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
1991 (12) |
1995 (12) |
1999 (16) |
2003 (16) |
2007 (16) |
2011 (16) |
2015 (24) |
2019 (24) |
2023 (32) |
2027 (32) |
Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Teams | 60 | ||||||||||
Top 16 | β | β | β | β | β | β | 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 | 4 | ||||||||||
2nd | 5 | ||||||||||
3rd | 5 | ||||||||||
4th | 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
Most finishes in the top four
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
- Legend
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The team ranking in each tournament is according to FIFA. 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.
For each tournament, the number of teams in each finals tournament (in brackets) are shown.
Team | 1991 (12) |
1995 (12) |
1999 (16) |
2003 (16) |
2007 (16) |
2011 (16) |
2015 (24) |
2019 (24) |
2023 (32) |
2027 (32) |
Total | Qual. Comp. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Denmark | QF 7th |
QF 7th |
R1 15th |
β’ | R1 12th |
β’ | β’ | β’ | R2 9th |
TBD | 5 | 9 |
England | β’ | QF 6th |
β’ | β’ | QF 7th |
QF 7th |
3rd | 4th | 2nd | TBD | 6 | 9 |
France | β’ | β’ | β’ | R1 9th |
β’ | 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 |
β’ | R1 9th |
β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | QF 7th |
R1 22nd |
TBD | 4 | 9 |
Netherlands | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | 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 | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | R1 19th |
TBD | 1 | 8 |
Republic of Ireland | β’ | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | R1 26th |
TBD | 1 | 8 |
Russia | Γ | β’ | QF 5th |
QF 8th |
β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | Γ | TBD | 2 | 7 |
Scotland | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | R1 19th |
β’ | TBD | 1 | 8 |
Spain | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | 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 | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | R2 15th |
β’ | R2 14th |
TBD | 2 | 9 |
Tournament standings
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
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 | β7 | 10 |
Spain | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | β2 | 5 |
Switzerland | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 5 | +6 | 3 |
Scotland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | β2 | 1 |
Appearances
Ranking of teams by number of appearances
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
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
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 3β0 New Zealand, drew 2β2 China, lost 1β2 Norway, lost 1β2 Germany (a.e.t.) | Keld Gantzhorn |
Germany | 10 | Fourth place | won 4β0 Nigeria, won 2β0 Chinese Taipei, won 2β0 Italy, won 2β1 Denmark (a.e.t.), lost 2β5 United States, lost 0β4 Sweden | Gero Bisanz | ||||||
Italy | 10 | Quarter-finals | won 5β0 Chinese Taipei, won 1β0 Nigeria, lost 0β2 Germany, lost 2β3 Norway (a.e.t.) | Sergio Guenza | ||||||
Norway | 10 | Runners-up | lost 0β4 China, won 4β0 New Zealand, won 2β1 Denmark, won 3β2 Italy (a.e.t.), won 4β1 Sweden, lost 1β2 United States | Even Pellerud | ||||||
Sweden | 8 | Third place | lost 2β3 United States, won 8β0 Japan, won 2β0 Brazil, won 1β0 China, lost 1β4 Norway, won 4β0 Germany | Gunilla Paijkull | ||||||
1995 | Sweden | 12 | 55 | 30 | 1 | Denmark | 10 | Quarter-finals | won 5β0 Australia, lost 0β2 United States, lost 1β3 China, lost 1β3 Norway | Keld Gantzhorn |
England | 6 | Quarter-finals | won 3β2 Canada, lost 0β2 Norway, won 3β2 Nigeria, lost 0β3 Germany | Ted Copeland | ||||||
Germany | 10 | Runners-up | won 1β0 Japan, lost 2β3 Sweden, won 6β1 Brazil, won 3β0 England, won 1β0 China, lost 0β2 Norway | Gero Bisanz | ||||||
Norway | 10 | Champions | won 8β0 Nigeria, won 2β0 England, won 7β0 Canada, won 3β1 Denmark, won 1β0 United States, won 2β0 Germany | Even Pellerud | ||||||
Sweden | 8 | Quarter-finals | lost 0β1 Brazil, won 3β2 Germany, won 2β0 Japan, drew 1β1 China (lost 3β4 (p)) | Bengt Simonsson | ||||||
1999 | United States | 16 | 67 | 16 | 18 | Denmark | 6 | Group stage | lost 0β3 United States, lost 1β3 North Korea, lost 0β2 Nigeria | JΓΈrgen Hvidemose |
Germany | 8 | Quarter-finals | drew 1β1 Italy, won 6β0 Mexico, drew 3β3 Brazil, lost 2β3 Germany | Tina Theune-Meyer | ||||||
Italy | 6 | Group stage | drew 1β1 Germany, lost 0β2 Brazil, won 2β0 Mexico | Carlo Facchin | ||||||
