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European nations at the FIFA Women's World Cup

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Association football is among the most popular sports in Europe, with fourteen members of the Union of European Football Associations having competed at the sport's biggest international event, the FIFA Women's World Cup. The highest ranked result in the Women's World Cup for a European team is 1st place in the 1995, 2003, 2007 and 2023 FIFA Women's World Cups by Norway, Germany and Spain.

Overview

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1991
China
(12)
1995
Sweden
(12)
1999
United States
(16)
2003
United States
(16)
2007
China
(16)
2011
Germany
(16)
2015
Canada
(24)
2019
France
(24)
2023
Australia
New Zealand
(32)
2027
Brazil
(32)
Total
Teams Germany
Norway
Sweden
Denmark
Italy
Germany
Norway
Sweden
Denmark
England
Germany
Norway
Sweden
Denmark
Italy
Russia
Germany
Norway
Sweden
France
Russia
Germany
Norway
Sweden
Denmark
England
Germany
Norway
Sweden
France
England
Germany
Norway
Sweden
France
England
Netherlands
Spain
Switzerland
Germany
Norway
Sweden
France
England
Netherlands
Spain
Italy
Scotland
Germany
Norway
Sweden
France
England
Netherlands
Spain
Denmark
Italy
Switzerland
Portugal
Republic of Ireland
60
Top 16 7 8 8 23
Top 8 5 5 4 4 3 4 3 7 5 40
Top 4 3 2 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 20
Top 2 1 2 0 2 1 0 0 1 2 9
1st Norway Germany Germany Spain 4
2nd Norway Germany Sweden Netherlands England 5
3rd Sweden Sweden England Sweden Sweden 5
4th Germany Norway Norway France Germany England 6
Country # Years Best result
 Germany
9
1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 1st
 Norway
9
1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 1st
 Spain
3
2015, 2019, 2023 1st
 Sweden
9
1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 2nd
 England
6
1995, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 2nd
 France
5
2003, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 4th
 Denmark
5
1991, 1995, 1999, 2007, 2023 QF
 Italy
4
1991, 1999, 2019, 2023 QF
 Netherlands
3
2015, 2019, 2023 2nd
 Russia
2
1999, 2003 QF
 Switzerland
2
2015, 2023 R2
 Scotland
1
2019 GS
 Portugal
1
2023 GS
 Republic of Ireland
1
2023 GS

Results

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Most finishes in the top four

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Team # Top-four finishes
 Germany 5 1991, 1995, 2003, 2007, 2015
 Sweden 5 1991, 2003, 2011, 2019, 2023
 Norway 4 1991, 1995, 1999, 2007
 England 3 2015, 2019, 2023
 Spain 1 2023
 Netherlands 1 2019
 France 1 2011

Team results by tournament

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Legend

The team ranking in each tournament is according to FIFA.[1] The rankings, apart from the top four positions, are not a result of direct competition between the teams; instead, teams eliminated in the same round are ranked by their full results in the tournament. In recent tournaments, FIFA has used the rankings for seedings for the final tournament draw.[2]

For each tournament, the number of teams in each finals tournament (in brackets) are shown.

Team 1991
China
(12)
1995
Sweden
(12)
1999
United States
(16)
2003
United States
(16)
2007
China
(16)
2011
Germany
(16)
2015
Canada
(24)
2019
France
(24)
2023
Australia
New Zealand
(32)
2027
Brazil
(32)
Total Qual.
Comp.
 Denmark QF
7th
QF
7th
R1
15th
R1
12th
R2
9th
TBD 5 9
 England QF
6th
QF
7th
QF
7th
3rd 4th 2nd TBD 6 9
 France R1
9th
4th QF
5th
QF
6th
QF
6th
TBD 5 9
 Germany 4th 2nd QF
8th
1st 1st QF
6th
4th QF
5th
R1
17th
TBD 9 9
 Italy QF
6th
R1
9th
QF
7th
R1
22nd
TBD 4 9
 Netherlands R2
13th
2nd QF
8th
TBD 3 9
 Norway 2nd 1st 4th QF
7th
4th R1
10th
R2
10th
QF
8th
R2
15th
TBD 9 9
 Portugal × R1
19th
TBD 1 8
 Republic of Ireland × R1
26th
TBD 1 8
 Russia × QF
5th
QF
8th
× TBD 2 7
 Scotland × R1
19th
TBD 1 8
 Spain R1
20th
R2
12th
1st TBD 3 9
 Sweden 3rd QF
5th
QF
6th
2nd R1
T-10th
3rd R2
16th
3rd 3rd TBD 9 9
 Switzerland R2
15th
R2
14th
TBD 2 9

