WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Whose name will appear on Women’s World Cup trophy as Spain take on England?
The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 final on Sunday will see a new name etched on to the tournament trophy, as European duo Spain and England meet – for the first time in the competition – to do battle for the coveted crown.
The sides’ most recent meeting was in the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 quarter-finals, when England edged through in a 2-1 extra-time victory en route to winning the tournament.
After eliminating Switzerland, the Netherlands and Sweden to get to the final, Spain will not be daunted by the task and will look to assert their trademark passing game on this showpiece encounter.
England have overcome Nigeria, Colombia and Australia to reach the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ final for the first time and will be going all out to follow up on their Women’s EURO triumph and lift the trophy at Stadium Australia.
Both teams have grown stronger by the round, and it now all boils down to this one-off match, which promises to be a classic and the perfect way to round off what has been an exceptional tournament.
Last meeting:
- 20/07/2022, England 2-1 Spain, UEFA European Women’s Championship England 2022, American Express Community Stadium, Falmer (England)
Key facts
- The fact that both Spain and England will feature in the final for the first time brings the number of nations to have reached the FIFA Women’s World Cup showpiece to 10.
- This will be the third all-European FIFA Women’s World Cup final, after the showpieces at the 1995 (Norway 2-0 Germany) and 2003 (Germany 2-1 Sweden – aet) editions.
- The FIFA Women’s World Cup will be lifted by a European team for the first time since 2007, when Germany defeated Brazil 2-0 to clinch their second title following their triumph at the 2003 finals. Norway are the only other European side to have won the competition (1995).
- Germany are the only nation to have won both the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and Spain or England will match that achievement.
- This will be the first time since the inaugural instalment in 1991 that the FIFA Women’s World Cup final will be contested by two teams that have never previously featured in the tournament decider.
- Three of the nine FIFA Women’s World Cup finals have required extra time, with two of those being decided by a penalty shoot-out:
– 1999 – USA 0-0 China PR (aet) 5-4 PSO
– 2003 – Germany 2-1 Sweden (aet)
– 2011 – Japan 2-2 USA (aet) 3-1 PSO.
- Spain’sLa Roja are the leading goalscorers at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 with 17 goals – the most they have ever scored in a single edition of the tournament.
- Spain have emerged victorious in five of their six matches at this year’s finals (W5 L1). They had only won one of their seven FIFA Women’s World Cup encounters prior to this edition of the tournament.
- Spain have defeated European opposition in each of their knockout-stage matches en route to the final:Won 5-1 v. Switzerland (round of 16) Won 2-1 v. Netherlands (aet) (quarter-finals) Won 2-1 v. Sweden (semi-finals).
- Spain could become only the second team to secure the FIFA Women’s World Cup crown after suffering defeat en route to glory. Japan did so at the 2011 edition after slipping to a 2-0 group-stage defeat to England.
- Spain are the current FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup champions, having won both competitions in 2022. They could become the first country to hold all three titles at the same time. Japan are the only nation to have triumphed at all three tournaments: the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2011, the 2018 edition of the U-20 competition and the 2014 instalment of the U-17 tournament, but they did not hold all three titles at the same time.
- Spain’s Salma Paralluelo could become the first player to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup, FIFA U 20 Women’s World Cup and FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup – she tasted glory at the U-17 competition in 2018 and the 2022 edition of the U-20 tournament.
- Her strike against Sweden saw Salma Paralluelo become the first Spanish player to have scored in successive FIFA Women’s World Cup matches.
- Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes have featured in each of Spain’s 13 FIFA Women’s World Cup encounters since the nation’s maiden outing at the 2015 finals.
- England have won 11 and drawn one of their last 14 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches (Won 11, Drew 1, Lost 2).
- England have won five of their last six FIFA Women’s World Cup matches against European teams (Won 5, Lost 1).
- England’s 13-goal haul at this year’s finals has seen them equal their record tally in the competition, which they achieved at the 2019 tournament.
- England have only failed to score in one of their last 19 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches.
- The Lionesses’ Lucy Bronze has lined up in 19 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches and is set to become only the second England player to have made 20 appearances in the competition, after Jill Scott (21).
- Sarina Wiegman has now reached the showpiece at each of the last four FIFA Women’s World Cup and UEFA Women’s EURO final competitions:Netherlands (UEFA Women’s EURO 2017, FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019™), England (UEFA Women’s EURO 2022, FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™).
