What Countries Have Never Won A FIFA Women's World Cup?

The FIFA Women’s World Cup has only existed since 1991, but in that short span, many exciting matches have been waged between various countries from across the globe. By far, the most successful nation has been the United States, which has won four Women’s World Cup Titles, but how many countries have never won a FIFA Women’s World Cup? Below, we list all the countries who have not yet taken home the gold at the women’s tournament, and highlight a few who have come close to doing so over the course of its history.

Countries That Have Never Won a FIFA Women’s World Cup

In total, 40 countries have participated in but not won the FIFA Women’s World Cup. These 40 countries, listed in alphabetical order, are:

• Argentina
• Australia
• Brazil
• Cameroon
• Canada
• Chile
• China
• Chinese Taipei
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Denmark
• Ecuador
• England
• Equatorial Guinea
• France
• Ghana
• Haiti
• Italy
• Ivory Coast
• Jamaica
• Mexico
• Morocco
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Nigeria
• North Korea
• Panama
• Philippines
• Portugal
• Republic of Ireland
• Russia
• Scotland
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Thailand
• Vietnam
• Zambia

Below, we will look more closely at those countries that have finished in second, third, or fourth place in the tournament.

Brazil

• Second Place Finishes: 1 (2007)
• Third Place Finishes: 1 (1999)
• Fourth Place Finishes: 0
• Quarterfinal Appearances: 2 (2003, 2011)

Unlike their counterparts in the Men’s World Cup, who have won their tournament a record five times, the Brazil National Women’s Soccer Team has not yet won a Women’s World Cup. However, they have come close to winning a number of times.

Their closest finish at the tournament was as the runners-up of the 2007 Women’s World Cup. In that tournament, they faced off against the defending champions in Germany for the finals, but fell 2-0. Brazil has also managed a third place finish in 1999 and two quarterfinal appearances in 2003 and 2011.

Canada

• Second Place Finishes: 0
• Third Place Finishes: 0
• Fourth Place Finishes: 1 (2003)
• Quarterfinal Appearances: 1 (2015)

Canada’s National Women's Team has not won a World Cup, but unlike their male counterparts, who have only ever reached the first round of the men’s tournament, they have made it close to winning it all. Canada has one fourth place finish at the Women’s World Cup, in 2003, along with a quarterfinal appearance in 2015. Their 2003 finish came after losing the third place match to the United States by a score of 3-1.

China

• Second Place Finishes: 1 (1999)
• Third Place Finishes: 0
• Fourth Place Finishes: 1 (1995)
• Quarterfinal Appearances: 4 (1991, 2003, 2007, 2015)

China is yet another country where the national women’s team has had more success in the World Cup than the men’s team. While the Chinese men’s team has never made it past the first round of their tournament, the Chinese women have made it all the way to second place, doing so in 1999. In that year, they lost the Women’s World Cup final to the United States, in a match that went into extra time at 0-0 and ended with a penalty shootout, which the US won 5-4. Other than their runners-up finish, the Chinese Women’s Team has finished in fourth place once, in 1995, and appeared in four quarterfinals, in 1991, 2003, 2007, and 2015.

England

• Second Place Finishes: 0
• Third Place Finishes: 1 (2015)
• Fourth Place Finishes: 1 (2019)
• Quarterfinal Appearances: 3 (1995, 2007, 2011)

In contrast to the English Men’s Team, which has earned a Men’s World Cup victory, the English Women’s Team has not yet won their tournament, but they have come close. England finished in third place in 2015, in fourth place in 2019, and reached the quarterfinals in 1995, 2007, and 2011. Their third place victory, from 2015, came against Germany, whom they defeated 3-0. In 2019, they narrowly lost the third place match to Sweden by a score of 2-1.

France

• Second Place Finishes: 0
• Third Place Finishes: 0
• Fourth Place Finishes: 1 (2011)
• Quarterfinal Appearances: 2 (2015, 2019)

France’s Men’s National Team is well-decorated in their World Cup Tournament, with two golds, two silvers, and two bronze medals, but the French Women’s Team has not slacked off by comparison. Though they haven’t yet won any medals in the Women’s World Cup, they nearly reached the podium in 2011, when they lost the third place match to Sweden by a tight score of 2-1. Other than that, the French women have reached the quarterfinals twice, in 2015 and 2019.

Sweden

• Second Place Finishes: 1 (2003)
• Third Place Finishes: 3 (1991, 2011, 2019)
• Fourth Place Finishes: 0
• Quarterfinal Appearances: 2 (1995, 1999)

The last Women’s World Cup team with no wins but some podium appearances, Sweden’s National Team has earned a single second place finish, three third place finishes, and two quarterfinal appearances. In 1991, Sweden defeated Germany in that year’s third place match, winning 4-0. Sweden managed only two quarterfinal appearances between 1991 and 2003, in 1995 and 1999, respectively. 

In 2003, Sweden nearly reached their first Women’s World Cup Title, but Germany got their revenge in the final, defeating the Swedish women by a score of 2-1. Since then, Sweden has reached third place twice. In 2011, they defeated France 2-1, and in 2019, they topped England by the same score.

Women’s World Cup Countries With Quarterfinal Appearances

Below is a a list of quarterfinal appearances by country in the women’s World Cup ordered alphabetically:

• Australia: 2007, 2011, 2015
• Chinese Taipei: 1999
• Denmark: 1991, 1995
• Italy: 1991, 2019
• Nigeria: 1999
• North Korea: 2007
• Russia: 1999, 2003

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