Asia’s greatest moment in the tournament occurred on July 17, 2011 at Frankfurt’s Waldstadion when 20-year-old Saki Kumagai, playing her first World Cup, fired past goalkeeper Hope Solo to help Japan defeat the United States on penalties and become the first Asian nation to win a senior FIFA World Cup title. 

 

Japan had gone toe-to-toe with the two-time champions for 120 minutes to take the 2011 final to penalties. While the heavyweights looked full of nerves in the tie-breaker, the Nadeshiko, who had managed to reach the knockout stages just once in five previous attempts, sensed an opportunity and took it in style. 

 

Japan goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori produced saves from Shannon Boxx and Tobin Heath while Carli Lloyd’s effort sailed over the goal, thus presenting Kumagai the chance to create history with Japan’s fourth kick. The centre-back's composed penalty ensured Japan became the fourth nation to win the FIFA Women's World Cup and brought a joyous conclusion to their fairytale run.

But 2011 would have been a different story had it not been for one Japanese legend – captain Homare Sawa. The United States were just three minutes away from securing a record third World Cup and consigning Japan to a runners-up finish, but Sawa conjured up a magical moment in the dying embers to force the penalty shootout. 

 

Alex Morgan and the United States drew the first blood in the second half of the final, but Aya Miyama equalised in the 81st minute to take the game into extra time. Pia Sundhage’s side once again went ahead through an Abby Wambach header from Morgan’s cross. And with time running out, the Nadeshiko needed someone to keep their dreams alive. 

 

In the 117th minute, Miyama delivered a low corner and 32-year-old Sawa arrived at the near post to flick the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-2. A veteran of six World Cups, Sawa finished the 2011 edition with both the top scorer and best player awards before winning the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year honour later that year. 

After suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Germany in the semi-finals of the 1995 World Cup, China PR went one step further four years later for their best-ever performance in the tournament. The Steel Roses brushed aside Sweden, Australia and Ghana to make it three wins from three group stage and reach the knockout rounds. 

 

Ma Yuanan’s side then defeated Russia 2-0 in the quarter-final to set up a heavyweight clash against defending champions Norway. The Steel Roses came out of the blocks flying with Sun Wen and Liu Ailing giving them a 2-0 lead in the opening quarter of an hour. The duo scored again in the second half while Fan Yunjie also netted as China blew away the holders 5-0 to make it to their first final. 

 

The title clash, played in front of more than 90,000 spectators at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, was an evenly matched affair with no goals to separate China and hosts United States after extra time. Though they lost the penalty shootout, China’s commanding run in the 1999 tournament remains one of the best displays by an Asian team at the World Cup.

Sam Kerr was part of Australia’s squad for the 2011 and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cups, but it was in 2019 that the striker made her mark on the tournament. The Matildas began their campaign in France with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Italy, but a 25-year-old Kerr found her first-ever World Cup goal in Valenciennes. 

 

After a 3-2 defeat to Brazil in their second outing, it was against Jamaica that Kerr created history. The captain struck with headers in the 11th and 42nd minutes before becoming the first Australian to score a hat-trick at a World Cup. 

 

She then went on to add a fourth goal in the 83rd minute to seal a 4-1 win and a place in the last 16. The Matildas exited the competition on penalties against Norway, but Kerr’s four-goal haul saw her finish just one shy of US duo Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe and England’s Ellen White who were the 2019 edition’s joint top scorers. 

The 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup in China was where DPR Korea put on their best-ever display in the competition on what was their third consecutive appearance. They kicked off with a creditable 2-2 draw against the United States – a formidable opponent but one who the East Asians matched to pull off one of the greatest results in their history.  

 

After Wambach’s opener for the US, Kil Son-hui and Kim Yong-ae gave DPR Korea a 2-1 lead, but they were denied a win by Heather O'Reilly’s equaliser.

