Women’s World Cup living up to potential but FIFA and federations must further invest to build upon spectacle

Almost four years ago to the day, FIFA announced that it would expand the Women’s World Cup to 32 teams for the 2023 edition. The move was designed to “foster the growth” of the women’s game, as president Gianni Infantino described it, and it was met with plenty of fanfare. It also came just weeks after the U.S. women’s national team infamously opened their 2019 World Cup campaign with a 13-0 win over Thailand.

There was no question the gap was closing at the top of the sport, which is why many…