When Has The Host Nation Won The FIFA Women's World Cup?

The host nation has won the FIFA Women’s World Cup once, when the United States team won while hosting the 1999 tournament. In every other time that the international tournament has been held, the national team of the host country has gotten close but never won.

United States - 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup

The 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup was the first and only time the host nation won. The American national team entered the tournament having won the first-ever Women’s World Cup but had only gotten third place in the most recent tournament. In the knockout stage, the host nation narrowly defeated Germany 3-2 and dominated Brazil 2-0. In the final match, the United States women’s team faced China, their rival from the last tournament, and won in a 5-4 penalty kickoff after tying 0-0 at the end of regulation time.

United States - 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup

The 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup is the closest a host nation has gotten to winning since the 1999 tournament. The American national team started out the knockout stage by defeating Norway in a tight 1-0 victory. Unfortunately, Germany was fresh from demolishing the Russian team 7-1 and handily defeated the United States 3-0. In the third place game, the American national team defeated the Canadians 3-1 and secured their third place title.

Other Host Country Results

In every FIFA Women’s World Cup other than the 1999 and 2003 tournaments, the host nation has been eliminated during the quarterfinals. China hosted the first-ever Women’s World Cup (1991) but was knocked out by Sweden 1-0 in the quarterfinals. In an amusing moment of revenge, Sweden hosted the 1995 tournament but was eliminated by China in a 4-3 penalty kickoff during the knockout stage’s first round. At the 2007 Women’s World Cup, the host nation of China was eliminated by Norway 1-0 during the quarterfinals.

At the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the host country of Germany was knocked out by Japan 1-0 during the quarterfinals. The following tournament, Canada defeated Switzerland in the Round of 16 but was quickly eliminated by England 2-1 during their own quarterfinals match. In the most recent Women’s World Cup (2019), the host nation of France again made it to the quarterfinals but was defeated 2-1 by the tournament’s eventual winner, the United States.

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