- Sarina Wiegman is the first coach to have led two different nations to the FIFA Women’s World Cup final.
SPAIN TEAM FACTS
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS
- Overall record: Played : 13,Won: 6, Drew: 2, Lost: 5, Goals For: 23, Goals Against: 15, Goal Difference: 8
- Biggest win: 5-0 Spain v. Zambia (26/07/2023)
- Biggest defeat: 0-4Spain v. Japan (31/07/2023)
- Highest scoring match: 6 goals – Spain 5-1 Switzerland (05/08/2023)
- Most goals scored in a match: 5 – Spain 5-0 Zambia (26/07/2023)/Spain 5-1 Switzerland (05/08/2023)
- Most goals conceded in a match: 4 – Spain 0-4 Japan (31/07/2023)
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 17 – 2023 (6 matches)
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 2 – 2015 (3 matches)
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 7 – 2023 (6 matches)
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 4 – 2015 (3 matches)/2019 (4 matches)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS
- Successive wins: 3 (2023-present)
- Successive defeats: 2 (2015)
- Successive draws: 1 (2015 and 2019)
- Successive matches without a defeat: 3 (2023-present)
- Successive matches without a win: 3 (2015 and 2019)
- Successive matches with a goal scored: 3 (2019-2023 and 2023-present)
- Successive matches without scoring: 2 (2019)
- Successive clean sheets: 2 (2023)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP EXTRA-TIME MATCHES
- 11/08/2023 Spain 2-1 Netherlands (quarter-finals)
ENGLAND TEAM FACTS
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP™ TEAM RECORDS
- Overall record: Played: 32,Won: 20, Drawn: 5, Lost: 7, Goals For: 56, Goals Against: 33, Goals Difference: 23
- Biggest win: England 6-1 Argentina, 17/09/2007), England 6-1 China PR (01/08/2023)
- Biggest defeat: 0-3 England 0-3Germany 13/06/1995), England 0-3 USA (22/09/2007)
- Highest scoring match: 7 goals – England 6-1 Argentina (17/09/2007)and England 6-1 China PR (01/08/2023)
- Most goals scored in a match: 6 – England 6-1 Argentina (17/09/2007)and England 6-1 China PR (01/08/2023)
- Most goals conceded in a match: 3 – England 0-3 Germany (13/06/1995)and England 0-3 USA (22/09/2007)
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 13 – 2019 (7 matches) and 2023 (6 matches)
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 6 – 1995 and 2011 (4 matches)
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 9 – 1995 (4 matches)
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 3 – 2011 (3 matches) and 2023 (6 matches)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS
- Successive wins: 6 (2015-2019)
- Successive defeats: 2 (2019)
- Successive draws: 2 (2007)
- Successive matches without a defeat: 6 (2015-2019 and 2023-present)
- Successive matches without a win: 3 (1995-2007)
- Successive matches with a goal scored: 16 (2015-2023)
- Successive matches without scoring: 1 (six times, the last of which was 2023-present) Successive clean sheets: 4 (2019)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP™ EXTRA-TIME MATCHES
- 09/07/2011 England 1-1 France (3-4 PSO) (quarter-finals)
- 04/07/2015 England 1-0 Germany (match for third place)
- 07/08/2023 England 0-0 Nigeria (4-2 PSO) (round of 16)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP™ PENALTY SHOOT-OUTS (Won 1, Lost 1)
- 09/07/2011 England 3-4 France (PSO) (quarter-finals)
- 07/08/2023 England 4-2 Nigeria (PSO) (round of 16)
The Iranian women’s soccer team crossed the Turkish border into Iran on Wednesday to complete a fraught return journey from Australia, after five members withdrew asylum claims they had lodged there.
Australia had granted humanitarian visas to six players and one support staff member after they sought asylum, saying they feared possible persecution if they returned to Iran.
Concerns over their safety surfaced when several players failed to sing the national anthem at a women’s Asian Cup match earlier this month after the United States and Israel launched the war against Iran. Iranian state television had labelled them “wartime traitors”.
The team, which flew into Istanbul on Tuesday, took a flight to Igdir in eastern Turkey on Wednesday morning.
The players emerged from Igdir Airport, pulling their luggage and chatted in front of the terminal before boarding a bus to the border. One of them briefly smiled and waved at a TV camera before the bus departed. After a trip of around two hours to the frontier, they went through passport control at the Gurbulak border gate before crossing over into Iran.
