Robert Vilahamn on women’s football and the World Cup: “I’m going to watch all the games”

Robert Vilahamn will be keeping a keen eye on the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup, which takes place in New Zealand and Australia and begins on Thursday 20 July.

With seven Spurs players set to represent their nations on the biggest stage, Robert will be closely monitoring the progress of Bethany England (England), Shelina Zadorksy (Canada), Luana Bühler (Switzerland), Rosella Ayane (Morocco), Ria Percival (New Zealand) and Drew Spence and Rebecca Spencer (Jamaica).

“It will be massive in Australia and New Zealand,” Robert said in his first interview with SPURSPLAY. “Those are countries where I have scouted a lot of players and we have Ria Percival from New Zealand as well. 

“I’m going to watch all the games and make sure that I follow the development there, because I think the World Cup is how we can brand women’s football around the world. That’s a great scene, so I like to watch that tournament.”

The World Cup promises to be a platform for the growth of women’s football, just like Euro 2022 last year, which saw 87,192 spectators attend England's final triumph over Germany.

Having taken his first managerial role in women’s football in 2021, Robert is excited to be a part of the continued upward trajectory of the sport.

“It’s a huge thing for me,” he said. “When I took the step from men’s football to women’s football, it was because I have a son and a daughter and I think they deserve to be equal. 

“These athletes, the girls who play football, deserve to have the same stuff right? 

“Tottenham is one of the clubs that really wants to push it there. You can see in the Euros last year when England was winning, with the audience and everything, something was really happening there. 

“I want to be on that journey and make that journey good for women’s football and all the spectators. The football is really nice and, now that you get the best facilities, it’s going to be a huge impact.”