2003 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification

The qualification process for the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup saw 99 teams from the six FIFA confederations compete for the 16 places in the tournament's finals. The places were divided as follows:

• Africa - represented by the CAF: 2 berths
• Asia - AFC: 3.5
• Europe - UEFA: 5
• North, Central America & the Caribbean - CONCACAF: 2.5
• Oceania - OFC: 1
• South America - CONMEBOL: 2

Qualified teams

Africa (CAF) Nigeria Ghana Asia (AFC) North Korea China (original host nation - automatically qualified) South Korea Japan South America (CONMEBOL) Brazil Argentina Oceania (OFC) Australia

Europe (UEFA) France Germany Russia Norway Sweden North America, Central America & Caribbean (CONCACAF) Canada United States (host nation)

Qualification groups

Africa (CAF)

Main article: 2002 Women's African Football Championship

Qualified: Nigeria -- Ghana

The two African teams to qualify to the World Cup were the two finalists of the 2002 CAF Women's Championship, Nigeria and Ghana.

Asia (AFC)

Main article: 2003 AFC Women's Championship

Qualified: China -- South Korea -- North Korea -- Japan

The first three places - China, Korea DPR and Korea Republic - were directly qualified. The fourth-placed Japan qualified in two playoff-matches against Mexico.

Europe (UEFA)

Main article: 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification (UEFA)

Qualified: Sweden -- Russia -- Germany -- Norway -- France

The 16 teams belonging to Class A of European women's football were drawn into four groups, from which the group winners qualify for the World Cup. The four runners-up were played in playoff-matches for the 5th berth.

North, Central America & the Caribbean (CONCACAF)

Main article: 2002 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup

Qualified: United States -- Canada

The 2002 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup second-placed Canada qualified for the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup. The winner USA qualified as host. The third-placed Mexico played against Japan in two play-off matches for qualification.

Oceania (OFC)

Main article: 2003 OFC Women's Championship

Qualified: Australia

The 2003 OFC Women's Championship determined the OFC's one qualifier for the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup — the winner Australia.

South America (CONMEBOL)

Main article: 2003 Sudamericano Femenino

Qualified: Brazil -- Argentina

The fourth edition of the Sudamericano Femenino (Women's South American Championship) in 2003 determined the CONMEBOL's qualifiers Brazil and Argentina.

Play-offs

5 July 2003

Mexico	2 – 2	Japan
Mora 60' Sandoval 76'	report (Japanese)	Kobayashi 51' Miyamoto 74'

Estadio Azteca, Mexico City

Attendance: 75,000

Referee: Toro Pardo (Colombia)

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12 July 2003

Japan	2 – 0	Mexico
Sawa 56' Maruyama 83'	report (Japanese)

National Stadium, Tokyo

Attendance: 12,743

Referee: Elovirta (Finland)

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Japan won 4-2 on aggregate and qualified for 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup.

External links

• Tables & results at RSSSF.com