FIFA Women's World Cup 2019

FIFA Women's World Cup 2019
Name	FIFA Women's World Cup 2019
Year	2019
Country	France
Dates	7 June – 7 July 2019
Num teams	24
Champion	United States
Matches	52
Goals	146
Attendance	1,131,312
Top scorer	Megan Rapinoe
Player	Megan Rapinoe
Goalkeeper	Sari van Veenendaal

FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 was the eighth edition of the global tournament organised by FIFA and staged in France from 7 June to 7 July 2019. The tournament featured 24 national teams from six confederations, culminating in a final won by the United States over the Netherlands. The competition attracted record attendances and heightened media attention, involving prominent figures such as Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Sam Kerr, Vivianne Miedema, and Saki Kumagai.

Overview

The event was awarded to France by the FIFA Council after a bidding process contested by South Africa and endorsed by associations including the FFF, UEFA, and UEFA committees. Venues ranged from the Stade de Lyon in Lyon to the Parc des Princes in Paris, reflecting infrastructure used during the UEFA Euro 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The tournament showcased established squads such as Germany, Japan, Brazil, Sweden, and emerging sides like Chile and Jamaica.

Qualification

Qualification pathways were run by confederations including CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, AFC, CAF, OFC, and UEFA. Hosts France qualified automatically, while other berths were decided through tournaments such as the AFC Women's Asian Cup, CONCACAF Women's Championship, Copa América Femenina, African Women's Cup of Nations, and OFC Women's Nations Cup. Notable qualifiers included England, Italy, Australia, China PR, Canada, and Nigeria. The qualification cycle featured players such as Sam Kerr for Australia, Ada Hegerberg (who withdrew) linked with UEFA Women's Champions League performances, and veteran campaigners like Christine Sinclair for Canada.

Venues and Match Officials

Matches were hosted in nine cities: Lyon, Paris, Nice, Reims, Le Havre, Rennes, Montpellier, Valenciennes, and Grenoble. Stadiums included the Stade de Lyon, Parc des Princes, Stade Vélodrome in Marseille (used for training), and municipal grounds adapted for FIFA standards overseen by the FIFA Referees Committee. The tournament appointed referees and assistant referees from associations such as CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, AFC, CAF, OFC, and UEFA, and featured prominent match officials like Bibiana Steinhaus, Yamashita? and Salima? (note: appointments included experienced figures from Germany, Japan, Netherlands, and France). Video Assistant Referee technology, as used in the 2018 World Cup, was implemented under guidance from the IFAB and FIFA officiating divisions.

Tournament Format and Schedule

The format consisted of six groups of four teams, with the top two from each group and the four best third-placed teams progressing to a 16-team knockout stage. The schedule spanned group-stage rounds, round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, a third-place play-off, and the final, aligning with international windows regulated by FIFA's match calendar. Match timing followed local time zones in France, and the competition calendar was coordinated with domestic leagues such as FA Women's Super League, Frauen-Bundesliga, NWSL, and Division 1 Féminine to minimize club-vs-country conflicts.

Group Stage

Group play featured high-profile clashes including United States vs Chile, England vs Scotland, Australia vs Italy, and Germany vs Spain. Star performers such as Megan Rapinoe for United States, Sam Kerr for Australia, Vivianne Miedema for Netherlands, and Alex Morgan for United States influenced group outcomes. Upsets occurred with teams like South Africa and Argentina competing strongly against Spain and Japan, while established powers such as Germany and France faced unexpected challenges. Group-stage statistics highlighted goal scorers from clubs linked with Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, Barcelona Femení, Portland Thorns FC, and OL Reign.

Knockout Stage

The knockout phase produced decisive matches featuring tactical contests between managers from club backgrounds including Phil Neville, Jill Ellis, Sarina Wiegman, Gareth Taylor, and Reynald Pedros. The United States advanced through elimination rounds against Spain, France, and England, while the Netherlands progressed past Japan and Italy to reach the final. Penalty shoot-outs and extra-time periods recalled moments from tournaments like the 2015 tournament and earlier FIFA Women's World Cup finals. Semifinalists included England and Sweden, with the third-place match contested by England and Sweden featuring players from clubs involved in the UEFA Women's Champions League.

Statistics and Awards

Top individual awards included the Golden Boot won by Megan Rapinoe (also awarded the Golden Ball), the Golden Glove earned by Sari van Veenendaal of the Netherlands, and the FIFA Fair Play Award presented to a team for sportsmanship. Goalscoring charts featured names such as Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Ellen White, Vivianne Miedema, and Sam Kerr, while assist leaders included players active in leagues like the FA Women's Super League and Division 1 Féminine. Team statistics recorded possession and passing metrics analyzed in collaboration with performance units linked to FIFA Technical Study Group and analytics partners.

Legacy and Impact

The tournament spurred debates involving FIFA about prize money levels, inspired policy discussions among associations such as the US Soccer Federation, FA, Football Australia, and influenced commercial partnerships with broadcasters including BBC Sport, Fox Sports, TF1, and European broadcasters. It accelerated visibility for women's football, bolstered club-to-country scouting networks feeding UEFA Women's Champions League clubs, and contributed to advocacy for equal pay movements associated with figures like Megan Rapinoe and institutions such as USWNT Players Association. Host cities reported economic impacts similar to events like the 2019 Champions League final, while FIFA continued to refine tournament delivery ahead of subsequent editions and Olympic women's football tournament cycles.

Category:FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments