The 2015 World Cup will see 24 teams introduced for the first team in the competition’s history.
Starting with just 12 teams when China hosted the first tournament in 1991, the women’s game has progressed year on year, and after 16 years with 16 teams, FIFA have now increased the capacity once again for the tournament in Canada.
A greater number of teams, means a greater number of stars who could steal the show. But who are the players you need to know this summer?
Marta, 29, Brazil
Anyone who has scored 91 goals in 92 appearances should be considered one of the hottest talents in the world, and that’s exactly how Marta is deemed back in South America. The global superstar is now appearing in her fourth World Cup, despite the fact she is yet to reach her thirties, and the FC Rosengard forward has been named FIFA World Player of the Year a staggering five times, more than any man or woman.
Marta also tops the Women’s World Cup goal-scoring charts with 14 goals, and she will be expected to add to her tally while potentially breaking even with her goals to appearances ratio. With Brazil considered potential victors of the competition, Marta could be the difference between success and failure.
Asisat Oshoala, 20, Nigeria
Oshoala should be a well-known name for WSL followers, with the Nigerian star – who claimed the Golden Ball award as top scorer of the Under-20 World Cup last summer – recently signing for Liverpool Ladies and becoming the first African to feature in the FA WSL while doing so.
Oshoala was unfortunate to miss out on the title in the Under 20’s final last year, but will simply be hoping to score enough to send her nation past the group stages for just the second time in history in her first senior World Cup. Recently named as BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Year, 10 goals in 14 appearances should leave Oshoala in good stead.
Homare Sawa, 36, Japan
Sawa is something of an international icon for Japan – a beloved individual now preparing for her sixth appearance at a World Cup. The veteran midfielder initially retired from international competitions following the 2012 Olympics, but soon decided to return in order to help guide her side to success in the 2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
With 82 goals in 197 appearances for the Japanese national team, Sawa previously featured in our look at the best players of the 2011 World Cup, where she claimed the Golden Boot award. She will now hope to defend her title in what is likely to be her final World Cup appearance.
Marie-Laure Delie, 27, France
Delie will hope to make Group F her own, and is a pivotal player for the nation ranked third in the world.
With France notable contenders to lift the cup this year, Delie has already climbed to second in her nation’s all-time scoring charts, and doesn’t look to be stopping anytime soon.
With 58 goals in just 86 games, the Paris Saint-Germain star will hope to see her nation go one better than their previous semi-final finish.
Caitlin Foord, 20, Australia
She may be just 20-years-of-age, but Foord already has a World Cup honour to her name, having been named the Best Young Player of the 2011 edition, in which she became the youngest ever Australian to feature at a World Cup, aged just 16 at the time.
Foord will still be one of the younger competitors this year, and will hope to continue to impress with her regular assists and play-making abilities. Having briefly featured in the National Women’s Soccer League in America, Foord has since returned to Australia to play for Perth Glory, and the versatile right-winger is expected to become one of Australia’s most exciting talents in history.
Fara Williams, 31, England
At the age of just 31, Williams has become the most capped footballer in English history, including the men’s squad, and has scored 37 goals from midfield in the process. However, it is the story of Williams progressing and developing as a footballer that impresses most.
While working her way through the ranks of English football, Williams spent seven years homeless as a teen, hiding her difficult situation from her teammates and coaches.
Fast forward to 2015, and Williams has turned her life around through football, with honours such as the FA International Player of the Year to her name alongside 2 WSL titles with Liverpool Ladies.
Nadine Angerer, 36, Germany
Germany’s captain currently plies her trade with Portland Thoms in the United States, but still plays a colossal role in the success of the world’s number one team.
Having been the first goalkeeper to be named the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2013, 139 appearances sees Angerer become the most experienced player in the German set-up, and she is likely to feature in every minute of their World Cup campaign, as she hopes to clinch her third World Cup title.
Lotta Schelin, 31, Sweden
Sweden’s 31-year-old captain is another experienced face to feature at the World Cup, with 80 goals in 149 appearances helping her scoop the Swedish Player of the Year award five-times, while recently breaking multiple goal-scoring records for club, Olympique Lyonnais, and country.
Schelin was one of three forwards to feature in the 2011 World Cup all-star team, and will aim for an even greater campaign this time around after being left disappointed 4 years ago with her side’s third-placed finish. Expect some dangerous partnerships with fellow forwards Kosovare Asllani and Sofia Jakobsson.
Vivianne Miedema, 18, Netherlands
Miedema may be just 18-years-old, but the Bayern Munich forward single-handedly guided the Netherlands to their first World Cup finals.
19 goals in 23 appearances for her national side gives the youngster a tally on level with Marta – who has achieved it all in women’s football.
Many feel Miedema will be the surprise star of the tournament, despite her well-known goalscoring abilities, and a hat-trick against Italy in the play-off final should see her come in to the tournament with high confidence.
