1st FIFA World Championship for Women's Football 1991 Group B
Having played their first international match in 1985 the United States Womens National Team (often known as USWNT) were fast emerging as one of the stronger national sides. Sweden had been European champions in 1984 and three years later they were runners-up. Brazil had played their first international in 1986 and had won the inaugural South American Women's Championship (which served as the qualifying competition for the World Championship) with resounding victories over Chile and Venezuela, the only other entrants. They were, however, without their star player, Sissi, who, along with three other top players, were not released by their clubs. Japan had finished as runners-up in the Asian Women's Championship which also served as qualifiers for this tournament.