Tournament standings

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Team Champions Finals Semi-finals Quarter-finals Second round
 Germany 2 1 2 3 0
 Norway 1 1 2 2 2
 Spain 1 0 0 0 1
 Sweden 0 1 4 2 1
 Netherlands 0 1 0 1 1
 England 0 1 2 3 0
 France 0 0 1 3 0
 Denmark 0 0 0 2 1
 Italy 0 0 0 2 0
 Russia 0 0 0 2 0
 Switzerland 0 0 0 0 2

Overall team records

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As per statistical convention in football, matches decided in extra time are counted as wins and losses, while matches decided by penalty shoot-outs are counted as draws. 3 points per win, 1 point per draw and 0 points per loss.

Results through 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Germany 44 30 5 9 121 39 +82 95
 Norway 40 24 4 12 93 52 +41 76
 Sweden 40 23 5 12 71 48 +23 74
 England 26 15 4 7 43 30 +13 49
 France 19 10 3 6 32 20 +12 33
 Netherlands 11 7 1 3 14 9 +5 22
 Italy 12 6 1 5 20 12 +8 19
 Russia 8 4 0 4 16 14 +2 12
 Denmark 14 3 1 10 19 26 –7 10
 Spain 7 1 2 4 6 8 –2 5
 Switzerland 4 1 0 3 11 5 +6 3
 Scotland 3 0 1 2 5 7 –2 1

Appearances

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Ranking of teams by number of appearances

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Team Appearances Record streak Active streak Debut Most recent Best result (* = hosts)
 Germany 9 9 9 1991 2023 Champions (2003, 2007)
 Norway 9 9 9 1991 2023 Champions (1995)
 Spain 3 3 3 2015 2023 Champions (2023)
 Sweden 9 9 9 1991 2023 Runners-up (2003)
 England 6 5 5 1995 2023 Runners-up (2023)
 Denmark 5 3 1 1991 2023 Quarter-finals (1991, 1995)
 France 5 4 4 2003 2023 Fourth place (2011)
 Italy 4 2 2 1991 2023 Quarter-finals (1991, 2019)
 Netherlands 3 3 3 2015 2023 Runners-up (2019)
 Russia 2 2 0 1999 2003 Quarter-finals (1999, 2003)
 Switzerland 2 1 1 2015 2023 Round of 16 (2015, 2023)
 Scotland 1 1 0 2019 2019 Group stage (2019)
 Portugal 1 1 1 2023 2023 Group stage (2023)
 Republic of Ireland 1 1 1 2023 2023 Group stage (2023)

Team debuts

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Year Debutants Total
1991  Denmark,  Germany,  Italy,  Norway,  Sweden 5
1995  England 1
1999  Russia 1
2003  France 1
2015  Netherlands,  Spain,  Switzerland 3
2019  Scotland 1
2023  Portugal,  Republic of Ireland 2
Total 14

Summary of performance

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This table shows the number of countries represented at the Women's World Cup, the number of entries (#E) from around the world including any rejections and withdrawals, the number of European entries (#A), how many of those European entries withdrawn (#A-) before/during qualification or were rejected by FIFA, the European representatives at the Women's World Cup finals, the number of World Cup Qualifiers each European representative had to play to get to the World Cup (#WCQ), the furthest stage reached, results, and coaches.

