Football is one of the most influential sports on the planet with over a billion fans. As a result, the game has changed the lives of several people around the world and is a positive force. Hollywood actress Natalie Portman realises that to its full extent.
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Portman formed an ownership group with other actresses like Jennifer Garner, Eva Longoria, and Jessica Chastain to build a football club from scratch. However, the ownership group now consists of athletes like Serena Williams, Mia Hamm, and Candace Parker too.
She founded the Angel City FC football club, and the ownership list stretched some more with several other big names wanting to support the club. Portman wanted to create a team that would change the landscape of women’s football in America, and improve the lives of female footballers. It looks like she has succeeded.
Natalie Portman cheers her team on with the supporters
Angel City FC played their first match on Saturday. The club has already sold over 16,000 season tickets for their first-ever season in the NWSL. With over 100 owners (the majority of which are women) believing in the mission of the club, fans have flocked enthusiastically to Los Angeles’ first female soccer team.
Their first ever match was against another new side, San Diego Wave. It ended up being a 1-1 draw, but fans kept the atmosphere buzzing throughout the match. Moreover, club co-founder Natalie Portman was right there to join in the chants and hype the crowd up.
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Portman explains what gave her the idea to start the club
In an email sent to The Guardian, Portman revealed that she was bothered by the lack of retirement plans for female footballers. She added that if someone amplified female athletes and their teams, they could help bring about a revolution.
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“Watching my son idolize players like Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan the same way he did Lionel Messi or Karim Benzema, I realized that amplifying female athletes could rapidly shift culture,” Portman said.