Association football is among the most popular sports in Asia, with nine members of the Asian Football Confederation having competed at the sport's biggest international event, the FIFA Women's World Cup. The highest ranked result in the Women's World Cup for an Asian team is 1st place in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup by Japan, the first Asian nation to achieve this feat at either men's or women's World Cup.

Overview

1991
China
(12)
1995
Sweden
(12)
1999
United States
(16)
2003
United States
(16)
2007
China
(16)
2011
Germany
(16)
2015
Canada
(24)
2019
France
(24)
2023
Australia
New Zealand
(32)
Total
Teams China
Chinese Taipei
Japan
China
Japan
China
Japan
North Korea
China
Japan
North Korea
South Korea
China
Japan
North Korea
Australia
Japan
North Korea
Australia
China
Japan
Australia
South Korea
Thailand
China
Japan
Australia
South Korea
Thailand
China
Japan
Australia
South Korea
Philippines
Vietnam
35
Top 16432 9
Top 8221132302 14
Top 4011001101 4
Top 2001001100 3
1stJapan 1
2ndChinaJapan 2
3rd 0
4thChinaAustralia 2
Country # Years Best result
 Japan
9
1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 1st
 China
8
1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015, 2019, 2023 2nd
 Australia[1]
8
(1995, 1999, 2003), 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 4th
 North Korea
4
1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 QF
 South Korea
4
2003, 2015, 2019, 2023 R2
 Thailand
2
2015, 2019 GS
 Chinese Taipei
1
1991 QF
 Philippines
1
2023 GS
 Vietnam
1
2023 GS

    Results

    Most finishes in the top four

    Team # Top-four finishes
     Japan 2 2011, 2015
     China 2 1995, 1999
     Australia 1 2023

    Team results by tournament

    Legend

    The team ranking in each tournament is according to FIFA.[2] The rankings, apart from the top four positions, are not a result of direct competition between the teams; instead, teams eliminated in the same round are ranked by their full results in the tournament. In recent tournaments, FIFA has used the rankings for seedings for the final tournament draw.[3]

    For each tournament, the number of teams in each finals tournament (in brackets) are shown.

    Team 1991
    China
    (12)
    1995
    Sweden
    (12)
    1999
    United States
    (16)
    2003
    United States
    (16)
    2007
    China
    (16)
    2011
    Germany
    (16)
    2015
    Canada
    (24)
    2019
    France
    (24)
    2023
    Australia
    New Zealand
    (32)
    Total Qual.
    Comp.
     Australia[1]R1
    12th
    R1
    11th
    R1
    13th
    QF
    6th
    QF
    8th
    QF
    7th
    R2
    9th
    4th89
    Member of OFC
     ChinaQF
    5th
    4th2ndQF
    6th
    QF
    5th
    QF
    8th
    R2
    14th
    R1
    23rd
    89
     Chinese TaipeiQF
    8th
    19
     JapanR1
    12th
    QF
    8th
    R1
    T-13th
    R1
    10th
    R1
    T-10th
    1st2ndR2
    13th
    QF
    5th
    99
     North Korea×R1
    10th
    R1
    11th
    QF
    8th
    R1
    13th
    ××46
     Philippines××R1
    24th
    17
     South KoreaR1
    14th
    R2
    14th
    R1
    21st
    R1
    28th
    49
     Thailand××R1
    17th
    R1
    24th
    27
     Vietnam×××R1
    32nd
    16

    Tournament standings

    TeamChampionsFinalsSemi-finalsQuarter-finalsSecond round
     Japan 11021
     China 01141
     Australia 00131
     North Korea 00010
     South Korea 00001

    Overall team records

    As 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. 3 points per win, 1 point per draw and 0 points per loss.

    Results through 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup

    Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
     China 33167105332+2155
     Japan 33144153959–2046
     Australia 2676133850–1227
     North Korea 133281220–811
     South Korea 10118627–214
     Chinese Taipei 4103215–133
     Thailand 6105430–263

    Appearances

    Ranking of teams by number of appearances

    Team Appearances Record streak Active streak Debut Most recent Best result (* = hosts)
     Japan 99919912023Champions (2011)
     China 85319912023Runners-up (1999)
     Australia[1] 88819952023Fourth place (2023)
     North Korea 44019992011Quarter-finals (2007)
     South Korea 43320032023Round of 16 (2015)
     Thailand 22020152019Group stage (2015, 2019)
     Chinese Taipei 11019911991Quarter-finals (1991)
     Philippines 11120232023Group stage (2023)
     Vietnam 11120232023Group stage (2023)

