1999 FIFA Women's World Cup

1999 FIFA Women's World Cup was the third edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup, held in the United States from June 19 to July 10, 1999. The tournament featured 16 teams from UEFA, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, AFC, and CAF, with the United States women's national soccer team emerging as the champion. The 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup was a groundbreaking event, with Mia Hamm, Michelle Akers, and Brandi Chastain of the United States women's national soccer team becoming international stars, and China women's national football team reaching the final. The tournament was also notable for its attendance, with over 90,000 fans attending the final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, including Bill Clinton, the President of the United States at the time.

● Overview

The 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup was a significant event in the history of women's football, with FIFA investing heavily in the tournament and ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 providing extensive coverage in the United States. The tournament featured several notable teams, including the Germany women's national football team, Norway women's national football team, and Sweden women's national football team, as well as Brazil women's national football team and Japan women's national football team. The United States women's national soccer team was coached by Tony DiCicco, who had previously led the team to victory in the 1996 Summer Olympics and the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup. The team's roster included Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett, and Kristine Lilly, who all played key roles in the team's success.

● Qualification

The qualification process for the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup involved 16 teams from UEFA, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, AFC, and CAF. The United States women's national soccer team qualified automatically as the host team, while the other teams competed in regional tournaments to earn their spots. The Germany women's national football team qualified through the 1999 UEFA Women's Championship, while the China women's national football team qualified through the 1999 AFC Women's Championship. The Brazil women's national football team qualified through the 1998 Sudamericano Femenino, and the Nigeria women's national football team qualified through the 1998 African Women's Championship.

● Venues

The 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup was held in eight venues across the United States, including the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, the Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California, and the Foxboro Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois and the Civic Stadium in Portland, Oregon also hosted matches, as did the Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California and the Spartan Stadium in San Jose, California. The Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey hosted the third-place match between the Brazil women's national football team and the Norway women's national football team.

● Squads

The 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup featured 16 teams, each with a roster of 20 players. The United States women's national soccer team included Mia Hamm, Michelle Akers, and Brandi Chastain, as well as Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett, and Kristine Lilly. The China women's national football team included Sun Wen, Liu Ailing, and Jin Yan, while the Germany women's national football team included Birgit Prinz, Inka Grings, and Steffi Jones. The Brazil women's national football team included Sissi, Pretinha, and Roseli, and the Japan women's national football team included Homare Sawa, Yumi Tomei, and Mito Isaka.

● Group Stage

The group stage of the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup featured 16 teams divided into four groups of four teams each. The United States women's national soccer team was in Group A, along with the Denmark women's national football team, the Nigeria women's national football team, and the North Korea women's national football team. The China women's national football team was in Group D, along with the Sweden women's national football team, the Australia women's national soccer team, and the Ghana women's national football team. The Germany women's national football team was in Group B, along with the Italy women's national football team, the Mexico women's national football team, and the Brazil women's national football team.

● Knockout Stage

The knockout stage of the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup featured the top two teams from each group, with the winners advancing to the quarterfinals. The United States women's national soccer team defeated the Germany women's national football team 3-2 in the quarterfinals, while the China women's national football team defeated the Russia women's national football team 2-0. The United States women's national soccer team then defeated the Brazil women's national football team 2-0 in the semifinals, while the China women's national football team defeated the Norway women's national football team 5-0. The final match was played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, with the United States women's national soccer team defeating the China women's national football team 5-4 in a penalty shootout after the match ended 0-0 after extra time.

● Legacy

The 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup was a groundbreaking event that helped to establish women's football as a major sport. The tournament's success paved the way for future women's World Cups, including the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup. The tournament also helped to launch the careers of several notable players, including Mia Hamm, Michelle Akers, and Brandi Chastain, who all became international stars. The United States women's national soccer team has continued to be a dominant force in women's football, winning several FIFA Women's World Cup titles and Olympic Games gold medals. The Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) was also established in 2001, with several teams featuring players from the United States women's national soccer team, including the Washington Freedom and the Bay Area CyberRays. Category:1999 FIFA Women's World Cup