Norway | 6 | Fourth place | won 2β1 Russia, won 7β1 Canada, won 4β0 Japan, won 3β1 Sweden, lost 0β5 China, drew 0β0 Brazil (lost 4β5 (p)) | Per-Mathias HΓΈgmo | ||||||
Russia | 8 | Quarter-finals | lost 1β2 Norway, won 5β0 Japan, won 4β1 Canada, lost 0β2 China | Yuri Bystritsky | ||||||
Sweden | 6 | Quarter-finals | lost 1β2 China, won 3β1 Australia, won 2β0 Ghana, lost 1β3 Norway | Marika Domanski-Lyfors | ||||||
2003 | United States | 16 | 99 | 16 | 18 | France | 10 | Group stage | lost 0β2 Norway, won 1β0 South Korea, drew 1β1 Brazil | Γlisabeth Loisel |
Germany | 6 | Champions | won 4β1 Canada, won 3β0 Japan, won 6β1 Argentina, won 7β1 Russia, won 3β0 United States, won 2β1 Sweden (g.g.) | Tina Theune-Meyer | ||||||
Norway | 6 | Quarter-finals | won 2β0 France, lost 1β4 Brazil, won 7β1 South Korea, lost 0β1 United States | Γ ge Steen | ||||||
Russia | 6 | Quarter-finals | won 2β1 Australia, won 3β0 Ghana, lost 0β1 China, lost 1β7 Germany | Yuri Bystritsky | ||||||
Sweden | 6 | Runners-up | lost 1β3 United States, won 1β0 North Korea, won 3β0 Nigeria, won 2β1 Brazil, won 2β1 Canada, lost 1β2 Germany (g.g.) | Marika Domanski-Lyfors | ||||||
2007 | China | 16 | 120 | 25 | 15 | Denmark | 8 | Group stage | lost 2β3 China, won 2β0 New Zealand, lost 0β1 Brazil | Kenneth Heiner-MΓΈller |
England | 8 | Quarter-finals | drew 2β2 Japan, drew 0β0 Germany, won 6β1 Argentina, lost 0β3 United States | Hope Powell | ||||||
Germany | 8 | Champions | won 11β0 Argentina, drew 0β0 England, won 2β0 Japan, won 3β0 North Korea, won 3β0 Norway, won 2β0 Brazil | Silvia Neid | ||||||
Norway | 8 | Fourth place | won 2β1 Canada, drew 1β1 Australia, won 7β2 Ghana, won 1β0 China, lost 0β3 Germany, lost 1β4 United States | Bjarne Berntsen | ||||||
Sweden | 8 | Group stage | drew 1β1 Nigeria, lost 0β2 United States, won 2β1 North Korea | Thomas Dennerby | ||||||
2011 | Germany | 16 | 125 | 41 | 0 | England | 10 | Quarter-finals | drew 1β1 Mexico, won 2β1 New Zealand, won 2β0 Japan, drew 1β1 France (lost 3β4 (p)) | Hope Powell |
France | 12 | Fourth place | won 1β0 Nigeria, won 4β0 Canada, lost 2β4 Germany, drew 1β1 England (won 4β3 (p)), lost 1β3 United States, lost 1β2 Sweden | Bruno Bini | ||||||
Germany | Hosts | Quarter-finals | won 2β1 Canada, won 1β0 Nigeria, won 4β2 France, lost 0β1 Japan (a.e.t.) | Silvia Neid | ||||||
Norway | 10 | Group stage | won 1β0 Equatorial Guinea, lost 0β3 Brazil, lost 1β2 Australia | Eli Landsem | ||||||
Sweden | 10 | Third place | won 1β0 Colombia, won 1β0 North Korea, won 2β1 United States, won 3β1 Australia, lost 1β3 Japan, won 2β1 France | Thomas Dennerby | ||||||
2015 | Canada | 24 | 134 | 46 | 0 | England | 10 | Third place | lost 0β1 France, won 2β1 Mexico, won 2β1 Colombia, won 2β1 Norway, won 2β1 Canada, lost 1β2 Japan, won 1β0 Germany (a.e.t.) | Mark Sampson |
France | 10 | Quarter-finals | won 1β0 England, lost 0β2 Colombia, won 5β0 Mexico, won 3β0 South Korea, drew 1β1 Germany (lost 4β5 (p)) | Philippe Bergeroo | ||||||
Germany | 10 | Fourth place | won 10β0 Ivory Coast, drew 1β1 Norway, won 4β0 Thailand, won 4β1 Sweden, drew 0β0 France (lwon 5β4 (p)), lost 0β2 United States, lost 0β1 England (a.e.t.) | Silvia Neid | ||||||
Netherlands | 14 | Round of 16 | won 1β0 New Zealand, lost 0β1 China, drew 1β1 Canada, lost 1β2 Japan | Roger Reijners | ||||||
Norway | 10 | Round of 16 | won 4β0 Thailand, drew 1β1 Germany, won 3β1 Ivory Coast, lost 1β2 England | Even Pellerud | ||||||
Spain | 10 | Group stage | drew 1β1 Costa Rica, lost 0β1 Brazil, lost 1β2 South Korea | Ignacio Quereda | ||||||
Sweden | 10 | Round of 16 | drew 3β3 Nigeria, drew 0β0 United States, drew 1β1 Australia, lost 1β4 Germany | Pia Sundhage | ||||||
Switzerland | 10 | Round of 16 | lost 0β1 Japan, won 10β1 Ecuador, lost 1β2 Cameroon, lost 0β1 Canada | Martina Voss-Tecklenburg | ||||||
2019 | France | 24 | 144 | 46 | 0 | England | 8 | Fourth place | won 2β1 Scotland, won 1β0 Argentina, won 2β0 Japan, won 3β0 Cameroon, won 3β0 Norway, lost 1β2 United States, lost 1β2 Sweden | Phil Neville |
France | Hosts | Quarter-finals | won 4β0 South Korea, won 2β1 Norway, won 1β0 Nigeria, won 2β1 Brazil (a.e.t.), lost 1β2 United States | Corinne Diacre | ||||||
Germany | 8 | Quarter-finals | won 1β0 China, won 1β0 Spain, won 4β0 South Africa, won 3β0 Nigeria, lost 1β2 Sweden | Martina Voss-Tecklenburg | ||||||
Italy | 8 | Quarter-finals | won 2β1 Australia, won 5β0 Jamaica, lost 0β1 Brazil, won 2β0 China, lost 0β2 Netherlands | Milena Bertolini | ||||||
