On the day that world soccer governing body FIFA announced the members of its Technical Advisory Group to discuss the future of the women's game, the head of the group, two-time World Cup-winning coach Jill Ellis, declared that her plans to make the Women's World Cup a biennial event were not a "foregone conclusion" but one that will "go to a vote."
The Technical Advisory Group (TAG), which has met to debate the proposed reforms, is made up of players, coaches, referees, administrators, sports scientists and executives and features representation from each of the six continental confederations. Unlike in the comparable men's TAG, which is a list of former players who have spoken of their unanimous support for a biennial men's World Cup, six current female internationals are among the 31 involved in the women's process: Deyna Castellanos, Lindsey Horan, Alex Morgan, Asisat Oshoala, Wendie Renard and Ali Riley.
They held their second meeting last Friday to discuss, among other issues, competitive balance, increased opportunities for underserved nations, a FIFA Women’s Club World Cup, increased visibility and participation, FIFA international windows, prize money and the possibility of staging a biennial FIFA Women’s World Cup.
In parallel, a similar process has been launched within the men's game regarding the international match calendar and the creation of a biennial men's World Cup. For all the noble intentions of the TAG to improve standards for women's soccer and its participants, it is the issue of doubling the number of FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments from one every four years to every other year which has split the soccer community.
Unlike in the men's game, where the Olympic soccer tournament is age restricted, the women's Olympic tournament played the year after the Women's World Cup and won this year by the Canadian national team, is a de facto second world championship within the four year cycle. On Saturday, the IOC published a statement calling for a wider discussion on the issue sharing its concerns regarding the potential impact on other sports, gender equality and players' welfare.
In response to my question about the impact on the women's Olympic soccer tournament, Ellis told me at a media briefing earlier today, "we haven't discussed it thoroughly within our group. The Olympics does hold a very, very special place but we also recognize that it's three European teams, because of the size of the tournament itself, it doesn't open it up to a lot of people to even experience that".
"Right now it's just a 12-team tournament and I don't think there's potential to expand because it's part of a major, major global event. So, we haven't had those conversations. I've heard those conversations. I'm focused more on what we control in FIFA and the recommendations within FIFA - the IOC obviously controls (the Olympics) - what can we do in FIFA to grow and elevate the game?
Critical to the reforms is the plan to bring the global qualifying process for the Women's World Cup under FIFA's control, with all the revenue and sponsorship potential that encompasses, something that already exists within the men's game. Ellis explained this would lead to a creation of minimum standards which would benefit the entire women's game. "How can FIFA can come into that and lend it's support and expertise?"
Ellis could not confirm if the vote among the 211 FIFA member associations to stage a biennial men's and women's World Cup would be taken separately or together. "I don't know that, I would imagine that you have to look at them independently". However, Ellis refuted claims that the ultimate decision by FIFA is a fait acompli . "We've had great conversations and people representing their ideas. I can't say this is a foregone conclusion. I've told people that I need you to passionately discuss through your perspective and experiences, but then I also ask them to appreciate other points of view. I've had current players say "I never would have thought of that, I hadn't really thought about how the rest of the world was going through their qualifiers".
Following her presentation, Ellis concluded by saying, "the lever that the Women's World Cup holds in terms of elevating our sport is massive and that's why the biennial Women's World Cup is in conversation because we recognize that domestically there's a benefit, viewership comes up after a major world event, leagues have been started, players have been discovered. There's so many positives that come from a World Cup. ... This is a democracy; this is going to go to a vote ultimately"
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