2015 FIFA Women's World Cup

2015 FIFA Women's World Cup
Coupe du monde féminine de la FIFA 2015
Tournament logo
Tournament details
Host countryCanada
Dates6 June – 5 July
Teams24 (from 6 confederations)
Venue(s)6 (in 6 host cities)
Final positions
Champions United States (3rd title)
Runners-up Japan
Third place England
Fourth place Germany
Tournament statistics
Matches played52
Goals scored146 (2.81 per match)
Attendance1,353,506 (26,029 per match)
Top scorer(s)Germany Célia Šašić
United States Carli Lloyd
(6 goals each)
Best player(s)United States Carli Lloyd
Best young playerCanada Kadeisha Buchanan
Best goalkeeperUnited States Hope Solo
Fair play award France
2011
2019

The 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup was the seventh FIFA Women's World Cup, the quadrennial international soccer championship contested by the women's national teams of the member associations of FIFA. The tournament was hosted by Canada for the first time and by a North American country for the third time. Matches were played in six cities across Canada in five time zones. The tournament began on 6 June 2015, and finished with the final on 5 July 2015[1] with a United States victory over Japan.

The 2015 tournament saw the World Cup expanded to 24 teams from 16 in 2011.[2] Canada's team received direct entry as host and a qualification tournament of 134 teams was held for the remaining 23 places. With the expanded tournament, eight teams made their Women's World Cup debut.[2] All previous Women's World Cup finalists qualified for the tournament, with defending champions Japan and returning champions Germany (2003, 2007) and the United States (1991, 1999) among the seeded teams.[3]

The 2015 tournament used goal-line technology for the first time with the Hawk-Eye system. It was also the first World Cup for either men or women to be played on artificial turf, with all matches played on such surfaces, even though there were some initial concerns over a possible increased risk of injuries.

Host selection[edit]

The bidding for each FIFA Women's World Cup typically includes hosting rights for the previous year's FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup (similar to the men's version, in which the host nation stages the Confederations Cup the year before). Bids for the tournament were required to be submitted by December 2010. Only two bids were submitted:[4]

Country
Canada Canada[5]
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (withdrawn)

Zimbabwe withdrew its bid on 1 March 2011.[6] The country was seen as a long shot as its women's team was ranked 103rd in the world at the time of the bid and has never qualified for a Women's World Cup. There was also ongoing political and economic instability in the country.[7]

The selected host, Canada, had previously hosted FIFA tournaments including the 1987 FIFA U-16 World Championship, 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship, the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which set an attendance record for that tournament, and most recently the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

Qualification[edit]

For 2015, the number of qualifying teams grew from 16 to 24 and scheduled matches increased from 32 to 52.[8] On 11 June 2012, FIFA announced a change to the allocation of the qualifying berths for its continental confederations. The FIFA Executive Committee approved the following slot allocation and the distribution of eight new slots:[9]

...allocation of slots for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup
Confederation/hosts Continent/country Slots Change from 2011
AFC Asia 5 +2
CAF Africa 3 +1
CONCACAF North, Central America and Caribbean 3.5 +1
CONMEBOL South America 2.5 +0.5
OFC Oceania 1 ±0
UEFA Europe 8 +3.5
Hosts Canada 1
Total 24 +8

After North Korea had several players test positive for performance-enhancing drugs during the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, FIFA banned the North Korean team from participating in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada. This was the first time a team had been banned from a Women's World Cup, and it was the first time since 1995 that North Korea did not participate in a Women's World Cup.[10]

Qualified teams[edit]

The latest published FIFA Rankings prior to the tournament (March 2015) are shown in parentheses.[11]

A then-record eight nations made their Women's World Cup debut, as listed above: Cameroon, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and Thailand. As of 2023, this is the last time Ecuador, Ivory Coast, and Mexico have qualified.

Venues[edit]

The cities of Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Moncton were selected to host tournament matches.[12] Halifax was also considered, but removed itself from contention in March 2012.[13] Toronto decided not to bid, due to potential conflicts with the 2015 Pan American Games.[14] Due to FIFA's policy against commercial sponsorship of stadium names, Investors Group Field in Winnipeg and TD Place Stadium in Ottawa were respectively known as Winnipeg Stadium[15] and Lansdowne Stadium[16] during the tournament. Seating capacities shown in table below are as configured for these FIFA games.

