World sport leaders champion women on IWD

MANCHESTER, England: FIFA General Secretary Fatma Samoura applauded the eight nations who are debuting at the Women's World Cup in celebration of International Women's Day on Wednesday, urging the players to take pride in their ability to inspire.

Haiti, Morocco, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Ireland, Vietnam and Zambia will debut at the global women's soccer showcase that runs from Jul 20-Aug 20 in Australia and New Zealand.

"Seeing you ladies who are mothers, sisters, students and athletes. Women they identify with, excelling on the pitch," Samoura said in a statement.

"This will encourage a generation of young girls and women to aim high, to aim big. To advocate for themselves and to take themselves beyond greatness, on the pitch but also, in life."

Several other sports figures championed women and applauded progress on International Women's Day, which has its roots in the US socialist and labour movements of the early 20th century when many women were fighting for better working conditions and the right to vote.

England's Lionesses cheered a UK government pledge that every girl in Britain will have equal access to soccer in school - a cause the national women's team had been supporting since capturing the Euro 2022 title last August.

Schools will be expected to deliver a minimum of two hours of PE (physical education) per week and ensure that girls have equal access to all school sport, including soccer.

"An announcement that will change women's football in England forever, and the start of something truly special," the Lionesses said in a statement. "We see this as only the beginning."

Hayley Wickenheiser, a four-time Olympic hockey champion for Canada, praised her parents in a celebratory Instagram post.

"My mom was an