Inspiring the Swiss spirit for the future
While it’s clear Wälti is in love with her native country and its unique beauty, there is a sense that the star footballer is trying to achieve something bigger than simply being a tour guide.
By partnering with brands and tourism boards to show off Switzerland, the captain believes a lasting connection can form between the hosts and women’s football.
“I hope that the Euros will give us that extra push for people to see that this game actually has a lot of potential, even in Switzerland,” the experienced midfielder told ESPN about her aspirations for the event, “and that they want to push and invest and give the girls a chance … the same chance as the boys basically.
“Probably [it] never will be like in England [previous women’s Euros hosts], because men’s football is not like in England either. So we have to respect that, but it can at least be equal; that you have the same opportunities, same facilities, same conditions, and same possibilities as well.”
Wälti’s ambitions so far seem to be coming to fruition, with there being plenty of examples of Swiss spirit during their opening game against Norway.
Despite the sweltering heat, 34,063 fans turned up in Basel to watch their women’s team kick off their tournament, and though they might have fallen 2-1 to their opponents, the display of local support has set the tone for the occasion and has certainly inspired the captain.
“Tears in my eyes. What a feeling. A dream come true. Our fans. Our home. Unforgettable,” Wälti wrote on social media the day after the game.
She will be hoping for more special Swiss support – on and off the field of play – when they go again for their next game against Iceland on Sunday, 6 July in Bern.