Copa América Femenina faces backlash over poor conditions and low attendance
Players complained about the training conditions for group-stage matches in the tournament in Ecuador and the lack of VAR, as well as near-empty stadiums for many games.
Soccer great Marta, a six-time world player of the year who came out of retirement to play for Brazil in the premier women's tournament for South America, was not happy to be forced to warm up at Gonzalo Pozo Ripalda Stadium in a small indoor area before a match against Bolivia.
'There wasn't enough space. I don't understand why we can't warm up on the pitch. We hope that CONMEBOL will address some of these issues and take steps to improve. Is this professional football?' Marta said. 'I haven't played in a tournament in South America for many years, and these situations deeply sadden me.'
The tournament organizers did not allow players to warm up on the field to protect it because in the group stage there are back-to-back matches in that stadium.
'We deserve much better'
'Even amateur tournaments are better organized than this," Brazil's Ary Borges said. "Ask Alejandro (Domínguez, CONMEBOL president) if he's ever had to warm up in a 5- or 10-meter space that smells of paint. Why do things like this happen in women's football? Honestly, I think we deserve much better.'
The tournament is being played across three stadiums in the capital of Quito. The final is set for Aug. 2 at the Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium, the third largest one in Ecuador, with a capacity of 44,000 fans.
Players have also complained about the lack of VAR, with video review only being used for the semifinals and final.
'It's disrespectful that there's no VAR. The (Women's) European Championship is being played in parallel (in Switzerland) and for us, as players, it's a disgrace to watch the European Championship and the Copa América,' said Chile striker Yanara Aedo.
The Copa América is among three big continental women's tournaments this summer, along with the European Championship and the Africa Cup of Nations.
For some teams, problems arose before the start of the tournament. Uruguay arrived with their players upset with their federation over training conditions and they agreed to participate just 72 hours before their match after their demands were met.
The players asked to use the training facility in Uruguay known as 'Complejo Celeste' with the same conditions as their male counterparts, to have better equipment and an increase in their daily money allowance for national and international competitions.
Ticket sales
Low attendance has also been an issue. Although no official numbers have been released, television images show most of the stadiums with empty seats even for the host nation. In Ecuador's first match against Uruguay only 6,000 fans were announced at the IDV stadium, which seats 12,000.
Tickets for the event went on sale to the general public on July 4, just eight days before the opening game. At an international forum on labor conditions in women's sport earlier this month in Geneva, delegates were told that a lack of promotion in Ecuador allegedly saw just 30 tickets sold for one game in a near-empty stadium.
'It's a global issue'
FIFPRO, the global soccer players' union, surveys players following big events and works with confederations to make necessary changes.
'It's just not isolated in CONMEBOL, it's a global issue. I think what's happened is obviously that the players with the biggest platforms, Marta, Kerolin, they're able to speak out, but there's a lot of players who are unable to use their voice," said Alex Culvin, FIFPRO's director of global policy for women's football.
"That's where FIFPRO obviously has a responsibility to shield the players so they don't have to advocate for themselves, and we do that through anonymous surveying, and when players do speak out, we offer support.'
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Forbes
9 hours ago
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2025 Copa América Femenina Review: Marta Magic Causes Colombian Heartbreak
For the third time in its last five editions, the Copa América Femenina was held in Ecuador. The entire tournament was held in just one city this time around, namely Quito. Organisational and logistical challenges affected the teams in what appeared to be a 'disregard for women's football', in the words of Brazilian midfielder Ary Borges. Most notably, they were made to warm up in cramped indoor spaces prior to the first couple of rounds of fixtures, with the pitch's condition cited as the reason. Nevertheless, the players delivered on the field to produce some enthralling action, which was capped off by an unforgettable finale. Group stage Argentina topped Group A as expected, and they did it with four wins out of four. However, it was not all smooth sailing for La Albiceleste as they needed late winners in each of their first three matches. Florencia Bonsegundo scored the winner against Uruguay with less than 15 minutes left on the clock, but a more dramatic game was to follow as Chile's early opener was only cancelled out in the 75th minute before Aldana Cometti's 90th-minute winner. Yamila Rodríguez struck very late on against Peru, paving the way for a more comfortable 2-0 win over Ecuador in the final group game with progression to the knockouts already secured. There was a lot to play for behind them as Ecuador's 2-2 draw with Uruguay in the tournament opener set the stage for a three-way fight for the remaining semi-final spot. Peru were the only team not seriously involved