Year Host Size #E #A #A- European finalists #WCQ Stage Results Coach
1991  China 12 48 18 0  Denmark 10 Quarter-finals won 3–0  New Zealand, drew 2–2  China, lost 1–2  Norway, lost 1–2  Germany (a.e.t.) Denmark Keld Gantzhorn
 Germany 10 Fourth place won 4–0  Nigeria, won 2–0  Chinese Taipei, won 2–0  Italy, won 2–1  Denmark (a.e.t.), lost 2–5  United States, lost 0–4  Sweden Germany Gero Bisanz
 Italy 10 Quarter-finals won 5–0  Chinese Taipei, won 1–0  Nigeria, lost 0–2  Germany, lost 2–3  Norway (a.e.t.) Italy Sergio Guenza
 Norway 10 Runners-up lost 0–4  China, won 4–0  New Zealand, won 2–1  Denmark, won 3–2  Italy (a.e.t.), won 4–1  Sweden, lost 1–2  United States Norway Even Pellerud
 Sweden 8 Third place lost 2–3  United States, won 8–0  Japan, won 2–0  Brazil, won 1–0  China, lost 1–4  Norway, won 4–0  Germany Sweden Gunilla Paijkull
1995  Sweden 12 55 30 1[3]  Denmark 10 Quarter-finals won 5–0  Australia, lost 0–2  United States, lost 1–3  China, lost 1–3  Norway Denmark Keld Gantzhorn
 England 6 Quarter-finals won 3–2  Canada, lost 0–2  Norway, won 3–2  Nigeria, lost 0–3  Germany England Ted Copeland
 Germany 10 Runners-up won 1–0  Japan, lost 2–3  Sweden, won 6–1  Brazil, won 3–0  England, won 1–0  China, lost 0–2  Norway Germany Gero Bisanz
 Norway 10 Champions won 8–0  Nigeria, won 2–0  England, won 7–0  Canada, won 3–1  Denmark, won 1–0  United States, won 2–0  Germany Norway Even Pellerud
 Sweden 8[4] Quarter-finals lost 0–1  Brazil, won 3–2  Germany, won 2–0  Japan, drew 1–1  China (lost 3–4 (p)) Sweden Bengt Simonsson
1999  United States 16 67 16 18[5]  Denmark 6 Group stage lost 0–3  United States, lost 1–3  North Korea, lost 0–2  Nigeria Denmark Jørgen Hvidemose
 Germany 8 Quarter-finals drew 1–1  Italy, won 6–0  Mexico, drew 3–3  Brazil, lost 2–3  Germany Germany Tina Theune-Meyer
 Italy 6 Group stage drew 1–1  Germany, lost 0–2  Brazil, won 2–0  Mexico Italy Carlo Facchin
 Norway 6 Fourth place won 2–1  Russia, won 7–1  Canada, won 4–0  Japan, won 3–1  Sweden, lost 0–5  China, drew 0–0  Brazil (lost 4–5 (p)) Norway Per-Mathias Høgmo
 Russia 8 Quarter-finals lost 1–2  Norway, won 5–0  Japan, won 4–1  Canada, lost 0–2  China Russia Yuri Bystritsky
 Sweden 6 Quarter-finals lost 1–2  China, won 3–1  Australia, won 2–0  Ghana, lost 1–3  Norway Sweden Marika Domanski-Lyfors
2003  United States 16 99 16 18[5]  France 10 Group stage lost 0–2  Norway, won 1–0  South Korea, drew 1–1  Brazil France Élisabeth Loisel
 Germany 6 Champions won 4–1  Canada, won 3–0  Japan, won 6–1  Argentina, won 7–1  Russia, won 3–0  United States, won 2–1  Sweden (g.g.) Germany Tina Theune-Meyer
 Norway 6 Quarter-finals won 2–0  France, lost 1–4  Brazil, won 7–1  South Korea, lost 0–1  United States Norway Åge Steen
 Russia 6 Quarter-finals won 2–1  Australia, won 3–0  Ghana, lost 0–1  China, lost 1–7  Germany Russia Yuri Bystritsky
