Football For Better Or For Worse

Behind the scenes with the Lionesses during an incredible year for women’s football

The series examines the rapid rise of women's football across Europe as well as the challenges that remain, against the backdrop of a record-breaking UEFA Women's EURO 2022, which captivated audiences the world over last summer.

David Asmmann's Football Under Cover documents the hard work involved in setting up an exhibition soccer match, known as a "friendly," between a German girls squad and Iranian women's team. In addition to showing how the two groups come from very different cultures, the documentary showcases what playing the game means to the members of both teams, and displays how passionate the fans of these two squads are.

Rome, 1968. A football passionate PE teacher formed the first woman team. Thirty eight years later, these women players remember with proud and a tinge of nostalgia how they stood up against all prejudices at a time when a woman wearing shorts was absolutely outrageous.

Abby Wambach, the soccer phenom, has maintained an astonishing level of success, from helping the Florida Gators win their first and only national championship, to collecting a Founders Cup title with the WUSA's Washington Freedom and earning two Olympic gold medals.

For the hottest soccer action outside the World Cup, Hef assembled his own team of world-class stunners for a uniform-optional photo shoot at the Playboy mansion. Hailing from such pillars of the soccer world as Brazil, Germany and the Netherlands as well as Japan, Russia and yes, the USA, these toned and tackle-worthy all-star beauties bare it all, share their tips for a group warm-up and happily take a time out for playing dirty. The game of soccer has never seen such high scores.

The Icelandic national women's football team has the chance to qualify for the European Championship Finals for the first time in history. To make the dream come true the team has to win all their upcoming matches - against much bigger nations.

Former England international Alex Scott looks at the explosion in popularity of women’s football and asks what the future holds for the game she loves. Women’s football is the fastest growing female sport in the world. With wages on the rise and multimillion-pound broadcasting deals being agreed, this summer’s European Championships in England are set to be a watershed moment for the game.

Football Inside dives deep into football culture – and makes the locker room its stage. As soon as they put on their jerseys, pros, women, and juniors all take on different roles, with one thing in common: Their love for the game.

Documentary about three female footballers from the Austrian football club FC Blau Weiß Linz - Union Kleinmünchen. The film portrays the athletes and their fight for recognition and equality in male-dominated football.

Three months before the 2019 World Cup, the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation. At the center of this no-holds-barred account are the players themselves–Megan Rapinoe, Jessica McDonald, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelley O'Hara and others–who share their stories of courage and resiliency as they take on the biggest fight for women's rights since Title IX.

TOMBOY explores the obstacles that young girls encounter on the recreational stage, the stereotypes, language issues and cultural disparities that follow, and ultimately the insufficient media coverage and compensation that afflicts elite professional athletes seeking full recognition for their talents. The journey of the female athlete is often discouraging, and despite progress achieved during the Title IX era, gender equity in athletics has a long way to go.

On March 30, 2022, Barcelona and Real Madrid's rivalry was at the forefront of football. But this time, it was the women's teams who were centre stage as they played out a seven-goal thriller in front of a world record crowd of 91,553 fans.

Determined to play, nine-year-old Julie Fleeting’s life in football began with a local boys club. It was the first step in achieving a dream she didn’t even know existed. From playing professionally in America to winning multiple honours with Arsenal, and scoring more goals for Scotland than anyone else, Julie has consistently inspired, empowered and led from the front. In a story of tenacity and triumph, Julie’s journey in football is also one of family, humility and respect.

The reality of women's football (soccer) in France.

The players of the Chile women's national football teamnot only fight against other teams but they also face the prejudices and inequalities of a historically male field.

World Cup champion Hope Solo opens up about her turbulent rise to the top of women's soccer amid public scandals and tension with former teammates.

This documentary deals with the stories, achievements and difficulties of women boxers and footballers. Their stories are told from the point of view of their daily lives where sport, family live and relationships intermingle in a complex and often contradictory whole. All these women share the desire to triumph in sports normally considered to be men´s sports. Some of them pursue their dream while working at other jobs such as driving taxis, selling tacos or being lawyers. They are not women victims, trapped in the family or in marriage; for the simple reason that they are still fighting, they have not accepted defeat. This documentary looks at the feminine aspect of these sports and the unfairness that there is.

Through the eyes of key figures, including captain Leah Williamson and manager Sarina Wiegman, this documentary relives England’s incredible European Championship triumph in July 2022. No senior England football team had claimed a major tournament title since 1966 until the women’s side secured an unforgettable 2-1 win in the final against old enemies Germany. This documentary features all the key moments on the pitch, while candid interviews with the likes of Williamson, player of the tournament Beth Mead and England stalwarts Jill Scott, Ellen White and Lucy Bronze offer a unique behind-the-scenes insight. BBC pundits Gabby Logan, Ian Wright, Alex Scott and Fara Williams also offer their thoughts on what was a breakthrough summer for women’s footballers, and female sportswomen in general.

The director accompanies the German women's national soccer team.