WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Super Falcons and England go for their respective milestone 30th Women’s World Cup match
When Super Falcons take on England in a Round of 16 Women’s World Cup match at the Brisbane Stadium on Monday, it will be their 30th match in the series since losing 4-0 to Germany in their debut outing on 17 November 1991 in Jiangmen, China.
The same applies to England who have played 29 matches in six editions of the Women’s World Cup.
For Nigeria, no other African team has racked up as many matches in the Women’s World Cup. As they take on England, it is a clash of two teams that progressed through the group stage with impressive unbeaten records.
England have now reached the knockout phase in each of their six FIFA Women’s World Cup participations and their 6-1 victory against China PR last time out equalled their biggest win in a FIFA Women’s World Cup match which they had previously achieved against Argentina in 2007.
Nigeria progressed from a tough group containing Australia, Canada and the Republic of Ireland and became the first African team to complete a group stage campaign in the FIFA Women’s World Cup without losing a match. They are making successive appearances in the knockout phase for the first time and are the first African nation to make it to the knockouts on three occasions.
ENGLAND V NIGERIA: HEAD-TO-HEAD
- 10 June 1995; England 3-2 Nigeria, Women’s World Cup
- 23 July 2002; England 0-1 Nigeria, friendly, Norwich Stadium,(England)
- 22April 2004, England 0-3 Nigeria, friendly, Madejski Stadium, Reading (England)
Key facts
- England have won nine of their last 11 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches (Won 9, Lost 2).
- England have scored in 16 successive FIFA Women’s World Cup matches, breaking the record for most consecutive matches with a goal, which was set by Norway who scored in 15 matches in a row between 1991 and 1999.
- Lucy Bronze is set to make her 17th FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance, moving her joint-second on England’s all-time list alongside Karen Carney, only Jill Scott (21) has played more matches.
- England have scored during the first half in each of their last eight FIFA Women’s World Cup matches.
- Nigeria’s only previous win in 14 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches against European opposition was a 2 0 victory against Denmark in 1999.
- Nigeria are facing European opposition in the round of 16 for the second time in a row having lost 3-0 to Germany at this stage of the competition in 2019.
- Nigeria are aiming to win a FIFA Women’s World Cup knockout phase tie for the first time.
ENGLAND TEAM FACTS
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS
- Overall record: Play29, Win 18. Draw 4, Lost 7, Goals For 51, Goals Against: 31, Goal Difference: 20
- Biggest win: 6-1England v. Argentina (17/09/2007), 6-1 England v. China PR (01/08/2023)
- Biggest defeat: 0-3 England v. Germany (13/06/1995), 0-3 England v. USA (22/09/2007)
- Highest scoring match: 7 goals – England 6-1 Argentina (17/09/2007), England 6-1 China PR (01/08/2023)
- Most goals scored in a match: 6 – England 6-1 Argentina (17/09/2007)/England 6-1 China PR (01/08/2023)
- Most goals conceded in a match: 3 – Germany 3-0 England (13/06/1995)/USA 3-0 England (22/09/2007)
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 13 – 2019 (7 matches)
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 6 – 1995 (4 matches) and 2011 (4 matches)
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 9 – 1995 (4 matches)
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 3 – 2011 (4 matches)
ENGLAND’S FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS
- Successive wins: 6 (2015-2019)
- Successive defeats: 2 (2019)
- Successive draws: 2 (2007)
- Successive matches without a defeat: 6 (2015-2019)
- Successive matches without a win: 3 (1995-2007)
- Successive matches with a goal scored: 16 (2015-present)
- Successive matches without scoring: 1 (five times)
- Successive clean sheets: 4 (2019)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP EXTRA-TIME MATCHES
- 09/07/2011 England 1-1 France (3-4 PSO) (quarter-finals)
- 04/07/2015 England 1-0 Germany (match for third place)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP PENALTY SHOOT-OUTS (W0 L1)
- 09/07/2011 England 3-4 France (quarter-finals)
NIGERIA TEAM FACTS
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS
- Overall record: Play: 29,Won: 5, Draw: 5, Lost: 19, Goals For: 23, Goals Against: 65, Goal Difference: -42
- Biggest win: Nigeria 2-0Denmark (27/06/1999), Nigeria 2-0 Korea Republic (12/06/2019)
- Biggest defeat: Nigeria 0-8Norway (06/06/1995)
- Highest scoring match: 8 goals – Nigeria 0-8 Norway (06/06/1995), Nigeria 1-7 USA (24/06/1999)
- Most goals scored in a match: 3 – Nigeria 3-3 Canada (08/06/1995), Nigeria 3-4 Brazil (01/07/1999), Nigeria 3-3 Sweden (08/06/2015)/Nigeria 3-2 Australia (27/07/2023)
- Most goals conceded in a match: 8 – Nigeria 0-8 Norway (06/06/1995)
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 8 – 1999 (4 matches)
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 0 – 1991 and 2003 (3 matches)
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 14 – 1995 (3 matches)
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 2 – 2011 (3 matches) and 2023 (3 matches)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS
- Successive wins: 1 (five times, the last of which was 2023-present)
- Successive defeats: 4 (three times)
- Successive draws: 1 (four times, the last of which was 2023-present)
- Successive matches without a defeat: 3 (2023-present)
- Successive matches without a win: 9 (1999-2011)
- Successive matches with a goal scored: 6 (1995-1999)
- Successive matches without scoring: 4 (1991-1995 and 2007-2011)
- Successive clean sheets: 1 (five times, the last of which was 2023-present)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP EXTRA-TIME MATCHES
- 01/07/1999 Nigeria 3-4 Brazil (quarter-finals)
The Iranian women’s soccer team crossed the Turkish border into Iran on Wednesday to complete a fraught return journey from Australia, after five members withdrew asylum claims they had lodged there.
