Media, Communication and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

This book takes a close look at the themes of media and communication in the context of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, one of the most attended women’s sporting events in history. Featuring the work of leading researchers from around the world, the book examines how the tournament was represented through traditional, digital and social forms of media, and considers how an analysis of media and communications in, around and after the tournament can help to illuminate our understanding of key themes in the study of women and sport. The book presents a series of important and fascinating cases - including media representation of Muslim women at the tournament; analysis of media reaction to USWNT results; the role of podcasts in the coverage of the tournament, and a social media analysis of sexual violence toward women athletes at the WWC – that together form a multi-layered picture of a seminal event in the history of women’s sport. This book is vital reading for anybody with an interest in women’s sport, gender and sport, the sociology of sport, media studies, communication studies, event studies or sport business and management.

Molly Yanity is professor and director of the sports media and communication program at the University of Rhode Island, USA. A former sportswriter, Yanity also serves as a board member for the International Association for Communication and Sport. Danielle Sarver Coombs has widely published research centered on politics, sports, and the politics of sport. She is an expert on consumer insights research and understanding fandom. She is based at Ravensbourne University London, UK.