Qualifications: China 2007

Qualifications for the FIFA Women’s World Cup China 2007 started last year. With the exception of host China, the 15 other spots had to be claimed by countries around the world. Even the defending champions Deutschland from USA 2003 had to book their spot through European qualifications.



The China 2007 qualification spots broke down as follows: there was one spot for the host (China), three spots for other AFC (Asian) nations, two spots for CAF (African) nations, two spots for CONCACAF nations, two spots for CONMEBOL (South American) nations, one spot for OFC(Oceania) nations, and five spots for UEFA (European) nations.



For two of the three AFC spots, countries qualified through the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2006. This tournament took place more than a year ago from 16-30 July 2006 in Adelaide, Australia. Even China participated in the Asian Cup Australia 2006, although they did not need

to qualify for China 2007 as the hosts. By 30 July, Australia were confederation champions and booked for China 2007. China finished second, so third-place DPR Korea qualified in the second AFC spot.



As for the eventual third AFC spot, fourth-place Japan had to face CONCACAF’s third-place team, Mexico. Maxico had finished third in the CONCACAF Gold Cup which took place 19-26 November. In the AFC-CONCACAF playoff, Japan defeated Mexico.



For the two CAF spots, Nigeria and Ghana finished one-two in the CAF African Women’s Championship that ran 28 October to 11 November. For the two CONMEBOL spots, Argentina surprised Brasil with a 2:0 victory in the

South American Women’s Championship from 10-26 November.



In Europe, qualifications took place between March and September 2006. The five European nations that advanced were Norge (Norway), Sverige (Sweden), Deutschland, Danmark and England. Past FIFA Women’s World Cup participants Italia and France did not qualify.



The OFC, at last, had their Oceania Women’s Championships from 9-13 April 2007 in Papua New Guinea, shortly before the FIFA Women’s World Cup official draw on 22 April. New Zealand were champions in their confederation.



On 22 April, all 16 countries were then put into different pots for the official draw. Deutschland, United States, Norge and host China were selected as first seeds for four different groups; the 12 other countries were then drawn into different groups. Canada was drawn into Group C with Norge, Australia and Ghana.



After a hectic 2006-07 qualification phase, teams have now had four months since the official draw to prepare for their opening-round opponents. Come 10 September, these clubs will be starting a new type of “qualification” process: the best two out of four teams in each group

will qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinals.