2011 FIFA Women's World Cup final

2011 FIFA Women's World Cup final
Saki Kumagai scored the winning penalty
Japan United States
2 2
After extra time
Japan won 3–1 on penalties
Date17 July 2011 (2011-07-17)
VenueWaldstadion, Frankfurt
Player of the MatchAyumi Kaihori (Japan)
RefereeBibiana Steinhaus (Germany)
Attendance48,817[1]
WeatherPartly cloudy
16 °C (61 °F)
77% humidity[2][3]
← 2007
2015 →

The 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup final was an association football match that took place on 17 July 2011 at Commerzbank-Arena, in Frankfurt, Germany, to determine the winner of 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.[4] It was played between Japan and the United States. Japan won 3–1 in a penalty shoot-out following a 2–2 draw after extra time, becoming the first team outside of Europe and South America and the first Asian team to win a senior—either men's or women's—World Cup final.[5][6][7][8] Japan's victory was a major upset, made even more meaningful for the country as Japan was still feeling the effects of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami that killed more than 15,000 people prior to the tournament.[9][10][11]

The 2011 final was the last major sporting event to be broadcast in Japan prior to the country's digital switchover that took place on 24 July 2011.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference JPN-USA match report was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Start list – Final – Japan v USA" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 17 July 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2020. [dead link]
  3. ^ "Final – USA v Japan". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 17 July 2011. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Japan vs Sweden Update: Japan Wins and Will Face USA in World Cup Final". Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  5. ^ "Japan edge USA for maiden title". FIFA. 17 July 2011. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  6. ^ Gregory, Sean (17 May 2011). "Japan Beats U.S. in Thrilling Women's World Cup Final". Time. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  7. ^ "Team of destiny turns out to be Japan". ESPN. 17 May 2011. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  8. ^ "USA v Japan - as it happened". Guardian. 17 May 2011. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  9. ^ "Japan hold their nerve on penalties to lift women's World Cup". 18 July 2011.
  10. ^ "Giant-killing glory for Japan as women beat US for World Cup".
  11. ^ "Women's World Cup victory brings joy to Japan". TheGuardian.com. 18 July 2011.