by Boca Juniors is undoubtedly one of the most iconic clubs in South American football, be it on the men’s or women’s side. Based in Buenos Aires, the women’s team dominated domestically in the semi-professional era and won their fourth consecutive year-end title in Argentina in December.
However, not all is rosy. There are many challenges facing women’s football in Argentina and therefore this affects Boca’s results internationally. “Boca has made history, especially recently,” says Argentine journalist Sofia Jaimez Bertazzo. “The level they have achieved individually and together is incredible and it is reflected not only in the titles won but also in the players who go abroad.” One such example is Yamila Rodríguez, who signed for Brazilian side Palmeiras after the two clubs played in the 2022 Libertadores final.
Related: Top 100 female footballers in the world 2023 – Numbers 100-41
Although Argentinians are passionate about football, it took many years before the women’s game reached some level of professionalism. It wasn’t until 2019 that the country’s FA and the players’ union made the “professionalisation of the women’s game” official. Almost five years later, according to a report by the Argentine fact-checking agency Chequeado, more than 40% of the players in the top division are still amateurs. In fact, in 2023 none of the first division clubs had a 100% professional squad. Boca is one of five clubs with over 20 professional players but the overall picture means that the level of the league, although improving, is still lower than the one in Brazil, for example.
Things are slowly changing and interest in the women’s game has increased among the public and the media. “Recently in Argentina the audience has changed and we see more fans in the stadiums when the women’s games are on,” says Bertazzo. “And the last Women’s World Cup had a lot of media attention and a lot of journalists traveled to New Zealand and Australia to report on what was happening. This gives a lot of people the opportunity to get closer to the game.”
Argentina featured in another Women’s World Cup this year as a staple – and public broadcaster Televisión Pública saw record audiences for Argentina’s group stage matches at the tournament. In recent years, clubs in South America have increased investment in women’s football. For the national sides to improve, however, as Bertazzo says, the decision-making process needs to change. “Essentially, these are the leadership decisions we see doing better internationally. It’s a long process, but it’s happening.”
Boca are clearly ahead of the curve at the moment – and they hope to consolidate that success thanks to the recent leadership change. In December, the former player Juan Romaán Riquelme won the elections to become the president of the Xeneize. A day before the polls opened he attended Boca Women’s 2-0 win over Belgrano in which the club won their second title of the year. A legend for the men’s team supporting the women’s team should bode well for the future Gladidoras.
“Of course, he is as strong as an icon in the club and in the hearts of the people as a player but now we have to see how the leader Riquelme works. But expectations are high,” says Bertazzo. However, she prefers not to predict how Riquelme’s leadership will affect the women’s side. “I can say that he, as Boca’s idol, should continue to support his female players and improve their conditions.”
And there is work to be done. Boca’s dominance in Argentina has yet to be reflected on the international stage. The Argentine team has never won the Copa Libertadores Femenina, the club competition for women’s teams in South America. In 2022, Boca reached the final against Palmeiras but lost the final 4-0. Of the 15 editions of the Libertadores, a Brazilian club has won 12 with Colombia, Paraguay and Chile claiming the title each. In 2023, Boca failed to qualify, finishing third in their group.
“This international experience gives Boca a different perspective compared to other teams in Argentina. This increased international challenge requires them to improve to get the results they want,” says Bertazzo. “The women’s game in Argentina needs better infrastructure, better salaries, sponsors for the women’s national team and more frequent camps and matches.”
The challenges are not just external challenges. Boca has undergone major changes in the past year and in April 2023, former coach Jorge Daniel Martínez was accused of sexual abuse by a club employee. He denies the charges but was replaced by former player Florencia Quiñones, who went on to win two national championships of the year. They were the team’s 27th and 28th national titles.
“We live in a region where football is still entwined with the man, but this is changing,” says Bertazzo. “There are clubs like Boca that have decided to invest in women, give them better conditions and have more professional players in the squad. That raises the bar.”
Recommended listening
In the latest edition of Women’s Football Weekly, Suzanne Wrack, Chris Paouros and Kelly Simmons join Faye Carruthers to discuss Sam Kerr’s ACL injury and all the news from the winter break.
Related: Sam Kerr and January ACL Pain Transfers – Women’s Soccer Weekly Podcast
Talking points
Disappointment for Kerr: Chelsea announced on Sunday evening that Sam Kerr had torn his ACL during their training camp and is now out. With her contract expiring in the summer she may even have played her last game for the club.
Hermoso at Tigres: Tigres UANL kicked off the Liga MX Femenil clausura tournament with a 1-0 win over Atlético San Luís. The club, who were champions of the Mexican league, had a special guest at the stadium: Spanish star and new signing for the Amazonas, Jenni Hermoso. The No. 10 ready to make his debut for Tigres next Saturday against Pumas UNAM.
Supercoppa Italiana: Juventus have already claimed their first trophy of 2024, after beating Roma 2-1 to win the Supercoppa Italiana, the match between the winners of Serie A and Coppa Italia. Juventus took an early lead after an own goal by Evelyne Viens, before Saki Kumagai equalized for Roma. In the second half, Maëlle Garbino secured the title with a beautiful effort from outside the box.
Quote of the week
“Without a constant improvement mindset, always setting the bar high, you’ll get nowhere. It was always clear to me – this was not something that hit me at a certain point in my life. The perfectionist attitude is fine, but it can also be a bit obsessed. You should not forget to be happy and enjoy the journey” – Aitana Bonmatí on her work ethic and attitude in an interview with fifa.com ahead of the Best Fifa Football Awards.
Recommended viewing
He has the Liga F back and this great effort by Sheila Guijarro one of her four goals for Atlético Madrid against Valencia. Their 6-1 win in their first competitive game in 2024 will certainly bode well for the year ahead.
Still want more?
• This week we reveal our 2023 list of the 100 best female footballers in the world. We’re down to No 41 with the next 30 to be published on Thursday and the top 10 on Friday. Follow the countdown here.
• Sophie Downey reflected on what Kerr’s injury means for the player, Chelsea and Australia, as well as the shadow that ACL injuries cast on the women’s game.
• There was sad news as Danish defender Rikke Sevecke had to retire from football with a heart condition.
• And the Portland Thorns were finally sold to the Bhathal family for $63m after a year-long saga.
Get in touch
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