Women's Copa America highlights inequality in South American women's football

The 2025 Women's Copa America in Ecuador, intended to highlight women's football in South America, has instead exposed significant inequalities compared to the men's game and the concurrent Women's Euros in Switzerland. Players arrived expecting professional conditions but encountered situations sparking widespread outrage and demands for systemic change.

Controversy erupted when images showed Brazil and Bolivia players forced to warm up side-by-side in a cramped indoor space before their match, a stark contrast to standard men's competition protocols. Brazilian legend Marta, returning from retirement, led calls for change, stating players must demand a high level of organisation while expected to perform. Teammate Ary Borges delivered sharper criticism, directly challenging CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez, questioning if he could warm up in such inadequate conditions and pointing to the superior infrastructure of the men's tournament.

While CONMEBOL later allowed 15-minute pitch warm-ups following backlash, the absence of VAR technology in the knockout stages intensified frustrations. Chilean forward Yanara Aedo labelled the lack of VAR "disrespectful" after a controversial loss to Argentina involving disputed penalty calls. Aedo emphasized the tournament should match the men's Copa America standards and expressed disappointment seeing the Women's Euros utilize such technology. The timing amplified discontent, as the record-breaking Women's Euros in Switzerland showcased cutting-edge facilities. Brazilian player Kerolin highlighted the stark difference in structure, audience, and investment between the two continental tournaments as "surreal" and "discouraging".