User:APC04OU/Argentina–Brazil football rivalry

'''The Brazil women's team had little opportunity before 1980 to progress their skills. From 1940 to 1980, Women's football had been prohibited by law in Brazil, this did not stop the women from playing. It was believed that too much physical education in women could cause "masculinization". These women faced significant challenges in defying this ban on women in sports, women faced hostility and a lack of opportunity.''' Now the Brazil women's national team is a successful women's football team. It was runner-up in the FIFA Women's World Cup of 2007, and won a silver medal at the Olympic games in 2004 and 2008. In comparison, Argentina does not have a professional (or even semi-professional) women's football league; the members of the Argentina women's national football team are all amateur players despite their clubs often being affiliated with prominent men's professional clubs. Although the two teams usually have to battle for the top qualification spots for CONMEBOL when the World Cup qualification comes around, this rivalry does not provide the passion that men's matches encounter yet.

Brazil won every game of the Sudamericano Femenino against Argentina until the 2006 edition, when Argentina finally beat them 2–0 in the final group stage, awarding Argentina the championship. Argentina did not participate in the 1991 South American competition and was second to Brazil in the following three tournaments. Beginning with the 2003 edition, both champion and runner-up qualified for the World Cup. As Argentina has not been past the group stages in the World Cup, the two teams have not met in the Olympic Football Tournament yet.