    Team debuts

    Year Debutants Total
    1991  China,  Chinese Taipei,  Japan 3
    1995  Australia[1] 1
    1999  North Korea 1
    2003  South Korea 1
    2015  Thailand 1
    2023  Philippines,  Vietnam 2
    Total 9

    Summary of performance

    This table shows the number of countries represented at the Women's World Cup, the number of entries (#E) from around the world including any rejections and withdrawals, the number of Asian entries (#A), how many of those Asian entries withdrawn (#A-) before/during qualification or were rejected by FIFA, the Asian representatives at the Women's World Cup finals, the number of World Cup Qualifiers each Asian representative had to play to get to the World Cup (#WCQ), the furthest stage reached, results, and coaches.

    YearHostSize#E#A#A-Asian finalists#WCQStageResultsCoach
    1991 China124890 China5[4]Quarter-finalswon 4–0  Norway, drew 2–2  Denmark, won 4–1  New Zealand, lost 0–1  SwedenChina Shang Ruihua
     Chinese Taipei5Quarter-finalslost 0–5  Italy, lost 0–3  Germany, won 2–0  Nigeria, lost 0–7  United StatesChinese Taipei Chong Tsu-pin
     Japan6Group stagelost 0–1  Brazil, lost 0–8  Sweden, lost 0–3  United StatesJapan Tamotsu Suzuki
    1995 Sweden125540 China4Fourth placedrew 3–3  United States, won 4–2  Australia, won 3–1  Denmark, drew 1–1  Sweden (won 4–3 (p)), lost 0–1  Germany, lost 0–2  United StatesChina Ma Yuanan
     Japan4Quarter-finalslost 0–1  Germany, won 2–1  Brazil, lost 0–2  Sweden, lost 0–4  United StatesJapan Tamotsu Suzuki
    1999 United States1667110 China5Runners-upwon 2–1  Sweden, won 7–0  Ghana, won 3–1  Australia, won 2–0  Russia, won 5–0  Norway, drew 0–0  United States (lost 4–5 (p))China Ma Yuanan
     Japan5Group stagedrew 1–1  Canada, lost 0–5  Russia, lost 0–4  NorwayJapan Satoshi Miyauchi
     North Korea5Group stagelost 1–2  Nigeria, won 3–1  Denmark, lost 0–3  United StatesNorth Korea Myong Dong-chan
    2003 United States[5]1699140 China5Quarter-finalswon 1–0  Ghana, drew 1–1  Australia, won 1–0  Russia, lost 0–1  CanadaChina Ma Liangxing
     Japan6Group stagewon 6–0  Argentina, lost 0–3  Germany, lost 1–3  CanadaJapan Eiji Ueda
     North Korea6Group stagewon 3–0  Nigeria, lost 0–1  Sweden, lost 0–3  United StatesNorth Korea Ri Song-gun
     South Korea6Group stagelost 0–3  Brazil, lost 0–1  France, lost 1–7  NorwaySouth Korea An Jong-goan
    2007 China[5]1612090 Australia6Quarter-finalswon 4–1  Ghana, drew 1–1  Norway, drew 2–2  Canada, lost 2–3  BrazilScotland Tom Sermanni
     China5[6]Quarter-finalswon 3–2  Denmark, lost 0–4  Brazil, won 2–0  New Zealand, lost 0–1  NorwaySweden Marika Domanski-Lyfors
     Japan5Group stagedrew 2–2  England, won 1–0  Argentina, lost 0–2  GermanyJapan Hiroshi Ohashi
     North Korea6Quarter-finalsdrew 2–2  United States, won 2–0  Nigeria, lost 1–2  Sweden, lost 0–3  GermanyNorth Korea Kim Kwang-min
    2011 Germany16125171[7] Australia5Quarter-finalslost 0–1  Brazil, won 3–2  Equatorial Guinea, won 2–1  Norway, lost 1–3  SwedenScotland Tom Sermanni
     Japan5Championswon 2–1  New Zealand, won 4–0  Mexico, lost 0–2  England, won 1–0  Germany (a.e.t.), won 3–1  Sweden, drew 2–2  United States (won 3–1 (p))Japan Norio Sasaki
     North Korea5Group stagelost 0–2  United States, lost 0–1  Sweden, drew 0–0  ColombiaNorth Korea Kim Kwang-min
    2015 Canada24134200 Australia5Quarter-finalslost 1–3  United States, won 2–0  Nigeria, drew 1–1  Sweden, won 1–0  Brazil, lost 0–1  JapanAustralia Alen Stajcic
     China5Quarter-finalslost 0–1  Canada, won 1–0  Netherlands, drew 2–2  New Zealand, won 1–0  Cameroon, lost 0–1  United StatesChina Hao Wei
     Japan5Runners-upwon 1–0  Switzerland, won 2–1  Cameroon, won 1–0  Ecuador, won 2–1  Netherlands, won 1–0  Australia, won 2–1  England, lost 2–5  United StatesJapan Norio Sasaki
     South Korea5Round of 16lost 0–2  Brazil, drew 2–2  Costa Rica, won 2–1  Spain, lost 0–3  FranceSouth Korea Yoon Deok-yeo
     Thailand8Group stagelost 0–4  Germany, won 3–2  Ivory Coast, lost 0–4  NorwayThailand Nuengrutai Srathongvian
    2019 France24144242[8] Australia5Round of 16lost 1–2  Italy, won 3–2  Brazil, won 4–1  Jamaica, drew 1–1  Norway (lost 1–4 (p))Australia Ante Milicic
     China5Round of 16lost 0–1  Germany, won 1–0  South Africa, drew 0–0  Spain, lost 0–2  ItalyChina Jia Xiuquan
     Japan5Round of 16drew 0–0  Argentina, won 2–1  Scotland, lost 0–2  England, lost 1–2  NetherlandsJapan Asako Takakura
     South Korea8Group stagelost 0–4  France, lost 0–2  Nigeria, lost 1–2  NorwaySouth Korea Yoon Deok-yeo
     Thailand7Group stagelost 0–13  United States, lost 1–5  Sweden, lost 0–2  ChileThailand Nuengrutai Srathongvian
    2023 Australia
     New Zealand
    32172274[9] Australia4[10]Fourth placewon 1–0  Republic of Ireland, lost 2–3  Nigeria, won 4–0  Canada, won 2–0  Denmark, drew 0–0  France (won 7–6 (p)), lost 1–3  England, lost 0–2  SwedenSweden Tony Gustavsson
     China5Group stagelost 0–1  Denmark, won 1–0  Haiti, lost 1–6  EnglandChina Shui Qingxia
     Japan5Quarter-finalswon 5–0  Zambia, won 2–0  Costa Rica, won 4–0  Spain, won 3–1  Norway, lost 1–2  SwedenJapan Futoshi Ikeda
     Philippines7Group stagelost 0–2  Switzerland, won 1–0  New Zealand, lost 0–6  NorwayAustralia Alen Stajcic
     South Korea8Group stagelost 0–2  Colombia, lost 0–1  Morocco, drew 1–1  GermanyEngland Colin Bell
     Vietnam8Group stagelost 0–3  United States, lost 0–2  Portugal, lost 0–7  NetherlandsVietnam Mai Đức Chung

