What Is The Lasting Impact Of The Lionesses World Cup Final?
The Lionesses might not have been victorious during the World Cup Final against Spain, but the impact of their achievement will last much longer than the 90-minute game.
Last Sunday (August 20th), England lost 1-0 to Spain in Sydney in a defeat that left the players “absolutely heartbroken”.
While England captain Millie Bright admitted “we just didn’t have the final edge” and was disappointed with the result, the team should be reminded of the legacy they will leave behind.
Not only was this the first World Cup Final for England since 1966, but the match was watched by an audience of 21.2 million in the UK alone.
According to the BBC, it was, therefore, the second most-watched TV event of the year, following the King’s Coronation.
During its peak, audience levels reached 12 million, while the final was also watched nearly four million times on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and the app.
In fact, the number of streams increased by a huge 75 per cent since the 2019 World Cup in France, showing just how far women’s football has come over the last four years.
This was cemented last year when England won the Euros 2022 2-1 against Germany.
This became the football team’s first major title win, which happened to take place on home turf in Wembley.
Since then, women’s football has surged in popularity, and will continue to do so despite the recent defeat.
Pundit and ex-England player Ellen White reminded players: “This England side can be so proud of what they have done for this tournament.”
She noted their achievements in empowering all women and inspiring the next generation to reach their goals.