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| 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup | |
|---|---|
| Tourney name | FIFA Women's World Cup |
| Year | 2007 |
| Other titles | FIFA Women's World Cup China 2007 |
| Country | China |
| Dates | 10–30 September 2007 |
| Num teams | 16 |
| Champion | Germany |
| Second | Brazil |
| Third | United States |
| Fourth | Norway |
| Matches | 32 |
| Goals | 111 |
| Player | Marta |
| Prevseason | 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup |
| Nextseason | 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup |
2007 FIFA Women's World Cup was the fifth edition of the global tournament contested by women's national football teams under the auspices of FIFA. Held in China from 10 to 30 September 2007, the competition returned to Asia after the 2003 edition and featured 16 teams from six confederations. The tournament culminated in Germany defeating Brazil in the final, while Marta garnered worldwide attention for her performances.
Qualification for the tournament involved continental competitions organized by the six FIFA confederations: Asian Football Confederation, Confederation of African Football, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC, and UEFA. Hosts China PR qualified automatically, while established powers such as United States, Germany, Norway, Brazil, and Sweden advanced through their respective qualifiers. Surprising qualifiers included North Korea from AFC and New Zealand from OFC. The qualification phase intersected with tournaments like the 2006 AFC Women's Championship, the 2006 African Women's Championship, the 2006 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup, and 2007 UEFA Women's Championship qualifying.
Matches were staged across five cities: Shanghai, Wuhan, Hangzhou, Zhengzhou, and Chengdu, with stadia including Hongkou Stadium, Wuhan Sports Center Stadium, Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium, Zhengzhou People's Stadium, and Chengdu Sports Center. FIFA appointed an international panel of referees and assistant referees drawn from continents represented by FIFA Confederations, including officials from England, Germany, Japan, United States, Brazil, Norway, Australia, and China. Video assistant referee (VAR) technology was not yet in use; match control relied on on-field decisions and fourth officials. The organization involved coordination with the Chinese Football Association and local organizing committees.
Sixteen national squads registered 21-player rosters, with deadline-driven submissions and injury replacements subject to FIFA approval. Notable teams featured decorated internationals: Birgit Prinz and Nadine Angerer for Germany; Marta and Mirella for Brazil; Mia Hamm was retired but the United States fielded veterans such as Kristine Lilly and Hope Solo; Birgit Prinz and Renate Lingor formed part of a strong Germany core. Emerging talents included players from North Korea, Japan, Canada, and Australia. Squad selection reflected domestic leagues like Frauen-Bundesliga, Nadeshiko League, W-League (Australia), and Women's Professional Soccer influences.
The group stage divided teams into four groups (A–D) with round-robin play. Group A featured China PR, Germany, Argentina, and Ivory Coast; Group B included United States, North Korea, Sweden, and Nigeria; Group C and Group D contained combinations of Brazil, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Japan, England, Australia, and Mexico. Upsets and close contests produced advancement by Germany, North Korea, United States, Brazil, Norway, Japan, England, and Australia into the quarter-finals. Goal-scoring leaders in the groups included Marta and Birgit Prinz.
The knockout stage comprised quarter-finals, semi-finals, a third-place match, and the final. Quarter-final ties featured Germany vs Japan, United States vs England, Brazil vs Australia, and Norway vs North Korea. Semi-finals saw Germany defeat Norway and Brazil overcome United States in a dramatic match featuring Cristiane and Abby Wambach. In the third-place match United States prevailed over Norway. The final pitted Germany against Brazil; Germany won 2–0, with decisive contributions from Marta's opponent-marking and clinical finishing by Birgit Prinz and teammates, securing Germany's second consecutive major international title.
The tournament produced 111 goals across 32 matches. Marta won the FIFA Player of the Tournament recognition for her goal-scoring and playmaking, while Ludmila da Silva and Birgit Prinz were among top scorers. The Golden Ball and Golden Shoe equivalents acknowledged individual excellence; the All-Star Team and FIFA Technical Study Group highlighted tactical trends such as possession play, counter-attacking, and set-piece efficiency. Attendance figures and television viewership grew compared with previous editions, reflecting expanding global interest in women's football.
The competition accelerated growth in women's association football across Europe, South America, North America, and Asia. High-profile performances by Marta and Birgit Prinz boosted visibility for professional leagues such as the Frauen-Bundesliga and helped catalyze development initiatives by FIFA and national federations like the United States Soccer Federation and Brazilian Football Confederation. The tournament influenced later editions, informing hosting decisions for 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup and contributing to debates about expansion, investment, and broadcasting rights. It also intersected with broader sporting events involving the Olympic Games and regional tournaments, shaping career trajectories for numerous players who later starred at club and international levels.
Category:FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments