Report on the State of International Women’s Football and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: A Global Outlook Towards the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup

Following the conclusion of the 2025 UEFA Women’s Euro, the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), and the Copa América Femenina, the international focus now shifts to the qualification and preparation period for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. This report analyzes the current standing of leading national teams, with a significant emphasis on their contributions and challenges related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The growth of women’s football serves as a powerful platform for advancing key global objectives, particularly in gender equality, health, and institutional strength.

National Team Analysis and SDG Alignment

The performance and structure of national football programs provide a clear lens through which to assess progress towards several SDGs. The following rankings are based on current form, institutional capacity, and alignment with sustainable development principles.

1. United States

   • Performance: The team’s 2024 Olympic gold medal and consistent high-level performance demonstrate excellence. Head coach Emma Hayes has successfully expanded the roster pool and refined team identity.
   • SDG Alignment:
     • SDG 5 (Gender Equality): The USWNT remains a global standard-bearer, using its platform to advocate for equal pay and investment in women’s sports.
     • SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): The program’s success is built on a foundation of strong, long-term strategic planning and professional management, showcasing an effective institutional model.

2. England

   • Performance: Securing a second consecutive UEFA Euro title highlights the team’s resilience and tactical prowess under manager Sarina Wiegman.
   • SDG Alignment:
     • SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): The commitment of players like Lucy Bronze, who played through a significant injury, underscores the physical demands of the sport and the importance of comprehensive player welfare and healthcare systems.
     • SDG 5 (Gender Equality): The Lionesses’ continued success has significantly raised the profile of women’s sport in Europe, inspiring participation and challenging gender stereotypes.

3. Spain

   • Performance: Despite finishing as runners-up at the Euros, the 2023 World Cup champions continue to display world-class technical skill and a dominant, possession-based style.
   • SDG Alignment:
     • SDG 4 (Quality Education): Spain’s success is rooted in a deep technical and tactical education for its players from a young age, showcasing a commitment to high-quality development pathways.
     • SDG 5 (Gender Equality): The global recognition of midfielders like Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas elevates female athletes as role models.

4. Brazil

   • Performance: As hosts of the 2027 World Cup and 2024 Olympic silver medalists, the team is on an upward trajectory, combining traditional flair with improved defensive structure.
   • SDG Alignment:
     • SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): Hosting the World Cup requires extensive global and local partnerships, fostering international cooperation.
     • SDG 5 (Gender Equality): The enduring legacy of Marta inspires a new generation, driving progress for women and girls in sport throughout South America.

5. Germany

   • Performance: The team demonstrated resilience by reaching the Euro semifinals despite significant injuries. The program continues to build around a core of young, talented players.
   • SDG Alignment:
     • SDG 4 (Quality Education): Germany’s ability to consistently produce top-tier talent like Jule Brand and Klara Bühl points to a robust and effective youth development system.
     • SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Managing the return of key players from major injuries, such as Lena Oberdorf’s ACL recovery, highlights the critical need for advanced sports medicine and rehabilitation services.

6. Sweden

   • Performance: Sweden remains a formidable and consistent top-ten team, frequently challenging the world’s best, though a major international trophy remains elusive.
   • SDG Alignment:
     • SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): By consistently competing at the highest level, Sweden helps create a more balanced and competitive international landscape, challenging the dominance of a few nations.
     • SDG 4 (Quality Education): The development of emerging talents like Rosa Kafaji and Hanna Bennison ensures the program’s long-term sustainability.

7. Japan

   • Performance: Winners of the 2025 SheBelieves Cup, the Nadeshiko are a technically disciplined and challenging opponent with a balanced attack.
   • SDG Alignment:
     • SDG 4 (Quality Education): The team’s tactical discipline is a direct result of a high-quality coaching and player education philosophy.
     • SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The successful integration of youth players into a professional squad demonstrates a sustainable model for athlete career development.

8. France

   • Performance: Despite possessing exceptional attacking talent, the team’s quarterfinal exit from the Euros raises further questions about its ability to perform in high-stakes knockout matches.
   • SDG Alignment:
     • SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): The team’s inconsistent results point to a need for greater institutional stability and strategic direction to fully capitalize on its available talent.

9. Nigeria

   • Performance: The Super Falcons reclaimed their status as Africa’s top team by winning their tenth Women’s AFCON title.
   • SDG Alignment:
     • SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Nigeria’s success, achieved despite documented challenges with resource allocation and federation support, is a powerful statement against the systemic inequalities that exist in global football.
     • SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The team’s struggle for fair compensation and resources highlights the critical need to ensure decent work and equitable conditions for female professional athletes worldwide.
     • SDG 5 (Gender Equality): The team’s triumph provides an invaluable platform for women’s sport across Africa.

