Spain beat England to win their first FIFA Women's World Cup

Spain was celebrating its first Women's World Cup trophy after an impressive display proved too much for England in a 1-0 victory for La Roja.

Olga Carmona scored in the first half of the final and Spain held on to cap the month-long tournament.

Overcoming the turmoil that had surrounded the team, the victory made Spain the first team to hold the under-17, under-20 and senior world titles at the same time. Spain is the fifth winner in nine editions of the Women’s World Cup and joined Germany as the only two nations to win both the men’s and women’s titles.

At the final whistle the Spanish players piled on each other in front of their goal. They were still dancing on the field until the trophy presentations, where they kissed the trophy and raised their arms triumphantly as golden glitter fell from above.

“We’ve suffered a lot throughout the past 12 months but I think everything has a reason to be. This has made us a stronger team,” Carmona said. “And it’s really incredible. I don’t know just why Spain is the world champions, but I think that we deserved it.”

The Lionesses were trying to bring a World Cup back to England for the first time since the men won it in 1966. The wait will go on.

“At first you feel like you failed with not winning," England captain Millie Bright said. "I think in a couple of weeks and it settles, (we) will be really, really proud.”

In an open game featuring multiple chances for both teams, Carmona’s left-foot strike in the 29th minute — finishing off a fast-breaking counterattack after England's Lucy Bronze lost possession — remained the only goal.

Carmona also scored the game-winner in the 89th minute of Spain’s 2-1 semifinal victory over Sweden, becoming the first player since Carli Lloyd in 2015 to score in a World Cup semifinal and final.

Spain had a chance to double the lead in the 68th after a VAR review awarded a penalty for Keira Walsh's handball, but Jenni Hermoso’s penalty attempt was saved by Mary Earps.

Spain’s victory comes despite a near-mutiny by players last year. Fifteen players said they were stepping away from the national team for their mental health while also calling for a more professional environment.

Three of those players — Ona Batlle, Aitana Bonmatí and Mariona Caldentey — reconciled with the federation and were at the World Cup.

The victory was also a bit of redemption for La Roja, which fell to England 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the European Championship last year. England went on to win the Euros on home soil.

“I think all of us, we felt that this team had something special,” Carmona said. “I believe that we’ve shown this on the field, we’ve shown this in the group stage, in the knockout stage. We’ve been fighting until the end. We never stopped.

"Last year was different, but football gives you second chances What better chance than in a World Cup final and to be able to call ourselves world champion.”

Spain grew over the course of the tournament. After a 4-0 loss to Japan in the group stage, Spain replaced Misa Rodriguez with Cata Coll in goal. La Roja rebounded quickly by trouncing Switzerland 5-1 to kick off the knockout round and built from there.

“When we found out that we had England in the final, we analyzed them and saw how they played,” Bonmati said. “We prepared it well, we came out confident of what we were doing, of our game, of our fight, of our dedication.”

England had momentum going into the tournament after winning the Euros, but three of the team’s best players, captain Leah Williamson, Fran Kirby and Beth Mead, all had knee injuries that kept them off the World Cup squad.

Sarina Wiegman was the first coach to take her teams to back-to-back World Cup title matches. She led the Netherlands to the final in 2019, but fell 2-0 to the United States. She's now 0-2 in the championship match.

One of England’s best chances was in the 16th when Lauren Hemp’s blast caromed off the crossbar. A minute later, Salma Paralluelo raced toward goal but couldn’t get a clean shot and Earps stopped Alba Redondo’s attempt in the scramble in front of the net.

England was coming off a 3-1 victory over host Australia in the semifinal. Lauren James, who was the team’s top scorer with three goals and three assists, was forced to sit out two matches after being suspended for stomping on Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie to open the knockout stage.

While James was available for the final, Wiegman started Ella Toone and used the Chelsea winger as a second-half substitute in a double change to spark the attack.

Spain coach Jorge Vilda started 19-year-old Paralluelo, who scored the breakthrough goal for Spain against Sweden, and the game-winner in extra time over the Netherlands in the quarterfinal. Those efforts helped her win the young player of the tournament award. Earps won the Golden Glove for best goalkeeper and Bonmati won the Golden Ball for best player of World Cup.

