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The FIFA Women's World Cup is an international association football competition contested by the senior women's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's international governing body. The competition has been held every four years and one year after the FIFA World Cup 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 31 slots in a three-year qualification phase. The host nation's team is automatically entered as the 32nd 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.
The 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup was the inaugural FIFA Women's World Cup, the world championship for women's national association 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.
Kristine Marie Lilly Heavey is an American retired soccer player. She was a member of the United States women's national team for 23 years and is the most-capped football player in the history of the sport, gaining her 354th and final cap against Mexico in a World Cup qualifier in November 2010. Lilly scored 130 goals for the US national team, behind Mia Hamm's 158 goals, and Abby Wambach's 184.
Sun Wen is a Chinese former professional footballer who played as a forward. She previously captained the China national team and the Atlanta Beat of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA).
April Dawn Heinrichs is an American former soccer player and coach. She was among the first players on the United States women's national soccer team, and was captain of the United States team which won the first ever FIFA Women's World Cup in 1991. She finished her international playing career with 46 caps and 35 goals. Heinrich coached the USA women's team from 2000 to 2004, under her tenure team USA finished third in 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup, won silver medal at Sydney 2000, and gold medal at Athens 2004 Olympics. In 1998 she became the first female player inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. In January 2011, Heinrichs was appointed Technical Director for women's soccer by United States Soccer Federation.
Pia Mariane Sundhage is a Swedish football coach and former professional player. She is the head coach of the Brazil women's national team. As a player, Sundhage played most of her career as a forward and retired as the top scorer for the Sweden national team, but she also had stints playing as a midfielder and a sweeper.
Sun Qingmei is a Chinese former footballer who played for the China national team at the 1991 and 1995 editions of the FIFA Women's World Cup and won a silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Heidi Mohr was a German footballer. She was renowned for her speed and her ability to shoot with both feet. In 1999 she was voted Europe's Footballer of the Century.
Helen Björk is a Swedish former association football forward who won 88 caps and scored 23 goals for the Sweden women's national football team. She helped Sweden win the 1984 European Championship and played at the inaugural 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Bonny Madsen is a Danish former football defender, who was part of the Denmark women's national football team. She competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics, playing three matches. At club level she played for Malmö in Sweden, as well as Lugo, Pisa and ACF Milan in Italy.
Adele Frollani is an Italian footballer who played as a defender for the Italy women's national football team. She was part of the team at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup and UEFA Women's Euro 2001.
Stefania Antonini is an Italian former footballer who played as a goalkeeper for the Italy women's national football team. She was the national team's first choice goalkeeper at the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup. At club level she collected five women's Serie A winner's medals and three Coppa Italia winner's medals.
Paola Bonato is an Italian footballer who played as a defender for the Italy women's national football team. She was part of the team at the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup. On club level she played for Reggiana in Italy.
Marina Cordenons is an Italian footballer who played as a defender for the Italy women's national football team. She was part of the team at the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup. On club level she played for Pordenone in Italy.
Maria Mariotti is an Italian footballer who played as a midfielder for the Italy women's national football team. She was part of the team at the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup. On club level she played for Reggiana in Italy.
Maura Furlotti is an Italian footballer who played as a defender for the Italy women's national football team. She was part of the team at the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup. On club level she played for Lazio in Italy.
Emma Iozzelli is an Italian footballer who played as a defender for the Italy women's national football team. She was part of the team at the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup. On club level she played for Reggiana in Italy.
Anna Mega is an Italian footballer who played as a midfielder for the Italy women's national football team. She was part of the team at the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup. On club level she played for Reggiana in Italy.
Fabiana Correra is an Italian footballer who played as a midfielder for the Italy women's national football team. She was part of the team at the inaugural 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup. On club level she played for Turris in Italy.
Nausica Pedersoli is an Italian footballer who played as a forward for the Italy women's national football team. She was part of the team at the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup. On club level she played for Milan '82 in Italy.
References
- ↑ "FIFA Women's World Cup China 1991 - Technical Report" (PDF). FIFA Women's World Cup China 1991. FIFA. 1991. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
