Told by the pioneering women who participated in it and built from archives unseen for fifty years, this is the extraordinary story of the 1971 Women’s Soccer World Cup, a tournament witnessed by record crowds that has been written out of sporting history – until now. 

 

One of the many parts of masterful documentary filmmaking is discovering a previously untold story and telling it in a truly compelling way. Copa 71 does this and more, re-telling the triumph of the ‘71 Women’s Soccer World Cup with interviews with the former players and previously thought lost real life footage.

 

But what is equally maddening but also perplexing as there’s no real rationale for the position, is the suppression not only that this World Cup existed, but also of the footage of the event as well. 

 

If it wasn’t utterly injust, FIFA’s suppression of the women’s game - which made no sense in regards to player safety or a lack of ticket sales for example - would be laughable. The ‘71 veterans are the stars of this show, and it is empowering to hear the stories of women who could do everything from knit, use a chainsaw, and play football. There is no putting them in any box whatsoever. 

 

But Copa 71 leaves you hopeful. Hopeful that we now live in a society that is growing in its confidence to call out systematic and cultural sexism. It shows us through the pioneering work of these women, that change really can be achieved and perhaps we could help bring about that change as well. 

 

Masterful in its storytelling, arresting in its themes of chauvinism, yet hopeful in the changes football has and can make for the betterment of women, Copa 71 is a film not to be missed.