Football fans arrive at Wembley stadium for the final of the UEFA Euro Women’s Championship on July 31, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. England take on Germany in the final of The UEFA Women’s Euro, played at Wembley Stadium. (Photo by Getty Images)

LAUSANNE, August 1, 2022 - Women's football enthusiasts around the world enjoyed a bountiful month of July which saw all but one continent bustling with championship activities.

ASIAN CHAMPIONS Only the Asian Football Confederation had staged it's women's tournament prior to July, with China PR coming from two goals down at halftime to beat Korea Republic 3-2 in the pulsating final of the Women’s Asian Cup – where the winner by Xiao Yuyi was scored deep into added time - in February for their first title since 2006 and a record-extending ninth title overall.

July came with an unprecedented packed schedule across the remaining confederations, producing an array of perspectives on the women’s game in different time zones at once, from the 2^nd through the 31^st. The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which usually takes place in the last quarter of the year, was the first tournament to get underway on 2 July.

RECORD ATTENDANCE This month-long festival culminated in a historic Women’s Euro crown for England in front of a record-breaking crowd of 87,192 at Wembley Stadium on 31 July. The attendance is the highest ever recorded in either the men’s or women’s editions of the tournament.

The hosts England also feature in the previous record for a Women’s Euro match, which was registered in the opening match of the tournament at Old Trafford where 68,871 fans watched them beat Austria. The Women’s Euro, normally held in odd-numbered years, should have taken place last year but was postponed to 2022 for COVID reasons.
 

USA – CONCACAF W Champions

The reigning world champions US Women’s National Team were the first to celebrate triumph in July in front of 17,247 fans after they defeated Olympic champions Canada 1-0 to win their ninth Concacaf W Championship title in Monterrey, Mexico on the 18th. The victory also earned them a ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympics, their eight consecutive Games.

Alex Morgan scored a 78^th minute penalty to help the Americans get their revenge against their neighbours, who beat them for the first time in 20 years in the semi-finals at last summer’s Tokyo Olympics. Morgan’s performance throughout the tournament, including three goals, earned her the Golden Ball as the best player in the competition.

The USWNT, Canada, Jamaica and Costa Rica had already qualified for next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand after the group stage.

The USA became just the second team to secure a slot in the Olympic Women’s Soccer Tournament at Paris 2024, after hosts France. Runners-up Canada and third-placed Jamaica will slug it out in a playoff series in September of 2023 to determine the region’s other representative at the Games.
 

SOUTH AFRICA – Women’s AFCON Champions

In Africa, South Africa finally hoisted the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations trophy for the first time, after failing in four previous finals (2000, 2008, 2012 and 2018), following their 2-1 victory over the host nation Morocco in front of a record-breaking attendance of over 50,000 - the biggest crowd for a women’s football match in Africa - at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco. Morocco’s semi-final match against Nigeria saw the previous record of over 45,562.

Hildah Magaia’s two quick second half goals were enough to lead Banyana Banyana to glory as they claimed their country’s second continental title, after the men's team won the 1996 Nations Cup. Ten minutes from time, Rosella Ayane pulled one goal back for the Atlas Lionesses, first-time finalists, but it would only serve as a consolation goal. However Morocco can take pride in the progress they have made in the women’s game since the Morrocan football federation launched its ambitious women’s football development plans in 2020.

Banyana Banyana led by coach Desiree Ellis, who two days to the final won an unprecedented third successive CAF Women’s Coach of the Year, returned home to a rapturous heroes’ welcome as thousands of supporters waited for them at the OR Tambo International Airport.

Undefeated Banyana Banyana also booked a direct ticket to next year’s Women's World Cup alongside runners-up Morocco, third-placed Zambia and nine-time champions Nigeria, who finished in a disappointing fourth place. The Super Falcons’ dogged display against the hosts in the semi-finals will however not be forgotten in a hurry. Despite being two players down for over an hour, they still managed to drag the game to penalty shootout where they lost 5-4. South Africa join Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria as the only teams to have won the WAFCON since 1998.
 

BRAZIL – Copa América Femenina Champions

In the 2022 Copa América Femenina, Brazil continued the dominance that has seen them win all but one of the nine editions of the tournament. They beat hosts Colombia 1-0, Debinha with the only goal from the penalty spot, in Bucaramanga to claim their fourth title in a row - and eighth in nine editions. The only time Brazil did not win was in 2006, when Argentina won on home soil. Colombia have now finished as runners-up for the third time in the last four tournaments.

The two sides qualified for the World Cup in New Zealand and Australia next year as well as the Paris 2024 Olympics. Third-placed Argentina, who beat Paraguay 3-1, also qualified for the World Cup.



PAPUA NEW GUINEA – OFC Women's Nations Cup

After finishing as runners-up on three previous occasions, Papua New Guinea finally won the OFC Women’s Nations Cup for the first time with a 2-1 victory over hosts Fiji at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.

Since New Zealand already owns the confederation’s sole direct ticket to next year’s World Cup, PNG have the chance to fight for one of the three tickets on offer at the Play-off Tournament scheduled for February 2023 in New Zealand.

New Zealand who have won the last four editions of the tournament opted out of the OFC Women's Nations Cup this year, having already qualified as co-hosts of the World Cup.

First half goals from Meagen Gunemba and Ramona Padio got the job done for PNG. Although Cema Nasau pulled one back for Fiji before the break, the hosts could not complete a comeback in the second half.
 

ENGLAND – UEFA Women's Euro Champions

As stated earlier, a record crowd of 87,192 witnessed a historic day in English football as the Lionesses of England won their first ever Women’s Euro title, beating eight-time champions Germany 2-1 after extra time in this year’s final at Wembley Stadium. Germany had never lost a Euro final, including a 6-2 mauling of the Lionesses 13 years ago in the 2009 final.

Lina Magull cancelled Ella Toone’s opener for Englan in regulation time but Kelly’s first international goal in the 111th minute made sure the Lionesses completed their fairytale run at home after suffering defeats in two previous finals.

The historic win dominated the front pages of British newspapers on Monday. The Lionesses scored a Euro-record 22 goals and conceded two en route to the title. Their journey includes a ruthless 8-0 demolition of Norway at a sold-out Amex Stadium, where they became the first team to score eight goals in a single game at a men’s or women’s Euros.

With six goals in the tournament, Beth Mead, the Golden Boot winner and Player of the Tournament, and Alexandra Popp of Germany now hold the record for the most goals scored at a UEFA Women’s European Championships alongside Inka Grings of Germany who achieved it in 2009.

Head coach Sarina Wiegman’s record of never losing a European Championship game remains intact as the Dutch repeated the feat she achieved with her home country five years ago, becoming the first to win the title with two different teams.

England will play in the first edition of the UEFA-CONMEBOL Women's Finalissima against 2022 Copa America Femenina winners Brazil.