Latest news with #J-League
Kyodo News
7 hours ago
- Business
- Kyodo News
FOCUS: As women's football grows in Europe, Japan aims to follow suit
KYODO NEWS - 7 hours ago - 10:21 | Sports, All In a sign of its growing global status, women's football at the next Summer Olympics will feature more participating teams than the men's competition. The number of teams will expand from 12 to 16 in Los Angeles, marking the first time in Olympic history that women will have a bigger representation in the global sport. In Europe, some clubs draw more spectators to women's games than to men's, bringing in huge amounts of money, in contrast to Japan's still-struggling WE League that kicked off in 2021. Pronounced "we," the first two letters are an acronym for "women's empowerment." The burgeoning popularity of the women's game in Europe was spectacularly illustrated during the UEFA Women's Champions League in March 2022. A total of 91,553 spectators watched a game when Barcelona hosted Real Madrid in an all-Spanish clash at Camp Nou, the home of their world-famous men's team. The world record for women's football was rewritten the following month, to 91,648 as Camp Nou saw Barcelona and Germany's Wolfsburg. The Barcelona women's team turned professional in 2015 and built their own natural turf training base. The team has attracted some 13 million followers across all platforms through their fan-oriented social networking strategy, which features female players in equal proportions in ads with male Barcelona players. The women's team is expected to earn about 23 million euros this season, a level close to a first-division club in the men's J-League in Japan. Women's football was once regarded as a corporate social responsibility project for men's clubs, but Barcelona's bold investments in women's players, facilities and staff have led to brisk revenue from sponsorships, tickets and jersey sales. "Women's football goes far beyond the framework of CSR and has great potential in business," said Judit Farre, head of Barcelona women's business operations. "There are still a lot of things we should be doing." "We are always open to finding new markets," Farre said, while noting she was interested in doing business in Japan. Last September in Japan, J-League Chairman Yoshikazu Nonomura began double duties as head of the WE League. The WE League remained in the black in the fiscal year to March 2024, but the women's league is heavily dependent on a 425-million-yen subsidy from the Japan Football Association. Nonomura is trying to acquire sponsors in cooperation with the J-League, with the aim of stabilizing the financial base. In its third season of 2023-24, the WE League had an average attendance of 1,723 per game, far less than its founding goal of 5,000. But the WE League has begun collaborating with the J-League and the JFA in terms of attendance. Last December, the final of the WE League Cup drew a record crowd of 21,524 as a result of coordinated promotional efforts. The WE League plans to continue sharing fan data with all 12 clubs to boost attendance. Related coverage: Pioneering women's sports bar draws crowds, eyes path to equality Football: Nadeshiko Japan drop opener of friendly series in Brazil Football: Wataru Endo lifts trophy as Liverpool celebrate title with fans
Kyodo News
15 hours ago
- Business
- Kyodo News
FOCUS: As women's football grows in Europe, Japan aims to follow suit
KYODO NEWS - 9 minutes ago - 10:21 | Sports, All In a sign of its growing global status, women's football at the next Summer Olympics will feature more participating teams than the men's competition. The number of teams will expand from 12 to 16 in Los Angeles, marking the first time in Olympic history that women will have a bigger representation in the global sport. In Europe, some clubs draw more spectators to women's games than to men's, bringing in huge amounts of money, in contrast to Japan's still-struggling WE League that kicked off in 2021. Pronounced "we," the first two letters are an acronym for "women's empowerment." The burgeoning popularity of the women's game in Europe was spectacularly illustrated during the UEFA Women's Champions League in March 2022. A total of 91,553 spectators watched a game when Barcelona hosted Real Madrid in an all-Spanish clash at Camp Nou, the home of their world-famous men's team. The world record for women's football was rewritten the following month, to 91,648 as Camp Nou saw Barcelona and Germany's Wolfsburg. The Barcelona women's team turned professional in 2015 and built their own natural turf training base. The team has attracted some 13 million followers across all platforms through their fan-oriented social networking strategy, which features female players in equal proportions in ads with male Barcelona players. The women's team is expected to earn about 23 million euros this season, a level close to a first-division club in the men's J-League in Japan. Women's football was once regarded as a corporate social responsibility project for men's clubs, but Barcelona's bold investments in women's players, facilities and staff have led to brisk revenue from sponsorships, tickets and jersey sales. "Women's football goes far beyond the framework of CSR and has great potential in business," said Judit Farre, head of Barcelona women's business operations. "There are still a lot of things we should be doing." "We are always open to finding new markets," Farre said, while noting she was interested in doing business in Japan. Last September in Japan, J-League Chairman Yoshikazu Nonomura began double duties as head of the WE League. The WE League remained in the black in the fiscal year to March 2024, but the women's league is heavily dependent on a 425-million-yen subsidy from the Japan Football Association. Nonomura is trying to acquire sponsors in cooperation with the J-League, with the aim of stabilizing the financial base. In its third season of 2023-24, the WE League had an average attendance of 1,723 per game, far less than its founding goal of 5,000. But the WE League has begun collaborating with the J-League and the JFA in terms of attendance. Last December, the final of the WE League Cup drew a record crowd of 21,524 as a result of coordinated promotional efforts. The WE League plans to continue sharing fan data with all 12 clubs to boost attendance. Related coverage: Pioneering women's sports bar draws crowds, eyes path to equality Football: Nadeshiko Japan drop opener of friendly series in Brazil Football: Wataru Endo lifts trophy as Liverpool celebrate title with fans
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
As women's football grows in Europe, Japan aims to follow suit
