World Sevens: New Women’s Football Tournament Set to Shake Up the Sport
A new women’s football tournament, World Sevens, has been launched with promises of "fast, high-scoring matches, global exposure, and game-changing financial opportunities for players and clubs". The innovative competition, which features 16 teams competing in a sevens-a-side format, has generated significant interest and concern within the football community.
According to organisers, World Sevens aims to provide a unique and exciting brand of football that will appeal to fans worldwide. The tournament’s format, which features teams of seven players competing in matches lasting 30 minutes, is designed to produce fast-paced and high-scoring games. With a prize fund of $1 million, the competition also offers significant financial rewards for participating teams.
However, some have expressed concern about the proximity of World Sevens to Euro 2025, which starts just six weeks after the new tournament. England manager Sarina Wiegman, speaking in March before the participating teams were announced, said she was worried about World Sevens fitting into the football calendar, calling it a "challenge". As BBC Sport reported at the time, Wiegman also recognised that some players would get "meaningful minutes" to "be in the right shape for the Euros".
Several top players, including Manchester United’s Maya le Tissier and Elisabeth Terland, have expressed their desire to participate in World Sevens. The two players, who have since been named in the 20-strong squad alongside the likes of Ella Toone, Leah Galton, and Grace Clinton, will be hoping to make a significant impact in the tournament. As BBC Sport understands, manager Marc Skinner has stated that some of the prize money will be used to recruit new players, highlighting the potential for World Sevens to have a lasting impact on the sport.
"For our team, where we don’t have Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester City’s budget, it’s huge if we’re going to be successful," Skinner said, speaking to BBC Sport. This sentiment is likely to be echoed by many of the participating teams, who will see World Sevens as an opportunity to compete against top opposition and secure significant financial rewards.
Manchester City have named a travelling squad of 15 for the tournament, including senior England players Jess Park, Laura Coombs, and Laura Blindkilde Brown. As BBC Sport reported earlier this week, the team will be looking to make a strong impression in World Sevens, which promises to be an exciting and unpredictable competition.
The launch of World Sevens has raised important questions about the future of women’s football and the increasing demands of the sport’s calendar. As the competition gets underway, BBC Sport will be providing comprehensive coverage and analysis of all the action. With its innovative format and significant prize fund, World Sevens is set to be a major talking point in the world of women’s football.
