Every Women’s World Cup final, 1991–2023
Nine finals · 1991–2023
Nine Women’s World Cup finals have been played since 1991, and only five nations have won one. Two went to penalties, one was settled by a golden goal, and one produced seven goals inside 54 minutes. This is every final — the score, the scorers and what actually decided it.
For the honours list on its own, see every Women’s World Cup winner. The tenth final comes on at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro — details on the 2027 final, or start with when the next Women’s World Cup is.
2023: Spain 1–0 England
- Date
- Venue
- Stadium Australia, Sydney
- Attendance
- 75,784
- Score
- Spain 1–0 England
Goalscorers
- 29’ Olga Carmona Spain
Spain arrived at a first final in the middle of an open dispute between much of the squad and their own federation, which made what followed stranger still. The goal came just before the half-hour and began with England losing the ball in midfield: Lucy Bronze was dispossessed driving forward, the ball broke left, and Olga Carmona arrived onto it at the angle where a shot looks improbable. She hit it low and early across Mary Earps into the far corner — the only goal of the match, and the one that decided the tournament.
England had the better of the second half without ever forcing the equaliser, and Spain, a side built on keeping the ball rather than defending a lead, spent the closing stretch doing exactly the thing they were least known for. Carmona learned after the final whistle that her father had died before the match. It remains the only Women’s World Cup final Spain have played.
England had the better of the second half without ever forcing the equaliser, and Spain, a side built on keeping the ball rather than defending a lead, spent the closing stretch doing exactly the thing they were least known for. Carmona learned after the final whistle that her father had died before the match. It remains the only Women’s World Cup final Spain have played.
2019: United States 2–0 Netherlands
- Date
- Venue
- Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon
- Attendance
- 57,900
- Score
- United States 2–0 Netherlands
Goalscorers
- 61’ Megan Rapinoe United States penalty
- 69’ Rose Lavelle United States
For an hour this was the tightest final in years. The Netherlands, in their first, defended in a compact block and gave the United States nothing through the middle; Sari van Veenendaal had already been the best goalkeeper of the tournament and spent the first half proving it again.
It broke on a VAR review. Stefanie van der Gragt caught Alex Morgan high on the follow-through, the referee went to the monitor, and Megan Rapinoe put the penalty away in the 61st minute with the flat, unhurried technique she used all summer. Eight minutes later Rose Lavelle ran at a retreating defence from halfway, moved the ball onto her left foot and finished low. Two goals in eight minutes settled a match that had looked like going to extra time, and made the United States the first nation to retain the trophy since Germany in 2007.
It broke on a VAR review. Stefanie van der Gragt caught Alex Morgan high on the follow-through, the referee went to the monitor, and Megan Rapinoe put the penalty away in the 61st minute with the flat, unhurried technique she used all summer. Eight minutes later Rose Lavelle ran at a retreating defence from halfway, moved the ball onto her left foot and finished low. Two goals in eight minutes settled a match that had looked like going to extra time, and made the United States the first nation to retain the trophy since Germany in 2007.
2015: United States 5–2 Japan
- Date
- Venue
- BC Place, Vancouver
- Attendance
- 53,341
- Score
- United States 5–2 Japan
Goalscorers
- 3’ Carli Lloyd United States
- 5’ Carli Lloyd United States
- 14’ Lauren Holiday United States
- 16’ Carli Lloyd United States from the halfway line
- 27’ Yuki Ogimi Japan
- 52’ Julie Johnston United States own goal
- 54’ Tobin Heath United States
The rematch of 2011 was effectively finished inside a quarter of an hour. Carli Lloyd scored from a corner routine in the third minute and again from another in the fifth. Lauren Holiday volleyed a third in the 14th after a Japanese clearance dropped invitingly on the edge of the box.
Then, in the 16th minute, Lloyd took a touch inside her own half, saw Ayumi Kaihori a long way off her line, and hit it. The ball dropped over the goalkeeper’s despairing backpedal and in — a hat-trick in thirteen minutes, the fastest in a World Cup final, men’s or women’s. Japan, champions four years earlier, refused to fold: Yuki Ogimi pulled one back before half-time and a Julie Johnston own goal made it 4–2 early in the second half, before Tobin Heath restored the margin two minutes later. Seven goals remains the most in any Women’s World Cup final.
Then, in the 16th minute, Lloyd took a touch inside her own half, saw Ayumi Kaihori a long way off her line, and hit it. The ball dropped over the goalkeeper’s despairing backpedal and in — a hat-trick in thirteen minutes, the fastest in a World Cup final, men’s or women’s. Japan, champions four years earlier, refused to fold: Yuki Ogimi pulled one back before half-time and a Julie Johnston own goal made it 4–2 early in the second half, before Tobin Heath restored the margin two minutes later. Seven goals remains the most in any Women’s World Cup final.
