It was the year Australia and New Zealand hosted the largest and most watched event FIFA Women’s World Cupwhich culminated in Spain’s victory over one of the pre-tournament favorites, England, as inaugural champions.

The giant of women’s soccer, the United States, fell in the quarterfinals, and several small nations made a splash in the group stage.

The World Cup was packed with quality action, shocks and feel-good stories and culminated in the launch of Spanish football’s #MeToo movement.

Elsewhere, US Soccer delegated Emma Hayes the task of reviving her fading fame as the highest-paid women’s soccer coach in the world.

As we round out the year, here’s a look at 10 moments that shaped women’s football in 2023:

“Constantly growing ACL club”

Months before the World Cup, England captain Leah Williamson, New Zealand striker Katie Rood and several other top players had their luck rued after being sidelined with cruciate ligament injuries.

Rood announced the news with a post He said on Instagram: “I’m sad to say I’ve joined the ever-growing ACL club.”

To understand the widespread prevalence of the injury among female soccer players, Al Jazeera spoke to a wide range of experts and players who pointed out a number of factors, including the biological differences between men and women, the differences in their equipment and boots, physical stress and workload. The researchers also emphasized that women’s menstrual cycles could be a factor in their susceptibility to injury.

Player revolt precedes Spain’s historic victory

Almost a year before Spain’s glorious appearance at the World Cup, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and its players were there embroiled in a months-long standoff.

The “Las 15” – a group of 15 players, demanded changes to the national team’s lineup and did not stand for selection, directing the majority of their complaints to coach Jorge Vilda. They demanded improvements in working conditions and blamed them for their poor emotional and physical health.

The players later began talks with the association and three of them, including Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati, were included in Spain’s World Cup squad that brought La Roja their first World Cup title.

The players’ revolt continued after the World Cup in the wake of the scandal surrounding Luis Rubiales’ forced kiss on player Jenni Hermoso’s mouth. However, the team agreed to end its boycott in October after Rubiales was banned for three years by FIFA and the Spanish federation vowed to make “immediate and profound changes.”

When Hannah Dingley took over as head coach, albeit temporarily, of English League Two club Forest Green Rovers, she became the first woman to manage a professional men’s football team in England.

Dingley remained in the position for two weeks but was credited with breaking the glass ceiling for young girls taking leadership roles in men’s football.

Previously, Portuguese coach Helena Costa became the first woman to coach a men’s football team in France when she took charge of then French second division club Clermont Foot in 2014.

Several women have taken on coaching positions in men’s youth teams, but few have taken on the leadership of top men’s teams.

We can confirm that Hannah Dingley has been appointed as our Caretaker Head Coach.

Dingley will take charge of the team for tomorrow night’s friendly away to Melksham Town.#WeAreFGR💚

– Forest Green Rovers (@FGRFC_Official) July 4, 2023

Morocco shines at the historic first World Cup

Football fans and pundits may have thought Morocco had done its part This makes them the first Arab team to qualify for the Women’s World Cupbut the Atlas Lionesses wanted to prove them wrong.

“It’s great to continue making history,” said star striker Rosella Ayane said Al Jazeera according to their team made it to the round of 16 at the tournament.

At home, from Fes to Marrakesh and beyond, Fans gathered in cafesat home and on the streets to support the women in red and green as they faced their former colonial master France in the knockout rounds.

Despite her disappointing defeat against the FrenchThe rise of the Atlas Lionesses, several of whom play league football in Europe, made them popular in the football-loving African nation.

The impossible is not Moroccan 🇲🇦🤯

𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐞𝐬#DimaMaghrib #OneGameOneFamily #AtlasLionesses pic.twitter.com/TEpTEyESh3

– Team Morocco (@EnMaroc) August 3, 2023

Nouhaila Benzina in hijab breaks barriers

Morocco had a lot to say at the tournament Down Under as Nouhaila Benzina became the first Muslim Woman wears a hijab to play in the World Cup.

Football fans, especially Muslim women, praised Benzina for this break the barrier. Millions around the world watched her take to the pitch in a hijab, a month after France banned the Islamic headscarf at matches.

Activist Shaista Aziz was among the many Muslim women who supported Benzina on social media.

“The importance of this is HUGE for many #Muslim girls and women, including me,” Aziz wrote on X.

The USWNT juggernaut is grinding to a halt

Most predictions and talk leading up to the tournament focused on the U.S. women’s national team’s prospects of achieving a “three-peat,” or an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup title and fifth overall World Cup title.

The giants of women’s football began their season with a 3-0 win over Vietnam, but cracks began to show as they struggled against a strong Dutch side in the second game of the group stage, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Needing to avoid defeat to stay in the tournament, they played to a goalless draw against Portugal.

But on August 6, the juggernaut came to a halt when Sweden eliminated the defending champions in a crazy penalty shootout (5-4). The talismanic retirement of the great Megan Rapinoe He came on in extra time, replacing striker Alex Morgan, but failed to score the winning goal for the Americans, who suffered their quickest exit.

Debutants and minnows shine

The Philippines and Zambia made impressive World Cup debuts, recording stunning victories over New Zealand and Costa Rica. The Philippines’ victory against the co-hosts in particular caused a stir at home as the cheering crowd celebrated the surprising victory.

In their second World Cup participation, Jamaica and South Africa were the other surprise teams on the way to the knockout round.

It was arguably the biggest moment in women’s soccer – and women’s sports – in 2023. FIFA bans the powerful president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales for misconduct at the final of the Women’s World Cup, where he forcibly kissed the Spaniard Jenni Hermoso on the lips at the award ceremony.

The FIFA ban came more than two months after the shameful moment was televised around the world as Spain took the stage to collect their winners’ medals and trophies. Hermoso responded to the forced kiss in a social video, saying, “Hey, I didn’t like it, eh.”

She later filed a lawsuit against Rubiales initially refused to resign from his post and threatened the player with his own legal action. But the moment and the proceedings that followed were initiated The #MeToo movement in Spanish football When thousands of women took to the streets in Spain to show their support for Hermoso. Women’s soccer teams, fans and the men’s national team also condemned Rubiales.

The term #SeAcabo [it’s over] became synonymous with the movement as leading football players showed their solidarity.

Emma Hayes’ groundbreaking move to the USA

The USWNT’s poor run at the World Cup raised several questions about the future of the team and its management. Several players, including Rapinoe and midfielder Julie Ertz, retired from international football

Coach Vlatko Andonovski resigned immediately after exiting the tournament, leaving fans and pundits wondering who would take over one of the sport’s most prominent coaching positions.

Last month Chelsea manager Emma Hayes was named as Andonovski’s successor a move touted as a “breath of fresh air” and a milestone for women’s soccer as she becomes the highest-paid women’s soccer coach in the world, reportedly earning $2 million a year – the same as U.S. men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter .

The circle closes, back to the States. 🇺🇸

More about Emma Hayes’ career 👇

— United States Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) November 15, 2023

Women’s football in England took a major step forward after its top two leagues – the Women’s Super League and the Women’s Championship – decided to break away from the Football Association under the NewCo banner – a newly founded organization to lead professional women’s football in the country.

The change will come into effect from the 2024/25 season, but the news has sent women’s football in England into turmoil. The former FA director of women’s football said he has now found “his own voice”.