    Not yet qualified

    37 of the 46 active FIFA and AFC members have never appeared in the final tournament.

    Legend
    • TBD To be determined (may still qualify for upcoming tournament)
    •    Did not qualify
    •  ×  Did not enter / Withdrew / Banned
    •     Not affiliated in FIFA
    •  ••  Qualified, but withdrew before Finals
    CountryNumber of
    Qualifying
    attempts
    1991
    China
    1995
    Sweden
    1999
    United States
    2003
    United States
    2007
    China
    2011
    Germany
    2015
    Canada
    2019
    France
    2023
    Australia
    New Zealand
     Afghanistan0×××××××××
     Bahrain3××××××
     Bangladesh2×××××××
     Bhutan0×××××××××
     Brunei0×××××××××
     Cambodia0×××××××××
     Guam4×××××
     Hong Kong9
     India5××××
     Indonesia2×××××××
     Iran4×××××
     Iraq1××××××××
     Israel0Not a member of AFC
     Jordan4×××××
     Kazakhstan1×1××Not a member of AFC
     Kuwait0×××××××××
     Kyrgyzstan2×1××××××
     Laos1××××××××
     Lebanon2×××××××
     Macau0×××××××××
     Malaysia2×××××××
     Maldives3××××××
     Mongolia1××××××××
     Myanmar6×××
     Nepal1××××××××
     Oman0×××××××××
     Pakistan0×××××××××
     Palestine4×××××
     Qatar0×××××××××
     Saudi Arabia0×××××××××
     Singapore2×××××××
     Sri Lanka0×××××××××
     Syria1××××××××
     Tajikistan2×1××××××
     Timor-Leste0Part of  Indonesia××××××
     Turkmenistan0×1××××××××
     United Arab Emirates2×××××××
     Uzbekistan7×1×
     Yemen0×××××××××

