Spain clinched their maiden Women’s World Cup title, triumphing over England with a narrow 1-0 victory in the final. This remarkable achievement came less than a year after a player rebellion had shaken the Spanish team. Olga Carmona’s first-half goal proved to be the decider.
With this win, La Roja etched their name in history as the first team to simultaneously hold the under-17, under-20, and senior Women’s World Cup titles. Spain became the fifth nation to secure victory in the Women’s World Cup, joining Germany as the only two countries to clinch both the men’s and women’s titles.
As the final whistle blew, Spanish players jubilantly embraced each other in front of their goal; their exuberance only halted for the trophy presentation. There, they kissed the coveted trophy and raised their arms in triumph as golden glitter rained down upon them.
For England, the loss was accompanied by a profound sense of disappointment. The Lionesses of England had aspired to bring a World Cup home for the first time since the men’s team achieved the feat in 1966. Regrettably, their quest fell short on this occasion.
In a match characterized by numerous opportunities for both sides, it was Carmona’s left-footed strike in the 29th minute that proved decisive. It followed a swift counterattack after Lucy Bronze lost possession. Carmona’s earlier heroics in Spain’s semifinal victory over Sweden, where she scored the game-winner in the 89th minute, earned her a place in history as the first player since Carli Lloyd in 2015 to score in both a Women’s World Cup semifinal and final.
Spain had an opportunity to double their lead in the 68th minute, as a VAR review awarded a penalty for Keira Walsh’s handball. However, Jenni Hermoso’s penalty attempt was expertly saved by Mary Earps, who anticipated the direction and dived to her left. England’s coach, Sarina Wiegman, believed this could have been the turning point for her team.
Spain’s triumph was a remarkable turnaround considering the near-mutiny by players just a year earlier. Fifteen players had stepped away from the national team, citing mental health concerns and advocating for a more professional environment. Three of them, Ona Batlle, Aitana Bonmatí, and Mariona Caldentey, reconciled with the federation and played in the Women’s World Cup.
England had entered the tournament with momentum, having won the European Championship on home soil the previous summer. However, injuries to key players—captain Leah Williamson, Fran Kirby, and Beth Mead—prevented them from participating in the Women’s World Cup.
In the lead-up to the final, England secured an impressive 3-1 victory over the host nation, Australia, in the semifinal stage. Notably, Lauren James had emerged as the team’s leading scorer, having netted three goals and provided three assists throughout the tournament. However, James faced a suspension, which forced her to miss out on two matches. This suspension had been imposed due to an incident in which she stomped on Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie at the outset of the knockout stage.
Wiegman had the distinction of being the first coach to lead teams to consecutive Women’s World Cup final matches. She guided the Netherlands to the final in 2019, where they were defeated 2-0 by the United States. However, her record in championship matches remained at 0-2.
As the jubilant Spanish players celebrated their historic victory, there were tears in the eyes of Alexia Putellas, a two-time Ballon d’Or winner who had returned from a torn ACL. She came on as a substitute in the final moments of regulation, during a lengthy period of stoppage time, as her teammates danced before their passionate fans.
The Women’s World Cup final match at Stadium Australia witnessed a record attendance of 75,784 spectators, bringing the total attendance for the tournament to over 1.975 million—a testament to the growing popularity of women’s football.