# European nations at the FIFA Women's World Cup

Association football is among the most popular sports in Europe, with fourteen members of the Union of European Football Associations having competed at the sport's biggest international event, the FIFA Women's World Cup. The highest ranked result in the Women's World Cup for a European team is 1st place in the 1995, 2003, 2007 and 2023 FIFA Women's World Cups by Norway, Germany and Spain.

## Overview

| | 1991 (12) | 1995 (12) | 1999 (16) | 2003 (16) | 2007 (16) | 2011 (16) | 2015 (24) | 2019 (24) | 2023 (32) | Total |
| Teams | | | | | | | | | | 60 |
| Top 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 8 | 8 | 23 |
| Top 8 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 40 |
| Top 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 20 |
| Top 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
| 1st | | | | | | | | | | 4 |
| 2nd | | | | | | | | | | 5 |
| 3rd | | | | | | | | | | 5 |
| 4th | | | | | | | | | | 6 |
| Country | # | Years | Best result |
| Germany | 9 | 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 | 1st |
| Norway | 9 | 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 | 1st |
| Spain | 3 | 2015, 2019, 2023 | 1st |
| Sweden | 9 | 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 | 2nd |
| England | 6 | 1995, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 | 2nd |
| France | 5 | 2003, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 | 4th |
| Denmark | 5 | 1991, 1995, 1999, 2007, 2023 | QF |
| Italy | 4 | 1991, 1999, 2019, 2023 | QF |
| Netherlands | 3 | 2015, 2019, 2023 | 2nd |
| Russia | 2 | 1999, 2003 | QF |
| Switzerland | 2 | 2015, 2023 | R2 |
| Scotland | 1 | 2019 | GS |
| Portugal | 1 | 2023 | GS |
| Republic of Ireland | 1 | 2023 | GS |

## Results
### Most finishes in the top four

| Team | # | Top-four finishes |
| Germany | 5 | 1991, 1995, 2003, 2007, 2015 |
| Sweden | 5 | 1991, 2003, 2011, 2019, 2023 |
| Norway | 4 | 1991, 1995, 1999, 2007 |
| England | 3 | 2015, 2019, 2023 |
| Spain | 1 | 2023 |
| Netherlands | 1 | 2019 |
| France | 1 | 2011 |

### Team results by tournament
#### Legend

The team ranking in each tournament is according to FIFA. The rankings, apart from the top four positions, are not a result of direct competition between the teams; instead, teams eliminated in the same round are ranked by their full results in the tournament. In recent tournaments, FIFA has used the rankings for seedings for the final tournament draw.
For each tournament, the number of teams in each finals tournament (in brackets) are shown.
| Team | 1991 (12) | 1995 (12) | 1999 (16) | 2003 (16) | 2007 (16) | 2011 (16) | 2015 (24) | 2019 (24) | 2023 (32) | 2027 (32) | Total | Qual. Comp. |
| Denmark | QF 7th | QF 7th | R1 15th | • | R1 12th | • | • | • | R2 9th | TBD | 5 | 9 |
| England | • | QF 6th | • | • | QF 7th | QF 7th | 3rd | 4th | 2nd | TBD | 6 | 9 |
| France | • | • | • | R1 9th | • | 4th | QF 5th | QF 6th | QF 6th | TBD | 5 | 9 |
| Germany | 4th | 2nd | QF 8th | 1st | 1st | QF 6th | 4th | QF 5th | R1 17th | TBD | 9 | 9 |
| Italy | QF 6th | • | R1 9th | • | • | • | • | QF 7th | R1 22nd | TBD | 4 | 9 |
| Netherlands | • | • | • | • | • | • | R2 13th | 2nd | QF 8th | TBD | 3 | 9 |
| Norway | 2nd | 1st | 4th | QF 7th | 4th | R1 10th | R2 10th | QF 8th | R2 15th | TBD | 9 | 9 |
| Portugal | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 19th | TBD | 1 | 8 |
| Republic of Ireland | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 26th | TBD | 1 | 8 |
| Russia | × | • | QF 5th | QF 8th | • | • | • | • | × | TBD | 2 | 7 |
| Scotland | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 19th | • | TBD | 1 | 8 |
| Spain | • | • | • | • | • | • | R1 20th | R2 12th | 1st | TBD | 3 | 9 |
| Sweden | 3rd | QF 5th | QF 6th | 2nd | R1 T-10th | 3rd | R2 16th | 3rd | 3rd | TBD | 9 | 9 |
| Switzerland | • | • | • | • | • | • | R2 15th | • | R2 14th | TBD | 2 | 9 |

