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 men's 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, 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 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.
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).
Pia Mariane Sundhage is a Swedish football manager 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.
Carin Leslie Jennings-Gabarra is an American retired soccer forward. She earned 117 caps with the United States women's national soccer team from 1987 to 1996 and was awarded the Golden Ball Award as the best player at the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup. In 2000, she was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. She currently coaches women's soccer at the United States Naval Academy.
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.
Ma Li is a Chinese former footballer who played for the China women's national football team.
Heidi Mohr was a German footballer who played as a forward. 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.
Li Ying is a Chinese footballer who plays for Shandong Sports Lottery W.F.C in the Chinese Women's Super League. Considered a star of the sport in China, she plays as a forward.
Diana Esther Nwaiwu is a Nigerian footballer who played as a goalkeeper for the Nigeria women's national football team. She was part of the team at the inaugural 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup as well as the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup. At the club level, she played for Kakanfo Babes in Nigeria.
Chen Xia is a Chinese footballer who played as a defender for the China women's national football team. She was part of the team at the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup. At the club level, she played for the team "Guangdong" in China.
Wu Weiying is a Chinese footballer who played as a forward for the China women's national football team. She was part of the team at the inaugural 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup. At the club level, she played for Guangdong in China.
Zhang Hongdong is a Chinese footballer who played as a forward for the China women's national football team. She was part of the team at the inaugural 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup. At the club level, she played for the team "Beijing" in China.
Li Sa is a Chinese footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for the China women's national football team. She was part of the team at the inaugural 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup. At the club level, she played for the team "Beijing" in China.
Hong Li-chyn is a Taiwanese women's footballer who played as a goalkeeper for the Chinese Taipei women's national football team. She was part of the team at the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup. At the club level she played for Taiwan PE College in Taiwan.
Hsu Chia-cheng is a Taiwanese footballer who played as a defender for the Chinese Taipei 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 Suzuyo Shimizu F.C. Lovely Ladies in Japan.
Petra Damm is a German women's international footballer who plays as a midfielder. She is a member of the Germany women's national football team. She was part of the team at the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup. On club level she plays for VfR Eintracht Wolfsburg in Germany.
Gudrun Gottschlich is a German women's international footballer who plays as a forward. She is a member of the Germany women's national football team. She was part of the team at the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup. On club level she plays for KBC Duisburg in Germany.
Adele Marsiletti 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 Reggiana in Italy.