as they went home pointless, so Chile's win over the hosts in the penultimate round placed them in pole position. All La Roja had to do was avoid defeat against Uruguay, who had done well to stay in the hunt despite boycotting training in the lead up to the tournament as a means of protest against inadequate support from their football association over basic things like training facilities and wages. On the field, they delivered at crunch time with a 3-0 win over Chile to reach the semi-finals for just the second time in tournament history. The two tournament favorites advanced comfortably from Group B. Brazil scored 12 goals and conceded just one, while Colombia recovered from a goalless draw against Venezuela with emphatic wins over Paraguay and Bolivia. The latter had a torrid time as they lost all four games and let in 25 goals, though La Guaraníes otherwise impressed as they notched up six points. 17-year-old Claudia Martínez certainly caught the eye as she netted six times and finished as the tournament's joint top-scorer. Knockouts Argentina put up a serious fight against Colombia in the first semi-final, even starting the game on the front-foot thanks to some disciplined and well-drilled work out of possession. Las Cafeteras always had the potential to pose problems and showed more of it after the half-time break, but no goals were scored. With no extra time, the match went straight to a penalty shoot-out. Saves from either keeper in succession added to the drama, so Eliana Stábile's miss proved decisive as Argentina bowed out. Brazil had no such troubles in their match against Uruguay as they raced to a two-goal lead in 13 minutes. They were firmly in control throughout, ultimately notching up a 5-1 win to join Colombia in the final and the 2028 Olympics in the process. Uruguay would lose on penalties to Argentina after an entertaining 2-2 draw in the third-place match, but an even more eventful match was to follow. Colombia sought a first title against eight-time champions Brazil, who preserved their record of playing in every single Copa América final. The challengers got off to a good start and went on to open the scoring through young star Linda Caicedo, taking the game in a different direction than the scrappy goalless draw the two teams had played out at the end of the group stage. Brazil equalised with a penalty on the stroke of half-time and took the initiative on the other side of the break, but suffered a setback due to a freak own goal. Amanda Gutierres levelled the scores in the 80th minute, setting up a thrilling conclusion. Mayra Ramírez surely must have thought she won it with her strike in the 88th minute, but Marta had other ideas as she did this at the very end of stoppage time: The Orlando Pride forward found the back of the net once more about midway through the extra time period, but Colombia were not done. They pushed for an equaliser in the second half of extra time and got one with just five minutes to spare through Leicy Santos, heading to penalties once again. This shoot-out was even more dramatic as Brazil blinked first, Colombia failed to score two in a row, and Marta's potential winner was stopped by Katherine Tapia. Lorena had the last word as she saved Jorelyn Carabalí's attempt, condemning Colombia to a fourth final defeat in the last five Copas América.
Yahoo
2 days ago
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Copa America Femenina: The players delivered, will those in charge now do the same?
Copa América Femenina has come to its glorious and chaotic conclusion, with Brazil and Colombia delivering a championship that was like cinema on the pitch. The game had it all: a lethal Colombian pairing of Linda Caicedo and Mayra Ramirez slowly dismantling Brazil with every brilliant connection, only to be stopped by 39-year-old Marta and her late-game heroics, a reminder that she unretired for this. Through 120 minutes and seven rounds of penalty kicks, the Copa América crown was painfully within reach for Las Cafeteras. But Brazil refused to let go. The 23,798 ticketed fans inside La Casa Blanca in Quito, Ecuador, witnessed an iconic display – a highlight reel of what these players are capable of, despite the limited resources they're often provided with, even on the continent's biggest stage. The tournament's fairytale ending, however, stands in stark contrast to its low points over the last four weeks, which were riddled with low attendance and organizers' questionable decisions. Players have been outspoken, successfully demanding better conditions, and questioning why their competition is so far behind its wildly successful counterpart in Europe. The question is a valid one, especially as Brazil prepares to host the continent's first women's World Cup in 2027. If this Copa América is any indication, there is still plenty for those in charge of South American women's soccer to do. Brazil earned its ninth crown after defeating Colombia 5-4 on penalties, following a 4-4 tie after extra time. The team has never missed a Copa final since the tournament began in 1991. That's a testament to Brazil's dominance and a reminder of the disparities between soccer nations in the region. The only nation to ever top Brazil was Argentina in 2006. Marta wrote another chapter in her storied career with a late brace. She came on in the 82nd minute, with the teams tied 2-2. Fourteen minutes later, she saved Brazil from defeat with a deadly strike from outside the box in the last second of stoppage time, sending the match into extra time. She did it again, scoring late in the first half