More women play football in the Americas. But Europe is growing fast

When Dolors Ribalta Alcalde was young, she could only play the beautiful game in the street because girls were not allowed to play in football clubs.

Slowly, things began to change but for decades, Spanish women players and referees have had to put up with sexist chants like ‘get back in the kitchen’.

The scandal over how Spanish football federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales kissed Spain player Jennifer Hermoso on the lips after Spain won the World Cup has highlighted a problem of macho behaviour which has plagued the women’s game for decades.

Despite this, it has not stopped women's football from becoming more accepted by Spanish society as misogynistic attitudes against women die out.

The victory of La Roja over England in Sydney will only help raise the visibility of the sport, say experts, and inspire a new generation of younger players to come through.

Spain ranks among the top European nations in the women’s game.

There are almost 100,000 women and girls registered as players by the RFEF, a 55% rise since 2014, according to La Liga Feminina.

Around the world, Mexico has the largest number of women who play football where 22% say they kick a ball about, followed by Brazil with 17%, then Britain and United States (10%), Spain and France (8%), Germany (7%) and Italy (5%), according to a survey by researchers Statista carried out between April-June.

The United States leads the world, with more women playing ‘soccer’ there than men. The national women’s team has won the World Cup four times, while Germany won the title twice. Norway, Japan and now Spain have also claimed the globe's top football honour once.

In Britain, women’s football has boomed in recent years and England were the firm favourites to win the 2023 World