 

However, Kim Kyong-hwa and Ri Kum-suk scored as they secured a 2-1 victory against Nigeria in their next outing which sealed their progress. In their first and only quarter-final appearance, they suffered a 3-0 defeat to eventual champions Germany.

After scripting history in the 2011 final, Japan were back in full force at the 2015 event in Canada and sailed through the group stage by hardly breaking a sweat. They dispatched Switzerland, Cameroon and Ecuador to progress as table-toppers before defeating the Netherlands 2-1 in the Round of 16, courtesy of goals from Saori Ariyoshi and Mizuho Sakaguchi. 

 

Mana Iwabuchi scored the only goal of an all-Asian quarter-final tie between Japan and Australaa in Edmonton. A strong England side, who had defeated hosts Canada in their previous outing, waited for them in the semi-final. Miyama opened the scoring with a penalty in the first half only for Fara Williams to restore parity five minutes before the break. 

 

However, an own goal from Laura Bassett saw Japan progress to their second successive World Cup final by recording their sixth straight win of the tournament. A second world title was not forthcoming, though, as it was the United States who came out on top in a rematch of the 2011 final.

Thailand qualified for their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015 after finishing fifth at the 2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Despite exiting their debut tournament in the group stage following defeats to Norway and Germany, the Southeast Asians still carried home plenty of great memories, including their maiden win in the World Cup. 

 

Those three points were won against Cote d'Ivoire in their second group fixture in a 3-1 comeback victory in Ottawa. Orathai Srimanee scored Thailand’s first-ever World Cup goal to draw them level before her second gave the Chaba Kaew a 2-1 lead as the interval approached. Thanatta Chawong then added in the second half as they wrapped up a fruitful evening. 

Korea Republic’s second appearance at a FIFA Women’s World Cup came in 2015 when they were drawn alongside Brazil, Spain and Costa Rica. Having lost all three matches on their debut in 2003, the Taeguk Ladies were aiming to get their first points on the board at the global showpiece. 

 

Despite a 2-0 loss to Brazil in the opener, the Koreans came within seconds of earning their first-ever World Cup win as goals from Ji So-yun and Jeon Ga-eul had them leading 2-1 against Costa Rica only for Karla Villalobos’ 89th-minute strike to deny them the three points. 

 

But they bagged the much-awaited victory in their final group fixture as they defeated Spain 2-1 with goals from Cho So-hyun and Kim Soo-yun – earning a spot in the last 16. They exited the tournament following a 3-0 defeat to France in their first-ever knockout fixture.

The 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup was the first after Australia moved to the Asian Football Confederation and it also turned out to be the first time that the Matildas made it to the knockout stages. Australia began the tournament with a 4-1 win over Ghana, powered by a double from Lisa De Vanna who again scored in a 1-1 draw with Norway in their next outing. 

 

Coming seconds away from a fourth group stage exit on the bounce, Cheryl Salisbury’s 92nd-minute goal rescued a 2-2 draw for the Matildas against Canada and booked their place in the quarter-finals where they went down fighting to eventual runners-up Brazil in a 3-2 defeat.

And finally, we go back to where it all began. China were named the hosts of the first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991 and they went into the tournament as the winners of the 1991 AFC Women’s Championship. The team, coached by Shang Ruihua, had a dream start when they defeated eventual finalists Norway 4-0 in front of 65,000 at Tianhe Stadium in Guangzhou. 

 

In the inaugural match of the inaugural World Cup, defender Ma Li became the first-ever scorer of a FIFA Women’s World Cup goal when she headed in the opener in the 22nd minute. A Liu Ailing double and a Sun Qingmei goal then secured the win for the Steel Roses.

 

The Chinese women went on to earn a 2-2 draw against Denmark in their next outing before securing the top spot in their group with a commanding 4-1 win over New Zealand. A 1-0 defeat in a hard-fought quarter-final contest against Sweden, however, saw them bow out of the tournament which was won by the US who beat Norway 2-1 in front of a 63,000 crowd.