    Notes:

    Competitive history

    1991: Three Asian debutants

    China, Japan and Chinese Taipei became the first Asian countries to compete at the FIFA Women's World Cup, with China honoured to become the first country to host the first-ever FIFA Women's World Cup in 1991. While China qualified throughout hosting it, Japan and Chinese Taipei only qualified to the tournament throughout the 1991 AFC Women's Championship by finishing second and third, respectively. The Japanese were not successful, finishing bottom after three defeats to Brazil, Sweden and the United States. The hosts China and its neighbour Chinese Taipei were far more successful, but neither managed to go beyond the quarter-finals, losing to Sweden and the United States (which eliminated Japan from the group stage) respectively.

    1995: lesser Asian teams, but more promising results

    Chinese Taipei failed to qualify for the tournament after the 1994 Asian Games, leaving China and Japan as lone Asian representatives in the 1995 edition held in Sweden. However, despite the initial setback, the World Cup proved to be a major success for both teams. Japan faced major difficulties after being drawn in group A with hosts Sweden, as well as Brazil and Germany, but managed to stun the Brazilians 2–1 to qualify for the quarter-finals for the first time, where its journey ended with a 0–4 thumping by then-defending champions United States. China, meanwhile, impressed even better, reaching the semi-finals, but had its chance prevented by eventual runners-up Germany, before losing the third place to the United States.

    1999: first Asian nation in a FIFA World Cup Final

    The 1999 edition in the United States was a historic moment for Asia. Three nations qualified to the World Cup via the 1997 AFC Women's Championship, with China and Japan again made their appearances, while North Korea debuted. Japan, after the 1995 success, could not replicate that performance, finishing bottom of the group after just a draw with Canada and two hammering defeats to Russia and Norway. North Korea also failed to progress to knockout phase, but salvaged a 3–1 win over Denmark to avoid finishing last. China was the most successful, winning five games in a row, including the 5–0 triumph over then-champions Norway to reach the final, where the Chinese managed to hold the United States goalless, but lost on penalty shootout 4–5. Nonetheless, China's appearance meant for the first time, a World Cup final featured a team from Asia.

    2003: SARS outbreak and a less successful show

    Initially, China was awarded the rights to host the 2003 edition, but SARS outbreak forced China to relinquish the rights to host, subsequently moved back to 1999 hosts United States. That World Cup saw a record debutant from Asia to four, with three teams in 1999 edition and the newcomer South Korea, but the 1999 momentum was not repeated. China topped the group after beating Ghana, Russia and drawing Australia, but lost to Canada in the last eight. Japan and North Korea disappointed by only winning one single game in the group stage and could not reach the last eight. South Korea, being the debutant, could not make any surprise at all, losing all three games to Brazil, France and Norway, scoring just one in process.

    2007: going back to Asia, and some improvement

    After relinquishing the rights to host the 2003 edition due to SARS, China was awarded the rights to host the 2007 edition without contesting. This tournament marked Australia's first entrance to the World Cup as an AFC member, having competed in three previous World Cups as an OFC member. This World Cup saw three Asian teams reached the knockout stage for the first time ever: China reached the last eight after finishing second, behind eventual runners-up Brazil, but fell to Norway 0–1, repeating its 1991's quarter-finals defeat to a Nordic team; North Korea overcame Sweden by goal difference to qualify for the knockout stage for the first time despite losing 1–2 against the Swedes (thanked to North Korea's impressive 2–2 draw over powerhouse United States), before losing 0–3 to the eventual winner Germany; Australia also reached the last eight for the first time, having beaten Ghana 4–1 before holding both Norway and Canada to progress, where Australia lost to Brazil 2–3. Japan, once again, failed to impress, gaining four points out of three games, including its only 1–0 win over Argentina, and got eliminated from the group stage.

