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Football · Interesting Facts

Chapter 10: Women's Football

10 parts · 10 tests · 100 facts · updated 23 October 2026 · markdown

The women's game from the factory teams of 1917 to the professional era: Dick, Kerr Ladies and the Munitionettes, the unofficial World Cups, Women's World Cup firsts, women referees, pioneering players, clubs and leagues, the European Championship, the game around the world, the story in England and the coaches who made history.

10.101Before the Ban

The Munitionettes' Cup, Dick, Kerr Ladies, Alfred Frankland, the first international and the 1922 American tour.

Test 1Early women's footballTake a test

  1. Bella Reay scored a hat-trick in the replayed final.

    Source: Blyth Spartans AFC, 'Blyth Spartans Ladies and Bella Reay' (blythspartans.com); National Football Museum · recall

  2. He worked in the factory's offices and arranged their matches and tours.

    Source: National Football Museum, 'Dick, Kerr Ladies' and 'The Munitionettes' Cup' (nationalfootballmuseum.com) · recall

  3. Shipyards and munitions works on the Tyne, Wear and Tees all had teams.

    Source: Blyth Spartans AFC, 'Blyth Spartans Ladies and Bella Reay' (blythspartans.com); National Football Museum · recall

  4. American soccer had few women's teams, so they took on men's sides and held their own.

    Source: National Football Museum and Preston North End heritage pages on Dick, Kerr Ladies · recall

  5. The final was replayed at Middlesbrough's Ayresome Park.

    Source: Blyth Spartans AFC, 'Blyth Spartans Ladies and Bella Reay' (blythspartans.com); National Football Museum · recall

  6. Their charity games drew big crowds across England.

    Source: National Football Museum and Preston North End heritage pages on Dick, Kerr Ladies · recall

  7. The first women's international was played there.

    Source: Preston North End, 'Dick, Kerr Ladies at Deepdale' (pne.com) · recall

  8. 1918, 1920 and 1922.

    Source: National Football Museum and Preston North End heritage pages on Dick, Kerr Ladies · recall

  9. 1917, 1920 and 1922.

    Source: National Football Museum, 'Dick, Kerr Ladies' and 'The Munitionettes' Cup' (nationalfootballmuseum.com) · recall

  10. Women workers formed the team during the First World War.

    Source: National Football Museum, 'Dick, Kerr Ladies' and 'The Munitionettes' Cup' (nationalfootballmuseum.com) · recall

10.102The Unofficial World Cups

Italy 1970, Mexico 1971, the Mundialito and FIFA's 1988 test tournament in China.

Test 1Unofficial women's world championshipsTake a test

  1. The tournament was organised outside FIFA.

    Source: Dansk Boldspil-Union, 'VM-guld 1970 og 1971' (dbu.dk) · recall

  2. Crowds were huge, and Denmark won again.

    Source: FIFA, 'The forgotten World Cup: Mexico 1971' (fifa.com); Mexican Football Federation · recall

  3. Denmark beat the hosts 3-0.

    Source: FIFA, 'The forgotten World Cup: Mexico 1971' (fifa.com); Mexican Football Federation · recall

  4. Its success persuaded FIFA to hold the first Women's World Cup three years later.

    Source: FIFA, '1988 FIFA Women's Invitation Tournament' (inside.fifa.com) · recall

  5. Norway beat Sweden 1-0 in the final.

    Source: FIFA, '1988 FIFA Women's Invitation Tournament' (inside.fifa.com) · recall

  6. It brought national teams together before FIFA had its own tournament.

    Source: FIGC, 'Il Mundialito femminile' (figc.it) · recall

  7. The hosts' team had captured the public's attention.

    Source: FIFA, 'The forgotten World Cup: Mexico 1971' (fifa.com); Mexican Football Federation · recall

  8. 1970, 1971, 1981 and 1988.

    Source: FIFA (fifa.com), DBU (dbu.dk) and FIGC (figc.it) records · recall

  9. 1988, 1991 and 1996.

    Source: FIFA, '1988 FIFA Women's Invitation Tournament' (inside.fifa.com) · recall

  10. Estimates put the crowd at more than 100,000.

    Source: FIFA, 'The forgotten World Cup: Mexico 1971' (fifa.com); Mexican Football Federation · recall

10.103Women's World Cup Firsts

80-minute matches, the M&M's Cup, the SARS move, Japan's 2011 title and the first 32-team tournament.