 Sweden 6 Runners-up lost 1–3  United States, won 1–0  North Korea, won 3–0  Nigeria, won 2–1  Brazil, won 2–1  Canada, lost 1–2  Germany (g.g.) Sweden Marika Domanski-Lyfors
2007  China 16 120 25 15[6]  Denmark 8 Group stage lost 2–3  China, won 2–0  New Zealand, lost 0–1  Brazil Denmark Kenneth Heiner-Møller
 England 8 Quarter-finals drew 2–2  Japan, drew 0–0  Germany, won 6–1  Argentina, lost 0–3  United States England Hope Powell
 Germany 8 Champions won 11–0  Argentina, drew 0–0  England, won 2–0  Japan, won 3–0  North Korea, won 3–0  Norway, won 2–0  Brazil Germany Silvia Neid
 Norway 8 Fourth place won 2–1  Canada, drew 1–1  Australia, won 7–2  Ghana, won 1–0  China, lost 0–3  Germany, lost 1–4  United States Norway Bjarne Berntsen
 Sweden 8 Group stage drew 1–1  Nigeria, lost 0–2  United States, won 2–1  North Korea Sweden Thomas Dennerby
2011  Germany 16 125 41 0  England 10 Quarter-finals drew 1–1  Mexico, won 2–1  New Zealand, won 2–0  Japan, drew 1–1  France (lost 3–4 (p)) England Hope Powell
 France 12 Fourth place won 1–0  Nigeria, won 4–0  Canada, lost 2–4  Germany, drew 1–1  England (won 4–3 (p)), lost 1–3  United States, lost 1–2  Sweden France Bruno Bini
 Germany Hosts Quarter-finals won 2–1  Canada, won 1–0  Nigeria, won 4–2  France, lost 0–1  Japan (a.e.t.) Germany Silvia Neid
 Norway 10 Group stage won 1–0  Equatorial Guinea, lost 0–3  Brazil, lost 1–2  Australia Norway Eli Landsem
 Sweden 10 Third place won 1–0  Colombia, won 1–0  North Korea, won 2–1  United States, won 3–1  Australia, lost 1–3  Japan, won 2–1  France Sweden Thomas Dennerby
2015  Canada 24 134 46 0  England 10 Third place lost 0–1  France, won 2–1  Mexico, won 2–1  Colombia, won 2–1  Norway, won 2–1  Canada, lost 1–2  Japan, won 1–0  Germany (a.e.t.) Wales Mark Sampson
 France 10 Quarter-finals won 1–0  England, lost 0–2  Colombia, won 5–0  Mexico, won 3–0  South Korea, drew 1–1  Germany (lost 4–5 (p)) France Philippe Bergeroo
 Germany 10 Fourth place won 10–0  Ivory Coast, drew 1–1  Norway, won 4–0  Thailand, won 4–1  Sweden, drew 0–0  France (lwon 5–4 (p)), lost 0–2  United States, lost 0–1  England (a.e.t.) Germany Silvia Neid
 Netherlands 14 Round of 16 won 1–0  New Zealand, lost 0–1  China, drew 1–1  Canada, lost 1–2  Japan Netherlands Roger Reijners
 Norway 10 Round of 16 won 4–0  Thailand, drew 1–1  Germany, won 3–1  Ivory Coast, lost 1–2  England Norway Even Pellerud
 Spain 10 Group stage drew 1–1  Costa Rica, lost 0–1  Brazil, lost 1–2  South Korea Spain Ignacio Quereda
 Sweden 10 Round of 16 drew 3–3  Nigeria, drew 0–0  United States, drew 1–1  Australia, lost 1–4  Germany Sweden Pia Sundhage
 Switzerland 10 Round of 16 lost 0–1  Japan, won 10–1  Ecuador, lost 1–2  Cameroon, lost 0–1  Canada Germany Martina Voss-Tecklenburg
2019  France 24 144 46 0  England 8 Fourth place won 2–1  Scotland, won 1–0  Argentina, won 2–0  Japan, won 3–0  Cameroon, won 3–0  Norway, lost 1–2  United States, lost 1–2  Sweden England Phil Neville
