1991 FIFA Women's World Cup

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1991 FIFA Women's World Cup
1st FIFA World Championship for Women's Football for the M&Ms Cup
1991 FIFA Women's World Cup.png
Official logo
Tournament details
Host countryChina
Dates16–30 November
Teams12 (from 6 confederations)
Venue(s)6 (in 4 host cities)
Final positions
ChampionsFlag of the United States.svg  United States (1st title)
Runners-upFlag of Norway.svg  Norway
Third placeFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Fourth placeFlag of Germany.svg  Germany
Tournament statistics
Matches played26
Goals scored99 (3.81 per match)
Attendance510,000 (19,615 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of the United States.svg Michelle Akers-Stahl (10 goals)
Best player(s) Flag of the United States.svg Carin Jennings
Fair play awardFlag of Germany.svg  Germany
1995

The 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup was the first FIFA Women's World Cup, the world championship for women's national football teams. It took place in Guangdong, China from 16 to 30 November 1991. FIFA, football's international governing body selected China as host nation as Guangdong had hosted a prototype world championship three years earlier, the 1988 FIFA Women's Invitation Tournament. Matches were played in the provincial capital, Guangzhou, as well as in Foshan, Jiangmen and Zhongshan. The competition was sponsored by Mars, Incorporated, maker of M&M's candy. With FIFA still reluctant to bestow their "World Cup" brand, the tournament was officially known as the 1st FIFA World Championship for Women's Football for the M&M's Cup. [1]

Contents

It was won by the United States, [2] whose captain April Heinrichs formed a forward line dubbed the "Triple-Edged Sword" with Carin Jennings and Michelle Akers-Stahl. Jennings was named player of the tournament while Akers-Stahl's ten goals won the Golden Shoe. [3] The United States defeated Norway 2–1 in the final in front of a crowd of 63,000 people at Guangzhou's Tianhe Stadium. [4] Total attendance for the tournament was 510,000, an average per match of 19,615. In the opening match at the same stadium, Norway was defeated 4–0 by hosts China. Chinese defender Ma Li scored the first goal in Women's World Cup history, while goalkeeper Zhong Honglian, also of China, posted the first official "clean sheet" in the tournament.

The 12 qualified teams were divided into three groups of four (A to C). The top two teams and the two best third-place finishers from the three groups advanced to the knockout round of eight teams. For only the first edition of the Women's World Cup, all matches lasted only 80 minutes, instead of the typical 90, and two points were awarded for a win (both of which would change in 1995). [5]

Venues

Guangzhou
Guangdong Provincial Stadium Tianhe Stadium Ying Tung Stadium
Capacity: 25,000Capacity: 60,000Capacity: 15,000
Guangdong Provincial People's Stadium.jpg Tianhe Stadium.jpg
China Guangdong location map.svg Map of Guangdong with 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup venues marked.
Foshan Jiangmen Zhongshan
New Plaza Stadium Jiangmen Stadium Zhongshan Stadium
Capacity: 14,000Capacity: 13,000Capacity: 12,000
Zhongshan Sports Center Stadium -02.jpg

Participating teams and officials

Qualification

The 1991 Women's World Cup had twelve participating teams compete in the final tournament. Each of the six FIFA confederations had at least one representative.

Squads

For a list of the squads that contended for the final tournament, see 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup squads .

Match officials

For the first time in FIFA competition, six female officials were included. All functioned as lineswomen, except for Cláudia Vasconcelos who took charge of the third place play-off; becoming the first woman to referee a match sanctioned by FIFA. [6] [7]

ConfederationRefereeAppointments [8]
Male officials
AFC Dai Yuguang (China PR)4 matches as linesman
Li Haiseng (China PR)2 matches as linesman
Lu Jun (China PR)2 matches as referee, 1 match as linesman
Gyanu Shrestha (Nepal)2 matches as referee, 1 match as linesman
Xuezhi Wang (China PR)3 matches as linesman
Yu Jingyin (China PR)4 matches as linesman
CAF Fethi Boucetta (Tunisia)2 matches as referee, 2 matches as linesman
Omer Yengo (Congo)2 matches as referee, 1 match as linesman
CONCACAF Rafael Rodríguez Medina (El Salvador)3 matches as referee, 2 matches as linesman
CONMEBOL Salvador Imperatore (Chile)3 matches as referee
John Toro Rendón (Colombia)3 matches as referee, 1 match as linesman
UEFA Jim McCluskey (Scotland)3 matches as referee, 2 matches as linesman
Vassilios Nikakis (Greece)2 matches as referee, 1 match as linesman
Vadim Zhuk (Soviet Union)3 matches as referee, 1 match as linesman
Female officials
AFC Zuo Xiudi (China PR)5 matches as lineswoman
CONCACAF María Herrera García (Mexico)3 matches as lineswoman
CONMEBOL Cláudia Vasconcelos (Brazil)1 match as referee, 3 matches as lineswoman
OFC Linda May Black (New Zealand)5 matches as lineswoman
UEFA Gertrud Regus (Germany)6 matches as lineswoman
Ingrid Jonsson (Sweden)5 matches as lineswoman

Tournament review

FIFA's technical report demonstrates that, after the tournament, players and officials were undecided whether to persist with 80-minute matches, or to change to 90 minutes in line with men's football. Opinion was also divided about the suitability of using a size five football. Some teams reported difficulty in sourcing good quality equipment in the correct size. [9]

The tournament was considered a major success in the quality of play and attendances at the games. FIFA president João Havelange wrote that: [10]

"As president of FIFA it was a special pleasure for me to watch these young ladies playing with such flair and such elegance, and according to the reports of the many media representatives present, making the game truly into a celebration ... women's football is now well and truly established."

The perceived success of the tournament was a significant factor in the subsequent inclusion of women's football in the 1996 Summer Olympics. [11] Sue Lopez reported that although attendances were very high, many tickets were complimentary. The "novelty factor" of women from foreign lands playing football also encouraged local people to attend. [12]

Draw

The draw for the group stage was held on 14 September 1991 at the Tianhe Stadium in Guangzhou, China. The draw was part of a televised two-hour live show, featuring songs in both Chinese and English from the female singers Zhang Qiang (Beijing), Lin Ping (Guangzhou), Jenny Tseng (Hong Kong) and Irene Yeh  [ zh ] (Taiwan). [13]

Group stage

Group A

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China (H)3210103+75Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 320165+14
3Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 311164+23
4Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 3003111100
Source: FIFA
(H) Host
China  Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 4–0 Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
Report
Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou
Attendance: 65,000 [8]
Referee: Salvador Imperatore (Chile)
Denmark  Flag of Denmark.svg 3–0 Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Report
Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou
Attendance: 14,000 [8]
Referee: Omer Yengo (Congo)

Norway  Flag of Norway.svg 4–0 Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Report
China  Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 2–2 Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark
Report

China  Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 4–1 Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Report
New Plaza Stadium, Foshan
Attendance: 14,000 [8]
Referee: Raja Shrestha Gyanu (Nepal)
Norway  Flag of Norway.svg 2–1 Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark
Report
Ying Tung Stadium, Guangzhou
Attendance: 15,500 [8]
Referee: Vadim Zhuk (Soviet Union)

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States 3300112+96Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 3201123+94
3Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 31021762
4Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 3003012120
Source: FIFA
Japan  Flag of Japan.svg 0–1 Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
Report
New Plaza Stadium, Foshan
Attendance: 14,000 [8]
Referee: Lu Jun (China PR)
Sweden  Flag of Sweden.svg 2–3 Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Report
Ying Tung Stadium, Guangzhou
Attendance: 14,000 [8]
Referee: John Toro Rendón (Colombia)

