Spain's women battled sexism and indifference. Now the world champions are eyeing European title

The transformation of the Spanish women's national football team from an afterthought to reigning world champions is a tale not just of sporting prowess, but of profound resilience against systemic barriers. Less than a decade ago, these athletes toiled in relative obscurity, often treated as mere footnotes in a football-mad nation that largely reserved its passion and resources for the men's game. Their journey to the pinnacle of global football was never a straight path; it was a winding road paved with frustrations, demanding fundamental battles for the very basics of professional sport. From inadequate coaching to subpar travel arrangements and training facilities that lagged woefully behind modern standards, the players faced a pervasive indifference that threatened to stifle their potential before it could even blossom.