COPA 71, also called Storyville: Copa '71: The Lost Lionesses, is a documentary movie that unearths the incredible story of the pioneering unofficial Women’s World Cup of football/soccer that was held in Mexico City in August 1971, but was written out of history because of the widespread misogyny and prejudice in the world of football.
The 2024 Women’s World Cup in Australia left audiences around the globe gripped, as stars such as England's Alessia Russo and Mary Earps plus Spanish star Jenni Hermoso were celebrated for their skill and talent. But what most fans of the sport probably won’t know is that back in 1971 a tournament took place that created similar fanfare. That year women’s football teams from England, Argentina, Mexico, France, Denmark and Italy gathered in Mexico’s two main stadiums for the second ever unofficial Women’s World Cup, a tournament that boasted crowds of 100,000 paying fans, extensive TV coverage and lavish sponsorship. But this was a time when women’s football was banned in many countries and while the players in Mexico were treated like rock stars by fans and the media alike, the event was dismissed by both the governing body and domestic football associations around the world and was therefore largely forgotten about — until now.