Vilda had a challenge in working around two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, who was still working her way back from a torn ACL last year. For the final, Putellas was on the bench at the start.

Putellas went into the game with 15 seconds left in regulation, but there were 13 minutes of stoppage time. After the match Putellas was in tears as her teammates danced in front of the flag-waving fans behind the team's bench.

There were 75,784 fans at the final at Stadium Australia, including tennis great Billie Jean King, increasing the record attendance for the tournament to more than 1.975 million.

103 min: ENG 0 - 1 SPA

And that's it, Spain make history winning their first FIFA Women's World Cup over England!

England had two last opportunities with a great ball into the box and then a corner but Spain cleared them to hang on.

100 min: ENG 0 - 1 SPA

Not much action for England in attack and the game seems to be slipping away from them.

95 min: ENG 0 - 1 SPA

Looking more likely that Spain will score than England as the game nears a conclusion. They have been the better team and will be deserved winners if they can see it out.

92 min: ENG 0 - 1 SPA

Great keeping by Earps to deny Spain at the near post, so nearly wrapped up there.

Spain have a corner and they are taking their time with it. England win a free kick.

90 min: ENG 0 - 1 SPA

Now Putellas comes on for Caldentey.

England fans will be relieved to see the fourth official announce a whopping 13 minutes of added time!

87 min: ENG 0 - 1 SPA

Another stoppage as Hermoso goes down for Spain.

More subs as Toone comes off for Beth England and Spain ready to bring on star player Putellas. The Spanish change is held for now though.

81 min: ENG 0 - 1 SPA

Yellow card for Paralluelo after an awkward challenge saw Greenwood hit with a knee to the face, which has led to another lengthy stoppage.

Plenty of added time on the way tonight, going to be a late one.

Greenwood is bandaged up and will continue.

75 min: ENG 0 - 1 SPA

James makes an impact, forcing a save from Coll from a tight angle. England have a corner but it's dealt with by Spain.

72 min: ENG 0 - 1 SPA

Break in play as Codina goes off injured for Spain, Andres takes her place at the back.

The game has some real spice to it after that missed penalty.

69 min: ENG 0 - 1 SPA

Penalty to Spain! It's a tough one, Walsh has her arm out in the box and the ball bobbles up and just touches her hand but doesn't really impact the trajectory of the ball.

England fans are furious but after a VAR check the ref reviews the footage and a penalty is given.

Hermoso steps up to take it and Earps comes up clutch with the save!

England still has hope as the score remains 1 -0.

60 min: ENG 0 - 1 SPA

Spain looking to shore things up with a defensive substitution as Redondo comes off for Hernandez.

Not long after it's Spain on the attack though, Bonmati smashes a long range shot just over the bar.

58 min: ENG 0 - 1 SPA

The formation change seems to be working for England who are enjoying more possession but just can't find the finishing touch.

55 min: ENG 0 - 1 SPA

Hemp has to do better there! A teasing ball is whipped across the Spanish box by the sub Kelly and Hemp shins it wide from a great position.

Perhaps frustrated, Hemp is then the first player yellow carded for a challenge shortly after.

48 min: ENG 0 - 1 SPA

It's Spain with the first chance of the second half though, Earps at full stretch to keep out an awkwardly bouncing shot from Caldentey.

47 min: ENG 0 - 1 SPA

And we are back underway, attacking changes for England as Lauren James and Chloe Kelly on. 45 minutes to see if the strategy pays off.

Half time: ENG 0 - 1 SPA

It's been a very entertaining final, definitely not the cagey affair that often comes with the pressure.

England will need to have a spirited discussion back in the sheds about how they break down this resolute Spanish defence. Perhaps Lauren James will soon be introduced by England's manager Wiegman.

They will certainly need to have more of the ball, with Spain having 64% of the possession in the first half.

46 min: ENG 0 - 1 SPA

Paralluelo hits the post with the last kick of the half, the Spanish striker hit a cross first time from near the penalty spot that nearly doubled the lead.

42 min: ENG 0 - 1 SPA

Hemp creates England's best chance in a while, whipping in a ball across the six-yard box for Toone who has an air swing at it.

It wouldn't have counted anyway as Toone was offside, but positive signs from England.

37 min: ENG 0 - 1 SPA

Spain are still dominating possession as England seek an equaliser. Paredes hits a good opportunity wide for Spain after a half volley dropped invitingly for her inside the box.

