Since the Women's World Cup began in 1991, the United States have been the most successful nation in the tournament's history.
The USWNT is the only country to win the World Cup four times, and they are just one of two nations to have won two consecutive tournaments. Victory in 2023 would see the U.S. become the first country ever to three-peat at a World Cup, men's or women's.
As the most dominant nation in Women's World Cup history, it also tracks that the U.S. have the most wins in the competition's history, as the only side to cross the 40 mark in that category.
With memorable moments, iconic goals, and historic results throughout the 32 years of the competition's history, The Sporting News brings you a roundup of the USWNT's history at the Women's World Cup.
USA women's soccer team results at Women's World Cup
The U.S. have won four Women's World Cup titles, including each of the past two. Remarkably, they have never finished worse than third in any of the eight Women's World Cup tournaments.
| Year | W-D-L | GF-GA | Stage Reached |
| 1991 | 6-0-0 | 25-5 | Champions |
| 1995 | 4-1-1 | 15-5 | Third Place |
| 1999 | 5-1-0 | 18-3 | Champions |
| 2003 | 5-0-1 | 15-5 | Third Place |
| 2007 | 4-1-1 | 12-7 | Third Place |
| 2011 | 3-2-1 | 13-7 | Runners-Up |
| 2015 | 6-1-0 | 14-3 | Champions |
| 2019 | 7-0-0 | 26-3 | Champions |
USWNT Women's World Cup history
The United States has been dominant at the FIFA Women's World Cup, winning over 40 matches and losing just four times. From the early days of the competition to present, the U.S. has been the team to beat.
1991 Women's World Cup (Host: China)
In the inaugural edition, the United States started as they intended to go on by lifting the trophy.
The USWNT was full of legends, with Michelle Akers-Stahl finishing as top scorer with 10 goals and Carin Jennings named Player of the Tournament. A 19-year-old Mia Hamm was also involved.
A 3-2 win over Sweden in the group stage game set the tone, with Hamm scoring the winner, and the U.S. downed Brazil and Japan to top their section. They defeated Chinese Tapiei and Germany in the knockout stage before a 2-1 final win over Norway sealed the title. Akers-Stahl scored a brace in the final, including the winner in the 78th minute.
1995 Women's World Cup (Host: Sweden)
The United States followed up their historic title with a third-place finish as Norway got revenge for the 1991 final.
After the U.S. won Group C (level on points with China but ahead by one goal on differential), they pummeled Japan 4-0 in the quarterfinals. There was an iconic moment in the group stage against Denmark when Mia Hamm was required to play goalkeeper for the final minutes of a 2-0 win after goalkeeper Brianna Scurry was sent off after all substitutes had been used.
They met Norway in the semifinals and suffered a first-ever World Cup defeat. The USWNT were unable to fight back from a 10th-minute goal by tournament top scorer Ann Aarones. China were defeated in the third-place playoff to secure a podium place.
1999 Women's World Cup (Host: USA)
Hosting their first Women's World Cup, the United States again won their group in 1999, leading the standings over Nigeria, North Korea, and Denmark with a perfect nine points, conceding just a single goal through the three matches.
It would get much tougher from there, however, needing a winning goal from Joy Fawcett to beat Germany 3-2 in the quarterfinals before a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Brazil in the semis.
A matchup against China in the final delivered a rematch of the 1996 Summer Olympics final, which the U.S. won 2-1. A cagey match finished goalless and went to a penalty shootout, where Liu Ying's miss set up Brandi Chastain for the winning penalty and a celebration that resulted in one of the most iconic photographs in sports history. The title would be the United States' last for 16 years.
“Women’s sport was changed forever in that moment.” 🇺🇸 @USWNT legend @brandichastain reflects on *that* penalty in the 1999 #FIFAWWC Final. pic.twitter.com/0I4EmohmuY
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) July 10, 2023
2003 Women's World Cup (Host: USA)
Hosting the tournament again, the U.S. topped their group of Sweden, North Korea, and Nigeria, again in dominant fashion with nine points and a solitary goal conceded.
The U.S. would again renew their rivalry with Norway in the quarterfinals with a 1-0 win behind a goal by 23-year-old Abby Wambach, but their run was halted in the semifinals as they were downed 3-0 by Germany. Goalkeeper Silke Rottenberg made a number of key saves for the Europeans before stoppage-time goals from Maren Meinert and Birgit Prinz sealed the deal.
A 3-1 win over Canada in the third-place match secured a top-three spot, but it hurt for the US to be knocked off their perch on home soil.
2007 Women's World Cup (Host: China)
A tournament-opening draw with North Korea didn't keep the U.S. from winning their group, but it did prove a sign of things to come as the U.S. would again fail to reach the final after a disappointing semifinal result.
A 3-0 win over England in the quarterfinals preceded a humbling 4-0 semifinal loss to Brazil, who were inspired by a brace from the great Marta.
Once again they salvaged things in the third-place match with a 4-1 win over Norway, as Abby Wambach scored twice, but the ultimate goal went unfulfilled as Germany lifted the trophy again.
2011 Women's World Cup (Host: Germany)
The U.S. failed to win their group for just the first (and so far only) time, finishing as runners-up after a 2-1 defeat to Sweden.
That saw the U.S. paired with Brazil in the quarterfinals, and they took the chance for revenge, winning on penalties after a 2-2 draw. It was an unbelievably dramatic match, as it finished 1-1 at the end of regulation. Marta hit her second of the game in the 92nd minute but Abby Wambach's 122nd-minute equalizer sent the game to a shootout, where Daiane's miss left the U.S. through on a perfect four-penalty haul.
After a 3-1 win over France in the semifinals saw them return to the final for the first time in three tournaments, the U.S. saw their role from the dramatic quarterfinal win reversed.
This will sound familiar: after a 1-1 draw, Wambach scored in the 104th minute but Japan levelled matters via a 117th-minute goal by Homare Sawa. The shootout went all wrong as Shannon Boxx, Carli Lloyd, and Tobin Heath all missed their attempts and Japan lifted the trophy.
Hope Solo was given the Best Goalkeeper award, but it was scant consolation.
2015 Women's World Cup (Host: Canada)
With the World Cup back in North America, the U.S. finally returned to the top of the mountain after a long wait. They won their group ahead of Australia, Sweden, and Nigeria, setting up a round of 16 game against Colombia that they won 2-0.
The expanded tournament didn't faze the USWNT as they downed China 1-0 in the quarterfinals and Germany 2-0 in the semifinals to reach the showpiece match.
After being defensively dominant defensively all tournament, it was the offense that proved decisive in the final. Carli Lloyd's iconic hat trick inside the opening 16 minutes inspired an emphatic 5-2 win over Japan. The U.S. cruised to the title from there, and Lloyd was named Player of the Tournament, while Solo was again named Best Goalkeeper.
2019 Women's World Cup (Host: France)
Opening the group stage with an historic 11-0 win over Thailand behind five goals from Alex Morgan, the U.S. won their group with ease and cruised into the knockout round alongside runners-up Sweden.
The U.S. squeaked by Spain 2-1 in the round of 16 thanks to a Megan Rapinoe brace before another Rapinoe double saw them edge out France in the quarterfinals by the same scoreline. Yet another 2-1 win, this time over England, brought the U.S. into the final where they would meet the Netherlands.
Rapinoe converted from the penalty spot and Rose Lavelle added the insurance as the U.S. won the final 2-0 in Lyon, defeating the defending European champions. Rapinoe won the Player of the Tournament award, while she finished level with Morgan and England's Ellen White as the event's top scorer.
