2011 FIFA Women's World Cup: Are you watching?

I guess many of you will not even know but currently the sixth edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup is being held in Germany which runs from June 26 to July 17 across the country. The 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup kicked-off last Sunday in Berlin infront of a record sellout crowd of 73,680 spectators with the hosts and defending champions Germany beating Canada 2-1.

TV ratings showed that Germany's first match peaked at more than 18 Millions viewers on television, a new alltime record for women's football in Germany. And it seems the 2006 FIFA World Cup fever is back again five years after the men's tournament had been held here.

Later today Germany take on Nigeria at the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt with another sellout crowd of 48,837 and it will be shown on prime time television with a 20.45 CET kick-off.

Women's football has come a long way in Germany and with a title hattrick possible the interest level in women's football has reached unprecidented levels. But even if one feels, sees and reads the craze about the tournament here in Germany one asks if it is the same elsewhere.

e.g. did Mexico realise that their women holding England to a one-all draw in their opening match was a major surprise, while the Under-17 FIFA World Cup is being held in the Latin American nation. Or will South America really bother about their women's football with the Copa America set to kick-off tomorrow?

Sadly all these tournaments have to be organised parallel in the summer break with the CONCACAF Gold Cup having only ended last week, which does take the limelight away from the women's game, who get limited coverage during a football season. The women deserve the attention and publicity then women's football at the World Cup is surely something to watch.