August 1971. The national teams of England, Argentina, Mexico, France, Denmark, and Italy gather at the sun-drenched Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. The tournament is massive in scale: lavish sponsorships, extensive television coverage, merchandise sold on every corner, and a crowd of over 100,000 roaring fans turn the historic stadium into a cauldron of noise at every match. The media fawn over the teams, treating them like rock stars. The atmosphere rivals that of the greatest moments in international football history. But this championship is unlike any that came before. Because the players on the field are all women. And chances are, you’ve never heard of it. It’s Copa ’71, the unofficial Women’s World Cup. Ignored by governing bodies and national football associations around the world, this groundbreaking event was erased from history—until now.
Introduction by: Lega Nazionale Dilettanti