Women's World Cup history: Winners, runners-up, awards and hosts

Allie Davison

Women's World Cup history: Winners, runners-up, awards and hosts image

The inaugural FIFA Women's World Cup was hosted by China in 1991, 61 years after the first men's tournament. Since then, the championship has traveled to five different countries and has expanded from 16 to 24 teams in the event's history. Four different nations — the United States, Norway, Germany and Japan — represent the winners of the Women's World Cup.

The 2015 tournament will be held in Canada for the first time and third time in North America overall. 

WOMEN'S WORLD CUP: 10 stars you should knowU.S. soccer schedule | Group stage schedule

Here is a list of hosts, winners, runners-ups and MVP awards for each of the last six tournaments: 

FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP HISTORY 

1991

Host: China

Champion: United States

Runner-up: Norway 

adidas Golden Ball: Carin Jennings (USA)

adidas Golden Shoe: Michelle Akers (USA)

1995

Host: Sweden

Champion: Norway

Runner-up: Germany 

adidas Golden Ball: Hege Riise (NOR)

adidas Golden Shoe: Ann Kristin Aarones (NOR)

1999

Host: United States

Champion: United States

Runner-up: China

adidas Golden Ball: Sun Wen (CHN)

adidas Golden Shoe: Sisleide Lima De Amor (BRA)

2003

Host: United States

Champion: Germany

Runner-up: Sweden

adidas: Golden Ball: Birgit Prinz (GER)

adidas: Golden Shoe: Birgit Prinz (GER)

2007

Host: China

Champion: Germany

Runner-up: Brazil

adidas Goden Ball: Marta (BRA)

adidas Golden Shoe: Marta (BRA)

2011

Host: Germany

Champion: Japan

Runner-up: United States 

adidas Golden Ball: Homare Sawa (JPN)

adidas Golden Shoe: Homare Sawa (JPN)

Allie Davison