2007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
Qualification for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup determined which 15 teams joined China, the hosts of the 2007 tournament, to play for the Women's World Cup. Europe had 5 qualifying berths, Asia 3.5 berths (including the hosts), North and Central America 2.5 berths, Africa 2 berths, South America 2 berths and Oceania 1 berth. The 16th spot was determined through a play-off match between the third-placed teams in North/Central America and Asia.
Africa
The 2006 Women's African Football Championship functioned as a qualifying tournament. Originally, this tournament was scheduled to be held in Gabon, but due to "organisational reasons" Gabon withdrew from hosting the competition.[1] 32 teams entered the African Championships and competed for the two available spots, but six withdrew during the qualifying session.
On 7 November 2006, 
Nigeria and 
Ghana qualified by virtue of winning their semifinal matches.
Asia
- Main article: 2006 AFC Women's Championship
The 2006 AFC Women's Championship functioned as a qualifying tournament. The tournament was originally scheduled to be held in Japan, but after the Football Federation Australia moved from the Oceania Football Confederation to the Asian Football Confederation, the Australian team entered the qualifying series. They were awarded hosting rights in February 2006.[2] The Championship took place between 16 July 2006 and 30 July 2006. Since 
China PR, the host nation of Women's World Cup 2007, proceeded to the final, another finalist, 
Australia and third-placed 
North Korea, were qualified for the World Cup finals. Fourth-placed 
Japan qualified for a play-off match with 
Mexico, the third-placed team from the 2006 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup.
Europe
- Main article: 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification (UEFA)
The 25 teams belonging to the First Category of European women's football were drawn into five groups, from which the group winners qualified for the World Cup finals.[3] The qualifiers concluded on 30 September 2006 with 
Norway, 
Sweden, 
Germany, 
Denmark and 
England qualifying.
North America, Central America & Caribbean
The 2006 Women's Gold Cup acted as qualifier tournament for CONCACAF. The tournament finals took place between 19 November and 26 November 2006.[4] USA and Canada received direct qualifying spots after contesting the final of the 2002 Gold Cup, while four other spots were determined through regional qualifying.
On November 22, 2006, 
United States and 
Canada qualified by virtue of winning their semifinal matches, while Mexico qualified for a play-off match with Japan after defeating Jamaica in the 2006 Gold Cup 3rd place match.
Oceania
One spot was awarded to the winner of the 2007 OFC Women's Championship held 9 April through 13 April 2007 in Papua New Guinea.[5]
New Zealand won this tournament and qualified for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup. It's the second time they are part of the FIFA Women's World Cup, the other being in 1991.
South America
The 2006 Sudamericano Femenino acted as qualifier for CONMEBOL. Originally, a women's football tournament at the 2006 South American Games in Buenos Aires would serve as qualifier tournament, but the South American Games committee scrapped football from the games, forcing the Argentine Football Association to organize a tournament on short notice.[6]
On November 24, 
Brazil qualified by earning six points. 
Argentina qualified on November 26 by defeating Brazil and earning a total of 7, thus winning the tournament.
AFC-CONCACAF Play-off
Japan won 3-2 on aggregate and qualified for 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Qualified teams
The following teams qualified for the tournament:
| Team | Number of appearances incl. 2007 | Record streak | First appearance | Most recent appearance before 2007 | Best result before 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina |
2 | 2 | 2003 | 2003 | Round 1 |
| Australia |
4 | 4 | 1995 | 2003 | Round 1 |
| Brazil |
5 | 5 | 1991 | 2003 | 3rd Place (1999) |
| Canada |
4 | 4 | 1995 | 2003 | 4th Place (2003) |
| China PR |
5 | 5 | 1991 | 2003 | Runners-up (1999) |
| Denmark |
4 | 3 | 1991 | 1999 | Quarterfinals (1991 and 1995) |
| England |
2 | 1 | 1995 | 1995 | Quarterfinals (1995) |
| Germany |
5 | 5 | 1991 | 2003 | Champions (2003) |
| Ghana |
3 | 3 | 1999 | 2003 | Round 1 |
| Japan |
5 | 5 | 1991 | 2003 | Quarterfinals (1995) |
| North Korea |
3 | 3 | 1999 | 2003 | Round 1 |
| New Zealand |
2 | 1 | 1991 | 1991 | Round 1 |
| Nigeria |
5 | 5 | 1991 | 2003 | Quarterfinals (1999) |
| Norway |
5 | 5 | 1991 | 2003 | Champions (1995) |
| Sweden |
5 | 5 | 1991 | 2003 | Runners-up (2003) |
| United States |
5 | 5 | 1991 | 2003 | Champions (1991 and 1999) |
Every qualifier had participated in a previous Women's World Cup. To date, the 2007 Women's World Cup is the only World Cup for either men or women in which every team in the final tournament had played in a previous World Cup final tournament.
References and notes
- ↑ Gabon pulls out of hosting AWC, from BBC, retrieved 29 May 2006
- ↑ Australia To Host AFC Women's Championship 2006, from Football Federation Australia, retrieved 29 May 2006
- ↑ UEFA preliminaries, from FIFA.com, retrieved 30 June 2006
- ↑ Women's Gold Cup, from RSSSF, retrieved 29 May 2006
- ↑ Oceania's Women's Championship 2007 (Papua New Guinea), retrieved 22 March 2007
- ↑ Argentina called its women's national team with a view to Odesur, from Conmebol.com, retrieved 27 July 2006
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