### Tournament standings

| Team | Champions | Finals | Semi-finals | Quarter-finals | Second round |
| Germany | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Norway | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Spain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Sweden | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Netherlands | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| England | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| France | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Denmark | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Italy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Russia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Switzerland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |

### Overall team records

As per statistical convention in football, matches decided in extra time are counted as wins and losses, while matches decided by penalty shoot-outs are counted as draws. 3 points per win, 1 point per draw and 0 points per loss.
Results through 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Germany | 44 | 30 | 5 | 9 | 121 | 39 | +82 | 95 |
| Norway | 40 | 24 | 4 | 12 | 93 | 52 | +41 | 76 |
| Sweden | 40 | 23 | 5 | 12 | 71 | 48 | +23 | 74 |
| England | 26 | 15 | 4 | 7 | 43 | 30 | +13 | 49 |
| France | 19 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 32 | 20 | +12 | 33 |
| Netherlands | 11 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 9 | +5 | 22 |
| Italy | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 20 | 12 | +8 | 19 |
| Russia | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 14 | +2 | 12 |
| Denmark | 14 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 19 | 26 | –7 | 10 |
| Spain | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | –2 | 5 |
| Switzerland | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 5 | +6 | 3 |
| Scotland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | –2 | 1 |

## Appearances
### Ranking of teams by number of appearances

| Team | Appearances | Record streak | Active streak | Debut | Most recent | Best result (* = hosts) |
| Germany | 9 | 9 | 9 | 1991 | 2023 | Champions (2003, 2007) |
| Norway | 9 | 9 | 9 | 1991 | 2023 | Champions (1995) |
| Spain | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2015 | 2023 | Champions (2023) |
| Sweden | 9 | 9 | 9 | 1991 | 2023 | Runners-up (2003) |
| England | 6 | 5 | 5 | 1995 | 2023 | Runners-up (2023) |
| Denmark | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1991 | 2023 | Quarter-finals (1991, 1995) |
| France | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2003 | 2023 | Fourth place (2011) |
| Italy | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1991 | 2023 | Quarter-finals (1991, 2019) |
| Netherlands | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2015 | 2023 | Runners-up (2019) |
| Russia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1999 | 2003 | Quarter-finals (1999, 2003) |
| Switzerland | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2015 | 2023 | Round of 16 (2015, 2023) |
| Scotland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2019 | 2019 | Group stage (2019) |
| Portugal | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2023 | 2023 | Group stage (2023) |
| Republic of Ireland | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2023 | 2023 | Group stage (2023) |

### Team debuts

| Year | Debutants | Total |
| 1991 | Denmark, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden | 5 |
| 1995 | England | 1 |
| 1999 | Russia | 1 |
| 2003 | France | 1 |
| 2015 | Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland | 3 |
| 2019 | Scotland | 1 |
| 2023 | Portugal, Republic of Ireland | 2 |
| Total | Total | 14 |