2011: Japan 2–2 United States
- Date
- Venue
- Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt
- Attendance
- 48,817
- Score
- Japan 2–2 United States
- Shoot-out
- Japan won 3–1 on penalties
Goalscorers
- 69’ Alex Morgan United States
- 81’ Aya Miyama Japan
- 104’ Abby Wambach United States
- 117’ Homare Sawa Japan
Japan played this final four months after the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, and twice played themselves back into a match they had no business still being in. Alex Morgan gave the United States the lead in the 69th minute; Aya Miyama equalised in the 81st from close range after a defensive mix-up.
In extra time Abby Wambach headed in from a cross to make it 2–1 with sixteen minutes left, and that looked decisive right up until the 117th, when Homare Sawa met a corner at the near post and flicked it in with the outside of her boot — her fifth goal of the tournament, and one of the great late equalisers.
The shootout was one-sided in the other direction. Japan converted three of four; the United States managed one, Wambach’s. Saki Kumagai scored the last of them, and Japan became the first Asian side to win a senior World Cup.
In extra time Abby Wambach headed in from a cross to make it 2–1 with sixteen minutes left, and that looked decisive right up until the 117th, when Homare Sawa met a corner at the near post and flicked it in with the outside of her boot — her fifth goal of the tournament, and one of the great late equalisers.
The shootout was one-sided in the other direction. Japan converted three of four; the United States managed one, Wambach’s. Saki Kumagai scored the last of them, and Japan became the first Asian side to win a senior World Cup.
2007: Germany 2–0 Brazil
- Date
- Venue
- Hongkou Football Stadium, Shanghai
- Attendance
- 31,000
- Score
- Germany 2–0 Brazil
Goalscorers
- 52’ Birgit Prinz Germany
- 86’ Simone Laudehr Germany
Brazil came into this final as the tournament’s most watchable side, with Marta at the peak of her powers, and lost it to a German team that simply refused to concede. Germany did not give up a single goal in the whole of the 2007 tournament — six matches, 540 minutes, none.
The closest Brazil came was a second-half penalty, which Nadine Angerer saved from Marta. Between those moments Germany scored twice: Birgit Prinz turned in from close range just after the hour, and Simone Laudehr headed the second from a corner with four minutes left.
It made Germany the first nation to retain the Women’s World Cup, and it remains the only final Brazil have reached — a record that hangs over the 2027 tournament, which they host.
The closest Brazil came was a second-half penalty, which Nadine Angerer saved from Marta. Between those moments Germany scored twice: Birgit Prinz turned in from close range just after the hour, and Simone Laudehr headed the second from a corner with four minutes left.
It made Germany the first nation to retain the Women’s World Cup, and it remains the only final Brazil have reached — a record that hangs over the 2027 tournament, which they host.
2003: Germany 2–1 Sweden
- Date
- Venue
- Home Depot Center, Carson, California
- Attendance
- 26,137
- Score
- Germany 2–1 Sweden
- Decided by
- golden goal in extra time
Goalscorers
- 41’ Hanna Ljungberg Sweden
- 46’ Maren Meinert Germany
- 98’ Nia Künzer Germany golden goal
Sweden led at half-time through Hanna Ljungberg, who finished from a tight angle in the 41st minute. Germany equalised within seconds of the restart — Maren Meinert in the 46th — and the match went to extra time level.
Golden goal was still in the laws then: the first goal in extra time ended the match immediately, with no chance to reply. In the 98th minute Germany won a free kick wide on the right. The ball came in, and Nia Künzer — a substitute, on for barely ten minutes — met it with a downward header that went in off the far post. The whistle went with it.
It gave Germany their first title and made Künzer’s header the last golden goal ever scored in a World Cup final. The rule was abolished shortly afterwards.
Golden goal was still in the laws then: the first goal in extra time ended the match immediately, with no chance to reply. In the 98th minute Germany won a free kick wide on the right. The ball came in, and Nia Künzer — a substitute, on for barely ten minutes — met it with a downward header that went in off the far post. The whistle went with it.
It gave Germany their first title and made Künzer’s header the last golden goal ever scored in a World Cup final. The rule was abolished shortly afterwards.
1999: United States 0–0 China
- Date
- Venue
- Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
- Attendance
- 90,185
- Score
- United States 0–0 China
- Shoot-out
- United States won 5–4 on penalties
Goalscorers
No goals — 0–0 after extra time.
Ninety thousand, one hundred and eighty-five people came to the Rose Bowl — still the largest crowd ever to watch a women’s football match — and watched 120 minutes without a goal. That undersells it. China hit the frame of the goal, and a header that was going in was cleared off the line by Kristine Lilly from a corner in extra time.
It went to penalties. China’s third taker, Liu Ying, struck hers to Briana Scurry’s left; Scurry moved early, got across, and pushed it away. Every other kick was scored. That left Brandi Chastain to take the fifth, which she put into the bottom corner with her weaker left foot — and then, in the most photographed moment in the sport’s history, pulled off her shirt and fell to her knees.
It is one of only two Women’s World Cup finals decided on penalties.