of extra time, putting Brazil ahead for the first time in the match. Marta knew when she changed her mind about international retirement that she would be returning to Brazil to show up in these moments. Selected as the best player of the tournament, she still has so much left to give. But Marta's willingness to speak out for better conditions off the pitch on South America's biggest stage could be her lasting legacy. The Copa América was off to a rocky start before it even began, with the Uruguayan national team refusing to train in protest one week before the first scheduled game. The team's players union was at odds with their federation over resources available to its players. The players soon began sharing statements across social media declaring they would refuse to train 'because we still have no favorable response to the improvement of our conditions.' Their statement continued, 'This measure is not against our passion, but rather for a fair right. We want to represent Uruguay in the Copa América, but we also deserve dignified treatment for our effort and dedication.' Three days before Uruguay was set to open the tournament against hosts Ecuador, their union spent the day negotiating with the federation until their demands were met. They consisted of basic needs: use of the national-team training center; better training conditions and clothing; reclassification from a 'development team' to full national-team status and improved daily allowances for national and international duty. Somehow, Uruguay put aside its grievances with its own federation, and 23-year-old Belen Aquino opened the scoring in Copa América with a banger from outside the box. The No. 10 set the pace for Uruguay, which finished in fourth place. It was their second-best Copa showing, after finishing third in 2006. The controversies resumed with a bombshell revelation by the Brazilian national team five days later. Following their second group-stage fixture against Bolivia, Brazilian players aired their grievances to reporters in Ecuador, revealing that players were expected to warm up in confined indoor spaces. Images soon began circulating on social media, with a video posted by Dibradoras, a Brazilian media company that covers women's sports, showing Brazilian and Bolivian players warming up next to one another in crowded space. The defending champions, most notably Marta, did not hold back. 'It's been a long time since I played in a tournament here in South America, and we're saddened by these situations,' Marta told the Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte. '(CONMEBOL) demand performance from the athletes and a high level of work, but we also demand a high level of organization. We have the right to demand organization. 'This situation is really disruptive. There wasn't enough space for both teams, but both wanted to be there to prepare. I really don't understand why we can't warm up on the field. This is still a problem for us because it's very hot here, with the altitude. We hope CONMEBOL reverses some of the issues and improves things.' Brazilian midfielder Ary Borges echoed Marta's sentiments and openly criticized the lack of a video assistant referee (VAR) system in the group stage. The absence of VAR was painfully obvious throughout the tournament, with mistakes visible to viewers because of broadcast replays. 'We are playing in a competition that counts for a place in the Olympics… and we don't have VAR in the games,' Borges said. 'We can't step onto the pitch in a game against Venezuela without knowing what the pitch (is) like. Worst of all, (we are) warming up on a synthetic pitch, (over) cement, within a space of 10, 15 meters, stinking of paint, because it looks like they painted the stadium there two days, one day before. 'So, it's very difficult, because last year we had a men's Copa América at good times, in good stadiums and we see… this disregard for women's football, and it's a shame.' CONMEBOL, soccer's governing body in South America, said it implemented this system to prevent damage to the pitch at Gonzalo Pozo Ripalda Stadium, which hosted back-to-back games that evening. Following public statements by Brazilian players, the confederation reneged, allowing players access to the pitch before each game. Kerolin, who plays for Manchester City in the Women's Super League, compared her experiences in Ecuador with what the world was seeing unravel at Euro 2025 in Switzerland — the best-attended and most-watched edition of the tournament. 'I'm watching the Euro today… and man… The difference in structure, audience, investment is surreal…' Kerolin wrote on X. 'It's downright discouraging, I didn't want to come here to talk about this, but structure would be the bare minimum for us. 