## Summary of performance

This table shows the number of countries represented at the Women's World Cup, the number of entries (#E) from around the world including any rejections and withdrawals, the number of European entries (#A), how many of those European entries withdrawn (#A-) before/during qualification or were rejected by FIFA, the European representatives at the Women's World Cup finals, the number of World Cup Qualifiers each European representative had to play to get to the World Cup (#WCQ), the furthest stage reached, results, and coaches.
| Year | Host | Size | #E | #A | #A- | European finalists | #WCQ | Stage | Results | Coach |
| 1991 | China | 12 | 48 | 18 | 0 | Denmark | 10 | Quarter-finals | won 3–0 New Zealand, drew 2–2 China, lost 1–2 Norway, lost 1–2 Germany (a.e.t.) | Keld Gantzhorn |
| 1991 | China | 12 | 48 | 18 | 0 | Germany | 10 | Fourth place | won 4–0 Nigeria, won 2–0 Chinese Taipei, won 2–0 Italy, won 2–1 Denmark (a.e.t.), lost 2–5 United States, lost 0–4 Sweden | Gero Bisanz |
| 1991 | China | 12 | 48 | 18 | 0 | Italy | 10 | Quarter-finals | won 5–0 Chinese Taipei, won 1–0 Nigeria, lost 0–2 Germany, lost 2–3 Norway (a.e.t.) | Sergio Guenza |
| 1991 | China | 12 | 48 | 18 | 0 | Norway | 10 | Runners-up | lost 0–4 China, won 4–0 New Zealand, won 2–1 Denmark, won 3–2 Italy (a.e.t.), won 4–1 Sweden, lost 1–2 United States | Even Pellerud |
| 1991 | China | 12 | 48 | 18 | 0 | Sweden | 8 | Third place | lost 2–3 United States, won 8–0 Japan, won 2–0 Brazil, won 1–0 China, lost 1–4 Norway, won 4–0 Germany | Gunilla Paijkull |
| 1995 | Sweden | 12 | 55 | 30 | 1 | Denmark | 10 | Quarter-finals | won 5–0 Australia, lost 0–2 United States, lost 1–3 China, lost 1–3 Norway | Keld Gantzhorn |
| 1995 | Sweden | 12 | 55 | 30 | 1 | England | 6 | Quarter-finals | won 3–2 Canada, lost 0–2 Norway, won 3–2 Nigeria, lost 0–3 Germany | Ted Copeland |
| 1995 | Sweden | 12 | 55 | 30 | 1 | Germany | 10 | Runners-up | won 1–0 Japan, lost 2–3 Sweden, won 6–1 Brazil, won 3–0 England, won 1–0 China, lost 0–2 Norway | Gero Bisanz |
| 1995 | Sweden | 12 | 55 | 30 | 1 | Norway | 10 | Champions | won 8–0 Nigeria, won 2–0 England, won 7–0 Canada, won 3–1 Denmark, won 1–0 United States, won 2–0 Germany | Even Pellerud |
| 1995 | Sweden | 12 | 55 | 30 | 1 | Sweden | 8 | Quarter-finals | lost 0–1 Brazil, won 3–2 Germany, won 2–0 Japan, drew 1–1 China (lost 3–4 (p)) | Bengt Simonsson |
| 1999 | United States | 16 | 67 | 16 | 18 | Denmark | 6 | Group stage | lost 0–3 United States, lost 1–3 North Korea, lost 0–2 Nigeria | Jørgen Hvidemose |
| 1999 | United States | 16 | 67 | 16 | 18 | Germany | 8 | Quarter-finals | drew 1–1 Italy, won 6–0 Mexico, drew 3–3 Brazil, lost 2–3 Germany | Tina Theune-Meyer |
| 1999 | United States | 16 | 67 | 16 | 18 | Italy | 6 | Group stage | drew 1–1 Germany, lost 0–2 Brazil, won 2–0 Mexico | Carlo Facchin |
| 1999 | United States | 16 | 67 | 16 | 18 | Norway | 6 | Fourth place | won 2–1 Russia, won 7–1 Canada, won 4–0 Japan, won 3–1 Sweden, lost 0–5 China, drew 0–0 Brazil (lost 4–5 (p)) | Per-Mathias Høgmo |
| 1999 | United States | 16 | 67 | 16 | 18 | Russia | 8 | Quarter-finals | lost 1–2 Norway, won 5–0 Japan, won 4–1 Canada, lost 0–2 China | Yuri Bystritsky |
| 1999 | United States | 16 | 67 | 16 | 18 | Sweden | 6 | Quarter-finals | lost 1–2 China, won 3–1 Australia, won 2–0 Ghana, lost 1–3 Norway | Marika Domanski-Lyfors |
| 2003 | United States | 16 | 99 | 16 | 18 | France | 10 | Group stage | lost 0–2 Norway, won 1–0 South Korea, drew 1–1 Brazil | Élisabeth Loisel |
| 2003 | United States | 16 | 99 | 16 | 18 | Germany | 6 | Champions | won 4–1 Canada, won 3–0 Japan, won 6–1 Argentina, won 7–1 Russia, won 3–0 United States, won 2–1 Sweden (g.g.) | Tina Theune-Meyer |