Japan  Flag of Japan.svg 0–8 Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Report
New Plaza Stadium, Foshan
Attendance: 14,000 [8]
Referee: Raja Shrestha Gyanu (Nepal)
Brazil  Flag of Brazil.svg 0–5 Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Report
Ying Tung Stadium, Guangzhou
Attendance: 15,500 [8]
Referee: Vadim Zhuk (Soviet Union)

Japan  Flag of Japan.svg 0–3 Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Report
New Plaza Stadium, Foshan
Attendance: 14,000 [8]
Referee: John Toro Rendón (Colombia)
Brazil  Flag of Brazil.svg 0–2 Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Report
Ying Tung Stadium, Guangzhou
Attendance: 12,000 [8]
Referee: Lu Jun (China PR)

Group C

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 330090+96Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 320162+44
3Former Chinese Taipei Football Flag.svg  Chinese Taipei 31022862
4Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 30030770
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Germany  Flag of Germany.svg 4–0 Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Report
Chinese Taipei  Former Chinese Taipei Football Flag.svg 0–5 Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Report
Jiangmen Stadium, Jiangmen
Attendance: 11,000 [8]
Referee: Fethi Boucetta (Tunisia)

Italy  Flag of Italy.svg 1–0 Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Report
Zhongshan Stadium, Zhongshan
Attendance: 12,000 [8]
Referee: Jim McCluskey (Scotland)
Chinese Taipei  Former Chinese Taipei Football Flag.svg 0–3 Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Report
Zhongshan Stadium, Zhongshan
Attendance: 10,000 [8]
Referee: Fethi Boucetta (Tunisia)

Chinese Taipei  Former Chinese Taipei Football Flag.svg 2–0 Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Report
Italy  Flag of Italy.svg 0–2 Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Report
Zhongshan Stadium, Zhongshan
Attendance: 12,000 [8]
Referee: Jim McCluskey (Scotland)

Ranking of third-placed teams

PosGrpTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 A Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 311164+23Advance to knockout stage
2 C Former Chinese Taipei Football Flag.svg  Chinese Taipei 31022862
3 B Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 31021762
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.

Knockout stage

Bracket

 
Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
 
          
 
24 November – Guangzhou (Tianhe)
 
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 0
 
27 November – Guangzhou (Ying Tung)
 
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1
 
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1
 
24 November – Jiangmen
 
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 4
 
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway (a.e.t.)3
 
30 November – Guangzhou (Tianhe)
 
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 2
 
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1
 
24 November – Zhongshan
 
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2
 
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 1
 
27 November – Guangzhou (Provincial)
 
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany (a.e.t.)2
 
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 2
 
24 November – Foshan
 
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 5 Third place play-off
 
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 7
 
29 November – Guangzhou (Provincial)
 
Former Chinese Taipei Football Flag.svg  Chinese Taipei 0
 
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 4
 
 
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 0
 

Quarter-finals

Denmark  Flag of Denmark.svg 1–2 (a.e.t.)Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Report
Zhongshan Stadium, Zhongshan
Attendance: 12,000 [8]
Referee: Vassilios Nikakis (Greece)

China  Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 0–1 Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Report
Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou
Attendance: 55,000 [8]
Referee: John Toro Rendón (Colombia)

Norway  Flag of Norway.svg 3–2 (a.e.t.)Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Report

United States  Flag of the United States.svg 7–0 Former Chinese Taipei Football Flag.svg  Chinese Taipei
Report
New Plaza Stadium, Foshan
Attendance: 12,000 [8]
Referee: Omer Yengo (Congo)

Semi-finals

Sweden  Flag of Sweden.svg 1–4 Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
Report
Ying Tung Stadium, Guangzhou
Attendance: 16,000 [8]
Referee: Jim McCluskey (Scotland)

Germany  Flag of Germany.svg 2–5 Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Report

Third place play-off

Sweden  Flag of Sweden.svg 4–0 Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Report

