Where this was said
The Road to the World Cup: Boycotts, B-Teams, and Belief
At 2:48 · chapter starts 2:45
Spain's men's team has long been revered globally, but the women's side spent decades fighting for basic recognition — jerseys, a domestic league, respectful treatment. It was only in 2021 that a full professional league arrived, finally giving players a taste of what professional infrastructure looked like [1] — Gwendolyn Oxenham "Spain's pro women's league founded in 2021: Spain did not have a full domestic professional women's football league until 2021, decades aft…" 03:15 . The relationship with the federation had already frayed when, in September 2022, 15 players signed a letter refusing call-ups until coaching and management conditions improved. France had faced something similar and appointed a new coach; Spain's federation simply sidelined the protesters and built a new team. Only 3 of the 15 were included in the World Cup squad. That replacement side — unfamiliar names beside a few veterans — surprised the world. They beat Zambia 5-0 in their opener (Zambia had just beaten Germany), lost to Japan in a match that paradoxically forged their unity, and carried a joyful ethos all the way to the final, where their pre-match mantra was simply: 'Let's play like kids.'
Spain did not have a full domestic professional women's football league until 2021, decades after the men's league was established and long after comparable nations.
Fifteen Spanish women's players signed an email refusing to be called up until team conditions and the coach's management style improved, but were largely shut out instead of heard.
Spain opened the World Cup with a 5-0 victory over Zambia — a team that had just previously beaten Germany — in a display of spectacular, beautiful football.
Only 3 of the 15 players who boycotted were on the World Cup squad; the federation rebuilt with a largely new, unproven team that most people didn't expect to win.
Before the World Cup final, Spain's squad made a pact: play like kids. After absorbing a group-stage loss to Japan, they found unity in joy, and that spirit turned a controversial, untested squad into world champions.
After Spain lifted the World Cup trophy, federation president Luis Rubiales grabbed player Jenni Hermoso's face and kissed her on the lips. What followed was a viral moment, a denial of consent, and the start of Spain's #SeAcabo reckoning.
