<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">What's happening? </h2>

Goal! It was a dream moment for New ZealandAn island country in the Pacific Ocean with a population of just over five million. 's football fans. Their team had won the first game of the 2023 Women's World Cup - in their home country!

Yesterday, the Women's World Cup began. Experts think it will be the biggest women's sporting event in history.

More than two billion people are set to watch a match during the competition. But in the past, it is men's football that most people have talked about. The women's game has seen fewer crowds, less money and fewer chances for players.

But if you look even further back, this was not always the case. There was a time when women's football was even more popular than men's. During World War One, female factory workers set up factory football teams. They were very popular.

<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">Find out more </h2>

One historic women's football game attracted almost 70,000 would-be spectatorsPeople who watch something. in 1920.

Shortly after, officials put a stop to women's football. In 1921, fearful that women's teams would be more popular than the men's, the FAThe Football Association is the governing body of football in England and the Channel Islands. It was founded in 1863. banned women's football. The ban would be in place for 51 years.

Recently, things have been looking up for women's sports. Female stars are paid more, and more and more people are watching women's games.

But others say the sport is not equal yet. The players in the Women's World Cup will still make less money than the players in the 2022 men's World Cup in QatarA small country on the Arabian Peninsula, bordering Saudi Arabia. Like its larger neighbour, it has experienced rapid economic development but maintained strict conservative religious codes..

Yes! Women's sports are hugely popular today. Thousands of people turn out to watch their games. And female sports stars are now big celebrities.

No! Clearly we still have a long way to go. Many female sports stars still earn less than men. It will take a long time to change how people think about women's sports.

New Zealand - An island country in the Pacific Ocean with a population of just over five million.

Spectators - People who watch something.

FA - The Football Association is the governing body of football in England and the Channel Islands. It was founded in 1863.

Qatar - A small country on the Arabian Peninsula, bordering Saudi Arabia. Like its larger neighbour, it has experienced rapid economic development but maintained strict conservative religious codes.