It went to penalties. China’s third taker, Liu Ying, struck hers to Briana Scurry’s left; Scurry moved early, got across, and pushed it away. Every other kick was scored. That left Brandi Chastain to take the fifth, which she put into the bottom corner with her weaker left foot — and then, in the most photographed moment in the sport’s history, pulled off her shirt and fell to her knees.
It is one of only two Women’s World Cup finals decided on penalties.
1995: Norway 2–0 Germany
- Date
- Venue
- Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Stockholm
- Attendance
- 17,158
- Score
- Norway 2–0 Germany
Goalscorers
- 37’ Hege Riise Norway
- 40’ Marianne Pettersen Norway
Norway had lost the first final four years earlier and spent the intervening tournament looking like the best-organised team in the world. They won all six matches in Sweden and conceded once in the entire competition.
The final was settled in three minutes just before half-time. Hege Riise, the tournament’s outstanding player, opened the scoring in the 37th, and Marianne Pettersen added the second in the 40th. Germany, who had beaten England and China to get there, never found a way back.
The crowd of 17,158 is the smallest for any Women’s World Cup final, a reminder of how recently the tournament operated on a different scale — four years later the same fixture would fill the Rose Bowl five times over. Norway remain the only Scandinavian winners, and this is still their only title.
The final was settled in three minutes just before half-time. Hege Riise, the tournament’s outstanding player, opened the scoring in the 37th, and Marianne Pettersen added the second in the 40th. Germany, who had beaten England and China to get there, never found a way back.
The crowd of 17,158 is the smallest for any Women’s World Cup final, a reminder of how recently the tournament operated on a different scale — four years later the same fixture would fill the Rose Bowl five times over. Norway remain the only Scandinavian winners, and this is still their only title.
1991: United States 2–1 Norway
- Date
- Venue
- Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou
- Attendance
- 63,000
- Score
- United States 2–1 Norway
Goalscorers
- 20’ Michelle Akers United States
- 29’ Linda Medalen Norway
- 78’ Michelle Akers United States
The first one. FIFA had not yet decided the competition was worth its own name — officially it was the World Championship for Women’s Football, played over 80 minutes rather than 90 — and 63,000 people came to Guangzhou to watch it finish.
Michelle Akers scored both United States goals. The first, in the 20th minute, was a header from a corner; Linda Medalen equalised for Norway nine minutes later, also with a header. The winner arrived in the 78th, two minutes from the end of the shortened match: a Norwegian back-pass went badly astray, Akers read it, went round the goalkeeper and rolled it in.
Akers finished as the tournament’s top scorer with ten goals in six matches. The United States had won the first Women’s World Cup, and almost nobody at home noticed.
Michelle Akers scored both United States goals. The first, in the 20th minute, was a header from a corner; Linda Medalen equalised for Norway nine minutes later, also with a header. The winner arrived in the 78th, two minutes from the end of the shortened match: a Norwegian back-pass went badly astray, Akers read it, went round the goalkeeper and rolled it in.
Akers finished as the tournament’s top scorer with ten goals in six matches. The United States had won the first Women’s World Cup, and almost nobody at home noticed.
Records across the nine finals
- Most finals reached — United States, 5 (1991, 1999, 2011, 2015, 2019). Germany have reached three, Norway and Japan two each.
- Biggest winning margin — three goals, United States 5–2 Japan in 2015. That final also holds the record for most goals in a final, with seven.
- Only shoot-outs — 1999 and 2011. No other final has gone beyond extra time.
- Earliest goal — Carli Lloyd, 3rd minute, 2015.
- Latest goal — Homare Sawa, 117th minute, 2011.
- Biggest crowd — 90,185 at the Rose Bowl in 1999. The smallest was 17,158 at Råsunda in 1995.
- Only golden goal — Nia Künzer, 98th minute, 2003. The rule was abolished soon after.
The tenth final
Brazil 2027 ends at the Maracanã on 25 July. Spain go into it as holders, and Brazil — beaten finalists in 2007, and hosts this time — will want the final they have never won. Kick-off times are not published yet; when they are, every match converts to your local time on this site.
Frequently asked questions
Who scored in the 2023 Women's World Cup final?
Olga Carmona, in the 29th minute, for Spain against England in Sydney. It was the only goal of the match.
Has a Women's World Cup final gone to penalties?
Twice. In 1999 the United States beat China 5-4 on penalties after a 0-0 draw at the Rose Bowl, and in 2011 Japan beat the United States 3-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in Frankfurt.
What is the highest-scoring Women's World Cup final?
The 2015 final, which the United States won 5-2 against Japan in Vancouver. Seven goals is the most in any Women's World Cup final, and Carli Lloyd's hat-trick inside 16 minutes is the fastest in a World Cup final.
Which final had the biggest crowd?
The 1999 final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, watched by 90,185 people — still the largest attendance recorded at a women's football match.
When is the next Women's World Cup final?
Sunday 25 July 2027, at the Estádio do Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro. The kick-off time has not been announced yet.