Edmonton Montreal Vancouver Winnipeg
Commonwealth Stadium Olympic Stadium BC Place Investors Group Field
(Winnipeg Stadium)
53°33′35″N 113°28′34″W / 53.55972°N 113.47611°W / 53.55972; -113.47611 (Commonwealth Stadium) 45°33′28″N 73°33′7″W / 45.55778°N 73.55194°W / 45.55778; -73.55194 (Olympic Stadium) 49°16′36″N 123°6′43″W / 49.27667°N 123.11194°W / 49.27667; -123.11194 (BC Place) 49°48′28″N 97°8′45″W / 49.80778°N 97.14583°W / 49.80778; -97.14583 (Investors Group Field)
Capacity: 56,302 Capacity: 56,040 Capacity: 54,320 Capacity: 33,422
Surface: FieldTurf Duraspine Surface: Xtreme Turf Surface: Polytan LigaTurf Surface: FieldTurf Revolution
Time zone: MDT (UTC−6) Time zone: EDT (UTC−4) Time zone: PDT (UTC−7) Time zone: CDT (UTC−5)
Ottawa Moncton
TD Place Stadium
(Lansdowne Stadium)
Moncton Stadium
45°23′53.44″N 75°41′1.14″W / 45.3981778°N 75.6836500°W / 45.3981778; -75.6836500 (Frank Clair Stadium) 46°6′30″N 64°47′0″W / 46.10833°N 64.78333°W / 46.10833; -64.78333 (Moncton Stadium)
Capacity: 24,000 Capacity: 13,000
Surface: FieldTurf Surface: FieldTurf
Time zone: EDT (UTC−4) Time zone: ADT (UTC−3)

Innovations[edit]

The tournament introduced goal-line technology with the Hawk-Eye system by which it is possible to show on the stadium screen if the ball was in or not.[17][18] It was also the first World Cup for either men or women to be played on artificial turf,[clarification needed] with all matches played on such surfaces. There were some initial concerns (please see below) over a possible increased risk of injuries from playing on artificial turf, but a legal challenge suggesting matches should be played on grass as in similar men's tournaments was dropped in January 2015.[19]

Squads[edit]

Each team's squad for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup consisted of 23 players (three of whom must be goalkeepers), two more than the 2011 tournament, and the same number as men's World Cup squads. Each participating national association was required to confirm its final 23-player squad no later than 10 working days before the start of the tournament. Replacement of seriously injured players was permitted until 24 hours before the team in question's first World Cup game.[20]

The squads were officially announced by FIFA on 28 May 2015.[21][22] Formiga of Brazil and Homare Sawa of Japan were included in World Cup squads for the sixth time, a record for any men or women players.[23]

Match officials[edit]

A total of 29 referees/support referees and 44 assistant referees were selected for the tournament.[24][25]

Draw[edit]

The draw was held on 6 December 2014 at 12:00 Eastern Standard Time at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.[26] The seeding pots were announced the day before. Because UEFA qualified eight teams into the final tournament, which had only six groups, two groups by necessity had to contain two European teams. Otherwise, no group could have more than one team from any confederation.[27] Despite having a lower FIFA ranking than Sweden and England, Brazil was seeded ahead of both for "geographical reasons".[28][29][30] Before the draw, the Organizing Committee placed the seeded teams in the following groups: Germany in Group B, Japan in Group C, United States in Group D, Brazil in Group E, and France in Group F; Canada were already in Group A as the tournament host.[31] Not drawing the groups for the seeded teams has drawn some criticism.[32][33][34] A FIFA spokesperson later confirmed that teams were allocated to certain groups for promotional reasons.[35]

The group of death for this FIFA World Cup was Group D with three top 10-ranked teams, USA (2), Sweden (5) and Australia (10).[36]

Group stage[edit]

The 24 teams of the tournament were arranged into 6 groups labelled A to F. The provisional match schedule for the tournament was released on 21 March 2013,[37] with the hosts, Canada, placed in position A1. The final schedule with match times was released on the same day right after the draw was made.[38]

The first round, or group stage, saw the twenty four teams divided into six groups of four teams. Each group was played in a round-robin-format of six games, where each team played one match against each of the other teams in the same group. Teams were awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw and none for a defeat. The winners and runners-up from each group, as well as the best four third-placed teams, qualified for the first round of the knockout stage.[20]

Group A[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Canada (H) 3 1 2 0 2 1 +1 5 Advance to knockout stage
2  China 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 4
3  Netherlands 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4
4  New Zealand 3 0 2 1 2 3 −1 2
Source: FIFA
(H) Hosts
Canada 1–0 China
Report
New Zealand 0–1 Netherlands
Report

