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 PR (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)

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)

Qualified:  China PR --  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)

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)

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)

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)

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

Mexico  v  Japan

July 5, 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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Japan  v  Mexico

July 12, 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