32 top-ranked countries in women’s football

Are you keen to watch some competitive international women’s football? Whether you’re interested in watching Australia’s home matches or head-to-heads between successful international teams, you’re bound to come across countries that you might not know much about.

Discover more about the top-ranked 32 countries in women’s football below – from famous landmarks to history and culture.

As the birthplace of Tango, empanadas, and Mate (the drink), Argentina is a beautiful country rich with history, culture, and traditions. Its capital city – Buenos Aires – is famous for its magnificent architecture and excellent food, with sites like the Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada known around the world as cultural icons. The country’s La Bombonera is also one of the world’s most atmospheric stadiums, with the Superclásico being the local annual football match to watch, between Boca Juniors and River Plate.

Argentina’s national women’s football team is nicknamed “La Albiceleste” (“the white and sky-blues”) and the country’s women’s league was founded in 1991 under the Argentine Football Association.

A beautiful blend of natural beauty and modern development, Australia is one of the world’s most unique countries to date. From contemporary city architecture to thousand-year-old Aboriginal culture, the southern continent has many things to see, do, and experience. 

The rest of the world may think our native animals are weird, but we love our boxing kangaroos and furry duck-like platypi. Even the “Matildas” – the national women’s football team – has had a kangaroo in their icon since 1978 to represent the fighting Australian spirit.

This South American nation is also famous for its colourful culture and fun variety of attractions. The culture in Brazil is a passionate one, derived from Portuguese practices and traditions of the indigenous peoples. Consisting of family, festivals, dance, and much more, the Brazilian way of life is notably applied in their attitude towards football, with both dedicated professional players and fans. Some of the country’s most successful professional football players include Marta Vieira da Silva, Sissi (Sisleide do Amor Lima), and Cristiane Rozeira de Souza Silva.

The Brazilian women’s national football team has been nicknamed in several ways, including the “Canarinhas” (“the female canaries”) and “Verde-Amarela” (“Green-and-Yellow”). Women have been playing the sport actively in Brazil since the early 1980s, when the Esporte Clube Radar (a women’s association football club in Brazil) was founded.

Also dubbed the northern hemisphere’s Australia, Canada is another country with a fascinating history and interesting culture. Aside from maple syrup and extreme politeness, Canada is famous for its beautiful mountainous scenery, deep roots in the ice hockey sport, and abundance of wild moose. In terms of the country’s football history, its local football league has been running since 1956 with well-established infrastructure.

The Canadian national women’s football team is overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association. They are also known as “Équipe du Canada féminine de soccer” in French.

As one of the oldest countries in the world, the People’s Republic of China has influenced the food, and cultural practices we enjoy today. Aside from its growing global influence, China is also an incredibly scenic country, with iconic landmarks such as the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, and the Yangtze River. Its major cities like Beijing and Shanghai are beautifully designed with contemporary architecture, pioneering the world’s urban development.

China’s national women’s football team is nicknamed “Steel Roses” in Chinese and is governed by the Chinese Football Association. 

Located in north-western South America, Columbia is known around the world for a lot of things, including its diverse culture, Arabica coffee, and natural minerals, including emeralds. The country is also home to several world heritage sites, such as the Santa Cruz de Mompox and Los Katios National Park.

One of the most popular sports in the country is football, with many nicknaming the beloved national women’s team “Las Chicas Superpoderosas” (“The Powerpuff Girls”) and “Las Cafeteras” (“The Coffee Growers”). 

A diverse country filled with natural wonders such as rainforests, volcanoes, and beaches, Costa Rica is a beautiful nation known for its biodiversity. From teeming wildlife to protected native flora, Costa Rica is a scenic country with unique landscapes in Central America. In addition to football, other sports enjoyed in Costa Rica include beach volleyball, mountain biking, and bullfighting.

The Costa Rica national women’s football team is nicknamed “La Sele” (“The Selection”) and “La Tricolor” (“The Tricolor”) and is governed by the Costa Rican Football Federation. They are one of the top women’s football teams in Central America.

From colourful Lego-like houses and elegantly crafted statues to fresh fruits and simple European cuisine, Denmark is famous for a wide variety of things. The Danish are well celebrated for their genius in building design, with many famous architects and builders hailing from the country. The Danish also excel in sports such as football, cycling, and Danish longball.

Denmark’s national women’s football team is nicknamed “De rød-hvide” (“The Red and White”). They represent both Denmark and Greenland in international women’s football tournaments.

A powerhouse in both cultural influence and in the football world, England is home to a great deal of landmarks and is widely cited as the birthplace of many professional sports. Besides football, the English have been credited for developing competitive sports scenes for cricket, tennis, and rugby. In addition to sports, England is also famous for The Royal Family, heritage architecture, and literary history.

The English women’s national team is nicknamed the “Lionesses” and they are governed by the Football Association. The team played their first match in 1972 against Scotland.