 France Hosts Quarter-finals won 4–0  South Korea, won 2–1  Norway, won 1–0  Nigeria, won 2–1  Brazil (a.e.t.), lost 1–2  United States France Corinne Diacre
 Germany 8 Quarter-finals won 1–0  China, won 1–0  Spain, won 4–0  South Africa, won 3–0  Nigeria, lost 1–2  Sweden Germany Martina Voss-Tecklenburg
 Italy 8 Quarter-finals won 2–1  Australia, won 5–0  Jamaica, lost 0–1  Brazil, won 2–0  China, lost 0–2  Netherlands Italy Milena Bertolini
 Netherlands 12 Runners-up won 1–0  New Zealand, won 3–1  Cameroon, won 2–1  Canada, won 2–1  Japan, won 2–0  Italy, won 1–0  Sweden (a.e.t.), lost 0–2  United States Netherlands Sarina Wiegman
 Norway 8 Quarter-finals won 3–0  Nigeria, lost 1–2  France, won 2–1  South Korea, drew 1–1  Australia (won 4–1 (p)), lost 0–3  England Sweden Martin Sjögren
 Scotland 8 Group stage lost 1–2  England, lost 1–2  Japan, drew 3–3  Argentina Scotland Shelley Kerr
 Spain 8 Round of 16 won 3–1  South Africa, lost 0–1  Germany, drew 0–0  China, lost 1–2  United States Spain Jorge Vilda
 Sweden 8 Third place won 2–0  Chile, won 5–1  Thailand, lost 0–2  United States, won 1–0  Canada, won 2–1  Germany, lost 0–1  Netherlands (a.e.t.), won 2–1  England Sweden Peter Gerhardsson
2023  Australia
 New Zealand
32 172 51 0  Denmark 9 Round of 16 won 1–0  China, lost 0–1  England, won 2–0  Haiti, lost 0–2  Australia Denmark Lars Søndergaard
 England 10 Runners-up won 1–0  Haiti, won 1–0  Denmark, won 6–1  China, drew 0–0  Nigeria (won 4–2 (p)), won 2–1  Colombia, won 3–1  Australia, lost 0–1  Spain Netherlands Sarina Wiegman
 France 10 Quarter-finals drew 0–0  Jamaica, won 2–1  Brazil, won 6–3  Panama, won 4–0  Morocco, drew 0–0  Australia (lost 6–7 (p)) France Hervé Renard
 Germany 10 Group stage won 6–0  Morocco, lost 1–2  Colombia, drew 1–1  South Korea Germany Martina Voss-Tecklenburg
 Italy 10 Group stage won 1–0  Argentina, lost 0–5  Sweden, lost 2–3  South Africa Italy Milena Bertolini
 Netherlands 8 Quarter-finals won 1–0  Portugal, drew 1–1  United States, won 7–0  Vietnam, won 2–0  South Africa, lost 1–2  Spain (a.e.t.) Netherlands Andries Jonker
 Norway 10 Round of 16 lost 0–1  New Zealand, drew 0–0  Switzerland, won 6–0  Philippines, lost 1–3  Japan Norway Hege Riise
 Portugal 13 Group stage lost 0–1  Portugal, won 2–0  Vietnam, drew 0–0  United States Portugal Francisco Neto
 Republic of Ireland 9 Group stage lost 0–1  Australia, lost 1–2  Canada, drew 0–0  Nigeria Netherlands Vera Pauw
 Spain 8 Champions won 3–0  Costa Rica, won 3–0  Zambia, lost 0–4  Japan, won 5–1  Switzerland, won 2–1  Netherlands (a.e.t.), won 2–1  Sweden, won 1–0  England Spain Jorge Vilda
 Sweden 8 Third place won 2–1  South Africa, won 5–0  Italy, won 2–0  Argentina, drew 0–0  United States (won 5–4 (p)), won 2–1  Japan, lost 1–2  Spain, won 2–0  Australia Sweden Peter Gerhardsson
 Switzerland 11 Round of 16 won 2–0  Philippines, drew 0–0  Norway, drew 0–0  New Zealand, lost 1–5  Spain Germany Inka Grings

