Spain make history, beat England 1-0 to clinch their first FIFA Women's World Cup title

Spain clinched their maiden FIFA Women's World Cup title on Sunday (August 20) by defeating England 1-0 in a thrilling finale. Spanish left-back Olga Carmona's 29th-minute goal turned out to be the winner.

Spain had a chance to double their lead, but they missed a penalty.

The World Cup title made La Roja (The Red One) the only team to have won the Under-17, Under-20 and seniors world titles. The title win also marks Spanish women's first World Cup title. Furthermore, Spain also joined Germany as the only nation to win both the men's and women's World Cups.

An ecstatic Olga Carmona was named the player of the match, reflecting on the team journey, saying, "It was a difficult match (but) we always thought we were going to make it."

Triumph beyond turmoil

• Spain's victory is particularly remarkable considering the turmoil surrounding the team.
• A locker room dispute between the squad and coach Jorge Vilda and the Spanish football federation resulted in some of their best players missing the tournament.
• Despite a shock 4-0 loss to Japan in the group stage, Spain's attacking football shone throughout the tournament.

• “We’ve suffered a lot throughout the past 12 months but I think everything has a reason to be. This has made us a stronger team,” Carmona told AP after the game.
• Coach Jorge Vilda added, "I can't imagine how much excitement there will be in Spain."

Co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, this ninth edition of the global showcase marked the first time the event was held in the southern hemisphere.

England's quest for glory

• England, making their first appearance in a Women's World Cup final, were eager to bring a World Cup back home for the first time since the men's tournament in 1966, where the Brits crushed the Germans by 4-2.
• Despite their loss, England captain Millie Bright expressed pride in the progress of the women's game, noting, "In terms of the women's game ... I definitely think we're at our peak."

Record attendance

• Despite the erosion of interest in the home crowd after Australia's exit in the semi-finals, nearly two million fans attended matches in nine host cities in Australia and New Zealand throughout the tournament.
• The month-long tournament ended with a final crowd of 75,784 at Stadium Australia in Sydney, surrounded by a festive atmosphere featuring drummers and stiltwalkers.

• The tournament marked a record-breaking success in both attendance and TV viewership, reported Reuters.

Matilda Mania helps address the funding gap

• Following the Matildas' (Aussie team) impressive journey deep into the tournament but ultimately falling short in the semis, there is a growing demand for increased grassroots-level support.
• Aussie striker Sam Kerr emphasised the need for funding for the development of grassroots soccer.
• Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged AUD200 million for women's sports, with soccer expected to receive a significant chunk.

Spain's victory, along with the overall success of the tournament, has raised hopes for a surge in interest in women's football. The record-breaking attendance and TV viewership point to the growing popularity of the women's game, setting the stage for a bright future.