New Gods in Köpenick: The Rise of FC Union's Women's Team

There is a ritual at 1. FC Union Berlin, the beloved upstart football team from Köpenick. Whenever an Union player is announced on the stadium speakers, the fans yell “football god” right after their name. From the shiniest superstar to the most unglamorous reserve player, this worship is guaranteed among the faithful. Leonardo Bonucci: Fußballgott! Lennart Grill: Fußballgott! The sound rings out primally, with just a little bit of camp.

Earlier this month, I sat in the stands at Union’s home ground, the Stadion an der Alte Försterei, to watch the Union women’s team play Inter Milan in a preseason match – their final public friendly before the opening of the season. Hearty crowds were spread across two of the stadium’s four stands: old people, young people, men, women, children. Red-and-white were scarves and flags and bucket hats and socks. (One lazy scoundrel was wearing a Manchester United jersey.) The Union fans chanted and sang; they oohed and they aahed along with the action. And when the announcer named a player, all the fans did the thing, the famous football-god thing, but with the female form of the noun: Fußballgöttin! Fußballgöttin! Football goddess!