AUCKLAND – The first 32-team Women’s World Cup kicks off in Australia and New Zealand on Thursday, with the United States favourites to win an unprecedented third consecutive title in a landmark month for women’s football.
It has been a rapid expansion for a tournament that started in 1991 and featured only 16 teams as recently as 2011, then 24 in France four years ago when the USA retained the trophy.
That reflects a dramatic rise in interest in women’s football over the last decade beyond its…