| 2003 | United States | 16 | 99 | 16 | 18 | Norway | 6 | Quarter-finals | won 2–0 France, lost 1–4 Brazil, won 7–1 South Korea, lost 0–1 United States | Åge Steen |
| 2003 | United States | 16 | 99 | 16 | 18 | Russia | 6 | Quarter-finals | won 2–1 Australia, won 3–0 Ghana, lost 0–1 China, lost 1–7 Germany | Yuri Bystritsky |
| 2003 | United States | 16 | 99 | 16 | 18 | Sweden | 6 | Runners-up | lost 1–3 United States, won 1–0 North Korea, won 3–0 Nigeria, won 2–1 Brazil, won 2–1 Canada, lost 1–2 Germany (g.g.) | Marika Domanski-Lyfors |
| 2007 | China | 16 | 120 | 25 | 15 | Denmark | 8 | Group stage | lost 2–3 China, won 2–0 New Zealand, lost 0–1 Brazil | Kenneth Heiner-Møller |
| 2007 | China | 16 | 120 | 25 | 15 | England | 8 | Quarter-finals | drew 2–2 Japan, drew 0–0 Germany, won 6–1 Argentina, lost 0–3 United States | Hope Powell |
| 2007 | China | 16 | 120 | 25 | 15 | Germany | 8 | Champions | won 11–0 Argentina, drew 0–0 England, won 2–0 Japan, won 3–0 North Korea, won 3–0 Norway, won 2–0 Brazil | Silvia Neid |
| 2007 | China | 16 | 120 | 25 | 15 | Norway | 8 | Fourth place | won 2–1 Canada, drew 1–1 Australia, won 7–2 Ghana, won 1–0 China, lost 0–3 Germany, lost 1–4 United States | Bjarne Berntsen |
| 2007 | China | 16 | 120 | 25 | 15 | Sweden | 8 | Group stage | drew 1–1 Nigeria, lost 0–2 United States, won 2–1 North Korea | Thomas Dennerby |
| 2011 | Germany | 16 | 125 | 41 | 0 | England | 10 | Quarter-finals | drew 1–1 Mexico, won 2–1 New Zealand, won 2–0 Japan, drew 1–1 France (lost 3–4 (p)) | Hope Powell |
| 2011 | Germany | 16 | 125 | 41 | 0 | France | 12 | Fourth place | won 1–0 Nigeria, won 4–0 Canada, lost 2–4 Germany, drew 1–1 England (won 4–3 (p)), lost 1–3 United States, lost 1–2 Sweden | Bruno Bini |
| 2011 | Germany | 16 | 125 | 41 | 0 | Germany | Hosts | Quarter-finals | won 2–1 Canada, won 1–0 Nigeria, won 4–2 France, lost 0–1 Japan (a.e.t.) | Silvia Neid |
| 2011 | Germany | 16 | 125 | 41 | 0 | Norway | 10 | Group stage | won 1–0 Equatorial Guinea, lost 0–3 Brazil, lost 1–2 Australia | Eli Landsem |
| 2011 | Germany | 16 | 125 | 41 | 0 | Sweden | 10 | Third place | won 1–0 Colombia, won 1–0 North Korea, won 2–1 United States, won 3–1 Australia, lost 1–3 Japan, won 2–1 France | Thomas Dennerby |
| 2015 | Canada | 24 | 134 | 46 | 0 | England | 10 | Third place | lost 0–1 France, won 2–1 Mexico, won 2–1 Colombia, won 2–1 Norway, won 2–1 Canada, lost 1–2 Japan, won 1–0 Germany (a.e.t.) | Mark Sampson |
| 2015 | Canada | 24 | 134 | 46 | 0 | France | 10 | Quarter-finals | won 1–0 England, lost 0–2 Colombia, won 5–0 Mexico, won 3–0 South Korea, drew 1–1 Germany (lost 4–5 (p)) | Philippe Bergeroo |
| 2015 | Canada | 24 | 134 | 46 | 0 | Germany | 10 | Fourth place | won 10–0 Ivory Coast, drew 1–1 Norway, won 4–0 Thailand, won 4–1 Sweden, drew 0–0 France (lwon 5–4 (p)), lost 0–2 United States, lost 0–1 England (a.e.t.) | Silvia Neid |
| 2015 | Canada | 24 | 134 | 46 | 0 | Netherlands | 14 | Round of 16 | won 1–0 New Zealand, lost 0–1 China, drew 1–1 Canada, lost 1–2 Japan | Roger Reijners |
| 2015 | Canada | 24 | 134 | 46 | 0 | Norway | 10 | Round of 16 | won 4–0 Thailand, drew 1–1 Germany, won 3–1 Ivory Coast, lost 1–2 England | Even Pellerud |
| 2015 | Canada | 24 | 134 | 46 | 0 | Spain | 10 | Group stage | drew 1–1 Costa Rica, lost 0–1 Brazil, lost 1–2 South Korea | Ignacio Quereda |
| 2015 | Canada | 24 | 134 | 46 | 0 | Sweden | 10 | Round of 16 | drew 3–3 Nigeria, drew 0–0 United States, drew 1–1 Australia, lost 1–4 Germany | Pia Sundhage |
| 2015 | Canada | 24 | 134 | 46 | 0 | Switzerland | 10 | Round of 16 | lost 0–1 Japan, won 10–1 Ecuador, lost 1–2 Cameroon, lost 0–1 Canada | Martina Voss-Tecklenburg |
| 2019 | France | 24 | 144 | 46 | 0 | England | 8 | Fourth place | won 2–1 Scotland, won 1–0 Argentina, won 2–0 Japan, won 3–0 Cameroon, won 3–0 Norway, lost 1–2 United States, lost 1–2 Sweden | Phil Neville |