'There's no way the whole world can evolve and here it's not even a priority. At least that's the experience I'm having. I hope they review and improve, it's a competition between NATIONAL TEAMS!!' Yet, despite what they called 'discouraging' actions by those in charge — whether CONMEBOL or a team's own federation — South American teams thrived on the pitch. Paraguay's Claudia Martinez, 17, became the youngest goal scorer in a Copa América Femenina with a hat-trick against Bolivia, and also scored against Brazil. The teen was a bright spot for fifth-placed Paraguay, which, like Argentina and Uruguay, qualified for the 2027 Pan American Games. The final was a rematch of 2022 and featured the largest turnout of the tournament, by far. Colombia were fancied by many to possibly dethrone Brazil. Las Cafeteras came very, very close, too. Brazil's ninth title seemed inevitable last week after the two sides met in the group stage. Colombia could not break through against the defending champions, who were down to 10 players after goalkeeper Lorena was sent off in the 24th minute. Colombia did not capitalize and the 0-0 draw cast doubt on their title credentials. In the final, Colombia soon put paid to that by doing what very few South America teams can – scoring first against Brazil, putting them in an unfavorable and unfamiliar position. There were brilliant combinations from Caicedo and Ramirez, with Washington Spirit's Leicy Santos scoring off a set piece in the 115th minute, to make it 4-4. And the result could have been different had Colombia's Jorelyn Carabali not head-butted Brazilian forward Gio Garbelini inside the box, gifting Brazil a penalty, with Angelina making it 1-1 just before half time. While second place was not the objective for Colombia, this championship will serve as a 'before and after' moment. Their runners-up spot earned their spot at the 2028 LA Olympics, but they must continue their growth and upward trajectory, shifting their focus to World Cup qualification. With hosts Brazil already qualified, three further places are up for grabs through the inaugural CONMEBOL Women's Nations League, which starts at the end of October. All nine teams play each other home and away with the top two qualifying and the third- and fourth-placed sides entering a playoff. The new format has the potential for some major upsets, a key ingredient for more cinema on the pitch. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, Colombia, Chile, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Soccer, Women's Soccer 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
2 days ago
- New York Times
Copa America Femenina: The players delivered, will those in charge now do the same?
Copa América Femenina has come to its glorious and chaotic conclusion, with Brazil and Colombia delivering a championship that was like cinema on the pitch. The game had it all: a lethal Colombian pairing of Linda Caicedo and Mayra Ramirez slowly dismantling Brazil with every brilliant connection, only to be stopped by 39-year-old Marta and her late-game heroics, a reminder that she unretired for this. Advertisement Through 120 minutes and seven rounds of penalty kicks, the Copa América crown was painfully within reach for Las Cafeteras. But Brazil refused to let go. The 23,798 ticketed fans inside La Casa Blanca in Quito, Ecuador, witnessed an iconic display – a highlight reel of what these players are capable of, despite the limited resources they're often provided with, even on the continent's biggest stage. The tournament's fairytale ending, however, stands in stark contrast to its low points over the last four weeks, which were riddled with low attendance and organizers' questionable decisions. Players have been outspoken, successfully demanding better conditions, and questioning why their competition is so far behind its wildly successful counterpart in Europe. The question is a valid one, especially as Brazil prepares to host the continent's first women's World Cup in 2027. If this Copa América is any indication, there is still plenty for those in charge of South American women's soccer to do. Brazil earned its ninth crown after defeating Colombia 5-4 on penalties, following a 4-4 tie after extra time. The team has never missed a Copa final since the tournament began in 1991. That's a testament to Brazil's dominance and a reminder of the disparities between soccer nations in the region. The only nation to ever top Brazil was Argentina in 2006. Marta wrote another chapter in her storied career with a late brace. She came on in the 82nd minute, with the teams tied 2-2. Fourteen minutes later, she saved Brazil from defeat with a deadly strike from outside the box in the last second of stoppage time, sending the match into extra time. She did it again, scoring late in the first half of extra time, putting Brazil ahead for the first time in the match. Marta knew when she changed her mind about international retirement that she would be returning to Brazil to show up in these moments. Selected as the best player of the tournament, she still has so much left to give. But Marta's willingness to speak out for better conditions off the pitch on South America's biggest stage could be her lasting legacy. The Copa América was off to a rocky start before it even began, with the Uruguayan national team refusing to train in protest one week before the first scheduled game. The team's players union was at odds with their federation over resources available to its players. The players soon began sharing statements across social media declaring they would refuse to train 'because we still have no favorable response to the improvement of our conditions.' Their statement continued, 'This measure is not against our passion, but rather for a fair right. We want to represent Uruguay in the Copa América, but we also deserve dignified treatment for our effort and dedication.' Advertisement Three days before Uruguay was set to open the tournament against hosts Ecuador, their union spent the day negotiating with the federation until their demands were met. They consisted of basic needs: use of the national-team training center; better training conditions and clothing; reclassification from a 'development team' to full national-team status and improved daily allowances for national and international duty. Somehow, Uruguay put aside its grievances with its own federation, and 23-year-old Belen Aquino opened the scoring in Copa América with a banger from outside the box. The No. 10 set the pace for Uruguay, which finished in fourth place. It was their second-best Copa showing, after finishing third in 2006. The controversies resumed with a bombshell revelation by the Brazilian national team five days later. Following their second group-stage fixture against Bolivia, Brazilian players aired their grievances to reporters in Ecuador, revealing that players were expected to warm up in confined indoor spaces. Images soon began circulating on social media, with a video posted by Dibradoras, a Brazilian media company that covers women's sports, showing Brazilian and Bolivian players warming up next to one another in crowded space. The defending champions, most notably Marta, did not hold back. 