Women begin casual football journeys with family or parents. A majority of respondents to the Women in the Match survey, conducted by the fan group Football Supporters’ Association, agrees that this is still how it starts. The same dynamic appears not only in women’s football but across different life stages where interest grows from personal choice rather than obligation.
The sport holds its place as the most beloved game worldwide and remains a ground many fans seek to conquer. Yet within the stands, the most traditional divides persist. The cheering sections and the ultra groups have long been among the most masculinized spaces, where female roles have often been kept on the margins.
Typhoid for 8M of Marseille Ultras
Today, the scene is evolving. A study titled Being a Woman in a Men’s Preserve: An Ethnography of Women’s Football Ultras, authored by sociologist Ilaria Pitti, highlights how stereotypes restrict women from full participation in many communities and how the labelling of women as merely spectators persists. Yet steady expressions of resistance grow as more women push beyond old limits. The study is cited by El Periódico de España and reflects a broader pattern across the European ultra scene.
These shifts tend to appear when women’s groups or mixed groups alter their internal structures. On International Women’s Day, March 8, fans of South Winners, the Marseille club motto, produced a tifo that was entirely feminine. That moment marked a milestone in a space long dominated by male voices.
On that occasion, a 3D typhoid display emerged, championed by the group and supported by its members. The idea gained traction and received broad backing within the organization. The leaders recount how a history of female signs from last year led to a more ambitious project and a request to the group president that culminated in this public statement of empowerment.
These displays underscore a broader trend: women are stepping into roles that used to be off limits. Yet access to the most visible positions in animation and front-row presence still depends on permission from the standing structure. In many regions, including far right and left wing dominated stands, women are rarely visible in leadership roles, a pattern observed by researchers as they examine the entire spectrum of ultra culture.
Irriducibilili: Women Starting from the Tenth Row
Historically, women have been part of ultra groups and have had meaningful influence, though often confined to sales or support tasks. Public demonstrations by women in the main stands and occasional participation in clashes have historically met with surprise. The Lazio ultras, known as Irriducibili, are cited as a stark example of how access to prime viewing areas is restricted, with the first rows described as trenches where women and partners are not welcome.
Officials in the group invite people to occupy the tenth row, suggesting that stadiums should offer spaces for those seeking a different kind of atmosphere. Researchers from the Football Supporters Association report that a large majority of female fans still experience macho attitudes in football across the continent.
In many cultural contexts, stadiums remain seen as risky spaces for young women, offering less freedom than their male peers in choosing how to spend leisure time. Italy, for instance, hosts a rich history of women’s groups born from a crowded sports culture. Examples include groups like Turin SLASHE, Milan Stella, and other collectives linked to major clubs. Variations and new names continue to emerge as these communities adapt to changing social norms.
Italy as a Fertile Ground for Women’s Ultra Groups
This is not a new trend. The presence of women in ultra groups rose with the movement itself. In the 1970s and 1980s, strong female-led collectives emerged in Milan, Bologna, and Rome. Some groups remained active under new guises, while others evolved and rebranded, continuing to shape the scene. The ongoing evolution has sparked the creation of new formations across Serie A and Series B, each contributing to a broader culture of female participation in ultras.
Beyond Italy, pockets exist across Europe and the world where women’s groups or mixed groups have taken root. From Cluj and Belgrade to Istanbul and Zagreb, female fans have formed banners and crews that reflect local identities while signaling wider social change. The overarching result points toward football remaining an important platform for community values and public life where women’s voices matter more than ever.
Research indicates that women’s football plays a key role in attracting audiences and shaping fan culture. Despite visible progress, certain ultras groups still lean toward male leadership, a gap that researchers argue will narrow as more women join leadership and organization roles within the ultra world.
Women Are More Open to Feminist Values
According to the ethnographic study, any form of female empowerment has a multiplying effect. The report suggests many sports, especially football, have historically excluded women, so opening these spaces invites broader social participation beyond the game itself. While it is not guaranteed that the spread of women’s football alone will overturn deep-seated gender hierarchies, the trend clearly helps broaden public discourse about gender equality in traditionally masculine spaces.
Experts acknowledge that the transformation is gradual and ongoing. The ultra world remains a masculine domain governed by both formal rules and informal norms, but the pace of change is picking up. The energy for this shift comes from more women engaging in animation groups and taking on roles that bring new ideas about femininity and feminist values into stadium life.
Two Paths for Participation: Women-Only Versus Mixed Groups
Participation in ultras is evolving in two key directions. One path envisions larger participation within mixed groups, advocating for dialogue between genders and an end to exclusive female spaces. The other path supports the creation of predominantly female ultras as a stepping stone toward greater visibility and personal empowerment. Both paths pursue the same objective: women should not be exceptions in cheering stands but should enjoy full rights and active participation in the spaces they occupy.
Experts emphasize that these changes will unfold over time and require sensitive planning. The aim is to empower through inclusive participation while ensuring that women and men share leadership in meaningful ways. The ultimate goal remains clear: equal recognition and opportunities for women within the heart of fan culture and beyond, allowing fans to express themselves freely and proudly in stadiums across North America and Europe alike.