| 2019 | France | 24 | 144 | 46 | 0 | France | Hosts | Quarter-finals | won 4–0 South Korea, won 2–1 Norway, won 1–0 Nigeria, won 2–1 Brazil (a.e.t.), lost 1–2 United States | Corinne Diacre |
| 2019 | France | 24 | 144 | 46 | 0 | Germany | 8 | Quarter-finals | won 1–0 China, won 1–0 Spain, won 4–0 South Africa, won 3–0 Nigeria, lost 1–2 Sweden | Martina Voss-Tecklenburg |
| 2019 | France | 24 | 144 | 46 | 0 | Italy | 8 | Quarter-finals | won 2–1 Australia, won 5–0 Jamaica, lost 0–1 Brazil, won 2–0 China, lost 0–2 Netherlands | Milena Bertolini |
| 2019 | France | 24 | 144 | 46 | 0 | Netherlands | 12 | Runners-up | won 1–0 New Zealand, won 3–1 Cameroon, won 2–1 Canada, won 2–1 Japan, won 2–0 Italy, won 1–0 Sweden (a.e.t.), lost 0–2 United States | Sarina Wiegman |
| 2019 | France | 24 | 144 | 46 | 0 | Norway | 8 | Quarter-finals | won 3–0 Nigeria, lost 1–2 France, won 2–1 South Korea, drew 1–1 Australia (won 4–1 (p)), lost 0–3 England | Martin Sjögren |
| 2019 | France | 24 | 144 | 46 | 0 | Scotland | 8 | Group stage | lost 1–2 England, lost 1–2 Japan, drew 3–3 Argentina | Shelley Kerr |
| 2019 | France | 24 | 144 | 46 | 0 | Spain | 8 | Round of 16 | won 3–1 South Africa, lost 0–1 Germany, drew 0–0 China, lost 1–2 United States | Jorge Vilda |
| 2019 | France | 24 | 144 | 46 | 0 | Sweden | 8 | Third place | won 2–0 Chile, won 5–1 Thailand, lost 0–2 United States, won 1–0 Canada, won 2–1 Germany, lost 0–1 Netherlands (a.e.t.), won 2–1 England | Peter Gerhardsson |
| 2023 | Australia New Zealand | 32 | 172 | 51 | 0 | Denmark | 9 | Round of 16 | won 1–0 China, lost 0–1 England, won 2–0 Haiti, lost 0–2 Australia | Lars Søndergaard |
| 2023 | Australia New Zealand | 32 | 172 | 51 | 0 | England | 10 | Runners-up | won 1–0 Haiti, won 1–0 Denmark, won 6–1 China, drew 0–0 Nigeria (won 4–2 (p)), won 2–1 Colombia, won 3–1 Australia, lost 0–1 Spain | Sarina Wiegman |
| 2023 | Australia New Zealand | 32 | 172 | 51 | 0 | France | 10 | Quarter-finals | drew 0–0 Jamaica, won 2–1 Brazil, won 6–3 Panama, won 4–0 Morocco, drew 0–0 Australia (lost 6–7 (p)) | Hervé Renard |
| 2023 | Australia New Zealand | 32 | 172 | 51 | 0 | Germany | 10 | Group stage | won 6–0 Morocco, lost 1–2 Colombia, drew 1–1 South Korea | Martina Voss-Tecklenburg |
| 2023 | Australia New Zealand | 32 | 172 | 51 | 0 | Italy | 10 | Group stage | won 1–0 Argentina, lost 0–5 Sweden, lost 2–3 South Africa | Milena Bertolini |
| 2023 | Australia New Zealand | 32 | 172 | 51 | 0 | Netherlands | 8 | Quarter-finals | won 1–0 Portugal, drew 1–1 United States, won 7–0 Vietnam, won 2–0 South Africa, lost 1–2 Spain (a.e.t.) | Andries Jonker |
| 2023 | Australia New Zealand | 32 | 172 | 51 | 0 | Norway | 10 | Round of 16 | lost 0–1 New Zealand, drew 0–0 Switzerland, won 6–0 Philippines, lost 1–3 Japan | Hege Riise |
| 2023 | Australia New Zealand | 32 | 172 | 51 | 0 | Portugal | 13 | Group stage | lost 0–1 Portugal, won 2–0 Vietnam, drew 0–0 United States | Francisco Neto |
| 2023 | Australia New Zealand | 32 | 172 | 51 | 0 | Republic of Ireland | 9 | Group stage | lost 0–1 Australia, lost 1–2 Canada, drew 0–0 Nigeria | Vera Pauw |
| 2023 | Australia New Zealand | 32 | 172 | 51 | 0 | Spain | 8 | Champions | won 3–0 Costa Rica, won 3–0 Zambia, lost 0–4 Japan, won 5–1 Switzerland, won 2–1 Netherlands (a.e.t.), won 2–1 Sweden, won 1–0 England | Jorge Vilda |
| 2023 | Australia New Zealand | 32 | 172 | 51 | 0 | Sweden | 8 | Third place | won 2–1 South Africa, won 5–0 Italy, won 2–0 Argentina, drew 0–0 United States (won 5–4 (p)), won 2–1 Japan, lost 1–2 Spain, won 2–0 Australia | Peter Gerhardsson |
| 2023 | Australia New Zealand | 32 | 172 | 51 | 0 | Switzerland | 11 | Round of 16 | won 2–0 Philippines, drew 0–0 Norway, drew 0–0 New Zealand, lost 1–5 Spain | Inka Grings |

