The 9th edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup kicked off on the 20th of July,2023. In this prestigious international competition, Spain won their first ever Women’s World Cup title after defeating England by 1- 0 in a thrilling finale on 20th August, 2023. Ecstatic fans and Spain supporters cheered and celebrated waving flags. The tournament was co-hosted by two countries; Australia and New Zealand. Participating were 32 teams, an increase from 24 teams in the past season.
Sweden became the the second runners up and Australia took fourth place after knockout matches. Shockingly, USA, a four-time holder of the title, was eliminated after losing to Sweden on penalties in the round of 16 and finished in 9th place.
A few highlighted player moments in FIFA’s tournament review include Marta Cox’s amazing free kick goal that beat France 1-0, thunderbolts from Brugts and Braun, Caicedo’s footwork and Sam Kerr’s strike that finished on goal and stirred the whole of the Sydney’s Olympic Stadium.
On awards, Japanese Midfielder Hinata Miyazawa was crowned top scorer and won the Golden Boot after scoring 5 goals. Spain’s Aitana Bonmati was voted best player and won the Golden Ball. The best young player award went to Salma Paralluelo (ESP) while Mary Earps (ENG) won the Golden Glove. This successful 2023 event amassed a great number of viewers and attracted more fans than ever before.
Selling over 1 million tickets for the tournament, the FIFA Women’s World Cup has grown dramatically. This not only puts women’s soccer on a global stage but women’s sports in general as it continues to grow and gain popularity. Fans look forward to the next season as they speculate where and when the next tournament will be held. Without a doubt, FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 TM did hit the nail on the head with their slogan “Beyond Greatness.”