Test 1Women's World Cup historyTake a test

  1. From 1995 women's World Cup matches lasted 90 minutes.

    Source: FIFA, Women's World Cup tournament histories 1991-2023 (inside.fifa.com) · recall

  2. It was called the FIFA World Championship for Women's Football for the M&M's Cup.

    Source: FIFA, Women's World Cup tournament histories 1991-2023 (inside.fifa.com) · recall

  3. China were given the 2007 tournament instead.

    Source: FIFA, Women's World Cup tournament histories 1991-2023 (inside.fifa.com) · recall

  4. They beat the United States on penalties in Frankfurt.

    Source: Japan Football Association, 'Nadeshiko Japan, world champions 2011' (jfa.jp) · recall

  5. She also won the Golden Boot.

    Source: Japan Football Association, 'Nadeshiko Japan, world champions 2011' (jfa.jp) · recall

  6. VAR had been used at the men's tournament a year earlier.

    Source: FIFA, Women's World Cup tournament histories 1991-2023 (inside.fifa.com) · recall

  7. It was also the first co-hosted Women's World Cup.

    Source: FIFA, Women's World Cup tournament histories 1991-2023 (inside.fifa.com) · recall

  8. 1991, 1995, 1999 and 2003.

    Source: FIFA, Women's World Cup tournament histories 1991-2023 (inside.fifa.com) · recall

  9. 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023.

    Source: FIFA, Women's World Cup tournament histories 1991-2023 (inside.fifa.com) · recall

  10. Players had protested that men's World Cups were played on grass.

    Source: FIFA, Women's World Cup tournament histories 1991-2023 (inside.fifa.com) · recall

10.104Women in the Middle

Steinhaus, Frappart, Welch, Yamashita and Massey-Ellis: the women who refereed men's football at the top.

Test 1Women refereesTake a test

  1. Her first top-flight match came in September 2017.

    Source: DFB, 'Bibiana Steinhaus' (dfb.de) · recall

  2. It was the first major men's European final refereed by a woman.

    Source: Fédération Française de Football, 'Stéphanie Frappart' (fff.fr); FIFA and UEFA match reports · recall

  3. Stéphanie Frappart refereed, with Neuza Back and Karen Díaz Medina as assistants.

    Source: FIFA, 'Women referees at the 2022 World Cup' (fifa.com) · recall

  4. The game was played in December 2023.

    Source: Professional Game Match Officials (PGMOL), 'Rebecca Welch' (pgmol.co.uk); Premier League · recall

  5. Rwanda's Salima Mukansanga was also selected.

    Source: FIFA, 'Women referees at the 2022 World Cup' (fifa.com) · recall

  6. She refereed Juventus against Dynamo Kyiv.

    Source: Fédération Française de Football, 'Stéphanie Frappart' (fff.fr); FIFA and UEFA match reports · recall

  7. She later officiated at major tournaments too.

    Source: Professional Game Match Officials (PGMOL), 'Rebecca Welch' (pgmol.co.uk); Premier League · recall

  8. 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023.

    Source: DFB, FFF, UEFA, FIFA and PGMOL records · recall

  9. 2019, 2020 and 2022.

    Source: Fédération Française de Football, 'Stéphanie Frappart' (fff.fr); FIFA and UEFA match reports · recall

  10. Hertha played Werder Bremen at the Olympiastadion.

    Source: DFB, 'Bibiana Steinhaus' (dfb.de) · recall

10.105Pioneering Players

Sun Wen and Akers, Prinz's three awards, Sawa, Angerer and Christine Sinclair's 190 goals.

Test 1Women's football pioneersTake a test

  1. The award was decided by a FIFA panel.

    Source: FIFA, 'FIFA Women's Player of the Century' (2000) and 'FIFA World Player' winners (inside.fifa.com) · recall

  2. She won in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

    Source: DFB, 'Birgit Prinz' and 'Nadine Angerer' (dfb.de) · recall

  3. She had captained Japan to the World Cup.

    Source: FIFA, 'FIFA Women's Player of the Century' (2000) and 'FIFA World Player' winners (inside.fifa.com) · recall

  4. She had saved two penalties in the Euro 2013 final.

    Source: DFB, 'Birgit Prinz' and 'Nadine Angerer' (dfb.de) · recall

  5. She played at every tournament from 1995 to 2015.

    Source: Japan Football Association, 'Nadeshiko Japan, world champions 2011' (jfa.jp) · recall

  6. It came in the team's second match.

    Source: U.S. Soccer, 'Michelle Akers' (ussoccer.com) · recall

  7. She was the joint top scorer and best player at the 1999 Women's World Cup.

    Source: FIFA, 'FIFA Women's Player of the Century' (2000) and 'FIFA World Player' winners (inside.fifa.com) · recall

  8. 2000, 2003, 2011 and 2013.

