Media coverage and public opinion of hosting a women’s football mega-event: the English bid for UEFA Women’s Euro 2022

Abstract

For the second time in history, England was announced as the host for the 13th edition of the UEFA Women’s Euro by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). This study aims to analyse media coverage and public opinion of England’s host bid and the country’s choice as hosts of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022. This research was based on a content analysis of the English newspapers The Guardian, The Sun, and The Times regarding the media, and the social media Twitter to analyse public opinion. After applying filters, we analysed 65 news reports and 480 Twitter interactions. Thus, investigating these two different views on the same subject, we noted a relative consonance of positions: expectations for the organisation of the tournament, the success of the English team and the development of women’s football, and criticism of the regional distribution of the games and the use of modest stadiums.

Keywords:

• Women’s football
• women’s European cup
• public interest
• English media
• sports mega-event

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Higher Education Personnel Improvement Coordination (CAPES). We also would like to thank Editage (www.editage.com) for English language editing.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 Each British nation has distinct football identities. Thus, they all have their national team of men’s and women’s football to compete in international championships. The only exception occurs at the Olympic Games, an event in which there is a union representing the United Kingdom. We chose to cite these nations separately when necessary

2 Each British nation has distinct football identities. Thus, they all have their national team of men’s and women’s football to compete in international championships. The only exception occurs at the Olympic Games, an event in which there is a union representing the United Kingdom). We chose to cite these nations separately when necessary

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jonathan Rocha de Oliveira

Jonathan Rocha de Oliveira holds graduation and master in Physical Education at the Federal University of Paraná, (Brazil).

Maria Thereza de Oliveira Souza

Maria Thereza de Oliveira Souza holds graduation, master, and doctorate in Physical Education at Federal University of Paraná. She is also professor in undergraduate in Physical Education course at the Uniandrade.

André Mendes Capraro

André Mendes Capraro is Professor in undergraduate and postgraduate courses (master/doctorate) in Physical Education at the Federal University of Paraná. He holds a Master and Doctor in History from the same University, and Post-Doctorate in linguistic and comparative cultural from Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia, UNIVE (Italia).