Women's Football
Tokyo is one of the most-visited cities in the world. Along with New York, London, Paris and Bangkok, it is a city that has a huge pull on tourists from across the globe. This year will see many more visitors descend on the city, but for a sporting purpose: the 2020 Olympic Games.
Asako Takakura, a native of Fukushima (around 150 miles north of Tokyo), will be hoping she has a stay to remember in her nation’s capital. As coach of the Nadeshiko, hosts at Tokyo 2020, her goal will be to reach the gold medal match at the Olympic Stadium on Friday 7 August. After a tough learning curve for a young squad at the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™, Takakura’s troops have their focus firmly on this year’s Olympics.
FIFA.com sat down with the former midfielder and FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup-winning coach to discuss last year’s World Cup, and welcoming the world to Japan for Tokyo 2020.
Tokyo is one of the most-visited cities in the world. Along with New York, London, Paris and Bangkok, it is a city that has a huge pull on tourists from across the globe. This year will see many more visitors descend on the city, but for a sporting purpose: the 2020 Olympic Games.
Asako Takakura, a native of Fukushima (around 150 miles north of Tokyo), will be hoping she has a stay to remember in her nation’s capital. As coach of the Nadeshiko, hosts at Tokyo 2020, her goal will be to reach the gold medal match at the Olympic Stadium on Friday 7 August. After a tough learning curve for a young squad at the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™, Takakura’s troops have their focus firmly on this year’s Olympics.
FIFA.com sat down with the former midfielder and FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup-winning coach to discuss last year’s World Cup, and welcoming the world to Japan for Tokyo 2020.
I’d be lying if I said there was no pressure, but I think it’s important to do my best and ensure the players, and I, don’t forget to enjoy our football.
USA
The gathered stars courtside for the 69th NBA All-Star Game, probably expected to see players from Team Lebron and Team Giannis practise step-back threes, Euro steps and alley-oops during their warm-up routine.
Instead, Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jimmy Butler and Joel Embiid began soccer showboating and a keepy-uppie routine – all with a classic 22oz, leather basketball.
The ringleader? Butler. Jimmy ‘Buckets’ came back from the Rio Olympics in 2016 with two new loves: a 500-gram, laurel-leafed gold medal and football.
Just moments before taking to the court in Chicago, the 30-year-old Miami Heat forward and five-time NBA All-Star chatted to FIFA.com about his love of Neymar, Paul Pogba and Brazilian football, the battles to win the UEFA Champions League and Qatar 2022, the USWNT and what Kobe Bryant meant to him.
The gathered stars courtside for the 69th NBA All-Star Game, probably expected to see players from Team Lebron and Team Giannis practise step-back threes, Euro steps and alley-oops during their warm-up routine.
Instead, Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jimmy Butler and Joel Embiid began soccer showboating and a keepy-uppie routine – all with a classic 22oz, leather, basketball.
The ringleader? Butler. Jimmy ‘Buckets’ came back from the Rio Olympics in 2016 with two new loves: a 500-gram, laurel-leafed gold medal and football.
Just moments before taking to the court in Chicago, the 30-year-old Miami Heat forward and five-time NBA All-Star chatted to FIFA.com about his love of Neymar, Paul Pogba and Brazilian football, the battles to win the UEFA Champions League and Qatar 2022, the USWNT and what Kobe Bryant meant to him.
It would be huge for Brazil [to win another World Cup]. It would be huge for Neymar and all those other young guys that they have. I really respect what Brazil does for football. All of their players are so talented. They live, breathe football.
Women's Football
Desiree Ellis knows what is to thrive and excel. Just last month, she collected her second successive CAF Women’s Coach of the Year award, having led South Africa to their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup.
But Ellis also knows what’s it like to struggle, and to suffer. Though she loved football from an early age, opportunities to play the game with other girls and young women were scarce.
Having had to deal with persecution and ill-treatment in her pursuit simply playing football, plenty might have wondered whether it was worth the aggravation. But Ellis’s love for the game, and her fighter’s nature, propelled her to a distinguished playing career and onwards to even greater heights in the dugout.
Now, with her latest trophy glistening on the mantelpiece and memories of that first Women’s World Cup still fresh, Ellis took time to talk with FIFA.com and reflect on the changes she's witnessed and the experiences that have stopped her in her tracks.
Desiree Ellis knows what is to thrive and excel. Just last month, she collected her second successive CAF Women’s Coach of the Year award, having led South Africa to their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup.
But Ellis also knows what’s it like to struggle, and to suffer. Though she loved football from an early age, opportunities to play the game with other girls and young women were scarce.
Having had to deal with persecution and ill-treatment in her pursuit simply playing football, plenty might have wondered whether it was worth the aggravation. But Ellis’s love for the game, and her fighter’s nature, propelled her to a distinguished playing career and onwards to even greater heights in the dugout.
Now, with her latest trophy glistening on the mantelpiece and memories of that first Women’s World Cup still fresh, Ellis took time to talk with FIFA.com and reflect on the changes she's witnessed and the experiences that have stopped her in her tracks.
The best part of the Women's World cup was when we came back to South Africa and saw the crowd that was waiting to congratulate and celebrate with us. That’s when I really got a lump in my throat because I realised fully the magnitude of what we had achieved.
Belgium stay top, Palestine make gains
Discover
Belgium
Pts. 1765
France
Pts. 1733
Brazil
Pts. 1712
England
Pts. 1661
Uruguay
Pts. 1645
Croatia
Pts. 1642
#52 Zigic: I’ve learned something from every country I’ve played in
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USA
Pts. 2174
Germany
Pts. 2078
Netherlands
Pts. 2035
France
Pts. 2033
Sweden
Pts. 2022
England
Pts. 2001
The Football Law Annual Review initiative, which was launched in 2019 as part of FIFA’s drive towards greater transparency is designed to share the most important regulatory changes and decisions of the last year with representatives of national associations, leagues, clubs and players’ unions, as well as professionals in the legal field.
As the world’s number one sport, football is uniquely placed to strengthen initiatives that can improve the lives of young people around the world.
The Football Association
Mental health takes centre stage in England
FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking
Men's Ranking #4
Women's Ranking #6