Many Spanish fans will agree with the sentiment below.

28 min: ENG 0 - 1 SPA

Carmona does it again! The semifinal hero lasers a shot into the bottom corner of the net after some slick lead up play.

Spain's captain puts her team 1 nil up as the 30th minute approaches.

25 min: ENG 0 - 0 SPA

Some action from inside the ground.

23 min: ENG 0 - 0 SPA

A pitch invader runs onto the pitch and is tackled by security before they can reach players preparing for an England free-kick.

Play is briefly paused before the action resumes.

18 min: ENG 0 - 0 SPA

Now it's Spain's turn! Redondo has to score from close range but hits it straight at England's keeper Earps who makes a fine save to keep the game scoreless.

Spain then has a period of pressure but England manage to keep them out, frantic end to end stuff so far.

15 min: ENG 0 - 0 SPA

Big chance for England! Off the crossbar from Hemp who shoots from the edge of the box only to be denied by the thinnest of margins with the keeper beaten.

13 min: ENG 0 - 0 SPA

England win the first corner of the night but it's too close to the keeper and comfortably taken by Coll.

Spain then breaks up field with a crisp move, but again the final cross into the box from Paralluelo doesn't find its target.

10 min: ENG 0 - 0 SPA

Spain has had the best of the possession since the early England chance, but haven't managed to find a good final ball.

5 min: ENG 0 - 0 SPA

First shot on target comes from England's red hot Lauren Hemp, it's straight at the Spanish keeper though and was never troubling Coll.

3 min: ENG 0 - 0 SPA

England's physicality was too much for Australia in the semifinal and they have started in a similar fashion tonight, will it prove too much for Spain as well?

0 min: ENG 0 - 0 SPA

And here we go the match is underway as England take the kick-off.

10pm: Anthems done and dusted, nearly time for kick-off in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final!

9.55pm: A glimpse of that closing ceremony earlier, as players now come out of the tunnel onto the pitch to rapturous applause.

9.50pm: The average attendance for each of the 64 games at this World Cup was 30,000 people.

Does this strong showing mean we could see a men's FIFA World Cup hosted down under someday?

Read more here: NZF boss on Auckland A-League sides, hosting men's World Cup

9.40pm: The closing ceremony is well under way with NZ even getting a bit of a shout-out as co-host.

Just enough time to make those cuppas before this one kicks off in around 20 minutes.

9.30pm: And here's how Spain line-up. England's defenders will be wary of Paralluelo starting after the forward tore apart Sweden from the bench in the semifinal.

9.25pm: Big call from England, as star forward Lauren James starts on the bench. James was suspended for two games after a red card for stomping on a Nigerian player during their round of 16 clash.

Here's their full team for tonight's final.

9.20pm: Avid footie fan Jack Tame looked back at what has been a successful FIFA Women's World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.

The organisers might have felt it necessary to give away a few tickets in the opening rounds, but ultimately there has been little charity behind New Zealanders’ support of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, writes Jack Tame.

Read more here: After early wobbles, NZ nailed FIFA World Cup

9.10pm: Stadium Australia ready to host history tonight. Kick-off in just under an hours time.

9pm: English fans were in fine voice as they descended on Stadium Australia.

8.50pm: The Lionesses have the nation behind them, including some high profile royal support.

Read more here: Prince William, Charlotte wish Lionesses luck

8.45pm: The Spanish team was out and about greeting fans before the match.

The Women’s World Cup final is set. England will face Spain on Sunday night at 10pm after the Lionesses advanced with a 3-1 win over Australia on Wednesday.

Spain moved on with 2-1 win over Sweden on Tuesday. England and Spain will play in their first Women’s World Cup final.

This year’s World Cup will crown a first-time winner.

The United States’ bid for a three-peat ended in a penalty shootout loss to Sweden in the round of 16.

Norway, the 1995 champion, lost in the round of 16, 2011 champion Japan was knocked out by Sweden in the quarterfinals, and two-time champion Germany didn’t reach the knockout rounds.

Co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, the quadrennial tournament for international soccer’s most coveted trophy kicked off July 20 and has featured an expanded field of 32 teams, up from 24. There were 64 matches during the tournament.