Japan's Kiko Seike celebrates scoring their first goal against Brazil on June 2. PHOTO: REUTERS As women's football grows in Europe, Japan aims to follow suit TOKYO – In a sign of its growing global status, women's football at the next Summer Olympics will feature more participating teams than the men's competition. The number of teams will expand from 12 to 16 at Los Angeles 2028, marking the first time in Olympic history that women will have a bigger representation in the global sport. In Europe, some clubs draw more spectators to women's games than to men's, bringing in huge amounts of money, in contrast to Japan's still-struggling WE League that kicked off in 2021. Pronounced 'we', the first two letters are an acronym for 'women's empowerment'. The burgeoning popularity of the women's game in Europe was spectacularly illustrated during the Uefa Women's Champions League in March 2022. A total of 91,553 spectators watched a game when Barcelona hosted Real Madrid in an all-Spanish clash at Camp Nou, the home of their world-famous men's team. The world record for women's football was rewritten the following month, to 91,648 as Camp Nou saw Barcelona and Germany's Wolfsburg. The Barcelona women's team turned professional in 2015 and built their own natural turf training base. The team has attracted some 13 million followers across all platforms through their fan-oriented social networking strategy, which features female players in equal proportions in ads with male Barcelona players. The women's team is expected to earn about €23 million (S$33.8 million) this season, a level close to a first-division club in the men's J-League in Japan. Women's football was once regarded as a corporate social responsibility project for men's clubs, but Barcelona's bold investments in women's players, facilities and staff have led to brisk revenue from sponsorships, tickets and jersey sales. 'Women's football goes far beyond the framework of CSR and has great potential in business,' said Judit Farre, head of Barcelona women's business operations. 'There are still a lot of things we should be doing.' 'We are always open to finding new markets,' Farre added, while noting she was interested in doing business in Japan. Last September in Japan, J-League Chairman Yoshikazu Nonomura began double duties as head of the WE League. The WE League remained in the black in the fiscal year to March 2024, but the women's league is heavily dependent on a 425-million-yen subsidy from the Japan Football Association. Nonomura is trying to acquire sponsors in cooperation with the J-League, with the aim of stabilizing the financial base. In its third season of 2023-24, the WE League had an average attendance of 1,723 per game, far less than its founding goal of 5,000. But the WE League has begun collaborating with the J-League and the JFA in terms of attendance. Last December, the final of the WE League Cup drew a record crowd of 21,524 as a result of coordinated promotional efforts. KYODO NEWS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Popovic wants win over ‘best team in Asia' in quest for World Cup berth
AUSTRALIA coach Tony Popovic is eyeing victory over Japan on Thursday to not only boost his side's World Cup qualification hopes but further improve the Socceroos' prospects of becoming the strongest team in the Asian confederation. The Australians face Hajime Moriyasu's much-changed squad in Perth knowing a win would take them to the verge of securing a ticket for next year's 48-team finals in North America as runners-up in Group C behind the already-qualified Japanese. 'A win is something that we're pushing towards,' said Popovic, who led his team to a 1-1 draw when the sides last met in October. 'We feel confident we can show an improved performance from what we did in Japan, albeit that was a very good one. 'We'll have to be at our best to beat the best team in Asia. That's where we want to get to and to be the best we have to beat the best and they clearly are.' The Japanese confirmed their ticket for the finals in March and, as a result, head coach Moriyasu has named a squad featuring eight uncapped players for the trip to Perth. While Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo and Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo have been included in the 27-player line, the Japanese are missing key players such as Kaoru Mitoma, Hidemasa Morita and Ayase Ueda. Australia go into the game in second place in the group, three points ahead of Saudi Arabia with two games remaining, although Popovic will be without goal-scoring midfielder Jackson Irvine, who is sidelined after foot surgery. 'It's not their best squad, I wonder what that will look like because when we played them in Japan they had their starting 11 all playing in Europe,' Popovic said. 'We can see that they have a mixture of J-League players and European based players in their squad. We haven't beaten them often and I'm sure they'll be strong regardless of who they play.'
The Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Popovic wants win over 'best team in Asia' in quest for World Cup berth
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - World Cup - AFC Qualifiers - Third Round - Group C - Australia v Indonesia - Post-match Press Conference - Allianz Stadium, Sydney, Australia - March 20, 2025 Australia's Tony Popovic during the press conference after the match REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File photo (Reuters) -Australia coach Tony Popovic is eyeing victory over Japan on Thursday to not only boost his side's World Cup qualification hopes but further improve the Socceroos' prospects of becoming the strongest team in the Asian confederation. The Australians face Hajime Moriyasu's much-changed squad in Perth knowing a win would take them to the verge of securing a ticket for next year's 48-team finals in North America as runners-up in Group C behind the already-qualified Japanese. "A win is something that we're pushing towards," said Popovic, who led his team to a 1-1 draw when the sides last met in October. "We feel confident we can show an improved performance from what we did in Japan, albeit that was a very good one. "We'll have to be at our best to beat the best team in Asia. That's where we want to get to and to be the best we have to beat the best and they clearly are." The Japanese confirmed their ticket for the finals in March and, as a result, head coach Moriyasu has named a squad featuring eight uncapped players for the trip to Perth. While Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo and Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo have been included in the 27-player line, the Japanese are missing key players such as Kaoru Mitoma, Hidemasa Morita and Ayase Ueda. Australia go into the game in second place in the group, three points ahead of Saudi Arabia with two games remaining, although Popovic will be without goal-scoring midfielder Jackson Irvine, who is sidelined after foot surgery. "It's not their best squad, I wonder what that will look like because when we played them in Japan they had their starting 11 all playing in Europe," Popovic said. "We can see that they have a mixture of J-League players and European based players in their squad. We haven't beaten them often and I'm sure they'll be strong regardless of who they play." (Reporting by Michael Church; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