Australia had granted humanitarian visas to six players and one support staff member after they sought asylum, saying they feared possible persecution if they returned to Iran.
Concerns over their safety surfaced when several players failed to sing the national anthem at a women’s Asian Cup match earlier this month after the United States and Israel launched the war against Iran. Iranian state television had labelled them “wartime traitors”.
The team, which flew into Istanbul on Tuesday, took a flight to Igdir in eastern Turkey on Wednesday morning.
The players emerged from Igdir Airport, pulling their luggage and chatted in front of the terminal before boarding a bus to the border. One of them briefly smiled and waved at a TV camera before the bus departed. After a trip of around two hours to the frontier, they went through passport control at the Gurbulak border gate before crossing over into Iran.
A bus carrying members of the Iranian women’s national soccer team arrives at the Gurbulak Border Gate, a crossing point between Turkey and Iran, as they travel to their home country after five players withdrew the asylum claims they had lodged in Australia over safety concerns about returning due to not singing the national anthem at a women’s Asian Cup match earlier this month, in the eastern Agri province, Turkey, March 18, 2026. REUTERS/Ali Ihsan Ozturk
The team’s Asian Cup campaign began just as the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They were eliminated from the tournament more than a week ago.
Five of those who had sought asylum in Australia subsequently changed their minds and decided to return home, with Australian media reporting the latest withdrawal on Monday.
They rejoined the rest of the squad in Kuala Lumpur, where the team had been staying since leaving Sydney last week.
The Iranian Football Association (FFIRI) said last week that those who had changed their minds would travel home with the rest of the team “to once again be embraced by their families and homeland.”
Two players are still in Australia and have been pictured training with a local A-League club.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
The two players from the Iranian women’s soccer squad who chose to remain in Australia after seeking asylum have been pictured training with a local A-League club as they begin their new lives in the country.
Midfielder Fatemeh Pasandideh and defender Atefeh Ramezanizadeh were among seven members of Iran’s delegation granted humanitarian visas amid fears of possible persecution if they returned home after competing in the women’s Asian Cup in Australia.
Concerns over their safety emerged after the players failed to sing their national anthem before their opening match on the Gold Coast in the state of Queensland. Iranian state media labelled them as “wartime traitors”, with the team’s campaign beginning as the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on Iran.
Five members of the group, however, subsequently changed their minds about Australia’s asylum offer and decided to return home.
Queensland-based A-League club Brisbane Roar announced on social media the remaining two players, Pasandideh and Ramezanizadeh, had joined a training session with its women’s team on Monday.
“Brisbane Roar officially welcomed both Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanizadeh to the club’s training facilities…and remain committed to providing a supportive environment for them whilst they navigate the next stages,” CEO Kaz Patafta said.
Photos posted by the club showed the two players meeting the Brisbane Roar squad and taking part in shooting drills.
“Thank you for everything,” wrote Ramezanizadeh, 33, under the post on Instagram.
Pasandideh, 21, also posted on her Instagram story on Monday a photo with FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis in Brisbane with a caption saying “everything will be fine”.
While the pair began their new lives in Australia, their former teammates made their way home to Iran from Malaysia.
The team was seen at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Monday evening, checking in on an Oman Air flight, although their destination was unclear.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Three Iranian women soccer players to return home after seeking asylum in Australia
Three members of the Iranian women’s soccer team who had sought asylum in Australia have decided to return to Iran, Australia’s government said on Sunday.
Australia granted humanitarian visas to seven Iranian footballers last week after they sought asylum, saying they feared persecution if they returned home after they failed to sing the national anthem at a Women’s Asian Cup match.
Four of the seven members have decided to leave Australia so far. Another member changed her mind last week.
“After telling Australian officials they had made this decision, the players were given repeated chances to talk about their options,” Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement.
“While the Australian Government can ensure that opportunities are provided and communicated, we cannot remove the context in which the players are making these incredibly difficult decisions,” he added.
The Iranian Football Association (FFIRI) named the players as Mona Hamoudi, Zahra Sarbali and Zahra Meshkehkar.
“After arriving in Malaysia and joining the rest of Iran’s women’s national football team, the three players will travel to Tehran in the coming days to once again be embraced by their families and homeland,” FFIRI added in a statement.
The Iranian team’s campaign in the Asian Cup started just as the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, killing the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They were eliminated from the tournament last Sunday.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- AFCON1 week ago
AFCON to Expand to 28 Teams as CAF Unveils New Competition Calendar
- World Cup6 days ago
Infantino promises FIFA backing for Iran to play at World Cup
- AFCON1 week ago
CAF May Sanction Senegal Over AFCON Trophy Parade
- Governing Bodies1 week ago
BREAKING! Nigeria’s Samson Adamu Appointed Acting CAF General Secretary
- Nigerian Football5 days ago
NFF to inaugurate electoral committees ahead of September elections
- Table Tennis1 week ago
Aruna Faces Tough Draw as Africa Targets Glory at ITTF World Cup in Macao
- World Cup3 days ago
Italy federation chief resigns after another World Cup failure
- Governing Bodies2 days ago
The Building of Another Sports Dynasty: From Fahmy to Adamu