10. Canada

    • Performance: The team has experienced a period of regression since its 2020 Olympic gold medal, with recent results highlighting a need for programmatic improvement.
    • SDG Alignment:
      • SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): Public comments from the coaching staff indicate a need for the national federation to provide stronger institutional support and resources to the roster.
      • SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Ensuring the program is well-supported is essential for the players’ careers and for the team to compete effectively.

Honorable Mentions and Future Outlook

• Italy: The team’s tactical evolution and strong performance at the Euros suggest significant progress in coaching and player development, aligning with SDG 4. With improved defensive consistency, they are poised to enter the top ten.
• Colombia: As an emerging continental power, Colombia is challenging the traditional hierarchy in South America, contributing to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). The success of stars like Mayra Ramirez and Linda Caicedo advances SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
• Netherlands: Facing challenges with an aging squad after an early Euro exit, the federation must now focus on strategic renewal. This situation underscores the importance of long-term planning and youth integration (SDG 4) to ensure the program’s future health and sustainability.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • The article’s entire focus is on women’s professional sports, specifically international soccer. It highlights major tournaments like the FIFA Women’s World Cup, UEFA Women’s Euro, Women’s Afcon, and Copa America Femenina, showcasing the global growth and prominence of women’s athletics.
   • It celebrates the achievements of female athletes and teams (e.g., England’s Euro victory, USWNT’s Olympic gold), contributing to the visibility and empowerment of women in a traditionally male-dominated field.
   • The mention of Marta’s legacy “inspiring a new generation of players” directly speaks to the role of female athletes as role models, promoting gender equality for future generations.

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • The article explicitly points out inequalities faced by the Nigerian team, who “marched right back to the top of the Women’s Afcon tournament this year” despite being “owed back-pay and a lack of resources.” This highlights a significant disparity in support and compensation compared to other top teams.
   • It also notes a potential bias in global sports hierarchies, stating that “more official, governing body-type rankings likely won’t have an African nation in the top ten,” suggesting an inequality in recognition based on region.
   • The call for “more support” for the Canadian team to improve also points to inequalities in resources and federation backing among different national programs.

3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • The issues faced by the Nigerian team, specifically being “owed back-pay,” point to a failure of their “governing body,” indicating a lack of effective, accountable, and transparent institutions.
   • The article discusses the critical role of national federations in team success or failure. For Canada, it notes the federation “managed to hire a solid coach,” while for the Netherlands, it states the “federation needs to get the next coaching hire right.” This underscores the importance of strong institutional management and decision-making for program development.

Identified SDG Targets

1. Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.

   • The article demonstrates progress towards this target by showcasing women’s full participation and excellence in the high-profile public sphere of international sports. The ranking of national teams and the discussion of their professional achievements affirm their place in the global sports landscape.

2. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.

   • The article highlights a clear violation of this target through the experience of the Nigerian team. Being “owed back-pay and a lack of resources” despite being a continental champion is a stark example of an inequality of outcome that needs to be addressed by their governing institution.

3. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

   • The article implies this target by critiquing the institutional effectiveness of several national soccer federations. The Nigerian governing body’s failure to pay its players is a direct example of an institution that is not accountable. Furthermore, the analysis of the Canadian and Dutch teams’ struggles points to the need for their federations to be more effective in management and planning.

Implied Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. Indicator for Target 5.5

   • The existence, media coverage, and growing prestige of major international women’s sporting events (2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, 2025 UEFA Women’s Euro, Women’s Afcon, Copa America Femenina) serve as a direct indicator of women’s participation in public life. The article’s detailed analysis and ranking system further quantify this participation.

2. Indicator for Target 10.3

   • The article implies an indicator related to the equitable distribution of resources and payment in professional sports. The specific mention of the Nigerian team being “owed back-pay and a lack of resources” suggests that tracking the timely and fair compensation of athletes, especially comparing teams from different economic regions, can measure progress towards reducing inequality of outcome.

3. Indicator for Target 16.6

   • The article suggests that the performance and stability of national teams can be an indicator of institutional effectiveness. The text links the struggles of the Canadian and Dutch teams to federation-level decisions (“roster needs more support,” “federation needs to get the next coaching hire right”), while the Nigerian team’s success comes in spite of institutional failure (“owed back-pay”). This implies that measuring federation support, resource allocation, and player compensation can gauge institutional accountability.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cbssports.com