Women's soccer enthusiasts shatter conventional expectations during the Copa America 2025 tournament
In the heart of Ecuador, the 10th Copa América Femenina took place, with a small but dedicated fan base cheering on the South American teams. The tournament, attended by approximately 6,000 people at one of Ecuador's presentations, was marked by the animated support of Brazil's fan base, who stood for the full 90 minutes of each match, drumming and tambourining their enthusiasm.
Despite the low turnout, the tournament was not devoid of passion. César Guerrero, a fan from Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, travelled to the event to support Linda Caicedo and express his disappointment at the low attendance, attributing it to machismo. Other fans, like Milena Benavides from Colombia, travelled all night to Quito to motivate their teenage daughters to pursue a future in soccer.
Sander Amaya and her family attended their second tournament match, inspired by their 12-year-old daughter's dream of becoming a footballer. The family of Milena Benavides, who brought a group of girls from a small team, also made the journey to Quito to support their daughter's aspirations. Colombia and Venezuela, with significant migrant populations in Ecuador, were also accompanied by fans.
Roberto Sabela, a 43-year-old Brazilian, was one of the most ardent fans, arriving in Ecuador as soon as the tournament began. Sabela, a fan of women's soccer for its quality, hoped to see Marta, the queen of women's soccer, perform in the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. He was not alone in his admiration for Marta; Sabela believes that she is special, likening her to Pelé.
However, the tournament was mostly held in empty stadiums, a stark contrast to the 623,000 spectators at the Euro 2025 Women's Cup. Despite the lack of promotion and support from Conmebol and FIFA for the Copa América Femenina, the dedicated fans continued to show up, fuelling the passion and energy of the event.
As the tournament came to a close, fans like Guerrero and Benavides hoped for a change in support for future tournaments, aiming to bring more people into the stadiums and further boost the profile of women's soccer in South America.
[1] Source 1 [2] Source 2 [3] Source 3 [4] Source 4
(Note: The exact number of attendees reported by CONMEBOL for the 2025 Copa América Femenina is not found in these search results.)
Football was a popular spectacle amongst the dedicated fans, as they cheered on during the tournament matches. Sander Amaya, inspired by her daughter's dream, and Milena Benavides, encouraging her teenage daughters, were just a few of the spectators present to support women's sports in Ecuador.
