Women's football at the German Football Museum

The women’s national team and its successes are the main driving force behind the rapid development of women’s football. The first major title – victory in the 1989 European Championship – and hosting the tournament on home soil at that time provided a decisive impetus for women’s football to establish itself at a high sporting level and gain increasing social recognition. Visible signs of this successful development include two World Cup trophies and eight European Championship trophies, as well as one Olympic gold medal and four bronze medals.

However, the difficult early days are not glossed over. After all, there was a ban on women’s football imposed by the DFB, which remained in place between 1955 and 1970. And even in the years that followed, the sport had to fight hard for recognition. From today’s perspective, the attitudes of its sceptics sometimes gave rise to bizarre blunders, but they provide exhibition content that gives pause for thought or, at times, invites a smile. For instance, a major daily newspaper once ran the headline: ‘If my wife plays football, I’ll divorce her!’

As club structures have become more professional, TV revenue has increased and a title sponsor has been secured, the Women’s Bundesliga has also been attracting increasing attention in recent years. Top matches are attracting record crowds time and again, and many stars are coming to the attention of Europe’s leading clubs. Once ‘nobodies’, the players have become pop icons and are making a name for themselves on a massive scale. This new dynamic is reflected in our modernised exhibition area dedicated to women’s football, whilst not overlooking the difficult early days and the magnificent pioneering achievements of earlier generations of players.