FIFA official says Jordan shows ‘the game belongs to everyone’

AMMAN — Many Asian countries invest in women’s football, hoping to leave a mark in the sports scene and receive international recognition, a FIFA official said on Saturday.

Asian teams have done well in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, which is being held in Jordan, according to Moya Dodd, the deputy chair of the Committee for Women’s Football and the FIFA Women’s World Cup.  

“I think East Asia particularly was very strong in women’s football right from the start. Going back to the 1980s and 1970s, there were flourishing competitions in that part of the world, so there has always been a basis for development there,” Dodd told The Jordan Times. 

She noted that a great love of football can be sensed in Asia.

“I think in some countries like China the government support was very strong where you can take on big teams and beat them. At the same time, I think the traditional football countries were so busy enjoying the success of their men’s teams, they did not invest in women’s teams and even now you can look at countries like Argentina and Italy you have to say they are not fulfilling their potential,” Dodd added.

Countries which are not considered among the world’s best in men’s football are taking the lead at the top of the table in women’s football, according to the FIFA official.

“Look at the top 10 in women’s football and you see countries like Canada, the US, Australia and Japan. In men’s football these are not considered amongst the world’s best.” 

There is no doubt, Dodd said, that women’s football has progressed.

“When I was a kid I only played with adult women’s teams. Probably, I should have played with a boys’ team but nobody gave me that opportunity,” the FIFA committee member said.  

“I never played in a youth tournament, ever, because they just did not exist when I was at the national level or at club level,” said Dodd, the former vice-captain for the Australian national team. 

The first FIFA Women’s World Cup was in 1991 and the first Olympics to include women’s football were in 1996, said the football official. “This is not that long ago.” 

Dodd noted that the decision to allow women who wear headscarves (hijab) to play football was an important symbol to show that half-a-billion Muslim women also have a place in the game.

Wars and political instability always take a great toll on women, who suffer a lot in conflict situations, Dodd noted.

“This kind of instability interrupts the development of children and their schooling and sports participation as well, so there is no doubt that instability is not good for the development of any sports.” 

The former footballer described Jordan as a “beacon of progress and stability” in the region. 

“I think this tournament is showing that progress in society more boldly goes hand-in-hand with the progress of sports,” she said. 

The FIFA official said the Local Organising Committee and the Jordan Football Association had done a “terrific job” in organising the contest. 

“They will have the chance to do it again in the senior tournament. I am looking forward to coming back for that and to see continuous progress of football — not just women’s football, but football in this country,” she added.

It has been a great experience for FIFA staff to work side by side with the Jordanian staff, Dodd said, adding that the Kingdom showed that the game belongs to everyone thanks to the inclusion that has been seen during the competition.

“Everyone is positive about it and whenever I go to an event or stadium I just see how much effort has been put in. Everything the Jordanians have, they give to the tournament. No one can ask for more.”

Dodd said Jordan has been making steady progress on the field for years.

“You do not create overnight success in a game of football. There is a development pathway to be built, these players in the Jordanian team at the start of their football journey, they could be players in the national team in 10 years’ time. 

“I think they have an accelerated development path because of this tournament, they must be the luckiest generation ever in Jordan and I am sure that they won’t lose their love of the game,” she added.