Copa 71

Think the global surge in interest in women’s football is a relatively recent occurrence? This eye-opening documentary asks you to think again.

Millions of Australians cheered on the Matildas during the 2023 Women’s World Cup, with two billion people worldwide tuning in to the FIFA-run contest that ultimately saw Spain victorious. For many, the proof that there’s a huge audience and widespread respect for the game, regardless of players’ gender, is a recent triumph over ingrained sexism. But did you know that there was an unofficial Women’s World Cup tournament held in Mexico way back in 1971? An equally mammoth success, it captured hearts and minds worldwide, introducing fans to new heroes. And then FIFA swung in to shut it down, erasing their glory from the record.

Executive-produced by Venus and Serena Williams – the latter of whom also acts as narrator – this invigorating documentary features not just the women who competed there (such as Carol Wilson) but also their successors today (including Brandi Chastain and Alex Morgan), writing their voices back into history. Packed with incredible archival footage, Rachel Ramsay and James Erskine’s vibrant account of a pioneering event celebrates an inclusive soccer world way ahead of its time and exposes the misogynistic forces that attempted to block it.

“A timely and galvanising telling of a remarkable story that every football fan should know, and one that will hopefully go some way towards ensuring that Copa 71 finds its way into the sport’s history books.” – Time Out