    2011: History made, first Asian champions

    The 2011 tournament in Germany marked two watershed moments in Asian women's football. The tournament saw China absent for the first time in the history, after failing to win third in the 2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup; three Asian World Cup participants were Japan, Australia and North Korea. However, what would follow turn to be one of the greatest feat ever in Asian football history. Australia successfully reached the quarter-finals for the second time in a row, including the famous 2–1 win over former champions Norway, which sent Norway out in process, before losing 1–3 to Sweden. Japan, meanwhile, did the unthinkable by conquering the tournament, including three wins over three women's football titans in the knockout stage (Germany, Sweden and the United States); with England being the only team Japan lost in process. The Japanese victory was even more unthinkable considering the country had just suffered from the disastrous 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami that led to the cancellation of the women's league, thus turning the win as the greatest giant-killing miracle in modern history. North Korea turned out to be the only Asian team to impress nothing in the tournament, losing to the United States and Sweden, before drawing Colombia goalless and crashed out of the group stage with no goal and just a point.

    2015: Japan almost stroke again, new record of participants

    2015 edition in Canada marked history for Asia when five Asian teams participated, with Japan as the defending champions. China returned to World Cup after missing the 2011 tournament, while South Korea returned since 2003. Thailand marked its first entrance to the World Cup after beating Vietnam in the 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup play-offs, leaving Australia (other than Japan) the only team to have a stable competing streak. The tournament was another success for almost every Asian team: China, in its return, reached the quarter-finals, beating the Netherlands, New Zealand and Cameroon, but lost to United States; Australia gained a historic record by winning the first-ever knockout stage game, a shock 1–0 win over Brazil, to reach the last eight, where they lost to Japan; South Korea overcame rising powerhouse Spain 2–1 to eliminate the Spaniards in process before losing to France 0–3; while Japan was the most successful, again reached the final of the World Cup after recording six one-goal margin wins in the tournament, even against weaker opponents like Ecuador, but had its dream to win the second World Cup in a row dashed by the Americans, who took revenge of the 2011 loss. Thailand was the only team from Asia to fail to reach the knockout stage, yet Thailand came close to qualify, including a 3–2 group stage win over debutant Ivory Coast.

    North Korea, four-time World Cup participant, was disqualified after its players being tested of doping found positive.

    2019: disappointment for Asia

    The 2019 Women's World Cup in France marked another history for Asia, albeit this was poorly perceived. With the same participants came from the 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup, hopes were high. Yet for the first time ever, no country from Asia was able to qualify for the quarter-finals, made it the poorest performance for Asian football at the Women's World Cup.

    Former champions Japan performed not impressive in the group stage, being held drawn goalless to Argentina before beating Scotland 2–1, but lost to England 0–2 before having its journey ended with the 1–2 loss to the Dutch. China also performed poorly in the tournament, gaining only a single win and scored only a single goal, both against South Africa, before losing to Italy 0–2 in the last sixteen. Australia was the only Asian team to truly put up more fights, beating Brazil and Jamaica in the group stage before holding former champions Norway despite being reduced to ten women, but lost on penalty shootout 1–4. South Korea lost all three group stage games to France 0–4, Nigeria 0–2 and Norway 1–2; while Thailand marked a dark chapter as the worst-performed team in the history of every FIFA Women's World Cup edition, including the historic 0–13 loss to eventual champions United States, the worst ever defeat at any senior FIFA tournament for men's or women's; subsequently Thailand fell 1–5 to Sweden and 0–2 to Chile to finish bottom with only a goal scored and 20 goals conceded.

    2023: record debutants and third time hosting

    With Australia and New Zealand awarded the rights to host the 2023 edition, this marked the first ever FIFA Women's World Cup to be hosted by two countries. As for the result, Australia became the second AFC member to do so, and thus automatically qualified for the tournament as hosts. With the exception of Australia, the others had to qualify via the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup, which saw China, South Korea, Japan and the Philippines directly qualified, while Vietnam later qualified throughout the playoff stage.

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 The Football Federation Australia officially left the OFC and joined the AFC on 1 January 2006. They qualified in 1995, 1999 and 2003 as a member of OFC.
    2. "FIFA World Cup Statistical Overview (page 4)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 18, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2006.
    3. Seeding of national teams (PDF). Archived 4 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 12 September 2016.
    4. China were selected as hosts after the 1991 AFC Women's Championship.
    5. 1 2 China was originally selected as hosts, but the SARS outbreak forced China to relinquish its hosting rights, which was subsequently moved to the United States instead. China was subsequently awarded the hosting rights for 2007 edition.
    6. China qualified as hosts, but played in the 2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup for ranking purpose.
    7. Bangladesh withdrew before the qualification started.
    8. Guam and Lebanon withdrew before the qualification started.
    9. Afghanistan, Iraq, North Korea and Turkmenistan withdrew before the qualification started.
    10. Australia qualified as hosts, but played in the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup for ranking purpose.
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