Reggae Girlz defender Allyson Swaby says that if the female national team qualifies for Electronic Art’s FIFA 20, it will possibly attract more respect for female footballers in the sport.
In an interview with the Zee on Saturday, Allyson said being in the video game should allow more Jamaican men to be supportive of the team.
In 2015 EA Sports added women’s players and teams to its FIFA video game franchise for the first time. Twelve national teams, including the United States, were in that FIFA 16 version of the game.
The Reggae Girlz qualified for the women’s world cup in France after defeating Panama 4-2 on penalties in their third-place playoff match at the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship at the Toyota Stadium in Texas on October 17, 2018.
According to reggaeboyz.com, in 1998 when the Reggae Boyz qualified for World Cup Soccer 98 in France, this allowed the men to gain thousands of fans and was voted one of the most colorful football teams of the tournament. So why aren’t the Reggae Girlz experiencing the same support?
When the Reggae Girlz last played in Jamaica against Chile on February 28 and March 3, less than half of the National Stadium and Montego Bay Sports Complex were filled by spectators on both days.
The Reggae Girlz won their match on Sunday against Panama 3-1 in a farewell match before the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France from June 7 to July 7.
