--- description: Here are images of golden moments in the tournament's 24-year history title: See the Top 8 Moments in Women's World Cup History image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [Sports](/section/sports/) ## Sports Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Soccer](/tag/soccer/) ## Soccer Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # See the History of the Women's World Cup in 8 Extraordinary Moments by [TIME Photo](/author/time-photo/) ## TIME Photo Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 9, 2015 5:41 PM CUT by [TIME Photo](/author/time-photo/) ## TIME Photo Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 9, 2015 5:41 PM CUT ### 1991: Michelle Akers leads the U.S. to victory in the first ever Women’s World Cup  Michelle Akers-Stahl (C) who scored two goals for the US to win the first FIFA World Championship for Women's Football on November 30, 1991, holds the trophy together with teammates Julie Foudy (L) and Carin Jennings (R). The US won the championship by beating Norway 2-1\. The FIFA Women's World Cup is recognized as the most important International competition in women's football and is played amongst women's national football teams of the member states of FIFA. Contested every four years, the first Women's World Cup tournament, named the Women's World Championship, was held in 1991, sixty-one years after the men's first FIFA World Cup tournament in 1930AFP PHOTO TOMMY CHENG (Photo credit should read TOMMY CHENG/AFP/Getty Images) Tommy Cheng—AFP/Getty Images On Nov. 30, 1991 Michelle Akers, center, scored two goals for the U.S. to win the first FIFA World Championship for Women’s Football. She is seen here holding the trophy together with teammates Julie Foudy, left, and Carin Jennings, right. ### 1999: Brandi Chastain scores goal in penalty shootout to beat China  PASADENA, : Brandi Chastain of the US celebrates after kicking the winning penalty kick to win the 1999 Women's World Cup final against China 10 July 1999 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The US won 5-4 on penalties. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO Roberto SCHMIDT (Photo credit should read ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images) Roberto Schmidt—AFP/Getty Images On July 10, 1999 Brandi Chastain scored the fifth and final goal in a penalty shootout to lead the U.S. to victory over China. Her famous celebration made the moment one of the most iconic in sports history. ### 2003: Nia Kunzer scores a 98th-minute goal to defeat Sweden in the final  Nia Kuenzer #4 of Germany scores the winning goal against Kristin Bengtsson #5 of Sweden during overtime of the FIFA Women's World Cup USA 2003.l (Photo by Steve Grayson/WireImage) \*\*\* Local Caption \*\*\* Steve Grayson—WireImage/Getty Images On Oct. 12, 2003, Nia Kuenzer of Germany scored the winning goal against Kristin Bengtsson of Sweden during overtime in the final. She became the first woman to win the German title “Goal of the Year” for her late-game shot. ### 2007: Brazil’s Marta scores to defeat the U.S.  HANGZHOU, ZHEJIANG - SEPTEMBER 27: Marta(L 10#) of Brazil celebrates the goal during the Womens World Cup 2007 Semi Final match between USA and Brazil at Hangzhou Dragon Stadium on September 27, 2007 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province of China. (Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images) Feng Li—Getty Images On Sept. 27, 2007 Marta of Brazil scored one of the most memorable game winners in the history of the Women’s World Cup. The goal won Brazil the semi-final match against the U.S. ### 2007: English forward Kelly Smith kisses her boot after scoring back-to-back goals against Japan  SHANGHAI, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 11: Kelly Smith of England celebrates scoring the first goal for England during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2007 Group A match between Japan and England at the Shanghai Hongkou Football Stadium on September 11, 2007 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) Paul Gilham—Getty Images It wasn’t just through her skills that England’s Kelly Smith captured the world’s attention. Her famous celebration after scoring against Japan on Sept. 11, 2007 cemented her as a Women’s World Cup celebrity. ### 2007: Germany beats Brazil in the final  SHANGHAI, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 30: Goalkeeper Nadine Angerer(#1) of Germany saves a shoot during the Women's World Cup 2007 final between Germany and Brazil at Shanghai Hongkou Football Stadium on September 30, 2007 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images) \*\*\* Local Caption \*\*\* Nadine Angerer Guang Niu—Getty Images The Sept. 30, 2007 final was truly a contest between an unstoppable force (Brazil had 17 goals the way to the final) and an immovable object (Germany had not given up a single goal). In the end Germany prevailed, holding onto their perfect defensive run, winning the game 2-0 and becoming the first team to win back-to-back Women’s World Cups. ### 2011: Team USA beats Brazil in the quarterfinal  DRESDEN, GERMANY - JULY 10: Abby Wambach (R) of USA scores a goal against goalkeeper Andreia ((L) of Brazil during the FIFA Women's World Cup quarter final match between Brazil and USA at Rudolf-Harbig stadium on July 10, 2011 in Dresden, Germany. (Photo by Alexandra Beier - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) Alexandra Beier—FIFA/Getty Images After 120 minutes of regular time and extra time, the U.S. and Brazil were locked in a 2-2 standoff in the quarterfinals on July 10, 2011\. Abby Wambach scored a late-game equalizer to push the game to a penalty shootout where Hope Solo made two diving saves to bring the U.S. to victory. ### 2011: Japan defeats the U.S. to win the World Cup  Japan’s players celebrate with the trophy after the FIFA Women's Football World Cup final match Japan vs USA on July 17, 2011 in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany. Japan won 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out after the final had finished 2-2 following extra-time. AFP PHOTO / CHRISTOF STACHE (Photo credit should read CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP/Getty Images) Christof Stache—AFP/Getty Images Only months after the devastating earthquake off the coast of Japan, the Japanese clenched their first Women’s World Cup victory on July 17, 2011\. After a close match that ended tied 2-2, the game was decided in a penalty shootout, 3-1 in favor of Japan. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3907383/womens-world-cup-extraordinary-moments/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3907383/womens-world-cup-extraordinary-moments/"},"headline":"See the History of the Women's World Cup in 8 Extraordinary Moments","datePublished":"2015-06-09T17:41:24.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T05:03:12.994Z","description":"The FIFA tournament kicked off on June 6, with Team USA hoping for a record third title. 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