US based soccer fans know that the best representatives of American soccer on the international stage are the members of the United States Women’s National Team. The women have had far more success on the global stage than their male counterparts. In fact, the USWNT is the most successful in international women's soccer, winning four Women's World Cup titles (including the first Women's World Cup in 1991), four Olympic gold medals (including the first Olympic women's soccer tournament in 1996), and eight CONCACAF Gold Cups.
Despite the women’s accomplishments, they are still fighting for equal pay. In March of 2019 the USWNT filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation. The suit alleges that the USSF engages in "institutionalized gender discrimination" toward the team. The discrimination "has caused, contributed to, and perpetuated gender-based pay disparities" against the players in "nearly every aspect of their employment," the lawsuit reads.
As the women’ national team continues its fight for equality, the fight is continuing at the grassroots level as well. An example is Girls United Football Association. GUFA is a nonprofit organization that provides girls an opportunity to play soccer and learn life skills. Part of the organization’s mission is to promote gender equality in sport and life.
Girls United FA uses sport as a tool for social impact by setting up football academies for girls, workshops and coaching courses, in low-income areas internationally. Its first club began operating in March 2017 in Bacalar, Mexico. They have since opened in London and are preparing to enter the US market soon.
As the organization continues to grow, donors and sponsors are always welcome as well as the opportunity to participate in events and fundraisers that promote women’s sport and inclusion.