## Not yet qualified

41 of the 55 active FIFA and UEFA members have never appeared in the final tournament.

### Legend

* TBD — To be determined (may still qualify for upcoming tournament)
* • — Did not qualify
* × — Did not enter / Withdrew / Banned
* — Not affiliated in FIFA
* •• — Qualified, but withdrew before Finals
| Country | Number of Qualifying attempts | 1991 | 1995 | 1999 | 2003 | 2007 | 2011 | 2015 | 2019 | 2023 | 2027 |
| Albania | 3 | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | TBD |
| Andorra | 1 | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | × | TBD |
| Armenia | 2 | ×$^1$ | × | × | × | × | • | × | × | • | TBD |
| Austria | 6 | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD |
| Azerbaijan | 2 | ×$^1$ | × | × | × | × | • | × | × | • | TBD |
| Belarus | 7 | ×$^1$ | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD |
| Belgium | 9 | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 7 | ×$^2$ | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD |
| Bulgaria | 6 | • | • | • | × | × | • | • | × | • | TBD |
| Croatia | 6 | ×$^2$ | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD |
| Cyprus | 1 | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | TBD |
| Czech Republic | 9 | •$^3$ | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD |
| Estonia | 7 | ×$^1$ | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD |
| Faroe Islands | 3 | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | TBD |
| Finland | 9 | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD |
| Georgia | 4 | ×$^1$ | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | TBD |
| Gibraltar | 0 | Not a member of UEFA | Not a member of UEFA | Not a member of UEFA | Not a member of UEFA | Not a member of UEFA | Not a member of UEFA | Not a member of UEFA | × | × | TBD |
| Greece | 8 | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD |
| Hungary | 9 | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD |
| Iceland | 8 | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD |
| Israel | 7 | ×$^4$ | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD |
| Kazakhstan | 5 | Member of AFC$^1$ | Member of AFC$^1$ | Member of AFC$^1$ | × | • | • | • | • | • | TBD |
| Kosovo | 2 | Not a member of UEFA$^2$ | Not a member of UEFA$^2$ | Not a member of UEFA$^2$ | Not a member of UEFA$^2$ | Not a member of UEFA$^2$ | Not a member of UEFA$^2$ | Not a member of UEFA$^2$ | • | • | TBD |
| Latvia | 4 | ×$^1$ | • | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | TBD |
| Liechtenstein | 0 | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | TBD |
| Lithuania | 5 | ×$^1$ | • | • | × | × | × | • | • | • | TBD |
| Luxembourg | 3 | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | TBD |
| Malta | 5 | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | TBD |
| Moldova | 4 | ×$^1$ | × | × | • | • | × | × | • | • | TBD |
| Montenegro | 3 | Part of Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro | Part of Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro | • | • | • | TBD |
| North Macedonia | 3 | ×$^2$ | × | × | × | × | • | • | × | • | TBD |
| Northern Ireland | 5 | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | TBD |
| Poland | 9 | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD |
| Romania | 8 | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD |
| San Marino | 0 | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | TBD |
| Serbia | 7 | ×$^2$ | ×$^2$ | •$^2$ | •$^2$ | • | • | • | • | • | TBD |
| Slovakia | 8 | ×$^3$ | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD |
| Slovenia | 6 | ×$^2$ | • | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | TBD |
| Turkey | 6 | × | × | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | TBD |
| Ukraine | 8 | ×$^1$ | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD |
| Wales | 8 | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | TBD |
Notes:
* $^1$Part of Soviet Union
* $^2$Part of Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro
* $^3$Part of Czechoslovakia
* $^4$Not a member of UEFA

