Soccer Moms Shine: Women's World Cup Highlights Progress for Working Mothers

 Soccer Moms Shine: Women's World Cup Highlights Progress for Working Mothers

Soccer Moms Shine: Women's World Cup(Image-Getty)

Soccer-playing mothers will take center stage as the Women's World Cup commences this week in Australia and New Zealand, marking a significant step forward since the 2019 tournament for working moms.

Alex Morgan, co-captain of the United States team, will be accompanied by her three-year-old daughter, Charlie.

"I am truly grateful for the trailblazing women who came before me, fighting for mother athletes," Morgan expressed. "We are still navigating uncharted territory, striving to break down existing barriers."

FIFA only approved regulations guaranteeing maternity leave for professional women footballers in December 2020. This decision, hailed as crucial by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, aims to enhance women's football globally.

According to the new rules, players are entitled to 14 weeks of maternity leave, while clubs are obligated to retain them and provide medical support.

However, while these regulations contribute to career stability, transforming the "sport's culture" is a more complex task, as explained by Ali Bowes, a senior lecturer in the Sociology of Sport at Nottingham Trent University.

"Athletes have expressed feelings of guilt when trying to balance their athletic pursuits and motherhood, as it requires time away from their children," Bowes shared with Reuters. "The discussion around children, childcare, guilt, and related topics is rarely addressed in elite men's sports due to the complicated social conventions surrounding motherhood."

Bowes co-authored a study in 2021, revealing that professional women footballers in England also face the dilemma of choosing between being a parent and a professional athlete.

"They are concerned about how they will be perceived as part of the team," Bowes added. "Will they be judged for not prioritizing football?"

Iceland midfielder Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir successfully filed a claim against her former club, Olympique Lyonnais, in January after not receiving her full salary during her pregnancy months, despite helping the team secure the Women's Champions League title.

The upcoming World Cup will showcase a diverse group of working parents determined to challenge long-standing stereotypes. For instance, Jamaica's Konya Plummer, who gave birth last year, will participate in her second World Cup alongside her teammate Cheyna Matthews, who became a mother for the third time.

Amel Majri, a midfielder for France, was the first player with a child to join the national team following her childbirth in 2022. She will be part of the team's pursuit of their first World Cup title.

The presence of mothers on the pitch is not unusual for the United States. U.S. Soccer has supported 17 current and former players who became mothers during their playing careers, starting from the mid-1990s, providing assistance to mothers for over 25 years.

Morgan is among the three mothers playing for the four-time champions, along with defender Crystal Dunn and midfielder Julie Ertz, who plan to bring their young children with them during the tournament.

"I wouldn't have been able to recover, return, and feel embraced if I didn't have the resources and support available to me," Dunn, who gave birth in May 2022, acknowledged. "Announcing my pregnancy wasn't followed by a 'goodbye' or feeling neglected. It was met with 'What do you need? How can we support you?'"