Equal Playing Field

This month, 30 women who broke the Guinness World Record for the highest altitude soccer game ever played, continue their quest for gender equality in sports by heading to Jordan to play the lowest altitude soccer game ever. The challenges they will face are symbolic of the many obstacles they have had to overcome trying to play the game they love. It is well-documented that women have fewer opportunities to play sports, get paid less compared to their male counterparts when they do, and do not receive the same coverage or respect in the media for their efforts. Although the inequities in sports are just as vast as those faced by women in other industries, such as business or entertainment, they fail to incite the same level of outrage. To raise awareness and help the development of women’s football on a grass-roots level, the teams will launch a 12-day tour of Jordan to play exhibition games and set up football clinics for local communities, reaching over 400 girls in the region. They will be delivering a message of inclusivity and equality, with the official endorsement of His Royal Highness Prince Ali Bin Hussein and the support of the Jordanian Embassy.