News

The tournament in Canada sets record television audiences worldwide, the final becoming the most-watched football match ever in the United States with 25.4 million viewers, while the England-Japan semi-final peaked at 2.4 million on BBC One. England break into the FIFA top five for the first time. FIFPro admits female players as direct members for the first time in its fifty-year history, unveiling initiatives on gender equality. Sheffield FC become the first FA WPL side promoted into WSL 2 after meeting off-field licensing requirements. Coventry City Ladies merge with Coventry United after 24 years, and a long list of managerial moves includes Thomas Butler at Newcastle and Scott Booth at Glasgow City. Golden Boot winner Celia Sasic and Lauren Holiday both retire, and WSL crowds hit records.