Lights and shadows second edition Women’s World Cup
The shortest edition of the event, held in Sweden from 5 to 18 June 1995, marked a milestone for women’s football in Northern Europe. If the 1991 edition in China was a novelty, the 1995 tournament signaled the sport’s rise to the highest level of international competition and set the stage for future championships.
The competition acted as a qualifying pathway for the eight teams that reached the quarterfinals for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Matching the men’s format, a three-point win system was used, and unlike the first edition, every match ran for ninety minutes with an optional two-minute break in each half.
China 1991: United States, first champion
The event featured a significant milestone as the United States captured the title, becoming the first champions in Women’s World Cup history. The tournament showcased emerging talents that would propel the game forward on the global stage.
retribution against the USA
During this early era, the competition recorded very low scores and the lowest attendance in Women’s World Cup history, with media coverage often limited. The finale was not televised, which reflected broader challenges of the period, including sparse media attention, long travel distances between host cities, and the lack of standardized transportation and public interest. These factors contributed to a subdued profile for the tournament.
Nine of the twelve participating teams had competed in the inaugural edition in China, while among the newcomers only England managed to advance beyond the first stage. Norway defeated the United States in the semifinals, a former finalist, and then beat Germany in the final in Solna, Stockholm. This result confirmed Norway as the strongest Norwegian team in the history of the competition.
Riise, MVP to selector
Hege Riise emerged as the tournament’s second-highest scorer, finishing five goals behind the leading scorer Aarones, and was named the tournament’s MVP. Following the resignation of Martin Sjögren after a disappointing Euro Cup performance in England, Riise took the leadership role and would guide Norway in subsequent World Cups.