    Source: FIFA, 'FIFA Women's Player of the Century' (2000) and 'FIFA World Player' winners (inside.fifa.com) · recall

  9. 1966, 1973, 1977 and 1978.

    Source: FIFA, 'FIFA Women's Player of the Century' (2000) and 'FIFA World Player' winners (inside.fifa.com) · recall

  10. She won Olympic gold with Canada in 2021.

    Source: Canada Soccer, 'Christine Sinclair, 190 international goals' (canadasoccer.com) · recall

10.106Clubs and Leagues

Frankfurt, Umeå and Potsdam in Europe, the W-League, the WE League and a stadium built for women.

Test 1Women's club footballTake a test

  1. They beat Umeå in the final in Frankfurt.

    Source: UEFA, 'Women's Champions League: history' (uefa.com) · recall

  2. Marta played for them from 2004.

    Source: UEFA, 'Women's Champions League: history' (uefa.com) · recall

  3. The match finished 0-0 after extra time.

    Source: UEFA, 'Women's Champions League: history' (uefa.com) · recall

  4. It was called the W-League at first.

    Source: Football Australia, 'A-League Women history' (keepup.com.au) · recall

  5. It replaced the semi-professional Nadeshiko League at the top.

    Source: WE League, 'About' (weleague.jp) · recall

  6. It was staged at Getafe's stadium.

    Source: UEFA, 'Women's Champions League: history' (uefa.com) · recall

  7. They are based near Berlin.

    Source: UEFA, 'Women's Champions League: history' (uefa.com) · recall

  8. 2002, 2003 and 2005.

    Source: UEFA, 'Women's Champions League: history' (uefa.com) · recall

  9. 2008, 2011, 2021 and 2024.

    Source: UEFA (uefa.com), Football Australia and WE League records · recall

  10. It stands on the riverfront in Kansas City.

    Source: Kansas City Current, 'CPKC Stadium' (kcwoso.com) · recall

10.107The Women's Euros

Norway in 1987, Germany's first title, a golden goal in 2001, Denmark's upset of 2017 and sixteen teams.

Test 1Women's European ChampionshipTake a test

  1. They beat Sweden 2-1 in the final in Oslo.

    Source: UEFA, 'Women's EURO: history' (uefa.com) · recall

  2. They beat Norway 4-1 in the final.

    Source: UEFA, 'Women's EURO: history' (uefa.com) · recall

  3. Germany beat Norway in the final.

    Source: UEFA, 'Women's EURO: history' (uefa.com) · recall

  4. Denmark won the quarter-final 2-1.

    Source: UEFA, 'Women's EURO: history' (uefa.com) · recall

  5. 2009 had been the first with 12.

    Source: UEFA, 'Women's EURO: history' (uefa.com) · recall

  6. Germany beat Sweden 1-0 in Ulm.

    Source: UEFA, 'Women's EURO: history' (uefa.com) · recall

  7. Helsinki staged the final.

    Source: UEFA, 'Women's EURO: history' (uefa.com) · recall

  8. 1987, 1989, 1991 and 1993.

    Source: UEFA, 'Women's EURO: history' (uefa.com) · recall

  9. 1984, 1997, 2009 and 2017.

    Source: UEFA, 'Women's EURO: history' (uefa.com) · recall

  10. It was Germany's fifth European title in a row.

    Source: UEFA, 'Women's EURO: history' (uefa.com) · recall

10.108Around the World

The Super Falcons, the Matildas, the Steel Roses, South Africa's first African title and Haiti's debut.

