ABSTRACT

This chapter explores the complex opportunities and challenges which face women and women’s football in terms of the three areas of: football participation, attendance and spectatorship of football, and employment in football. In each section, data are analysed to understand the history and current position of women’s football together with discussion of future developments. The chapter concludes that, whilst there are a number of ways in which Sepp Blatter’s “future is feminine” statement can be said to be true, there remain, however, challenges ahead in maximising opportunities for all women in playing in or working in football by continuing to facilitate and support development whilst removing any remaining barriers to women around the world who are involved in the game and business of football.