It was a night of celebration for Barcelona after another Women’s Champions League title, and for the women’s game in general after another season with significant growth in the sport.
Barcelona's Ingrid Syrstad Engen celebrates after winning the women's Champions League final soccer match between FC Barcelona and Olympique Lyonnais at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Saturday, May 25, 2024. Barcelona won 2-0. BILBAO, Spain —
The Barcelona victory came as soccer officials celebrated the success of a five-year plan to boost the women’s game, a plan that was renewed ahead of the final to keep the sport growing. “The investments and changes to the UEFA Women’s Champions League and UEFA Women’s EURO, plus a highly successful commercial programme, have meant that we have exceeded our expectations in terms of doubling the reach and value of these flagship competitions,” said Anne Rei, chair of UEFA’s Women’s Football Committee. “This has also gone a long way to changing perceptions.”
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said ahead of the final in Bilbao that the European soccer governing body “prioritized the growth of women’s football” and achieved “significant progress through a focused strategy, substantial investment, and a commitment to making the sport accessible to all.” Playing matches in Europe’s top stadiums also “boosted visibility and delivered a surge in interest,” as did the new media rights partnership with DAZN to help “showcase the best of European women’s soccer to new global audiences.”
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