World's rise of women's football unintentionally aided by an overlooked law
Title IX's Transformative Impact on Women's Soccer in the United States
Title IX, a federal law enacted in 1972, has been instrumental in the growth and success of women's soccer in the United States. Designed to prohibit sex-based discrimination in any education programme receiving federal funding, Title IX has opened doors for women in sports, particularly in soccer.
The surge in women’s collegiate soccer programs is one of the most notable effects of Title IX. The law required equitable funding and opportunities, enabling schools to offer scholarships to female players, which attracted talented athletes who might have otherwise pursued non-sport career paths. Julie Foudy, a two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion and twice an Olympic gold medallist, is a prime example. Foudy was able to choose a soccer scholarship at Stanford rather than studying medicine without sports support, illustrating how Title IX opened pathways for elite female athletes.
The rapid expansion in the competitiveness and quality of women’s soccer teams at the college level has also been significant. This development has enriched the talent pool for the U.S. women’s national team, contributing to the U.S. becoming a dominant force in international women’s soccer.
Title IX not only increased participation but also secured better funding, facilities, and coaching for women’s soccer compared to the previous era, helping level the playing field relative to men’s programs. However, it's important to note that men’s soccer in the U.S. has not had a comparable boost from Title IX.
The impact of Title IX on women’s soccer can be traced back to the 1971 unofficial Women's World Cup in Mexico, which signalled a turning point for women's football. This event, organically fueled by the growing interest in women's soccer, marked the beginning of a new era for the sport in the United States.
In contrast, women's football teams faced immediate pushback from England's official sporting institutions, including the FA, and local associations in Europe restricted access to pitches, refused to endorse fixtures, or placed limits on travel and funding for women's football teams. The stigma around women's football persisted in many parts of Europe into the 1980s and beyond.
The emergence of women's football teams in the early 20th century was due to the need for munitions workers during World War 1. However, it was not until the implementation of Title IX that women's football teams in the United States began to thrive and achieve international success.
Despite the initial ban on women's football in England, which lasted until 1971, the U.S. women's national team has become synonymous with international success and sporting achievement in women's soccer. The United States has won four World Cup titles and multiple Olympic golds in women's soccer, while the US men's soccer team has rarely posed a serious threat on the global stage.
In summary, Title IX's impact on women’s soccer has been transformational, enabling the sport’s development through scholarships and collegiate competition growth, which built the foundation for American women’s international success. Men’s soccer, while growing, has not benefited from Title IX in the same direct manner but has generally continued its development alongside increased women’s participation in sports overall.
[1] Title IX and Women's Soccer: A Historical Perspective. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.ncsae.org/library/research-archive/title-ix-and-womens-soccer-historical-perspective
[2] The Impact of Title IX on Women's Sports: A Review of the Literature. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6608849/
[3] Title IX: The Evolution of Women's Sports in America. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/espnw/sports/article/33736004/title-ix-evolution-womens-sports-in-america-history-of-womens-sports-progress-in-us-schools
- The surge in women’s collegiate soccer programs, enabled by Title IX, has opened opportunities for talented soccer players, such as Julie Foudy, who might have otherwise pursued non-sport career paths.
- The rapid expansion in the competitiveness and quality of women’s soccer teams at the college level, fostered by Title IX, has contributed to the U.S. becoming a dominant force in international women’s football.
