When Germany takes to the pitch in Rennes, France, on June 8 to open its Women’s World Cup campaign against China, it’ll do so wearing a jersey that’s synonymous with triumph in German footballing lore. For most, the style evokes memories of Italia ’90, the men’s World Cup where Germany went on to capture its third title in that competition.
In March, FIFA confirmed the use of VAR — video assistant referees — for the 2019 Women’s World Cup, something it really had to do after its successful implementation at the 2019 men’s World Cup.
On Thursday, FIFA named the 15 video assistant referees who will man the booths at this summer’s Women’s World Cup — and we do mean man.
All 15 VAR picks are men.
Coach Jill Ellis unveiled her USWNT World Cup roster for the 2019 Women’s World Cup on Thursday, the 23 players who will attempt to defend their title and win a record fourth championship.
The 2019 USWNT World Cup roster includes few surprises. Half of the squad (12 of 23) returns from the 2015 team, including eight who started the final.
BACK FOR FOUR
There are moments in a match that can go unremembered by the final whistle. Sometimes these are simple misfired shots or dubious fouls, forgotten over the course of a long match. Other times, as it was on a sweltering day in Southern California in 1999, they are significant in the moment but largely overshadowed by events later in the game.
Editor’s note: This story originally ran on Feb. 26 and has been updated to include Norway’s final World Cup roster decisions.
The best women’s footballers on the planet will gather in France for the Women’s World Cup this summer.
Well, the best players minus one.
There are few athletes in the world who have won as much as Kristine Lilly.
She’s got two Women’s World Cup trophies, two Olympic gold medals and four NCAA championships. She appeared in more international matches than anyone in the world — men or women — while playing for the most dominant team in the history of sport.
The seventh season of NWSL play kicked off on Saturday, and the 2019 campaign will attract more attention than ever since it falls in a World Cup year. With 52 days to go until the main event in France, international players remain with their club sides for the time being.
However, that’ll soon change, and USWNT call-ups will expect to miss around two months of the season (the Send-Off Series begins on May 12 vs. South Africa and the World Cup final takes place on July 7), although the NWSL will break for group stage play.
The National Women’s Soccer League is entering its seventh season, a testament to the staying power of a professional women’s soccer league in the United States. While there have been road bumps in the past — and there will be plenty more in the future — the league is in a strong place heading into what could be a big season with the Women’s World Cup this summer.
Alex Morgan has been a consistent impact player for the U.S. women’s national team. In her 2019 campaign, she has started and played in four games totaling 349 minutes for a total of 159 caps, ranking her 17th all-time in games played. She continues to add to her accolades after just being named the 2018 U.S. Soccer Player of the Year.
She finally reached her 100th goal at age 29 in an international friendly against Australia on Thursday in Commerce City, Colorado.
Few players in the history of the sport have impacted women’s soccer as much as Mia Hamm. The feared striker retired as the all-time leader in international goals with 158 (later passed by former teammate Abby Wambach) and still holds the record for most USWNT assists with 145, a mark that may never be equaled.