NEWS
A selection of FirstTouch's best football writing, brought to you by emerging journalists, collaborators, and fans.
Is VAR a superhero or a villain in the future of global football?
Even after having a major run out in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, VAR looked all new during the women’s world cup and particularly the Copa America, dishing out some fresh controversies. Even Messi came out a supposed victim of the technology more than once. But what is it really to global football, a friend or a foe?
The USA are back to back champs. Even though European nations are making progress, substance must always trump style.
A second consecutive and record 4th FIFA World Cup title is certainly something to shout about. The word is dominance, it spells dominance. However, hidden in the narrative are the stern challenges of Spain, France, England and the Netherlands, that the USWNT faced enroute to their 2019 title. Substance did trump style and we get to explore the meaning of the win, both for America and women’s football in general.
2019 WWC Review: After all the African teams failed to make it past the Round of 16, What’s next for the game in Africa?
The progress is evident, but we need more. We look back at Africa’s overall performance at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, seek to understand why, explore some of the challenges plaguing women’s football on the continent and suggest a few solutions.
2019 WWC Review: Five Breakout Stars of the Tournament (Stars of the future)
A 23-year-old all-time top goal scorer for her nation, two young midfield maestros who seemingly drink ice for breakfast, an audacious forward who is in the top 0.01% when it comes to dribbles and tricks, and finally an explosive African queen, the face of the continent’s football both now and in the near future. They are all here. Our fast five of all the breakout stars at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Can host nation France follow in the Men’s team’s footsteps?
A new hunt is on the horizon and blank history books are going to be opened for keen writers to leave their mark. Same FIFA World Cup tournament but this time, it’s the women who get to have their say.
Women’s FIFA World Cup: Group A, “The Group of Death”
The hosts are No. 4 in on world the rankings and will have the home crowd behind them, as they try to duplicate their fellow men’s side, Les Bleus’ title triumph in Russia last year and live up to high expectations in the pool that pundits, arguably, called as “Group of Death”, comprising of the hosts France, Norway, Korea Republic and Nigeria. Below we zoom into Group A of the women’s world cup and analyze each team’s chances of progressing to the next stage of the tournament.
The US may be the favorites, but who could prevent them from winning back to back?
The major competition for the US comes from England, France, Germany and Japan who have all recorded standout performances in the leading up to the 2019 FIFA World Cup, putting them among the favorites to win the title and dethrone the US women from their long-held position as the best team in the world.
FT 2019 Women's World Cup Stadium Guide
A total of 24 nations from the continents of the globe will get a chance to tour and play across nine of the most scenic and historically rich venues and cities in the French nation.
Could any of the African teams shock the world?
In this 2019 edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup; Nigeria, South Africa and Cameroon will be there to show the world what Africa has to offer. In our previous article, we gave an analysis of how each of these teams have been preparing for this grand challenge.
6 Women We Can't Wait to See at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup
With the 2019 Women’s World Cup just seven days away, we look at some of the women we are most excited to see take the stage in France this summer.