USA Wins Women's World Cup For The Third Time

US players in jubilation after scoring a goal against Japan.

The United States has won its third Women’s World Cup title with a 5-2 victory over Japan on Sunday in Vancouver, Canada. The victory was the first for the US team since 1999. The Americans became the first country with three women’s titles and got a measure of revenge for their loss in the 2011 final against Japan.

Abby Wambach and Christie Rampone, the only player remaining from the 1999 title team, both came on as subs late in what’s expected to be their final World Cup appearances. The USA’s triumph was achieved with a first-half hat trick by Carli Lloyd.




Lloyd scored in the third, sixth and 16th minutes, the last a speculative shot from midfield that beat Japan goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori. Lloyd scored the fastest hat trick in World Cup history, men’s or women’s, in the highest scoring Women’s World Cup final.

Celebration time for the US team.

Lauren Holiday also scored in the first half and Tobin Heath added a goal in the 54th minute after Japan scored an own goal to cut the deficit to 4-2.

Few minutes after the match, US President Barack Obama congratulated the US team on his Twitter handle @POTUS, saying “what a win for Team USA! Great game @CarliLloyd! Your country is so proud of all of you. Come visit the White House with the World Cup soon.”

Meanwhile, CAF president, Issa Hayatou, presented the Women’s World Cup trophy to the US team on Sunday in the absence of Fifa president Sepp Blatter. Blatter, the head of the scandal-hit governing body, was not in Vancouver for the game between the United States and Japan.