Records – desirable and otherwise – fell in China PR on MON 17 SEP 2007. more...

The Group of Death began to gain clarity on FRI 14 SEP 2007. more...

Three wild draws helped start the tournament on TUE 11 SEP 2007. more...

For the third straight time, the United States, Korea DPR, and Nigeria were all drawn into the same Women's World Cup group. And amazingly, Sweden also landed in Group B to make the exact same list as Group A of the 2003 Women's World Cup. It is the first time in World Cup history, men's or women's, that the same four teams have been in a group together for two consecutive tournaments. Other teams who are already familiar with one another include Germany, Japan, and Argentina, all of whom were together in Group C in 2003; this time they are in Group A. Interestingly, this represents the first Women's World Cup that contains no first time qualifiers. more...

Japan have stolen a Women's World Cup berth from Mexico for the second straight time as they won the AFC/CONCACAF playoff 3-2 on aggregate. After a 2-0 win at home, Japan added to their lead with an Eriko ARAKAWA goal just twelve minutes into the second leg in Toluca. Sixteen minutes later, the home side had closed to within one goal, with scores by Fatima LEYVA and Maribel DOMINGUEZ. Japan, though, held on to continue their perfect record of appearing at every Women's World Cup to date.

With the final of the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup extending deep into overtime, penalties looked all but certain as the United States and Canada remained level at 1-1. But on a late corner, Robyn GAYLE was whistled for a foul in the area, and the world's most capped player, Kristine LILLY, put the penalty past Canadian keeper Erin MCLEOD for the dramatic US win. The third place match saw Mexico roll to a 3-0 win over Jamaica with two goals from Monica OCAMPO and one from Maribel DOMINGUEZ; Mexico advance to the AFC/CONCACAF playoff against Japan.

CONCACAF's top sides, Canada and the United States, qualified for the 2007 Women's World Cup – by playing only one match. In Carson, CA, USA, Canada won 4-0 over Jamaica on two goals and one assist from Christine SINCLAIR. The second match saw the home side defeat Mexico 2-0, both goals by Abby WAMBACH. Canada will now face the US in the final of the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup, and in the third place match, Mexico will meet Jamaica with the winner facing Japan in the AFC/CONCACAF playoff.

RI Un-Gyong's two goals helped Korea DPR to a 3-0 lead over Japan, and the Koreans held on to win the third place match of the 2006 AFC Asian Women's Cup 3-2 and qualify for China 2007. Next year's hosts then won their eighth Asian championship, defeating Australia 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 final in overtime. The Matildas were up 2-0 at halftime but conceded goals to HAN Duan and to the tournament's most valuable player, MA Xiaoxu. China PR, Australia, and Korea DPR will play in the Women's World Cup, and Japan await CONCACAF's third placed team in the AFC/CONCACAF playoff.

Australia earned a place at the 2007 Women's World Cup as they won 2-0 against Japan in Adelaide, SA. Caitlin MUNOZ and Joanna PETERS each capitalised on defensive mistakes that dropped Japan into the third place playoff against Korea DPR, who fell 1-0 to China PR. After the match, Korean goalkeeper HYE Yong-Han was shown a red card for kicking at Italian referee Anna DE TONI from behind, and teammates SON Kyong-Sun and SONG Jung-Sun were suspended for violent conduct. All three will miss the third place match, from which the winner qualifies and the loser has another chance in the AFC/CONCACAF playoff.

The favourites all survived the group phase of the 2006 AFC Asian Women's Cup in Adelaide, SA, Australia and will now meet with places in China 2007 on the line. more...

Australia were rudely welcomed into the Asian Football Confederation with the draw for the 2006 Asian Women's Championship, which they will host in Adelaide, SA, SUN 16-SUN 30 JUL 2006. The Matildas' opponents in Group B include two teams who also appeared at USA 2003, Korea DPR and Korea Rep; only two teams will earn a place in the semifinals. more...