Like the boys? The economics of women's soccer.

Summary There is nothing in the 17 rules "kept" by the IFAB (International Football Association Board) since 1886 that says women cannot play soccer. Some sources document the first women's soccer match in 1881 in Edinburgh between an English and a Scottish team. However, the history of women and soccer is far from being a long and quiet one: although it had its moments of glory after the First World War, women's soccer fell into anonymity until the mid-1960s before becoming again the object of much interest, not only in sports, but also in politics and economics. Beyond its popular success in stadiums and on television, the last World Cup in France in 2019 may have been a turning point in the history of women's soccer. For now, compared to its male counterpart, women's soccer remains a very small "business" and it is probably too early to assess the economic legacy of this global tournament. This study aims to provide analytical tools and statistical data to better understand the current women's soccer ecosystem and in particular to shed light on the issue of the level of remuneration of female footballers, which has caused controversy in the media. - - - - - - - - -.