Not yet qualified

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41 of the 55 active FIFA and UEFA members have never appeared in the final tournament.

Legend
  • TBD — To be determined (may still qualify for upcoming tournament)
  •  •  — Did not qualify
  •  ×  — Did not enter / Withdrew / Banned
  •     — Not affiliated in FIFA
  •  ••  — Qualified, but withdrew before Finals
Country Number of
Qualifying
attempts
1991
China
1995
Sweden
1999
United States
2003
United States
2007
China
2011
Germany
2015
Canada
2019
France
2023
Australia
New Zealand
2027
Brazil
 Albania 3 × × × × × × TBD
 Andorra 1 × × × × × × × × TBD
 Armenia 2 ×1 × × × × × × TBD
 Austria 6 × × × TBD
 Azerbaijan 2 ×1 × × × × × × TBD
 Belarus 7 ×1 × TBD
 Belgium 9 TBD
 Bosnia and Herzegovina 7 ×2 × TBD
 Bulgaria 6 × × × TBD
 Croatia 6 ×2 × × TBD
 Cyprus 1 × × × × × × × × TBD
 Czech Republic 9 3 TBD
 Estonia 7 ×1 × TBD
 Faroe Islands 3 × × × × × × TBD
 Finland 9 TBD
 Georgia 4 ×1 × × × × TBD
 Gibraltar 0 Not a member of UEFA × × TBD
 Greece 8 × TBD
 Hungary 9 TBD
 Iceland 8 × TBD
 Israel 7 ×4 × TBD
 Kazakhstan 5 Member of AFC1 × TBD
 Kosovo 2 Not a member of UEFA2 TBD
 Latvia 4 ×1 × × × × TBD
 Liechtenstein 0 × × × × × × × × × TBD
 Lithuania 5 ×1 × × × TBD
 Luxembourg 3 × × × × × × TBD
 Malta 5 × × × × TBD
 Moldova 4 ×1 × × × × TBD
 Montenegro 3 Part of  Yugoslavia and  Serbia and Montenegro TBD
 North Macedonia 3 ×2 × × × × × TBD
 Northern Ireland 5 × × × × TBD
 Poland 9 TBD
 Romania 8 × TBD
 San Marino 0 × × × × × × × × × TBD
 Serbia 7 ×2 ×2 2 2 TBD
 Slovakia 8 ×3 TBD
 Slovenia 6 ×2 × × TBD
 Turkey 6 × × × TBD
 Ukraine 8 ×1 TBD
 Wales 8 × TBD

Notes:

Competitive history

[edit]

1991: early European domination

[edit]

The UEFA Women's Euro 1991, which served as the direct qualification tickets for the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup in China, saw Germany, Italy, Norway and Denmark represented Europe, while Sweden was the lucky loser to join the tournament as well, having failed to qualify for the tournament but achieved the best records among the playoff losers. In just the first World Cup season, Europe immediately demonstrated its women's football quality no less inferior than the men's counterparts. Denmark and Italy reached the quarter-finals, where their journey ended in the quarter-finals to the hand of Germany and Norway. Both Germany and Norway, together with Sweden, went on to finish among top 4; the Germans lost to the United States 2–5 in the quarter-finals, while Norway overcame fellow European opponent Sweden 4–1. Sweden went to take third place by beating Germany 4–0 while Norway lost 1–2 to the United States, missing the opportunity to bring home first Women's World Cup title.

