Commerzbank Arena, Frankfurt
photo by Bilfinger Berger Group

The match, at the Commerzbank-Arena in Frankfurt, was a thriller. After a goalless first half, in which reigning women’s UFWC champions the USA were dominant, Alex Morgan eventually broke the deadlock in the 68th minute, only for Aya Miyama to equalise in the 80th minute. 1-1 after 90 minutes, the game went in to extra time.

Deep into the first extra half the USA again took the lead – star player Abby Wambach heading home Morgan’s cross. It was Wambach’s 13th World Cup goal. But again, Japan came back, this time through their own heroine – Homare Sawa. With just three minutes left to play, skipper Sawa got on the end of a corner to head an equaliser.

Japan survived the sending off of Asuza Iwashimizu and held out for the penalty shoot-out. Miyama, Mizuho Sakaguchi and Saki Kumagai all netted for Japan, but only Wambach converted her penalty for the USA. Japan won an epic match 3-1 on penalties.

As mentioned in the previous post, the victory means that Japan now holds SIX world football titles:

Unofficial Football World Championships (UFWC)
Women’s Unofficial Football World Championships (WUFWC)
Official Women’s World Cup
Unofficial Asian Continental Championships
Unofficial Women’s Asian Continental Championships
Official Asian Cup

You can continue to follow the Women’s UFWC, and other UFWC spin-offs, at the UFWC forum. Meanwhile, here on the main site we’ll continue to concentrate on the main UFWC competition. Next up in the (Men’s) Unofficial Football World Championships, Japan defend their title against South Korea on 10 August.

Show your support for the UFWC and Japan with our exclusive UFWC T-shirts – the range includes Japan T-shirts in both men’s and women’s styles. See the full range at the UFWC T-Shirt Store.

UFWC News japan, USA

On Sunday evening in Frankfurt Japan face the USA in the Women’s World Cup Final. Also up for grabs is the Women’s Unofficial Football World Championships (WUFWC).

The USA women’s national team are the current WUFWC champions, while the Japanese team are the current women’s unofficial Asian champions. And of course the Japanese men’s side is the current Unofficial Football World Champions, and the unofficial Asian champions. Can Japan become unofficial champions of both the men’s and women’s game?

If Japan win the Women’s World Cup Final, it will be only the fifth time ever that a side has held four unofficial titles (men’s and women’s world, and men’s and women’s continental) at the same time. The previous four were:

11 May 1974 to 31 May 1974: Holland
12 March 1975 to 15 June 1975: England
7 May 1989 to 14 June 1989: Sweden
25 March 1998 to 29 April 1998: Brazil

In fact, all in all, Japan would hold six world football titles simultaneously – the four unofficial ones, as well as being the official champions of Asia (men) and the world (women). The current official women’s Asian champions are Australia.

Neither Holland, England nor Sweden held the official world or continental titles (men or women) at the time, so only Brazil would have held more titles simultaneously (seven in all – they held all four unofficial, plus three official – only the Women’s World Cup eluded them, as Norway were the holders at the time).

This could all be hypothetical, as the USA are strong favourites to win the final, but you never know!

You can follow the Women’s UFWC at the UFWC forum.

UFWC News japan, USA

Following yesterday’s first part, Peter Waring continues his round-up of UFWC spin-off competitions, today covering women’s national teams:

Women’s world championship. The United States were on a long run as champions before a sensational defeat to Mexico in November 2010. Canada then took up the reins, before the United States reclaimed the title in January. In April, though, the Americans were shocked again, this time by England. On 23rd May, Australia beat England 2-0 in a World Cup warm-up which, bizarrely, has not been mentioned in the English press, or indeed the English FA’s own website, despite it clearly being recognised by both Australia and FIFA. It was therefore Australia (WUFWC champions for the very first time) who took the title into the Women’s World Cup, only to lose their opening match to Brazil. The Brazilians swept aside Norway and Equatorial Guinea, but then lost on penalties after a thrilling match against the USA, who regained the title. The USA play France in the WWC semi finals on 13 July.

Women’s world wooden sp00n. Long-time holders Macedonia beat Luxembourg 5-1 in March 2011 to rid themselves of the sp00n. Luxembourg have suffered heavy defeats in all three matches since, including the first ever women’s world wooden sp00n match to feature a non-European team (Luxembourg lost 8-0 to Equatorial Guinea on 18th June). No further fixture is yet scheduled.

Women’s European championship. Germany have been holders ever since winning Euro 2009, and successfully defended their title in the World Cup, in their home country. They won all three group games, before being eliminated by Japan in the quarter finals, but of course that match was not a European game, so Germany retain their title.

Women’s European wooden sp00n. After Equatorial Guinea’s easy win over Luxembourg, the European wooden sp00n is still running in parallel with the world sp00n.

Women’s South American championship. In November 2010, Ecuador beat Argentina to take the title. They have not played since, nor are they due to do so any time soon. It was only the second time the title has ever changed hands (Argentina themselves beat original holders Brazil in November 2006).

Women’s South American wooden sp00n. Peru have held the sp00n since 2006. Four defeats in four World Cup qualifiers last November ensure they still do.

Women’s African championship. Equatorial Guinea, the 2008 African champions, fell at the last hurdle of their 2010 defence, losing to Nigeria in the final. Nigeria then lost to Ghana in a May friendly. The Black Queens have no current plans for a title defence.

Women’s African wooden sp00n. Guinea-Bissau took the sp00n in 2006, and have not played since.

Women’s Asian championship. Australia, South Korea, North Korea and Japan (in that order) have held the title in the last 12 months. Japan now hold both men’s and women’s Asian titles, as well as the men’s world title. Like their male counterparts, the Japanese women’s next defence is against South Korea, on 3rd September.

Women’s Asian wooden sp00n. Guam have held the sp00n since 2001, but haven’t played since 2009.

Women’s Concacaf championship. The United States’ run over 50 consecutive successful defences was an all-time world record, beating China’s 48 consecutive successful defences of their Asian women’s title from 1989 to 2001. However, they lost to Mexico last November. The title then went to Canada, and then back to the USA. Also the unofficial world champions, the USA have been unbeaten at the WWC, including a 3-0 win over Colombia, and can’t face another Concacaf team in that tournament. Another lengthy spell could be getting underway…

Women’s Concacaf wooden sp00n. Turks and Caicos took the sp00n in 2006; their last match was in March 2010.

Women’s Oceanian championship. The only teams ever to hold this title have been Australia and New Zealand. Since Australia’s defection to Asia in 2006, New Zealand have had it all their own way, winning five matches in the last year, in which they scored 50 goals and conceded none. They didn’t win a game at the WWC, but didn’t play any Oceanian opposition.

Women’s Oceanian wooden sp00n. American Samoa took the sp00n in 1998, but have not played since 2007.

To keep up to date with all of the men’s and women’s UFWC national team spin-offs, plus spin-offs involving club teams, such as European, English, MLS and Japanese unofficial championships, visit the UFWC forum.

Features American Samoa, Ecuador, Germany, ghana, Guam, Guinea-Bissau, japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Peru, Turks and Caicos, USA