China 1–0 Netherlands
Report
Canada 0–0 New Zealand
Report

Netherlands 1–1 Canada
Report
China 2–2 New Zealand
Report

Group B[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Germany 3 2 1 0 15 1 +14 7 Advance to knockout stage
2  Norway 3 2 1 0 8 2 +6 7
3  Thailand 3 1 0 2 3 10 −7 3
4  Ivory Coast 3 0 0 3 3 16 −13 0
Source: FIFA
Norway 4–0 Thailand
Report
Germany 10–0 Ivory Coast
Report

Germany 1–1 Norway
Report
Attendance: 18,987[47]
Ivory Coast 2–3 Thailand
Report

Thailand 0–4 Germany
Report
Ivory Coast 1–3 Norway
Report

Group C[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Japan 3 3 0 0 4 1 +3 9 Advance to knockout stage
2  Cameroon 3 2 0 1 9 3 +6 6
3  Switzerland 3 1 0 2 11 4 +7 3
4  Ecuador 3 0 0 3 1 17 −16 0
Source: FIFA
Cameroon 6–0 Ecuador
Report
Attendance: 25,942[51]
Japan 1–0 Switzerland
Report
Attendance: 25,942[52]

Switzerland 10–1 Ecuador
Report
Attendance: 31,441[53]
Referee: Rita Gani (Malaysia)
Japan 2–1 Cameroon
Report
Attendance: 31,441[54]

Ecuador 0–1 Japan
Report
Switzerland 1–2 Cameroon
Report

Group D[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  United States 3 2 1 0 4 1 +3 7 Advance to knockout stage
2  Australia 3 1 1 1 4 4 0 4
3  Sweden 3 0 3 0 4 4 0 3
4  Nigeria 3 0 1 2 3 6 −3 1
Source: FIFA
Sweden 3–3 Nigeria
Report
United States 3–1 Australia
Report

Australia 2–0 Nigeria
Report
United States 0–0 Sweden
Report

Nigeria 0–1 United States
Report
Attendance: 52,193[61]
Australia 1–1 Sweden
Report

Group E[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Brazil 3 3 0 0 4 0 +4 9 Advance to knockout stage
2  South Korea 3 1 1 1 4 5 −1 4
3  Costa Rica 3 0 2 1 3 4 −1 2
4  Spain 3 0 1 2 2 4 −2 1
Source: FIFA
Spain 1–1 Costa Rica
Report
Brazil 2–0 South Korea
Report

Brazil 1–0 Spain
Report
South Korea 2–2 Costa Rica
Report
Attendance: 28,623[66]

Costa Rica 0–1 Brazil
Report
Attendance: 9,543[67]
South Korea 2–1 Spain
Report

Group F[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  France 3 2 0 1 6 2 +4 6 Advance to knockout stage
2  England 3 2 0 1 4 3 +1 6
3  Colombia 3 1 1 1 4 3 +1 4
4  Mexico 3 0 1 2 2 8 −6 1
Source: FIFA
France 1–0 England
Report
Attendance: 11,686[69]
Colombia 1–1 Mexico
Report

France 0–2 Colombia
Report
Attendance: 13,138[71]
Referee: Qin Liang (China PR)
England 2–1 Mexico
Report

Mexico 0–5 France
Report
Attendance: 21,562[73]
England 2–1 Colombia
Report

Ranking of third-placed teams[edit]

The four best third-placed teams from the six groups advanced to the knockout stage along with the six group winners and six runners-up.[20]

Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 F  Colombia 3 1 1 1 4 3 +1 4 Advance to knockout stage
2 A  Netherlands 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4
3 C  Switzerland 3 1 0 2 11 4 +7 3
4 D  Sweden 3 0 3 0 4 4 0 3
5 B  Thailand 3 1 0 2 3 10 −7 3
6 E  Costa Rica 3 0 2 1 3 4 −1 2
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Drawing of lots.

Knockout stage[edit]

The knockout stage comprised the 16 teams that advanced from the group stage of the tournament. There were four rounds of matches, with each round eliminating half of the teams entering that round. The successive rounds were the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final. There was also a match to decide third and fourth place. For each game in the knockout stage, any draw at 90 minutes was followed by 30 minutes of extra time; if scores were still level, there was a penalty shootout to determine who progressed to the next round.[20] Single yellow cards accrued were cancelled after the quarter-finals, therefore ensuring that no players miss the Final because of receiving a caution in the semi-finals.[75]

Three spots in the 2016 Summer Olympics women's football tournament were filled by the UEFA teams that progressed the furthest in the tournament, other than England.[76][77][n 1] Two spots went to France and Germany which both reached the quarter-finals.[81] The third spot was a tie between four teams eliminated in the round of 16: Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. A play-off tournament in March 2016 determined UEFA's third Olympic qualifier to be Sweden.[82][83]