One of the most romanticised countries in the world, France is a European nation known for its capital city – Paris, iconic monuments, and liberating lifestyle. From the Eiffel Tower to baguettes to the French Revolution, you’ve probably heard of a wide variety of things concerning the French. In terms of football, France has a French Football Federation which develops elite football teams in the country.

The French national women’s football team is better known as “Les Bleues” (“The Blues”) and are directed by the French Football Federation (FFF).

Another European country with historic success in football is Germany. The national team is one of the most decorated in the world and has been a playing ground for many respected players, including Miroslav Klose, Philipp Lahm, and Oliver Kahn. Germany is also famous for delicious bread, delectable sausages, well-made cars, and one of the biggest festivals in the world – Oktoberfest.

The German national women’s football team has been nicknamed “Die Nationalelf” (“The National Eleven”) and is governed by the Deutscher Fußball-Bund or German Football Association (DFB).

Haiti is the third largest nation in the Caribbean and is one of the few countries in the world with landmarks and sites from the early 19^th century intact. These include the mountaintop fortress Citadelle la Ferrière and Sans-Souci Palace. Port-au-Prince, the country’s capital, is also known for being a picturesque city, with the bustling Iron Market, stunning National Palace, and pristine Sainte Anne Church.

Haiti’s national women’s football team have a number of nicknames, including “Les Grenadières”, “Le Rouge et Bleu”, “Les Bicolores”, and “La Sélection Nationale”. They are directed by the Fédération Haïtienne de Football.

The Republic of Ireland also known as the “Emerald Isle” is an island in north-western Europe, famous for its lush landscapes and large number of medieval castles. Home of St Partrick’s Day and the birthplace of Guinness beer, Ireland is a fun-loving country with a big drinking culture. Whether it’s whiskey or coffee, the Irish have got you covered.

Also named the iconic “Girls in Green”, the Irish women’s football team have been active since 1973 and is governed by the Women’s Football Association of Ireland.

One of the first things that come to mind at mention of Italy is delicious foods. From pizza and pasta to gelato and cannoli, Italy is the place to go when wanting to enjoy authentic, flavourful foods. Not only that, but Italy is also known for its contributions to the Renaissance period, as well as its cultural influence in architecture, fashion, and the arts. Italy has a competitive national team for many popular sports, including football, cycling, and volleyball.

The Italian women’s football team operates under the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and is nicknamed “Le Azzurre” (“The Blues”) in Italian.

Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea, known for its significant impact on many aspects of culture around the world. Not only is Jamaica the birthplace of reggae, but it’s also home to Blue Mountain coffee and record-setting athletes like Usain Bolt. Jamaica has a long history in football, with the national men’s team – nicknamed Reggae Boyz – having been established in 1925. 

On the other side, the national women’s team has been playing since 1987 and is known as the “Reggae Girlz”. They are directed by the Jamaica Football Federation.

Land of onsen hot springs, Sakura cherry blossoms, and anime, Japan is known for a wide variety of things around the world. As one of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia, Japan is frequently visited for its unique environment and cultural experiences, having contributed much to international pop culture. Known for both hustling city life and remote provincial lifestyles, Japan is a country with cultural depth and character.

The Japanese women’s football team is known as “Nadeshiko Japan” and is run by the Japan Football Association (JFA). They participated in their first international tournament in 1977.

A small country in north-western Africa, the Kingdom of Morocco is a distinguished country with a unique culture influenced by Berber, Arabian, and European practices. Due to this mix of influence, Morocco has exceptional architecture and monuments, as well as food and art. The country is also famous for its wide variety of natural landscapes, including deserts, mountains, and wild beaches.

The Moroccan women’s football team has been known as the “Atlas Lionesses” since 1998 and is directed by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.

The Netherlands, also informally known as Holland, is a country in north-western Europe known for its flat topography, the perfect landscape for stunning tulip fields, canals, and windmills. The capital city – Amsterdam – is also rich in history as it is home to Anne Frank’s house and the Van Gogh Museum. Aside from being involved in many points of famous global history, the Netherlands also has a strong legacy in international sports such as football.

The women’s national football team from Netherlands competes under the nickname “Oranje Leeuwinnen” (“Orange Lionesses”) and they are governed by the Royal Dutch Football Association.

An island country in Oceania, New Zealand is a picturesque place full of mountainous regions and snowy hiking trails. From Wellington to Auckland, there are many tourist-friendly cities filled with friendly locals and excellent food. Other things New Zealand is known for include its abundance of sheep, Manuka honey, and the Lord of the Rings shooting locations.

The New Zealand women’s football team is nicknamed the “Football Ferns” and have been internationally active since 1975. They are governed by New Zealand Football.

Nigeria is a country in Africa known for its oil production, variety of natural landscapes (beaches and small landscapes) and multicultural population. Many Nigerians have varying ethnicities and the country is full of different languages and cuisines. When it comes to sports, Nigeria partakes in professional football, boxing, track and field, and baseball.