'It's been a long time since I played in a tournament here in South America, and we're saddened by these situations,' Marta told the Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte. '(CONMEBOL) demand performance from the athletes and a high level of work, but we also demand a high level of organization. We have the right to demand organization. 'This situation is really disruptive. There wasn't enough space for both teams, but both wanted to be there to prepare. I really don't understand why we can't warm up on the field. This is still a problem for us because it's very hot here, with the altitude. We hope CONMEBOL reverses some of the issues and improves things.' Advertisement Brazilian midfielder Ary Borges echoed Marta's sentiments and openly criticized the lack of a video assistant referee (VAR) system in the group stage. The absence of VAR was painfully obvious throughout the tournament, with mistakes visible to viewers because of broadcast replays. 'We are playing in a competition that counts for a place in the Olympics… and we don't have VAR in the games,' Borges said. 'We can't step onto the pitch in a game against Venezuela without knowing what the pitch (is) like. Worst of all, (we are) warming up on a synthetic pitch, (over) cement, within a space of 10, 15 meters, stinking of paint, because it looks like they painted the stadium there two days, one day before. 'So, it's very difficult, because last year we had a men's Copa América at good times, in good stadiums and we see… this disregard for women's football, and it's a shame.' CONMEBOL, soccer's governing body in South America, said it implemented this system to prevent damage to the pitch at Gonzalo Pozo Ripalda Stadium, which hosted back-to-back games that evening. Following public statements by Brazilian players, the confederation reneged, allowing players access to the pitch before each game. Kerolin, who plays for Manchester City in the Women's Super League, compared her experiences in Ecuador with what the world was seeing unravel at Euro 2025 in Switzerland — the best-attended and most-watched edition of the tournament. 'I'm watching the Euro today… and man… The difference in structure, audience, investment is surreal…' Kerolin wrote on X. 'It's downright discouraging, I didn't want to come here to talk about this, but structure would be the bare minimum for us. 'There's no way the whole world can evolve and here it's not even a priority. At least that's the experience I'm having. I hope they review and improve, it's a competition between NATIONAL TEAMS!!' Advertisement Yet, despite what they called 'discouraging' actions by those in charge — whether CONMEBOL or a team's own federation — South American teams thrived on the pitch. Paraguay's Claudia Martinez, 17, became the youngest goal scorer in a Copa América Femenina with a hat-trick against Bolivia, and also scored against Brazil. The teen was a bright spot for fifth-placed Paraguay, which, like Argentina and Uruguay, qualified for the 2027 Pan American Games. The final was a rematch of 2022 and featured the largest turnout of the tournament, by far. Colombia were fancied by many to possibly dethrone Brazil. Las Cafeteras came very, very close, too. Brazil's ninth title seemed inevitable last week after the two sides met in the group stage. Colombia could not break through against the defending champions, who were down to 10 players after goalkeeper Lorena was sent off in the 24th minute. Colombia did not capitalize and the 0-0 draw cast doubt on their title credentials. In the final, Colombia soon put paid to that by doing what very few South America teams can – scoring first against Brazil, putting them in an unfavorable and unfamiliar position. There were brilliant combinations from Caicedo and Ramirez, with Washington Spirit's Leicy Santos scoring off a set piece in the 115th minute, to make it 4-4. And the result could have been different had Colombia's Jorelyn Carabali not head-butted Brazilian forward Gio Garbelini inside the box, gifting Brazil a penalty, with Angelina making it 1-1 just before half time. While second place was not the objective for Colombia, this championship will serve as a 'before and after' moment. Their runners-up spot earned their spot at the 2028 LA Olympics, but they must continue their growth and upward trajectory, shifting their focus to World Cup qualification. With hosts Brazil already qualified, three further places are up for grabs through the inaugural CONMEBOL Women's Nations League, which starts at the end of October. All nine teams play each other home and away with the top two qualifying and the third- and fourth-placed sides entering a playoff. The new format has the potential for some major upsets, a key ingredient for more cinema on the pitch.