Bracket[edit]

 
Round of 16Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
              
 
20 June – Edmonton
 
 
 China1
 
26 June – Ottawa
 
 Cameroon0
 
 China0
 
22 June – Edmonton
 
 United States1
 
 United States2
 
30 June – Montreal
 
 Colombia0
 
 United States2
 
20 June – Ottawa
 
 Germany0
 
 Germany4
 
26 June – Montreal
 
 Sweden1
 
 Germany (p)1 (5)
 
21 June – Montreal
 
 France1 (4)
 
 France3
 
5 July – Vancouver
 
 South Korea0
 
 United States5
 
21 June – Moncton
 
 Japan2
 
 Brazil0
 
27 June – Edmonton
 
 Australia1
 
 Australia0
 
23 June – Vancouver
 
 Japan1
 
 Japan2
 
1 July – Edmonton
 
 Netherlands1
 
 Japan2
 
22 June – Ottawa
 
 England1 Third place play-off
 
 Norway1
 
27 June – Vancouver4 July – Edmonton
 
 England2
 
 England2 Germany0
 
21 June – Vancouver
 
 Canada1  England (a.e.t.)1
 
 Canada1
 
 
 Switzerland0
 

Round of 16[edit]

Germany 4–1 Sweden
Report
Attendance: 22,486[84]

China 1–0 Cameroon
Report

Brazil 0–1 Australia
Report
Attendance: 12,054[86]

France 3–0 South Korea
Report

Canada 1–0 Switzerland
Report

Norway 1–2 England
Report

United States 2–0 Colombia
Report

Japan 2–1 Netherlands
Report
Attendance: 28,717[91]

Quarter-finals[edit]


China 0–1 United States
Report
Attendance: 24,141[93]

Australia 0–1 Japan
Report

England 2–1 Canada
Report
Attendance: 54,027[95]

Semi-finals[edit]

United States 2–0 Germany
Report
Attendance: 51,176[96]

Japan 2–1 England
Report

Third place play-off[edit]

Germany 0–1 (a.e.t.) England
Report

Final[edit]

United States 5–2 Japan
Report
Attendance: 53,341[99]

Awards[edit]

The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament.[100] The Golden Ball (best overall player), Golden Boot (top scorer) and Golden Glove (best goalkeeper) awards were sponsored by Adidas, while the Best Young Player and Goal of the Tournament awards were sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company.[101] FIFA.com shortlisted twelve goals for users to vote on as the tournaments' best,[102] with the poll closing on 13 July 2015.[103]

Golden Ball Silver Ball Bronze Ball
United States Carli Lloyd France Amandine Henry Japan Aya Miyama
Golden Boot Silver Boot Bronze Boot
Germany Célia Šašić United States Carli Lloyd Germany Anja Mittag
6 goals, 1 assist
553 minutes played
6 goals, 1 assist
630 minutes played
5 goals, 2 assists
474 minutes played
Golden Glove
United States Hope Solo
Best Young Player
Canada Kadeisha Buchanan
Goal of the Tournament
United States Carli Lloyd
16' for 4–0 in Final vs Japan (5 July)
FIFA Fair Play Award
 France

On 2 July 2015, following the semi-finals, FIFA announced the shortlists for three of the tournament awards.[104][105] The following candidates were ultimately not selected:

All-Star Squad[edit]

The All-Star Squad elected by FIFA's Technical Study Group consists of the following players:[106]

Goalkeepers Defenders Midfielders Forwards

England Karen Bardsley
Germany Nadine Angerer
United States Hope Solo

Canada Kadeisha Buchanan
England Lucy Bronze
England Steph Houghton
France Wendie Renard
Japan Saori Ariyoshi
United States Julie Johnston
United States Meghan Klingenberg

Australia Elise Kellond-Knight
France Amandine Henry
France Eugénie Le Sommer
Japan Aya Miyama
Japan Mizuho Sakaguchi
Japan Rumi Utsugi
United States Carli Lloyd
United States Megan Rapinoe

Australia Lisa De Vanna
France Élodie Thomis
Germany Anja Mittag
Germany Célia Šašić
Switzerland Ramona Bachmann

Dream Team[edit]

The Dream Team elected by users of fifa.com consists of the following players and manager:[107]

Goalkeepers Defenders Midfielders Forwards Manager

United States Hope Solo

Canada Kadeisha Buchanan
France Wendie Renard
United States Julie Johnston