Netherlands | 12 | Runners-up | won 1β0 New Zealand, won 3β1 Cameroon, won 2β1 Canada, won 2β1 Japan, won 2β0 Italy, won 1β0 Sweden (a.e.t.), lost 0β2 United States | Sarina Wiegman | ||||||
Norway | 8 | Quarter-finals | won 3β0 Nigeria, lost 1β2 France, won 2β1 South Korea, drew 1β1 Australia (won 4β1 (p)), lost 0β3 England | Martin SjΓΆgren | ||||||
Scotland | 8 | Group stage | lost 1β2 England, lost 1β2 Japan, drew 3β3 Argentina | Shelley Kerr | ||||||
Spain | 8 | Round of 16 | won 3β1 South Africa, lost 0β1 Germany, drew 0β0 China, lost 1β2 United States | Jorge Vilda | ||||||
Sweden | 8 | Third place | won 2β0 Chile, won 5β1 Thailand, lost 0β2 United States, won 1β0 Canada, won 2β1 Germany, lost 0β1 Netherlands (a.e.t.), won 2β1 England | Peter Gerhardsson | ||||||
2023 | Australia New Zealand |
32 | 172 | 51 | 0 | Denmark | 9 | Round of 16 | won 1β0 China, lost 0β1 England, won 2β0 Haiti, lost 0β2 Australia | Lars SΓΈndergaard |
England | 10 | Runners-up | won 1β0 Haiti, won 1β0 Denmark, won 6β1 China, drew 0β0 Nigeria (won 4β2 (p)), won 2β1 Colombia, won 3β1 Australia, lost 0β1 Spain | Sarina Wiegman | ||||||
France | 10 | Quarter-finals | drew 0β0 Jamaica, won 2β1 Brazil, won 6β3 Panama, won 4β0 Morocco, drew 0β0 Australia (lost 6β7 (p)) | HervΓ© Renard | ||||||
Germany | 10 | Group stage | won 6β0 Morocco, lost 1β2 Colombia, drew 1β1 South Korea | Martina Voss-Tecklenburg | ||||||
Italy | 10 | Group stage | won 1β0 Argentina, lost 0β5 Sweden, lost 2β3 South Africa | Milena Bertolini | ||||||
Netherlands | 8 | Quarter-finals | won 1β0 Portugal, drew 1β1 United States, won 7β0 Vietnam, won 2β0 South Africa, lost 1β2 Spain (a.e.t.) | Andries Jonker | ||||||
Norway | 10 | Round of 16 | lost 0β1 New Zealand, drew 0β0 Switzerland, won 6β0 Philippines, lost 1β3 Japan | Hege Riise | ||||||
Portugal | 13 | Group stage | lost 0β1 Portugal, won 2β0 Vietnam, drew 0β0 United States | Francisco Neto | ||||||
Republic of Ireland | 9 | Group stage | lost 0β1 Australia, lost 1β2 Canada, drew 0β0 Nigeria | Vera Pauw | ||||||
Spain | 8 | Champions | won 3β0 Costa Rica, won 3β0 Zambia, lost 0β4 Japan, won 5β1 Switzerland, won 2β1 Netherlands (a.e.t.), won 2β1 Sweden, won 1β0 England | Jorge Vilda | ||||||
Sweden | 8 | Third place | won 2β1 South Africa, won 5β0 Italy, won 2β0 Argentina, drew 0β0 United States (won 5β4 (p)), won 2β1 Japan, lost 1β2 Spain, won 2β0 Australia | Peter Gerhardsson | ||||||
Switzerland | 11 | Round of 16 | won 2β0 Philippines, drew 0β0 Norway, drew 0β0 New Zealand, lost 1β5 Spain | Inka Grings |
Not yet qualified
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)
- β’ — Did not qualify
- Γ — Did not enter / Withdrew / Banned
- — Not affiliated in FIFA
- β’β’ — Qualified, but withdrew before Finals
Country | Number of Qualifying attempts |
1991 |
1995 |
1999 |
2003 |
2007 |
2011 |
2015 |
2019 |
2023 |
2027 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albania | 3 | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Andorra | 1 | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | β’ | Γ | TBD |
Armenia | 2 | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | β’ | Γ | Γ | β’ | TBD |
Austria | 6 | Γ | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Azerbaijan | 2 | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | β’ | Γ | Γ | β’ | TBD |
Belarus | 7 | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Belgium | 9 | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 7 | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Bulgaria | 6 | β’ | β’ | β’ | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | Γ | β’ | TBD |
Croatia | 6 | Γ | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Cyprus | 1 | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | β’ | TBD |
Czech Republic | 9 | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Estonia | 7 | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Faroe Islands | 3 | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Finland | 9 | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Georgia | 4 | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Gibraltar | 0 | Not a member of UEFA | Γ | Γ | TBD | ||||||
Greece | 8 | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Hungary | 9 | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Iceland | 8 | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Israel | 7 | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Kazakhstan | 5 | Member of AFC | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD | ||
