Arsenal playmaker Mariona Caldentey was discussing the lack of progress in her homeland following Spain’s World Cup victory two years ago.
“The Spanish league is not going how we would like,” she told BBC Radio 5 Live in September 2024. “When England won the Euros, everyone could see a really big change in the league. We’ve missed that in Spain. We won the World Cup and it changed nothing.”
But the recent advancement of women’s football in England was not solely about winning Euro 2022 — hosting the tournament was just as important. The cumulative attendance was just under 575,000, with most fans from the host nation. People saw it for themselves.
When England battled their way to the final at Wembley, there was a remarkable scramble to find tickets. There was a buzz around the country that only happens when you host major sporting events.
Now the United Kingdom is set to host another, after it was announced as the only bidder for the Women’s World Cup in 2035.
Of course, Euro 2022 would not have been the same if England had not reached the final, and their 2-1 victory over Germany meant their post-match party lasted a week, the post-tournament euphoria lasted a month, and the subsequent attendance boost lasted for a season. There would not have been the same…
