The second leg in Tokyo was won 2-0 seven days later. In the playoffs, they met Mexico and reached 2: 2 in Mexico City. There, the Japanese had the preliminary round against Myanmar, the Republic of China, the Philippines and Guam still with four wins and 34 : 0 goals completed in the semi-finals and match for third place but lost to North Korea 0-3 and South Korea 0-1. Japan took advantage of this opportunity after only fourth place in the Asian Cup 2003.
As the number of starting places was increased from 12 to 16, a fourth Asian team had the chance to qualify in the AFC / CONCACAF playoffs. Thus the World Cup took place for the second time in the USA. Due to the SARS epidemic, the tournament was temporarily relocated to the United States. Referee: Marisela Contreras ( Venezuela) 2003 World Cup Īctually, the World Cup should take place again in the People's Republic of China. However, as the eighth best team, Japan had qualified for the women's first football tournament at the Olympic Games, in which only the eight best teams of the World Cup could participate The seventh best team was not allowed to play in the Olympics, Brazil could participate as the ninth best team. Here followed a 0-4 defeat against defending USA. Against Sweden followed then, although a 0-2, but as the second best group Knights reached the Japanese women the quarterfinals. In the process, Akemi Noda get the first two World Cup goals for Japan after a 1-0 deficit. On June 7, 1995, but then succeeded the Japanese women in Karlstad against Brazil the first World Cup victory. In Sweden, the Japanese lost again the opening game 0-1, this time against Germany. Both finalists drove to the World Cup, which took place for the first time on European soil. After a 1-1 draw against the People's Republic of China, both won against the other two teams and then met again in the final, the Chinese won 2-0. Japan, the Republic of China, the People's Republic of China and South Korea met in a group of four. Referee: John Toro Rendón ( Colombia) 1995 World Cup įour years later, the Japanese team finished second in Asian Games 1994 in Hiroshima for the second World Cup. This was Japan as the worst team of the tournament eliminated. Two days later, they were followed by a 0-8 against Sweden and another 0-3 against the United States women's national soccer team two days later. In People's Republic of China, the first World Cup match on Novemin Foshan was lost 1-0 to Brazil. The final was then lost with 0: 5 against the China women's national football team, but the first World Cup participation was already there for sure. In the semi-final, penalty shoot-out was necessary to eliminate the Republic of China and qualify for the World Cup. Four wins in the preliminary round against Korea DPR, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. The Japanese national team had qualified for the first World Cup as the runners up of the 1991 Asian Championship.