Test 1Women's national teamsTake a test

  1. The men's team are the Super Eagles.

    Source: Nigeria Football Federation, 'Super Falcons' (thenff.com) · recall

  2. The name was chosen in a public vote in 1995.

    Source: Football Australia, 'Why the Matildas?' (matildas.com.au) · recall

  3. Morocco were the hosts and reached their first final.

    Source: South African Football Association, 'Banyana Banyana win WAFCON 2022' (safa.net); CAF · recall

  4. They are among the most successful youth sides in the women's game.

    Source: FIFA, U-17 and U-20 Women's World Cup records (inside.fifa.com) · recall

  5. They were drawn against England, China and Denmark.

    Source: Haitian Football Federation (fhf.ht); FIFA, 2023 Women's World Cup · recall

  6. They are the only team besides Nigeria and South Africa to have won it.

    Source: FIFA (inside.fifa.com) and CAF (cafonline.com) records · recall

  7. Australia hosted the tournament with New Zealand.

    Source: Football Australia, 'Why the Matildas?' (matildas.com.au) · recall

  8. 1991, 1995, 2019 and 2023.

    Source: FIFA (inside.fifa.com) and CAF (cafonline.com) records · recall

  9. 2008, 2019 and 2022.

    Source: FIFA (inside.fifa.com) and CAF (cafonline.com) records · recall

  10. They reached the 1999 World Cup final and won Olympic silver in 1996.

    Source: Chinese Football Association, 'Steel Roses' (thecfa.cn) · recall

10.109The Story in England

The WFA, the Mitre Trophy, the first international, Hope Powell, Doncaster Belles and Arsenal Ladies.

Test 1Women's football in EnglandTake a test

  1. The FA lifted its ban on women's football two years later.

    Source: The FA, 'The history of women's football in England' (thefa.com; englandfootball.com) · recall

  2. It was then called the Mitre Trophy.

    Source: The FA, 'The history of women's football in England' (thefa.com; englandfootball.com) · recall

  3. England won 3-2 in Greenock.

    Source: The FA, 'The history of women's football in England' (thefa.com; englandfootball.com) · recall

  4. She was also the first woman to gain UEFA's Pro Licence.

    Source: The FA, 'The history of women's football in England' (thefa.com; englandfootball.com) · recall

  5. The club began in the 1960s, its players selling lottery tickets at Doncaster Rovers games.

    Source: Doncaster Rovers Belles, 'Club history' (doncasterroversbelles.co.uk); The FA · recall

  6. He managed them for over two decades.

    Source: Arsenal FC, 'Arsenal Women history' (arsenal.com) · recall

  7. They reached the quarter-finals in Sweden.

    Source: The FA, 'The history of women's football in England' (thefa.com; englandfootball.com) · recall

  8. 1969, 1971, 1972 and 1998.

    Source: The FA, 'The history of women's football in England' (thefa.com; englandfootball.com) · recall

  9. 1987, 1995 and 2011.

    Source: The FA, 'The history of women's football in England' (thefa.com; englandfootball.com) · recall

  10. The badge carries three lions.

    Source: The FA, 'The history of women's football in England' (thefa.com; englandfootball.com) · recall

10.110Coaches Who Made History

Pellerud, Theune, Sasaki, Diacre, Morace, Chan Yuen-ting and Shelley Kerr.

Test 1Pioneering coachesTake a test

  1. Germany beat Sweden with a golden goal in the final.

    Source: DFB, 'Tina Theune, Weltmeistertrainerin 2003' (dfb.de) · recall

  2. He was named FIFA's women's coach of the year.

    Source: Japan Football Association, 'Norio Sasaki' (jfa.jp) · recall

  3. Norway beat Germany 2-0 in the final in Stockholm.

    Source: Norwegian FA, 'Even Pellerud and the 1995 world champions' (fotball.no) · recall

  4. She took charge of Clermont Foot in Ligue 2.

    Source: Clermont Foot, 'Corinne Diacre' (clermontfoot.com) · recall

  5. She coached Viterbese in Serie C.

    Source: FIGC and Viterbese records, 'Carolina Morace, 1999' · recall

  6. Her club won the league in her first full season in charge.

    Source: Hong Kong Football Association, 'Eastern win the 2015-16 Premier League' (hkfa.com); AFC · recall

  7. She took charge of Stirling University's men in 2014.

    Source: Scottish FA, 'Shelley Kerr' (scottishfa.co.uk); Stirling University FC · recall

  8. 1995, 1999, 2003, 2014 and 2016.

    Source: DFB, JFA, Norwegian FA, HKFA and club records · recall

  9. 1995, 2003 and 2011.