1995: first European triumph and England's debut

[edit]

The UEFA Women's Euro 1995, played with the same format of qualifying like 1991, saw Denmark, Norway, England and Germany joined the 1995 World Cup tournament held in Sweden, with Denmark being the lucky loser to qualify. Europe once again proved domination, and this time, was far more successful, with Denmark, England and hosts Sweden reached the last eight, where they lost to Norway, Germany and China in process. Norway and Germany moved on to reach the final, where the Norwegians corrected the failure of 1991 final by winning 2–0, making it the first major FIFA triumph for the Nordic side.

1999: Italy's return, Russia's debut, and less success

[edit]

After the impressive displays of European sides in the first two editions, the 1999 tournament in the United States saw Europe organised the first ever separate qualification instead of using the continental tournament like the other confederations. With the new qualification system, Italy returned after missing the 1995 edition, while Russia debuted, joining with Germany, Sweden, Norway and Denmark as well. The tournament proved to be a sour note for Europe, with Denmark and Italy became the first European teams to fail to progress from the group stage, with Denmark the worst-performed team with one goal scored and no point. Russia, Sweden and Germany could not do better when reaching the last eight, losing to China, Norway and the United States, respectively. Norway, then-world champions, suffered an agonising 0–5 loss to China in the semi-finals, thus failed to defend the title, yet Norway could not even win an honourable medal after losing to Brazil on penalty for third place.

2003: beginning of German domination

[edit]

The 2003 qualification saw Italy and Denmark, two worst-performed teams from Europe back in 1999, failed to qualify for the 2003 edition, also hosted in the United States. France became the debutant in the tournament, joining Russia, Sweden, Germany and Norway.

After the disappointing 1999 show, Europe reclaimed its prestige in 2003 in style. With the exception of France, the other four progressed to the knockout phase: Russia were crushed 1–7 by Germany, Sweden beat Brazil 2–1 while Norway fell 0–1 to the American hosts. Subsequently, Germany and Sweden overcame North American representatives the United States and Canada to make the all-out second European final, where Germany triumphed 2–1 after an extra-time golden goal, to give Germany the first Women's World Cup title. By doing so, Germany became the first, and so far, the only country in the world to win both men's and women's World Cup.

2007: Germany at peak, England and Denmark's return

[edit]

The 2007 qualification witnessed England and Denmark returned to the tournament, with England qualified after missing two previous editions, while Denmark returned after missing 2003, joining old forces Germany, Norway and Sweden.

The tournament was a major success for Europe, although this also marked the elimination from the group stage of both Denmark and Sweden, the latter was a shock one, failed to reach the knockout stage for the first time despite a 2–1 win over North Korea. England reached the quarter-finals, where they lost to the United States 0–3. Norway and Germany subsequently reached the semi-finals where they faced each other, which the Germans won 3–0. Germany was impressive throughout the tournament, topping the group stage undefeated and beating North Korea and Norway with the same scoreline, and finally made history by winning Brazil 2–0 in the final to successfully defend the title. Germany was the first team to win two consecutive World Cup, but moreover, Germany was the first national team in either gender to have won the World Cup without conceding a single goal in process.

2011: Europe getting stunned by Asia

[edit]

The 2011 qualification saw France's return and Denmark's absent, joining England, Sweden and Norway to the World Cup held in Germany, then-world champions. With the rich European history of participation, Europe was expected to become a dominant force again.

However, once the World Cup started, the tournament became a nightmare for both Norway and hosts Germany, Europe's only world champions. Norway was knocked out of the group stage after suffering shock loss to Australia 1–2 in the final game, a game Norway must win to qualify. For Germany, after winning three consecutive group stage games, Germany met Japan, who was the underdog of the tournament, but Germany could not find the way to break through after 120 minutes; instead, the Germans got a shock punishment in the extra-time by a very disciplined Japanese side, and crashed out of the quarter-finals in the disbelief of home fans. Sweden went to reach the knockout stage as top finisher of its group, beating Australia 3–1 at the quarter-finals but suffered a shock loss in the semi-finals to Japan with the same scoreline. France went on to eliminate England in the last eight on penalty shootout, but losses to the United States and Sweden denied France a top three finish.

