In 2019, FIFA announced that it would expand the field of teams in the women’s World Cup from 24 to 32, growing the tournament and creating new opportunities for countries and players around the globe. The result: Eight nations will be competing for the first time in this summer’s tournament.
But the plight of women’s soccer is not unlike the plight of women, so the teams’ paths were marked by familiar barriers: discrimination, a lack of resources and attention, cultural barriers and systemic inequities. In some cases, there was abuse and unjust power dynamics.
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The teams making their World Cup debut are far-fetched nations polka-dotting four continents.