## Competitive history
### 1991: early European domination

The UEFA Women's Euro 1991, which served as the direct qualification tickets for the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup in China, saw Germany, Italy, Norway and Denmark represented Europe, while Sweden was the lucky loser to join the tournament as well, having failed to qualify for the tournament but achieved the best records among the playoff losers. In just the first World Cup season, Europe immediately demonstrated its women's football quality no less inferior than the men's counterparts. Denmark and Italy reached the quarter-finals, where their journey ended in the quarter-finals to the hand of Germany and Norway. Both Germany and Norway, together with Sweden, went on to finish among top 4; the Germans lost to the United States 2–5 in the quarter-finals, while Norway overcame fellow European opponent Sweden 4–1. Sweden went to take third place by beating Germany 4–0 while Norway lost 1–2 to the United States, missing the opportunity to bring home first Women's World Cup title.

### 1995: first European triumph and England's debut

The UEFA Women's Euro 1995, played with the same format of qualifying like 1991, saw Denmark, Norway, England and Germany joined the 1995 World Cup tournament held in Sweden, with Denmark being the lucky loser to qualify. Europe once again proved domination, and this time, was far more successful, with Denmark, England and hosts Sweden reached the last eight, where they lost to Norway, Germany and China in process. Norway and Germany moved on to reach the final, where the Norwegians corrected the failure of 1991 final by winning 2–0, making it the first major FIFA triumph for the Nordic side.

### 1999: Italy's return, Russia's debut, and less success

After the impressive displays of European sides in the first two editions, the 1999 tournament in the United States saw Europe organised the first ever separate qualification instead of using the continental tournament like the other confederations. With the new qualification system, Italy returned after missing the 1995 edition, while Russia debuted, joining with Germany, Sweden, Norway and Denmark as well. The tournament proved to be a sour note for Europe, with Denmark and Italy became the first European teams to fail to progress from the group stage, with Denmark the worst-performed team with one goal scored and no point. Russia, Sweden and Germany could not do better when reaching the last eight, losing to China, Norway and the United States, respectively. Norway, then-world champions, suffered an agonising 0–5 loss to China in the semi-finals, thus failed to defend the title, yet Norway could not even win an honourable medal after losing to Brazil on penalty for third place.

### 2003: beginning of German domination

The 2003 qualification saw Italy and Denmark, two worst-performed teams from Europe back in 1999, failed to qualify for the 2003 edition, also hosted in the United States. France became the debutant in the tournament, joining Russia, Sweden, Germany and Norway.
After the disappointing 1999 show, Europe reclaimed its prestige in 2003 in style. With the exception of France, the other four progressed to the knockout phase: Russia were crushed 1–7 by Germany, Sweden beat Brazil 2–1 while Norway fell 0–1 to the American hosts. Subsequently, Germany and Sweden overcame North American representatives the United States and Canada to make the all-out second European final, where Germany triumphed 2–1 after an extra-time golden goal, to give Germany the first Women's World Cup title. By doing so, Germany became the first, and so far, the only country in the world to win both men's and women's World Cup.

### 2007: Germany at peak, England and Denmark's return

The 2007 qualification witnessed England and Denmark returned to the tournament, with England qualified after missing two previous editions, while Denmark returned after missing 2003, joining old forces Germany, Norway and Sweden.
The tournament was a major success for Europe, although this also marked the elimination from the group stage of both Denmark and Sweden, the latter was a shock one, failed to reach the knockout stage for the first time despite a 2–1 win over North Korea. England reached the quarter-finals, where they lost to the United States 0–3. Norway and Germany subsequently reached the semi-finals where they faced each other, which the Germans won 3–0. Germany was impressive throughout the tournament, topping the group stage undefeated and beating North Korea and Norway with the same scoreline, and finally made history by winning Brazil 2–0 in the final to successfully defend the title. Germany was the first team to win two consecutive World Cup, but moreover, Germany was the first national team in either gender to have won the World Cup without conceding a single goal in process.

