Championing the best women athletes and entrepreneurs with the Visa Player of the Match

More than ever, women are powering societies around the world; they’re becoming a driving force – in sports and politics, as business owners, as drivers of consumer purchases, and more.

Driven by our purpose to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid, we have the opportunity to be at the center of this shift driving equality, diversity and inclusion, by offering a level playing field for everyone, everywhere.

And there is no better place to continue accelerating this powerful change than in the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™, a global sporting event we believe has the power to unite and inspire not just women, but millions of people around the world. For the first time in history, the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ will have 32 nations competing in the tournament, playing a total of 64 matches – also the most in the tournament history.

Building on this historic milestone, at Visa, as a FIFA Women’s Global Football Partner and one of the world’s most active sponsors of women’s football, we are thrilled to use this unique stage to announce an unprecedented new feature within our Visa Player of the Match award. With this initiative, we are determined to champion and promote the success of women athletes and entrepreneurs on and off the field.

For the very first time in the history of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, fans and viewers this year will not only be able to select the best athletes in the field, but also celebrate the women entrepreneurs that are powering our economies. Audiences watching the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ will just need to vote on FIFA+ for their favorite and most outstanding player for each of the 64 matches and Visa will award 64 grants (one grant for each game totaling $500,000 in funds over the course of the tournament) to women business owners from the same market as the winning footballer of the game. We want to do our part not only celebrating the best women footballers competing in Australia and New Zealand, but also supporting women that are making an impact as prosperous business owners, in Latin America and the Caribbean and around the world, to help women achieve their full potential and success on and off the pitch.

The Visa Player of the Match grant for women-owned businesses is another effort that will help us achieve greater visibility for women at all levels. But beyond this, we believe that choosing to watch the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ is also the greatest empowerment and support we can give to our athletes.

While public interest in women’s football is rising at unprecedented levels – with more than two billion viewers expected to follow the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ – much more needs to be done. We are using the power of our brand to build excitement and enthusiasm for everyone to watch the games as the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ approaches. We hope everyone, everywhere can join us in supporting these women that are the embodiment of strength, determination, conquering and courage.

It’s time for the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ to begin! Cast your votes for the best athletes and let’s champion our athletes and women entrepreneurs on and off the pitch, advancing more equality diversity and inclusion to make this world a better place for everyone, everywhere.