Rich countries do better in women’s football but understanding why matters, not just for the Matildas

<p>‘Gender norms explain some of it, but not all of it’ says Tiya Banerjee, an economist at the e61 Institute</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/jun/10/australia-news-live-penny-wong-sanctions-west-bank-settlers-australian-politics-high-court-israel-palestine-settlers-immigration-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>In about a week’s time, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/04/fifa-world-cup-2026-when-where-how-to-watch-socceroos-australia-matches-games">the Socceroos will step up</a> against Turkey, their first opponents in this year’s World Cup.</p><p>Winning their first match will be a big ask; <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2026/jun/04/bracketology-predict-a-path-to-world-cup-victory">progressing beyond the first round</a> will be a bigger one.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/10/womens-sport-teams-wealthier-countries-do-better-australia-football-matildas-success">Continue reading...</a>