    Source: DFB, JFA, Norwegian FA, HKFA and club records · recall

  10. Chan Yuen-ting's Eastern won the Premier League.

    Source: Hong Kong Football Association, 'Eastern win the 2015-16 Premier League' (hkfa.com); AFC · recall

Sources

Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: FIFA, UEFA, CAF, the national federations, the National Football Museum and clubs' own histories.

  • UEFA, 'Women's EURO: history' (uefa.com)10
  • FIFA, Women's World Cup tournament histories 1991-2023 (inside.fifa.com)8
  • The FA, 'The history of women's football in England' (thefa.com; englandfootball.com)8
  • UEFA, 'Women's Champions League: history' (uefa.com)6
  • FIFA, 'FIFA Women's Player of the Century' (2000) and 'FIFA World Player' winners (inside.fifa.com)5
  • FIFA, 'The forgotten World Cup: Mexico 1971' (fifa.com); Mexican Football Federation4
  • Blyth Spartans AFC, 'Blyth Spartans Ladies and Bella Reay' (blythspartans.com); National Football Museum3
  • National Football Museum, 'Dick, Kerr Ladies' and 'The Munitionettes' Cup' (nationalfootballmuseum.com)3
  • National Football Museum and Preston North End heritage pages on Dick, Kerr Ladies3
  • FIFA, '1988 FIFA Women's Invitation Tournament' (inside.fifa.com)3
  • Japan Football Association, 'Nadeshiko Japan, world champions 2011' (jfa.jp)3
  • Fédération Française de Football, 'Stéphanie Frappart' (fff.fr); FIFA and UEFA match reports3
  • FIFA (inside.fifa.com) and CAF (cafonline.com) records3
  • DFB, 'Bibiana Steinhaus' (dfb.de)2
  • FIFA, 'Women referees at the 2022 World Cup' (fifa.com)2
  • Professional Game Match Officials (PGMOL), 'Rebecca Welch' (pgmol.co.uk); Premier League2
  • DFB, 'Birgit Prinz' and 'Nadine Angerer' (dfb.de)2
  • Football Australia, 'Why the Matildas?' (matildas.com.au)2
  • Hong Kong Football Association, 'Eastern win the 2015-16 Premier League' (hkfa.com); AFC2
  • DFB, JFA, Norwegian FA, HKFA and club records2
  • Preston North End, 'Dick, Kerr Ladies at Deepdale' (pne.com)1
  • Dansk Boldspil-Union, 'VM-guld 1970 og 1971' (dbu.dk)1
  • FIGC, 'Il Mundialito femminile' (figc.it)1
  • FIFA (fifa.com), DBU (dbu.dk) and FIGC (figc.it) records1
  • DFB, FFF, UEFA, FIFA and PGMOL records1
  • U.S. Soccer, 'Michelle Akers' (ussoccer.com)1
  • Canada Soccer, 'Christine Sinclair, 190 international goals' (canadasoccer.com)1
  • Football Australia, 'A-League Women history' (keepup.com.au)1
  • WE League, 'About' (weleague.jp)1
  • UEFA (uefa.com), Football Australia and WE League records1
  • Kansas City Current, 'CPKC Stadium' (kcwoso.com)1
  • Nigeria Football Federation, 'Super Falcons' (thenff.com)1
  • South African Football Association, 'Banyana Banyana win WAFCON 2022' (safa.net); CAF1
  • FIFA, U-17 and U-20 Women's World Cup records (inside.fifa.com)1
  • Haitian Football Federation (fhf.ht); FIFA, 2023 Women's World Cup1
  • Chinese Football Association, 'Steel Roses' (thecfa.cn)1
  • Doncaster Rovers Belles, 'Club history' (doncasterroversbelles.co.uk); The FA1
  • Arsenal FC, 'Arsenal Women history' (arsenal.com)1
  • DFB, 'Tina Theune, Weltmeistertrainerin 2003' (dfb.de)1
  • Japan Football Association, 'Norio Sasaki' (jfa.jp)1
  • Norwegian FA, 'Even Pellerud and the 1995 world champions' (fotball.no)1
  • Clermont Foot, 'Corinne Diacre' (clermontfoot.com)1
  • FIGC and Viterbese records, 'Carolina Morace, 1999'1
  • Scottish FA, 'Shelley Kerr' (scottishfa.co.uk); Stirling University FC1