EP39: ⚽⚽⚽ and FIFA Women's World Cup: UAE National Team football player and Adidas athlete Areej Al Hammadi on the changing face of women's football in the region and globally

Hello, it’s AfshanWe’re only days away from the 9th edition of the Fifa Women’s World Cup, which is held every four years.There’s a palpable excitement in the air as women’s football has grown in stature, with an expanding fan base that is now being recognised by sports associations, brands, governments and the media.This edition of the World Cup, which is being held in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20, is set to become the most attended standalone women’s sporting event in history. FIFA has sold over 1m tickets for the event. So, we had to get UAE National Team football player and Adidas athlete Areej Al Hammadi on the show for this episode to chat all about football… and the World Cup, of course. The 37-year-old Emirati footballer, whose obsession with the sport began by watching the World Cups with her brothers and playing with them as a child, had to carve her own path into playing at a national level at a time when there were very few avenues for women to go pro.Now, a very well-recognised face, this 2-time Guinness World Record holder has become a role model for other girls and women who aspire to become footballers and make it a career.Areej lays out the UAE and world football scene for us, with all its challenges and opportunities, and we talk about the Women’s World Cup and what the future holds.And as FIFA’s President Gianni Infantino so rightly put it recently: “The future is women.” At The Mettleset we know - the NOW is too!We hope you enjoy the episode!To know more about Areej,  head to @areej.alhammadi13 and www.areejalhammadi.comIf you want to follow the FIFA Women's World Cup and all its happenings, visit fifa.com For our episode with Georgia Adderley, the co-founder of Onyx FC, the UAE's first fully female-owned football club, head to EP11: GOALS: Onyx FC Co-Founder Georgia Adderley on community, inclusion and sharing the beautiful game Our wider support team for this episode includes Editor JJ Thompson and our Artwork is by the talented Alexandra Hickey of Studio Theodore.For more info,  visit www.themettleset.com , and follow us on @themettlesetDawn & Afshan @dawnable @afshahmed