The FIFA Women's World Cup, which takes place every four years, is the pinnacle stage for the world's top female football teams and individuals. The competition has seen some intense games, breathtaking goals, and spectacular shocks since the first edition in 1991. However, there have also been some egregious mismatches when one side completely dominates the other by a wide margin. In this blog article, we'll examine the top five largest victory margins in FIFA Women's World Cup history, along with the circumstances behind each one.
5. Germany 11-0 Argentina (2007)
At the time, Germany's 11-0 victory over Argentina in the tournament's opening match at 2007's Women's World Cup in China set a record for the event. The South American competitors, who had lost all three games by an aggregate score of 15-1 in their only earlier World Cup campaign in 2003, had little pity from the reigning champions. Germany scored four goals in the opening 30 minutes, including a brace from captain Birgit Prinz. Together with Sandra Smisek, Prinz completed her hat trick in the second half. Melanie Behringer, Kerstin Garefrekes, Renate Lingor, and Martina Müller all scored. Prinz's three goals overtook Bettina Wiegmann to become the Women's World Cup's all-time leading scorer with 12 goals.
4. Switzerland 10-1 Ecuador (2015)
In their opening match at the Women's World Cup in Canada in 2015, Switzerland thrashed Ecuador 10-1 to leave a lasting impression. The European team scored five goals in each half, with Fabienne Humm tallying the fastest hat-trick in Women's World Cup history with three goals in only five minutes. Eseosa Aigbogun, Martina Moser, and Angie Ponce (own goal) also scored, while Ramona Bachmann recorded a hat-trick. Ponce became the first player to score at both ends in a Women's World Cup game when she scored the sole goal for Ecuador from a penalty kick. Switzerland placed second behind Japan in their group but fell to the hosts Canada in the round of 16.
3. Sweden 8-0 Japan (1991)
Sweden, one of the favourites in the 1991 Women's World Cup in China, demonstrated why they were one of the favourites by thrashing Japan 8-0 in their opening group match. The Asian team, which was competing in the event for the first time, was no match for the seasoned Swedes, who scored four goals in each half. Lena Videkull scored twice, while Pia Sundhage scored a hat-trick. Sweden scored goals from Helen Johansson, Anette Börjesson, and Eva Zeikfalvy as well, leading their group ahead of Brazil. They had to settle for third place after defeating Germany on penalties in the third-place playoff after being eliminated by Norway in the semifinals.
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2. Norway 8-0 Nigeria (1995)
At the 1995 Women's World Cup in Sweden, Norway was a serious contender as well, and in their second group game against Nigeria, they shown class by thrashing Nigeria 8-0. The African team had performed admirably in their first event, making it all the way to the quarterfinals, but the Norwegians outclassed them, scoring six goals in the opening period. Linda Medalen scored twice, and Ann-Kristin Aarnes scored four goals. In addition to Hege Riise and Marianne Pettersen, Norway scored goals, placing second in their group against Brazil. To win their first and only Women's World Cup championship, they later defeated Germany, the United States, and Denmark in the knockout rounds.
1. USA 13-0 Thailand (2019)
The USA destroyed Thailand 13-0 in their opening group game in the most recent FIFA Women's World Cup, which was held in France in 2019. The Asian team was competing in their second World Cup after making their debut in 2015, and the defending champions were merciless against them. In the first half, the USA scored three goals, with Alex Morgan scoring the game's first goal in the 12th minute. She would go on to score five goals in the game, tying fellow American Michelle Akers (against Chinese Taipei in 1991) for the most goals scored by a player in a single Women's World Cup game. The USA concluded the game with seven different goal scorers, another tournament record for a team in a single game, and scored 10 additional goals in the second half, the most in a single half of any World Cup match, whether it be for men or women. At 29 years and 321 days old, Morgan became the tournament's oldest player to tally a hat-trick. Some people criticized the USA's behavior and celebrations after some of the later goals as being unsportsmanlike, but this thrashing is still the largest victory and has the most goals ever scored in a World Cup game, in both the men's and women's competitions.
