South America's uneven playing field

Latest edition of Women's Copa America highlights inequalities in development of female game

The Women's Copa America soccer tournament started over the weekend in Colombia at a time when the sport is clearly evolving in South America but at significantly different speeds and opportunities for players.

Ten teams are split into two groups with two countries advancing from each group to the knockout stage. The final is on July 30 at Stadium Alfonso Lopez in the Colombian city of Bucaramanga.

Defending champion Brazil has developed its women's soccer organization on its own. Elsewhere, most players in the region have struggled to get professional contracts and, even when they do, there remains a huge gap compared to the money paid to men's teams and their players.