Where is the girl playing football?

The 2015 Women's World Cup is taking place in Canada. After eight years, the Chinese women's football team has once again made it to the global stage. Thanks to the girls' perseverance and passion, Chinese women's football has touched many hearts. However, the glory of the "Iron Blossoms" (the nickname for China's women's national team) has faded over time. Since the first Women's World Cup in 1991 in China, women's football has grown rapidly worldwide. Yet, despite its past dominance, China's women's football has struggled to maintain its position, with a weak grassroots foundation becoming a major challenge. Women’s football is still a relatively new concept in many developed countries. Today, in nations like Germany, the U.S., Japan, and Sweden, it's common to see girls playing football at all levels. In contrast, even more than 20 years later, in China, a girl who wants to play football instead of just watching often faces strange glances from others. Yang Xue, captain of Beijing Meilin Women's Football Team, feels this deeply. Every week, on the artificial turf field at Beijing Dongdan Sports Center, you can find a group of girls playing football. They are not professional athletes or sports school students — they come from different backgrounds: white-collar workers, college students, freelancers, and even mothers. What unites them is their love for the game. Yang Xue, born in the 80s, is energetic, humorous, independent, and fashion-forward. In the high-end office district of East Third Ring Road, there are countless women like her, but few would associate them with football. She grew up watching Guoan matches with her father, which sparked her early interest in the sport. At the age of 12, she began playing after being invited by boys from the school football team. From that moment on, football became a lifelong passion. “I loved the feeling of running, ball control, and shooting,” Yang Xue recalls. “I started playing then and have never stopped.” But as she moved into middle school, girls gradually stepped away from the game. “It was usually only one or two girls who played with the boys,” she says. Many girls grow up believing that football is not a sport for them. Yang Xue faced opposition from teachers and her mother because of her interest in the game. “My father was a big fan and supported me,” she says. “But how many people treat girls the same way? Why do boys play football while girls cheer?” she wonders. In China, for a girl who loves football, breaking through societal expectations is often harder than finding opportunities to play. While many admire women in sports like table tennis or badminton, football remains an unusual choice for girls. In developed countries, women’s football is thriving. When will China overcome these prejudices? In 2010, 25-year-old Yang Xue decided to turn her dream into reality by forming the Meilin Women's Football Team. The name symbolizes the strength of amateur women’s football, like plum blossoms enduring harsh winters and eventually blooming into a forest. Her vision was to create a space where women could play and shine. However, building the team was no easy task. “There were very few girls who played football, and even fewer who stuck with it,” Yang Xue explains. After five years, through online recruitment and player votes, the team grew to over 70 members, though only a dozen regularly participated. Despite the challenges, the team has become more than just a group of players — it's a community where girls can play together without having to compete with boys. Though their skills vary and their professions are diverse, they all share the joy of the game. For Yang Xue, football is simply a personal hobby, even if it's still rare in China. “Beijing may have only two women’s amateur teams now, and other cities might have a few too,” she says. “But I feel the power of football in China.” She shares a funny story about when her team first arrived at the Dongdan Sports Center. The staff charged them a lower fee, thinking they were just watching. Only after realizing they were actually playing did they change the price. Over time, the male players on the field also changed their attitude. Initially curious, they gradually accepted and even supported the girls, offering advice and playing with them. “There was no prejudice against girls who played football,” Yang Xue notes. Yet, this progress is still far from what’s seen in developed countries. Recently, she visited Japan and was surprised by the wide range of women’s football equipment available. In China, she and her teammates often wore the smallest men’s jerseys and shoes. “I hope China can bring women’s football into schools so that girls can play as much as boys,” she says. “If girls can enjoy football during their school years, they’ll be more likely to continue as adults.” As the Chinese women’s team tries to reclaim past glory in the Canadian World Cup, it’s clear that success depends not only on professional players but also on strong grassroots support. The development of amateur women’s football should not be overlooked. It’s time for China to invest in the future of women’s football — both on and off the pitch.

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