Kosovo | 2 | Not a member of UEFA | β’ | β’ | TBD | ||||||
Latvia | 4 | Γ | β’ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Liechtenstein | 0 | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | TBD |
Lithuania | 5 | Γ | β’ | β’ | Γ | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Luxembourg | 3 | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Malta | 5 | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Moldova | 4 | Γ | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Montenegro | 3 | Part of Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD | |||||
North Macedonia | 3 | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | Γ | β’ | TBD |
Northern Ireland | 5 | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Poland | 9 | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Romania | 8 | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
San Marino | 0 | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | TBD |
Serbia | 7 | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Slovakia | 8 | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Slovenia | 6 | Γ | β’ | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Turkey | 6 | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Ukraine | 8 | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Wales | 8 | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | TBD |
Notes:
- Part of Soviet Union
- Part of Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro
- Part of Czechoslovakia
- Not a member of UEFA
Competitive history
1991: early European domination
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 2β5 in the quarter-finals, while Norway overcame fellow European opponent Sweden 4β1. Sweden went to take third place by beating Germany 4β0 while Norway lost 1β2 to the United States, missing the opportunity to bring home first Women's World Cup title.
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 2β0, making it the first major FIFA triumph for the Nordic side.
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 0β5 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
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 1β7 by Germany, Sweden beat Brazil 2β1 while Norway fell 0β1 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 2β1 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.
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 2β1 win over North Korea. England reached the quarter-finals, where they lost to the United States 0β3. Norway and Germany subsequently reached the semi-finals where they faced each other, which the Germans won 3β0. 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 2β0 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
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 1β2 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 3β1 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
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 1β4; Norway did better by finishing second with similar points to Germany (7), but Norway got eliminated by England 1β2. 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 3β0 and then lost to Germany on penalty shootout 4β5 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 0β1 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
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 1β0 win while England fell to the United States 1β2. Sweden took bronze after beating England 2β1 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 0β2.
Outside of Spain's failure, the other European side, Scotland, left disappointingly, having bravely fought against England and Japan (both lost 1β2), but suffered a shock comeback from three goals lead into a 3β3 draw to minnows Argentina, crashed out of the group stage.
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
- "FIFA World Cup Statistical Overview (page 4)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 18, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2006.
- Seeding of national teams (PDF). Archived 4 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 12 September 2016.
- Yugoslavia withdrew during the qualification.
- Sweden qualified as hosts, but competed in the qualification for ranking purpose.
- ^ Teams from Class B were ineligible for the qualification.
- Teams from Second Category were ineligible for qualification.