15 h. ago Women’s World Cup to expand to 48 teams from 2031 tournament

The 2023 edition in Australia and New Zealand was the first to have 32 teams, up from 24 in the 2019 tournament hosted by France

Politics

47 h. ago How can a country that is hosting the World Cup have no sponsor for its top flight?

The Copa do Brasil is back after a nine-year break but there are concerns about Brazil’s top flight before a first World Cup in South AmericaAfter a nine-year hiatus, fans of Brazilian women’s football will once again be able to support their clubs in the Copa do Brasil. The cup will bring together 65 clubs from the three divisions of the national women’s football league, starting with a preliminary round on 21 May and concluding with the final in November. It is a return that has long been requested by the women’s football community in Brazil in order to expand the calendar for lower-division clubs and gives high-profile teams such as Flamengo, Corinthians and Santos another opportunity to compete for silverware.However, all is not rosy on the Brazilian club scene only two years before Brazil are to host the Women’s World Cup for the first time. There have been a few years of growing sponsorship and visibility in the top tier, the Brasileirão A1, but this season has exposed the cha...

Politics

64 h. ago Red Roses confirm clashes with Spain and France in World Cup warm

England have added two warm-up matches to the calendar ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup

Events

8 d. ago Malala, Miss America and the MCC: welcome to the Women’s T20 World Cup launch

MCC’s inner sanctum, off-limits to women until 1999, hosts quirky event where vast majority of attendees are femaleVanessa Williams, the American actress of Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives fame, is on the surface an unlikely candidate to spearhead the launch of a Cricket World Cup.However, at Lord’s on Thursday Williams formed part of an all-female panel – alongside World Rugby player of the year Ellie Kildunne and Nobel peace prize winner (and former Oxford University cricketer) Malala Yousafzai – which officially kickstarted the countdown to the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, to be held in England. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Lord’s to host Women’s T20 World Cup final as venues revealed for 2026 tournament

The ground also hosted the final in 2009 when England triumphed on home soil

Politics

1 week ago England coach John Mitchell questions smaller women’s World Cup squad size

Squad sizes are capped at 32 for the women’s tournament, one fewer than men’s sides are permitted to select at the World Cup

Politics

1 week ago Narrow win ‘ideal’ for England’s World Cup preparations, says Mitchell

Red Roses win Six Nations after 43-42 victory over FranceCoach believes Twickenham experience will help playersJohn Mitchell said England’s one-point win over France was the “ideal” test for his side with the Rugby World Cup on the horizon.The Red Roses won their seventh consecutive Women’s Six Nations title after holding off a late French comeback at Twickenham. It was by far the closest match for England in this tournament, with their other four matches resulting in dominant wins. The lack of competition that the Red Roses face have led some to believe they needed a loss or a close game to learn from in order to know the answers if challenged at the upcoming World Cup. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago First Europe, then the world: Twickenham awaits in year of twin peaks for England

Grand slam clash is vital stepping stone in Red Roses’ quest to reclaim the World Cup crown they last held in 2014There are two games to think about at Twickenham on Saturday, the one the Red Roses will play in, and the one they want to play in. The first is their grand slam decider against France, which kicks off at 4.45pm. The second – at the same venue, five months and one day later – is the World Cup final which, if everything goes as the team hopes at the Stadium of Light, Franklin’s Gardens, Ashton Gate and the other grounds they will visit between now and then, will be the next game they play at the home of English rugby.The Red Roses head coach, John Mitchell, has been around long enough to know the smart thing to do is separate the two. “We’ve got to be careful focusing on the World Cup final because we’ve got to earn the right to contest it,” Mitchell said this week. “It’s good to have the chance to be back at our home stadium, but it’s an isolated situation, that’s the wa...

Politics

2 w. ago Your Guardian Sport weekend: Liverpool on verge, FA Cup semis, Women’s Six Nations finale and London Marathon

Here’s how to follow along with our coverage – the finest writing and up-to-the-minute reports Continue reading...

Sport

2 w. ago Tammy Beaumont says England spots up for grabs in ‘extremely exciting’ new era

The inaugural women’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup begins on Wednesday.

Politics

2 w. ago Kathryn Bryce admits switching allegiance to England is ‘always an option’

Scotland missed out on a top-two finish in Women’s World Cup qualifying but Bryce was player of the tournament.

Politics

3 w. ago Mary Fowler out with ACL injury in new blow for Manchester City

Australia forward injured against Manchester UnitedFowler says she is ready for ‘challenging’ road aheadManchester City have been hit by another serious injury blow after the Australia forward Mary Fowler sustained a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during Sunday’s Women’s FA Cup semi-final defeat by Manchester United.The 22-year-old, who has scored 10 times this season, is likely to be out for at least the remainder of the year. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Manchester United reach Women’s FA Cup final after Bizet and Clinton sink City

It would be wrong to suggest there has been a seismic shift in momentum in Manchester, but United’s 2-0 defeat of a beleaguered City to set up an FA Cup final against Chelsea showed a maturity and composure that has sometimes proved elusive in the fixture.City bowed out of the tournament with, ultimately, a whimper, their last hope of a trophy over within 22 minutes but written off by many before a ball was kicked at a windswept Academy stadium. Nick Cushing’s squad has been torn apart by injuries, their squad so threadbare that just four outfield players were named on the bench, including 17-year-old Sacha Lewis, who joined Derby on a dual registration in January to get playing minutes in the National League Northern Premier Division. Continue reading...

Sport

3 w. ago Women's FA Cup: Chelsea show 'ruthless' mentality to reach final

Women's FA Cup: Chelsea show 'ruthless' mentality to reach final  BBC

Sport

4 w. ago How Red Roses star Abby Dow emerged from sister’s shadow to become England’s wing wonder

As she prepares to win her 50th cap, Dow opens up to Harry Latham-Coyle about dreading game day, studying the world’s best wings and how being the youngest sibling shaped her rugby journey

Politics