FIFA Women’s World Cup

National U.S. women’s soccer team practices for World Cup match, 2011 (Tallahassee Democrat, via Newspapers.com)

The FIFA Women’s World Cup is an international football competition contested by the senior women’s national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport’s global governing body. The competition has been held every four years since 1991, when the inaugural tournament, then called the FIFA Women’s World Championship, was held in China.

Under the tournament’s current format, national teams vie for 23 slots in a three-year qualification phase. (The host nation’s team is automatically entered as the 24th slot.) The tournament proper, alternatively called the World Cup Finals, is contested at venues within the host nation(s) over a period of about one month. Wikipedia

Learn more about the FIFA Women’s World Cup through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.

Articles and Clippings about the FIFA Women’s World Cup

U.S. Women’s soccer team are champions at the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Championships in 1991 Sun, Dec 1, 1991 – 13 · The Marshall News Messenger (Marshall, Texas) · Newspapers.comWomen’s World Cup gains U.S. exposure as 1995 World Cup kicks off in Sweden Sun, Jun 4, 1995 – 47 · The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida) · Newspapers.comEngland hopes to emerge out of the shadows as they head to Sweden for the 1995 World Cup Sun, Jun 4, 1995 – 61 · The Observer (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.comNorway pictured celebrating as they overcame Germany to win the 1995 Women’s World Cup Mon, Jun 19, 1995 – Page 22 · Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia) · Newspapers.comUnited States the favorite to host 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup Tue, Dec 12, 1995 – 31 · Austin American-Statesman (Austin, Texas) · Newspapers.comWomen will be officiating for the first time in history of FIFA Sat, Jun 19, 1999 – Page 34 · Herald and Review (Decatur, Illinois) · Newspapers.com1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying teams Sun, Jun 20, 1999 – Page 50 · The Courier-News (Bridgewater, New Jersey) · Newspapers.comSellout crowds for Women’s World Cup hosted in The United States Sat, Jun 19, 1999 – Page 19 · Northwest Herald (Woodstock, Illinois) · Newspapers.comTop rivalry of the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup: United States vs. Norway Fri, Jun 18, 1999 – 34 · The Post-Star (Glens Falls, New York) · Newspapers.comUnited States beat China to become the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup champions Sun, Jul 11, 1999 – Page 45 · Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York) · Newspapers.com2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup not expected to bring as much attention as 1999 World Cup Sat, Sep 20, 2003 – Page 14 · Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comNew headgear will be used in Women's World Cup in hopes of preventing head injuries Tue, Sep 16, 2003 – Page 17 · Tallahassee Democrat (Tallahassee, Florida) · Newspapers.com2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying teams Tue, Sep 16, 2003 – 17 · Hattiesburg American (Hattiesburg, Mississippi) · Newspapers.comGermany favored to win in anticipation of final against Sweden Sun, Oct 12, 2003 – Page 20 · Statesman Journal (Salem, Oregon) · Newspapers.comGermany clenches the 2003 World Cup championship after winning in overtime against Sweden Mon, Oct 13, 2003 – 12 · Visalia Times-Delta (Visalia, California) · Newspapers.comOpening ceremony for the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Shanghai, China Tue, Sep 11, 2007 – 51 · Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) · Newspapers.comGermany wins for the second year in a row after penalty kicks against Brazil Mon, Oct 1, 2007 – Page 18 · Northwest Herald (Woodstock, Illinois) · Newspapers.com5 North Koreans fail steroids test at 2011 Women’s World Cup Sun, Jul 17, 2011 – 37 · Pensacola News Journal (Pensacola, Florida) · Newspapers.comWomen’s World Cup could have major impact on youth Sun, Jul 17, 2011 – Page 21 · Tallahassee Democrat (Tallahassee, Florida) · Newspapers.comJapan beats the United States in an upset to win the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup Tue, Jul 19, 2011 – Page 20 · Northwest Herald (Woodstock, Illinois) · Newspapers.comOlder generations expected to watch 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Sat, Jul 4, 2015 – B4 · The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland) · Newspapers.comFIFA Secretary General to miss Women’s World Cup opener Tue, Jun 2, 2015 – 30 · The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) · Newspapers.comFIFA expands playing field at 2015 Women’s World Cup while adding more competing teams Fri, Jul 3, 2015 – C2 · The Morning Call (Allentown, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comHeartbreak for England during World Cup Fri, Jul 3, 2015 – C2 · The Morning Call (Allentown, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comUnited States defeat defending champs, Japan, to win the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Mon, Jul 6, 2015 – C5 · Honolulu Star-Advertiser (Honolulu, Hawaii) · Newspapers.comHuge increase in ratings for 2015 Women’s World Cup Tue, Jul 7, 2015 – U3 · Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia) · Newspapers.comFIFA is challenged for inequality between men and women’s soccer teams Sun, Jul 5, 2015 – Page S4 · Great Falls Tribune (Great Falls, Montana) · Newspapers.comFIFA has huge hopes for 2019 Women’s World Cup Wed, Sep 20, 2017 – 3 · The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) · Newspapers.com