Women's Euro 2025 Kicks Off Amid Challenges for France's Football Development
Women's Euro 2025 begins, spotlighting France's football development challenges.
Key Points
- • Women's Euro 2025 starts in Switzerland with record ticket sales of 600,000.
- • France's women's team has not won a major title and faces tough competition.
- • Financial disparities and cultural barriers hinder women's football development in France.
- • A budget of 14 million euros is aimed at increasing registered female players to 500,000 by 2028.
The Women's Euro 2025, which began on July 2 in Switzerland, is generating significant excitement as it features a record-breaking 600,000 tickets sold. This surpasses the previous record of 574,041 set during the 2022 tournament. With matches hosted across eight stadiums, including one with a capacity of 35,689, the event promises to showcase some of the best talent in women's football. The total prize money has been notably increased to 41 million euros, highlighting the growing investment in women's sports. Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the tournament, the French women's national team, also known as 'Les Bleues,' faces daunting challenges, having not yet won a major international title and experiencing difficulties in recent competitions.
France, which is in a competitive group with England and the Netherlands, is grappling with the implications of an evolving football landscape. The French women's football scene has seen a record of 251,369 female football licenses issued in 2024, but many young players express feelings of inadequate support. Financial disparities remain a critical obstacle, as television rights for women's football in France lag significantly behind those in Spain, England, and Germany. The French Football Federation has responded with a budget of 14 million euros for the development of women’s football for the 2025-2026 season, aiming to achieve 500,000 registered female players by 2028.
Historically, France was a pioneer in women's football investment, but experts suggest it has lost ground to other European nations that have better integrated their women's leagues with top clubs. The establishment of a dedicated professional league for women's football in France occurred only a year ago, while other countries have been developing their leagues for much longer, contributing to a stark contrast in training conditions and resources available to players at different levels of competition.
Cultural attitudes towards women's football also hinder growth, as barriers and safety concerns continue to shadow the sport. With only a modest turnout of 16,000 expected to support France during the tournament, hopes remain that a successful run might inspire greater interest and support for women's football in the country. As the tournament progresses, it could serve as both a challenge and an opportunity for France to address its developmental shortcomings in women’s football.