A bus carrying members of the Iranian women’s national soccer team arrives at the Gurbulak Border Gate, a crossing point between Turkey and Iran, as they travel to their home country after five players withdrew the asylum claims they had lodged in Australia over safety concerns about returning due to not singing the national anthem at a women’s Asian Cup match earlier this month, in the eastern Agri province, Turkey, March 18, 2026. REUTERS/Ali Ihsan Ozturk
The team’s Asian Cup campaign began just as the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They were eliminated from the tournament more than a week ago.
Five of those who had sought asylum in Australia subsequently changed their minds and decided to return home, with Australian media reporting the latest withdrawal on Monday.
They rejoined the rest of the squad in Kuala Lumpur, where the team had been staying since leaving Sydney last week.
The Iranian Football Association (FFIRI) said last week that those who had changed their minds would travel home with the rest of the team “to once again be embraced by their families and homeland.”
Two players are still in Australia and have been pictured training with a local A-League club.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
The two players from the Iranian women’s soccer squad who chose to remain in Australia after seeking asylum have been pictured training with a local A-League club as they begin their new lives in the country.
Midfielder Fatemeh Pasandideh and defender Atefeh Ramezanizadeh were among seven members of Iran’s delegation granted humanitarian visas amid fears of possible persecution if they returned home after competing in the women’s Asian Cup in Australia.
Concerns over their safety emerged after the players failed to sing their national anthem before their opening match on the Gold Coast in the state of Queensland. Iranian state media labelled them as “wartime traitors”, with the team’s campaign beginning as the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on Iran.
Five members of the group, however, subsequently changed their minds about Australia’s asylum offer and decided to return home.
Queensland-based A-League club Brisbane Roar announced on social media the remaining two players, Pasandideh and Ramezanizadeh, had joined a training session with its women’s team on Monday.
“Brisbane Roar officially welcomed both Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanizadeh to the club’s training facilities…and remain committed to providing a supportive environment for them whilst they navigate the next stages,” CEO Kaz Patafta said.
Photos posted by the club showed the two players meeting the Brisbane Roar squad and taking part in shooting drills.
“Thank you for everything,” wrote Ramezanizadeh, 33, under the post on Instagram.
Pasandideh, 21, also posted on her Instagram story on Monday a photo with FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis in Brisbane with a caption saying “everything will be fine”.
While the pair began their new lives in Australia, their former teammates made their way home to Iran from Malaysia.
The team was seen at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Monday evening, checking in on an Oman Air flight, although their destination was unclear.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Three Iranian women soccer players to return home after seeking asylum in Australia
Three members of the Iranian women’s soccer team who had sought asylum in Australia have decided to return to Iran, Australia’s government said on Sunday.
Australia granted humanitarian visas to seven Iranian footballers last week after they sought asylum, saying they feared persecution if they returned home after they failed to sing the national anthem at a Women’s Asian Cup match.
Four of the seven members have decided to leave Australia so far. Another member changed her mind last week.
“After telling Australian officials they had made this decision, the players were given repeated chances to talk about their options,” Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement.
“While the Australian Government can ensure that opportunities are provided and communicated, we cannot remove the context in which the players are making these incredibly difficult decisions,” he added.
The Iranian Football Association (FFIRI) named the players as Mona Hamoudi, Zahra Sarbali and Zahra Meshkehkar.
“After arriving in Malaysia and joining the rest of Iran’s women’s national football team, the three players will travel to Tehran in the coming days to once again be embraced by their families and homeland,” FFIRI added in a statement.
The Iranian team’s campaign in the Asian Cup started just as the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, killing the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They were eliminated from the tournament last Sunday.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- AFCON1 week ago
AFCON to Expand to 28 Teams as CAF Unveils New Competition Calendar
- World Cup6 days ago
Infantino promises FIFA backing for Iran to play at World Cup
- AFCON1 week ago
CAF May Sanction Senegal Over AFCON Trophy Parade
- Governing Bodies1 week ago
BREAKING! Nigeria’s Samson Adamu Appointed Acting CAF General Secretary
- Nigerian Football5 days ago
NFF to inaugurate electoral committees ahead of September elections
- Table Tennis7 days ago
Aruna Faces Tough Draw as Africa Targets Glory at ITTF World Cup in Macao
- Governing Bodies2 days ago
The Building of Another Sports Dynasty: From Fahmy to Adamu
- World Cup3 days ago
Italy federation chief resigns after another World Cup failure