The Brazilian National Team turned the score around three times in the final against Colombia and won its ninth Copa América. What does Verdeamarela have that dominates the competition from end to end?
On August 2, the final of the women's Copa América was played at the Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium in Quito, Ecuador. There they faced Colombia, who knew how to be one step ahead in the 90 minutes, and Brazil, who did not lose track of them and turned the score around three times before finishing 4 to 4 and deciding on penalties.
As (almost) always, Verdeamarela won a new final and took the trophy for the ninth time in its history.
The women's Copa América was played ten times, of which nine times the trophy went to Brazil. The only time that Canarinha did not win the biggest prize was in 2006, when Argentina won in the edition held in Mar del Plata.
In fact, even in defeat, for Colombia the final was a historic match, since it was the first team to score more than two goals against the Brazilians in this instance of the Copa América.
The success of those directed by Arthur Elías is not a coincidence, although it is a habit. In Brazil, women's soccer began to be included in tournaments in 1979 and, although it was suspended in 2001, its power grew in its recovery and return to the ring in 2013. At that time, the Brazilian Football Confederation decided to restart the 20-team championship. Today, Brazilian clubs compete in the Brasileirão, the Brazilian Women's Soccer Cup and the Super Cup, in addition to the international tournaments where they always win, such as the Copa Libertadores.
The former coach of the U-20 National Team, Rosana dos Santos Augusto, told EFE that the fact that the matches of the different tournaments were televised gave much greater relevance to the women's teams in a country where, like in Argentina, they breathe soccer.
In addition, clubs charge affordable tickets to go and cheer on the women's teams that, for the most part, play in the main stadiums.
In this sense, it is important to highlight that since 2019 it has been an obligation for men's soccer teams to have an equal women's soccer team in their series and another grassroots team within their clubs.
On the other hand, journalism in Brazil has also contributed to the growth of the discipline by giving dissemination and relevance to the parties.
Returning to the National Team, the Verdeamarela not only won almost every edition of the Copa América, but also qualified for all the women's soccer World Cups and will host the next, in 2027. The case of Brazil is the clearest example that with investment, time and trust, women's football grow, compete, win and make an entire country proud.