Do you know that the final of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup is this afternoon? It is the eighth edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the quadrennial international football championship contested by 24 women’s national teams representing member associations of FIFA. It is hosted by France between 7 June and 7 July 2019, with matches staged in nine cities. This year, the final is between the European champion the Netherlands and the reigning World champion the United States. Would the Stars and Stripes triumph tonight? Or would the Orange Lionesses rule the football pride? We’re excited to find out! And we hope you are too!

The FIFA Women’s World Cup is an international football competition contested by the senior women’s national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport’s international governing body. The competition has been held every four years since 1991, when the inaugural tournament, then called the FIFA Women’s World Championship, was held in China.

In March 2015, France won the right to host the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup; the first time the country is hosting the tournament, and the third time by a European nation. The United States entered the competition as defending champions after winning the 2015 edition in Canada. It is also the first Women’s World Cup to use the video assistant referee (VAR) system.

A total of 24 teams are qualified for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Chile, Jamaica, Scotland, and South Africa made their Women’s World Cup debuts, while Italy took part in the event for the first time since 1999 and Argentina took part for the first time since 2007. Brazil, Germany, Japan, Nigeria, Norway, Sweden, and the United States qualified for their eighth World Cup, continuing their streak of qualifying for every World Cup held so far.

The emblem and slogan for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup were launched on 19 September 2017 at the Musée de l’Homme in Paris. The emblem mimics the shape of the World Cup trophy and features a stylized football surrounded by eight decorative shards of light, symbolizing the eighth edition of the Women’s World Cup. It alludes to several French cultural icons: the colors of the flag of France, the blue and white stripes of the marinière, known also as the “Breton stripe”, and the fleur-de-lis. The World Cup’s official English-language slogan is “Dare to Shine”; its French slogan is “Le moment de briller”.

The official mascot, “Ettie”, was unveiled on 12 May 2018 at the TF1 Group headquarters, and was broadcast on LCI. She made her first public appearance in Paris in front of the iconic Eiffel Tower. FIFA describe her as “a young chicken with a passion for life and football” and state that “she comes from a long line of feathered mascots, and is the daughter of Footix, the Official Mascot of the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France”. Adora loves that story so much, she had to draw Ettie practicing with her father on the field. Daddy Footix is playing goalie! Do you see that Ettie is using Footix’s football in the picture?

If your country is one of the 24 countries participating in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, make sure to support them with your heart, mind and soul! If you are in France during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, make sure to head to one of the stadiums to watch the tournaments live. Also buy one of 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup souvenirs to commemorate the event.

If you do not have the opportunity to visit France for 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, don’t be disappointed yet! Just check with your local television broadcaster whether they will broadcast 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and you could enjoy the tournaments directly from your home!

Dare to shine!