Alex Caparros – FIFA/FIFA // Getty Images – One-time fourth-place finish (2011) – Two-time quarterfinalist (2015, 2019) – One-time group round finish (2003) Coming in at #10 on the list is France, whose women’s team best finish was fourth in the 2011 Women’s World Cup. The following year, Les Bleues, as the team is known, also achieved fourth place in the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament during the summer games. This year the French National Team could have a hard time placing in the quarterfinals again since their head coach, Corinne Diacre, was fired in March after multiple star players refused to play in the World Cup under her leadership. #9. England Jed Jacobsohn/Allsport // Getty Images – One-time World Cup runner-up (1999) – One-time fourth-place finish (1995) – Four-time quarterfinalist (1991, 2003, 2007, 2015) The People’s Republic of China National Women’s Football Team almost made the semifinals in 1995 but lost to Germany on a goal scored in the last two minutes of the match. One of the most memorable matches in the Women’s World Cup history, the 1999 final match saw China PR lose the championship by just one penalty kick to the United States. After that, China’s fans nicknamed them Steel Roses, which they continue to use today. The Steel Roses are coming into this year’s World Cup on the right foot, having won the 2022 Women’s Asian Cup. #6. Brazil FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP // Getty Images – One-time World Cup Champion (1995) – One-time World Cup runner-up (1991) – Two-time fourth-place finish (1999, 2007) Norway’s National Women’s Team, nicknamed The Grasshoppers, ranks just above Japan because of their two-time fourth-place finish in 1999 and 2007. The Scandinavian team saw most of their success in the early ’90s. In 1991 they secured their place in the final match against the United States. Even though Norway commanded the second half of the match, the U.S. took the lead by scoring the winning goal in the game’s last two minutes. In 1995 the Norwegian team again made it to the final match, this time facing the formidable German squad. In the pouring rain, Norway got off to an incredible start and ended the first half with a 2-0 lead over Germany. The momentum from the first half propelled Norway’s defense, which held Germany scoreless. Norway won their first Women’s World Cup in 1995. #2. Germany Alex Grimm // Getty Images – Four-time World Cup Champion (1991, 1999, 2015, 2019) – One-time World Cup runner-up (2011) – Three-time third-place finish (1995, 2003, 2007) The USWNT could be called a title hoarder for how well they have performed in Women’s World Cup history. The team won the first official FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991 against Norway. They won their second World Cup title on home soil as 90,000 fans cheered them on in Pasadena, California, against China PR. The U.S. will be stepping onto the field this year not only as the reigning champions from 2015 and 2019 but ranked as the top women’s national team in the world, a position they have held since 2017. Story editing by Jeff Smith. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on OddsSeeker and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
The 10 most successful countries in Women's World Cup history
