What is the SheBelieves Tournament, and what does it mean for women’s soccer?

The SheBelieves tournament is a brief round robin women’s soccer tournament hosted in the US. 2018 will be the 3rd edition of the round of games, featuring 4 of the best women’s national teams from around the world.

The mission of the SheBelieves tournament is to raise the popularity of soccer to the female audience. In many nations around the world, women are not able to play soccer for a variety of reasons, from a lack of women’s club teams, to a lack of time or opportunity as a woman. The SheBelieves tournament aims to show the world that the women’s game is every bit as good as the men’s, and tries to empower women to rise up and be their true self. There is definitely a lot of prejudice in the soccer world, with sexism just one aspect. With this tournament, the world can see for itself just how powerful the female gender is, and how many lives can be touched with a few soccer games alone.

This years tournament includes reigning champions the USA, 2016 winners France, as well as Germany, and England. These are 4 of the top 6 teams in the world, and will obviously feature some outstanding games. Players like Alex Morgan will be able to become icons for women around the world, inspiring them to try to become soccer superstars. Growing up, I had my own idols I looked up to, and it is a shame that many young girls in the past did not have anyone. Times have definitely changed now, and Morgan is just one example of many outstanding athletes that will surely show the world just how great the women’s game can be.  

The SheBelieves tournament is a very brief session, however there is plenty of time for fans to witness some incredible talent on the field. There is also enough time for this group of women to change lives across the globe; something that is much greater than the game itself. 

Note: This was part two of my series about eliminating prejudice in soccer. Limitations are commonplace all over the world, with people’s opinions and biases just some reasons why dreams are shattered. Never let these things stand in the way of becoming who you want to be. Regardless of gender, race, religion, sexual preference, or economic standpoint, there is a place for everyone on the world stage, and with hard work, anyone can earn it. Sadly, some cannot afford to reach the next step because of financial limitations. I’ve mentioned the extortionate price of many club teams in the US, but for many, the price of a pair of cleats or even a ball or jersey is too great.

Passback is a charity run by the US Soccer Foundation in alliance with Allstate. They aim to bring soccer to everyone around the world, in particular to those who cannot afford it. A simple $5 donation is enough to buy a soccer ball for a child to continue their dreams of becoming a superstar. Below is a link to the donation site. Every little helps. There are dozens of success stories in the soccer world, and with your help, there will be even more.

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