFA has launched nine women’s development programs, including a scholarship initiative that assists B-licensed female coaches to gain access to higher coaching education.

Another plan, the Female Leadership Development Program, brings together 35 “promising female leaders” from around the world for three workshops, with the first set to start July 4 in Vancouver.