2015: Record debutants, but getting sidelined

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The 2015 qualification welcomed a historic record as three new European representatives, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands, joined the World Cup, alongside Germany, Sweden, Norway, England and France. With eight European sides, Europe was hoping to regain its status after being humiliated by then-world champions Japan four years earlier.

Sweden and Norway had rather unimpressive displays in the competition, more for the former as Sweden only qualified to the round of 16 after three consecutive draws to Nigeria, the United States and Australia, before getting routed by Germany 1–4; Norway did better by finishing second with similar points to Germany (7), but Norway got eliminated by England 1–2. The Netherlands and Switzerland also booked their places in the knockout stage for the first time, finished as two best third-placed team, before went on to be eliminated by Japan and Canada respectively. France reached the quarter-finals of the tournament after topping the group stage (though with an imperfect performance), beating South Korea 3–0 and then lost to Germany on penalty shootout 4–5 after a goalless draw in 120 minutes. England and Germany, meanwhile, became the best-performed teams in that tournament, reaching the semi-finals, but had their journey ended with defeats to Japan and the United States. In the battle for third place, Germany lost to England for the first time ever, with a 0–1 loss in extra time, making England the best-performed team from Europe, which was seen as a revelation after the England men's side failed disastrously in the men's 2014 FIFA World Cup as the worst-performed team from Europe in that edition. Meanwhile, Spain turned out to be the worst-performed team in the Women's World Cup instead, as Spain's debut ended in disaster after getting only just a point against Costa Rica and losses to Brazil and South Korea, despite being highly favoured to progress.

2019: restoration of European domination, but without a title

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The 2019 qualification marked historic debut for Scotland while Italy ended its World Cup drought after 20 years. Together, Italy and Scotland joined Germany, Sweden, Norway, England, France, the Netherlands and Spain. France were the hosts of the 2019 edition.

The 2019 edition was significant as for the first time, Europe snatched a football record, with seven teams reaching the last eight. France and Norway dominated group A, overpowered Nigeria and South Korea. Group B also saw Germany and Spain occupied two first places in the group. Italy, meanwhile, stunned Australia and Brazil in its return to occupy top of the group C. Group D also witnessed England seized top of the group, the same also came in group E with the Netherlands did the same. Sweden was the only team from Europe not to top the group (Norway and Spain were drawn with other European opponents), though by finishing second in group F, Sweden also progressed to the last sixteen. All European representatives in the last sixteen, except for Spain, were able to win their respective encounters, making three out of four quarter-finals meetings European affairs. Eventually, England, Sweden and the Netherlands went on to the semi-finals, where the Dutch surprised Sweden with a 1–0 win while England fell to the United States 1–2. Sweden took bronze after beating England 2–1 while the Netherlands, in the historic World Cup final in its just second appearance, were denied of the prize after losing to the defending champions United States 0–2.

Outside of Spain's failure, the other European side, Scotland, left disappointingly, having bravely fought against England and Japan (both lost 1–2), but suffered a shock comeback from three goals lead into a 3–3 draw to minnows Argentina, crashed out of the group stage.

2023: all-European final and Spain's first title

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The 2023 qualification, finished in September 2022, chose out which sides to qualify for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Italy, Norway, Ireland, Spain, England, Sweden, Germany, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Portugal qualified. However, the qualification was negatively impacted following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, which saw Russia disqualified from the tournament. There was an all-European World Cup final, a first since 2003, when first-time finalists Spain defeated fellow final debutants England.

References

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  1. ^ "FIFA World Cup Statistical Overview (page 4)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 18, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2006.
  2. ^ Seeding of national teams (PDF). Archived 4 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 12 September 2016.
  3. ^ Yugoslavia withdrew during the qualification.
  4. ^ Sweden qualified as hosts, but competed in the qualification for ranking purpose.
  5. ^ a b Teams from Class B were ineligible for the qualification.
  6. ^ Teams from Second Category were ineligible for qualification.
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