Final

Norway  Flag of Norway.svg 1–2 Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Report
Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou
Attendance: 63,000 [8]
Referee: Vadim Zhuk (Soviet Union)

Awards

The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament: [15]

Golden BallSilver BallBronze Ball
Flag of the United States.svg Carin Jennings Flag of the United States.svg Michelle Akers-Stahl Flag of Norway.svg Linda Medalen
Golden ShoeSilver ShoeBronze Shoe
Flag of the United States.svg Michelle Akers-Stahl Flag of Germany.svg Heidi Mohr Flag of Norway.svg Linda Medalen
Flag of the United States.svg Carin Jennings
10 goals7 goals6 goals
FIFA Fair Play Award
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany

Statistics

Goalscorers

There were 99 goals scored in 26 matches, for an average of 3.81 goals per match. Michelle Akers-Stahl of the United States won the Golden Shoe award for scoring ten goals.

10 goals

7 goals

6 goals

5 goals

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

Assists

4 assists

3 assists

2 assists

1 assist

Source: FIFA Technical Report [16]

Tournament ranking

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.

PosGrpTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsFinal result
1 B Flag of the United States.svg  United States 6600255+2012Champions
2 A Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 64021410+48Runners-up
3 B Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 6402187+118Third place
4 C Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 64021310+38Fourth place
5 A Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China (H)4211104+65Eliminated in
quarter-finals
6 C Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 420285+34
7 A Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 411276+13
8 C Former Chinese Taipei Football Flag.svg  Chinese Taipei 4103215132
9 B Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 31021762Eliminated in
group stage
10 C Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 30030770
11 A Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 3003111100
12 B Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 3003012120
Source: FIFA Technical Report [17]
(H) Host

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweden at the FIFA Women's World Cup</span>

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Group B of the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup took place from 17 to 21 November 1991. The group consisted of Brazil, Japan, Sweden and the United States.

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References

  1. Mattei, Al. "WUSA opening a feast for the eyes – and ears". TopOfTheCircle.com. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  2. Ciapala, Derek (18 June 2012). "History of the FIFA Women's World Cup, 1991–present – World Soccer – Yahoo! Sports". Yahoo Sports. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  3. "CNN/SI – Women's World Cup – Women's World Cup History – Thursday February 11, 1999 06:04 PM". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  4. Basler, Barbara (1 December 1991). "U.S. Women Beat Norway To Capture World Cup". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  5. Williams, Jean (1 November 2007). A Beautiful Game: International Perspectives on Women's Football. Berg Publishers. p. 4. ISBN   978-1-84788-345-2. Some of the terms and conditions had been changed this time: 90 minutes of play instead of 80 in China, a full group of 20 players instead of 18, three points for a win, and the experiment with time out.
  6. Lopez 1997 , p. 195
  7. "FIFA Women's World Cup – China PR 1991". FIFA. Archived from the original on 11 March 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013. In keeping with the true spirit of the celebration, six female referees or assistant referees were appointed among match officials for the first time in FIFA history. Claudia de Vasconcelos of Brazil, the referee for the 3rd-place match, became the first woman to officiate at this level for FIFA.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 "1st FIFA World Championship for Women's Football for the M&M's Cup China '91 – Technical Report" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  9. "FIFA Women's World Cup China '91 – Technical Report & Statistics" (PDF). FIFA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  10. Lopez 1997 , p. 173
  11. Lopez 1997 , p. 175
  12. Lopez 1997 , p. 207
  13. "Statistical Kit – The Draw for the FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019" (PDF). FIFA. 6 December 2018. p. 39. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  14. Regulations of the 1st FIFA World Championship for Women's Football 1991. FIFA. 1991. p. 16.
  15. Awards 1991
  16. "FIFA Technical Report" (PDF). FIFA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2011.
  17. "FIFA Women's World Cup 1991 – Technical Report, Part 2: Final ranking" (PDF). FIFA. p. 93 (32 of PDF). Retrieved 1 July 2019.
General references