### 2011: Europe getting stunned by Asia

The 2011 qualification saw France's return and Denmark's absent, joining England, Sweden and Norway to the World Cup held in Germany, then-world champions. With the rich European history of participation, Europe was expected to become a dominant force again.
However, once the World Cup started, the tournament became a nightmare for both Norway and hosts Germany, Europe's only world champions. Norway was knocked out of the group stage after suffering shock loss to Australia 1–2 in the final game, a game Norway must win to qualify. For Germany, after winning three consecutive group stage games, Germany met Japan, who was the underdog of the tournament, but Germany could not find the way to break through after 120 minutes; instead, the Germans got a shock punishment in the extra-time by a very disciplined Japanese side, and crashed out of the quarter-finals in the disbelief of home fans. Sweden went to reach the knockout stage as top finisher of its group, beating Australia 3–1 at the quarter-finals but suffered a shock loss in the semi-finals to Japan with the same scoreline. France went on to eliminate England in the last eight on penalty shootout, but losses to the United States and Sweden denied France a top three finish.

### 2015: Record debutants, but getting sidelined

The 2015 qualification welcomed a historic record as three new European representatives, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands, joined the World Cup, alongside Germany, Sweden, Norway, England and France. With eight European sides, Europe was hoping to regain its status after being humiliated by then-world champions Japan four years earlier.
Sweden and Norway had rather unimpressive displays in the competition, more for the former as Sweden only qualified to the round of 16 after three consecutive draws to Nigeria, the United States and Australia, before getting routed by Germany 1–4; Norway did better by finishing second with similar points to Germany (7), but Norway got eliminated by England 1–2. The Netherlands and Switzerland also booked their places in the knockout stage for the first time, finished as two best third-placed team, before went on to be eliminated by Japan and Canada respectively. France reached the quarter-finals of the tournament after topping the group stage (though with an imperfect performance), beating South Korea 3–0 and then lost to Germany on penalty shootout 4–5 after a goalless draw in 120 minutes. England and Germany, meanwhile, became the best-performed teams in that tournament, reaching the semi-finals, but had their journey ended with defeats to Japan and the United States. In the battle for third place, Germany lost to England for the first time ever, with a 0–1 loss in extra time, making England the best-performed team from Europe, which was seen as a revelation after the England men's side failed disastrously in the men's 2014 FIFA World Cup as the worst-performed team from Europe in that edition. Meanwhile, Spain turned out to be the worst-performed team in the Women's World Cup instead, as Spain's debut ended in disaster after getting only just a point against Costa Rica and losses to Brazil and South Korea, despite being highly favoured to progress.

### 2019: restoration of European domination, but without a title

The 2019 qualification marked historic debut for Scotland while Italy ended its World Cup drought after 20 years. Together, Italy and Scotland joined Germany, Sweden, Norway, England, France, the Netherlands and Spain. France were the hosts of the 2019 edition.
The 2019 edition was significant as for the first time, Europe snatched a football record, with seven teams reaching the last eight. France and Norway dominated group A, overpowered Nigeria and South Korea. Group B also saw Germany and Spain occupied two first places in the group. Italy, meanwhile, stunned Australia and Brazil in its return to occupy top of the group C. Group D also witnessed England seized top of the group, the same also came in group E with the Netherlands did the same. Sweden was the only team from Europe not to top the group (Norway and Spain were drawn with other European opponents), though by finishing second in group F, Sweden also progressed to the last sixteen. All European representatives in the last sixteen, except for Spain, were able to win their respective encounters, making three out of four quarter-finals meetings European affairs. Eventually, England, Sweden and the Netherlands went on to the semi-finals, where the Dutch surprised Sweden with a 1–0 win while England fell to the United States 1–2. Sweden took bronze after beating England 2–1 while the Netherlands, in the historic World Cup final in its just second appearance, were denied of the prize after losing to the defending champions United States 0–2.
Outside of Spain's failure, the other European side, Scotland, left disappointingly, having bravely fought against England and Japan (both lost 1–2), but suffered a shock comeback from three goals lead into a 3–3 draw to minnows Argentina, crashed out of the group stage.

### 2023: all-European final and Spain's first title

The 2023 qualification, finished in September 2022, chose out which sides to qualify for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Italy, Norway, Ireland, Spain, England, Sweden, Germany, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Portugal qualified. However, the qualification was negatively impacted following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, which saw Russia disqualified from the tournament. There was an all-European World Cup final, a first since 2003, when first-time finalists Spain defeated fellow final debutants England.