Female soccer players are riding a wave of attention and accolades this summer, as fans around the world have been tuning into the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The contest reached its climax Sunday, as the U.S. Women’s National Team defeated the Netherlands 2-0 to win the championship title.

But sports historians and players who competed in the first Women’s World Cup, held in China in 1991, say things were very different then.

Millions of American girls have grown up playing soccer to the cheers of parents and peers. But 28 years ago, playing pro soccer wasn't a promising career path for women. (See pictures of FIFA fans from around the world.)

“It wasn't popular; it wasn’t the right thing to