The first FIFA Women’s World Cup was held in 1991. The United States team beat Norway 2–1 in the final game. This was 61 years after the first men’s World Cup.
The Women’s World Cup is held every four years. As of 2016, only four countries have won the championship. The United States has taken first place three times, Germany has won twice, and Japan and Norway have each won once.
Cleats date back all the way to 1526! Because the studs on the bottom of the shoe grip into the ground, cleats help a player make quick turns, stops, and starts, as well as prevent slipping.
The classic black-and-white soccer ball was first introduced by Adidas at the 1970 Men’s World Cup. It’s made of twenty white hexagons and twelve black pentagons.
There are often three forwards on a team. Forwards play closest to the opponent’s goal and are the most likely to score. A forward can also be called a striker, but sometimes the term is used to refer to the forward that is the primary scorer.
U.S. forward and 2012 FIFA Player of the Year Abby Wambach currently holds the record for most goals scored in international games — in either men’s or women’s soccer. In 252 international games, she scored 184 times (77 of the shots were headers!).
American player Hope Solo is one of the top goalkeepers in women’s soccer history. Solo helped the U.S. team win two Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012, and she’s received the Golden Glove award for best goalkeeping in both the 2011 and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cups. She also holds a number of professional records, including shutouts, wins, starts, and longest undefeated streak.
Corner kicks are awarded when a defender sends the ball over the end line by her own goal. Corner kicks are considered good scoring opportunities.
In 1987, soccer star Mia Hamm joined the United States Women’s National Team when she was only fifteen years old, making her the youngest player ever on the team.