Modelos de profesionalización del fútbol freestyle femenino: comparación entre europa y latinoamérica

Abstract

Female freestyle football has emerged in recent years as a growing sports discipline characterized by the combination of technical ball skills, creativity, artistic expression, and strong digital visibility. Unlike traditional sports, its development does not rely solely on formal federative structures but also on urban dynamics, individual self-management, and digital positioning strategies through social media. Within this context, the present study analyzes the differences in the professionalization processes of female freestyle football between Europe and Latin America, aiming to identify structural factors that influence its development and to extract lessons applicable to the Colombian context. The research adopted a qualitative approach with a descriptive-comparative design. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews with eight active female freestylers: four from Europe (Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and Finland) and four from Latin America (Chile, Argentina, Venezuela, and Colombia). Additionally, a digital content analysis of the athletes’ social media profiles was performed, along with a documentary review of academic literature on sports professionalization, urban sports, gender studies, and sports marketing. The findings reveal that the differences between regions are not explained by the technical level of the athletes but rather by the structural environment that shapes their professional opportunities. In Europe, there is a greater presence of organized competitive circuits, higher levels of sport legitimacy, and stronger connections with international events. In contrast, in Latin America the development of female freestyle football largely depends on individual self-management, independent performance opportunities, and strategic use of social media to obtain visibility and employment opportunities. The study also identifies significant gaps in institutional support, access to sponsorship, structured training opportunities, and cultural recognition of the discipline. While social media serves as a key professionalization tool for freestylers in both regions, its importance is even greater in Latin America due to the lack of consolidated organizational structures. Based on the comparative analysis, the research proposes strategic guidelines applicable to the Colombian context, including the promotion of community-based organization, the creation of local competitive circuits, the strengthening of athletes’ digital professionalization, and the development of partnerships with sports institutions and private sponsors. In conclusion, the level of professionalization of female freestyle football is closely linked to institutional, economic, cultural, and media-related factors that vary across regions. Understanding these dynamics provides valuable insights for designing more effective sports management strategies aimed at strengthening this emerging discipline in Colombia and fostering more inclusive and sustainable environments for women in sport.