CHICAGO (June 23, 2022) — In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the signing into law of Title IX, the legislation which revolutionized opportunities for women’s participation in collegiate sports and other school-based sports programs, U.S. Soccer announced today its Title NEXT Pledge, committing to continue to be a driving force in women’s sports for the next 50 years.
The pledge is part of U.S. Soccer’s overall celebration of Title IX’s impact, which will include several activations around the U.S. Women’s National Team matches against Colombia on June 25 in Denver and June 28 in Sandy, Utah. U.S. Soccer will honor several USWNT Alumna for their commitment to moving women’s sports forward with pre-game on-field recognition while the USWNT will wear Title IX t-shirts on arrival to the stadium in Denver on Saturday.
The celebration will continue online with a series of nine tweets from the @USWNT account focusing on the impact of Title IX on U.S. Soccer as well as a feature story focusing on how Title IX has positively impacted the USWNT. In addition, U.S. Soccer Insiders can enjoy 9x reward points for opening the official U.S. Soccer app and watching a featured video today with USWNT players thanking those who came before them while pledging to keep moving women’s soccer and women’s sports forward. The video will also be shown at both matches and featured on social media to commemorate the USWNT’s role in the 50 years since Title IX came into being.
At U.S. Soccer, the landmark legislation has played a major role in the development of the USWNT and the U.S. Women’s Youth National Team programs setting the foundation for the world-renowned accomplishments from female athletes in the U.S. Soccer Federation.
On August 18, 1985, thirteen years after the passage of Title IX, the USWNT played its first official international match at a tournament in Jesolo, Italy. Every woman on the roster for that match played collegiate soccer, which had only been recognized by the NCAA three years earlier in 1982, 10 years after the passing of Title IX.
Since the USWNT first kicked off 37 years ago, the team and its initiatives have embodied each of the 37 words in Title IX. Heading into the June 25 match vs. Colombia, just 247 women have had the honor of earning a cap for the U.S. Women’s National Team as it became the world’s most successful sports team all-time by winning percentage, claiming 551 wins, a record four FIFA Women’s World Cup titles and four Olympic gold medals. The USA has also won three FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup titles.
The Title Next Pledge reads:
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the signing into law of Title IX, enacting legislation that would eventually positively impact women’s sports and inspire female athletes in ways never thought possible, U.S. Soccer honors how far we’ve come, and pledges to be a driving force for what’s to come in the next 50 years. Here’s what’s NEXT:
U.S. Soccer supports seven Women’s Youth National Teams at the U-14, U-15, U-16, & U-17, U-18, U-19, U-20 and U-23 levels. In addition, 4.6 million women and girls participate in soccer annually in the USA, ranging from the grassroots level to the professional ranks of the NWSL. The Federation works to further break down barriers to participation so more women and girls form all backgrounds can enjoy the sport, including increasing opportunities through the Extended National Teams, which covers the Women’s Beach Soccer National Team and the U.S. Women’s Para National Team.
Off the field, the #SheBelieves campaign, which was launched in the leadup to the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, has grown into a powerful message of empowerment and believing in oneself. Along with the SheBelieves Cup tournament, the campaign features career development, internship opportunities and community connections for young girls and women.