( CNN ) -- Football has traditionally been a male preserve -- but no more , according to a U.S. academic who says social media is helping grow women 's interest in the sport . Facebook statistics show female interest in teams considered World Cup underdogs -- such as Iran , Colombia , the U.S and Costa Rica -- is well over 40 % in the number of posts mentioning those countries . Iran received over 472,927 social mentions , with 43 % of those coming from women , while of the 3.25 million mentions relating to Costa Rica , 46 % were from female contributors . `` The additional attention that social media has given the sport offers women additional outlets to access the tournament that they may not have traditionally had '' , says Stacy Torres , a doctoral student in Sociology at New York University . `` Now women can follow the games more independently with social media and unprecedented streaming options , '' added Torres , an avid Chile fan who has written about the experience of being a Chile fan at the World Cup for New Republic . Of the people talking about Costa Rica 's 1-0 surprise win over Italy in the group stages , 44 % of them were women , while Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina has over 27,487 mentions on social media , with 61 % of them women . `` There was strong engagement among younger women supporting Mexico , specifically mentioning `` Chicharito , '' -- Javier Hernandez 's nickname , who scored the last goal in Mexico 's game with Croatia , '' added a Facebook spokesman . Chile 's success in the World Cup -- the South Americans were regarded as unlucky to go out in the last 16 stage after Brazil 's penalty shootout win -- has arguably also shown the cultural significance of the tournament . `` This is what the World Cup is about , '' said Torres . `` My father has taught me how to relish Chile 's flair , energy and heart . Today we feel sad and disappointed but not defeated . For us , they 've already won . '' Brazil 's soccer soul : A love too deep to bear ? Julio Cesar : We must not fail . And the World Cup semifinalists will be ...
Female participation is higher when supporting the underdogs at the World Cup . Iran received over 472,927 social mentions of which 43 % came from a female audience . Costa Rica have one of the highest percentages of female contributors on social media . Women led the social media buzz in the Group A game between Mexico and Croatia .