The Nigerian women’s football team is known as the “Super Falcons” and they are directed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Located in northern Europe, the officially Kingdom of Norway is known for a wide variety of things, including its green spaces, Vikings history, and deep coastal fjords. The fjords run across Norway and are beautiful to see in person and make up some of the most magnificent natural rock formations in the world. Norway is also famous for being a prime spot to see the northern lights at specific times of the year.

Uniquely nicknamed “Gresshoppene” (“The Grasshoppers”), the Norwegian women’s national football team is directed by the Football Association of Norway.

Found in Central America, Panama is a unique country bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. It’s also known for its famous Panama Canal that runs through the country and attracts not only native birds but also tourist activities such as white-water rafting. The biodiversity in Panama is also said to be incredibly high as the country is home to over 9,000 species of plants and is the natural habitat of the most bird species in Central America.

Panama’s women national football team is known as “Las Canaleras” (“The Canal Girls”) and is directed by the Federación Panameña de Fútbol.

Officially the Republic of Philippines, the Philippines is an archipelagic country located in southeast Asia, known for its beautiful beaches, lush forests, and volcano formations. In addition to its wide variety of natural landmarks, the country is also famous for their old, religious sites, some even dating back to the 1500s. There are both churches and temples in the country that you can marvel over.

Nicknamed the “Malditas”, the Philippines women’s national football team has been active since the 1980s and is governed by the Philippine Football Federation.

Also known as the Portuguese Republic, Portugal is a southwestern European country best known for its magnificent wine-growing regions, Fado music, and deliciously fresh seafood. Not only that, but Portugal is also big in the football space as it is home to one of the most famous professional players in the world – Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese women’s national football team has been nicknamed “A Selecção das Quinas” and they are directed by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF).

Diverse in many different ways, South Africa is known for uniquely having three capital cities, 11 official languages as well as an abundance of protected national parks, and world heritage sites. Located in Africa, it’s also home to a lot of wildlife, including rhinoceros, leopards, buffalos, lions, and giraffes.

The South African national women’s football team is nicknamed “Banyana Banyana”, which literally means "Girls Girls". They are governed by the South African Football Association.

South Korea, officially named the Republic of Korea, is an east-Asian country with a centuries-old culture, balanced with contemporary influences in technology and the arts. Many of South Korea’s traditional palaces, temples, and architecture are still actively preserved, and featured in modern pop culture products such as k-dramas.

South Korea’s national women’s football team is also known as the “Taegeuk Nangja” or “Taegeuk Ladies”. They have competed in international football tournaments since the 1990s.

Another country in southwestern Europe, Spain is a place with diverse culture and geography. The country’s most popular landmarks are the Royal Palace, Prado Museum, and the Alcázar (a medieval castle). Madrid is the nation’s capital is also famous for housing the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, one of the greatest sports stadiums in the world.

The Spanish women’s national football team is nicknamed “La Roja” (“The Red One”), and is governed by the Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF).

Formally the Kingdom of Sweden, Sweden is a Nordic country in northern Europe. It’s known for its high-quality foods, from savory meatballs to chocolate desserts. The country is also famous for its contributions to modern pop music as well as its lush green spaces throughout its major cities and the countryside.

The Swedish national women’s football team has competed in international tournaments since the 1980s. The team is nicknamed “Blågult” (“The Blue and Yellow”).

The Swiss Confederation is a small country in Europe, home to many lakes, villages and beautiful snowy Alps. It’s a place where medieval history is treasured, as the country is still filled with many old clock towers, wooden chapel bridges, and magnificent castles. Due to how cold the country gest, Switzerland is also famous for its luxurious ski resorts.

Also nicknamed “La Nati”, the Swiss national women’s football team is governed by the Swiss Football Association.

The United States of America is one of the biggest countries in the world and is most famous for its modern influence in politics, entertainment, and global trade. Home to Hollywood and global financial centres like New York, the USA is well known for many things. It has a total of 50 states, all with unique cultures and lifestyles.

The American women’s national football team is also known as “The Stars and Stripes” and they are directed by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). 

Vietnam is a south Asian country known for its delicious foods, beautiful beaches, and floating sea markets. Its capital Hanoi is also infamous for its bustling city traffic where motorbikes are the common mode of transport. There are many hiking trails you can challenge to explore Vietnam’s well-protected national parks such as the Lang Biang Trail.

Vietnam is a south Asian country known for its delicious foods, beautiful beaches, and floating sea markets. Its capital Hanoi is also infamous for its bustling city traffic where motorbikes are the common mode of transport. There are many hiking trails you can challenge to explore Vietnam’s well-protected national parks such as the Lang Biang Trail.

The last country on our list is Zambia, an African country known for its rugged terrain, safari areas, and diverse wildlife. Zambia is known for pioneering the walking safari tourist industry, where participants can see native animals and plants up close, while also trying their hand at game viewing activities. 

Governed by the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), the Zambian women’s national football team is uniquely nicknamed “The Copper Queens”.

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