Competition Format

Women's Tournament

Group stage

The twelve teams taking part in the final competition shall be divided into three groups of four teams.

The FIFA Organising Committee shall divide the teams into groups by seeding and drawing lots in public, whilst taking sporting and geographical factors into consideration as far as possible.

The teams in the three groups shall be designated as follows:

The system of play shall be a league system, each team playing one match against each of the other teams in the same group, with three points for a win, one point for a draw, and none for a defeat.

The ranking of the teams in each group shall be determined as follows:

a) greatest number of points obtained in all group matches;

b) goal difference in all group matches;

c) greatest number of goals scored in the group matches.If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria,their rankings shall be determined as follows:

d) greatest number of points obtained in all group matches between the teams concerned;

e) goal difference resulting from all group matches between the teams concerned;

f ) greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned;

g) fair play point system, in which the number of yellow and red cards each team has received is evaluated;

h) drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee.

The two teams ranked first and second in each group and the two best teams among those coming third qualify for the quarter-finals.

The two best teams among those coming third shall be determined as follows:

a) greater number of points obtained in all the group matches;

b) goal difference resulting from all the group matches;

c) greater number of goals scored in all the group matches;

d) fair play point system, in which the number of yellow and red cards each team has received is evaluated;

e) drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee.

Quarter-finals

The eight teams that advance from the group stage shall contest the quarter-finals as follows:

Winner E v. 3rd F or G = Winner 1
Winner F v. Runner-up G = Winner 2
Winner G v. 3rd E or F = Winner 3
Runner-up E v. Runner-up F = Winner 4

The matches shall be played in accordance with the knockout system.

Semi-finals

The four teams that advance from the quarter-finals shall contest the semi-finals as follows:

Winner 1 v. Winner 3
Winner 2 v. Winner 4

The matches shall be played in accordance with the knockout system.

Final and play-off for third place

1. The winners of the semi-finals qualify for the final.

2. The losers of the semi-finals contest the play-off for the third place.

3. If the play-off for the third place is not played directly preceding the final and is a draw after 90 minutes, extra time shall be played (two periods of 15 minutes each) and followed, if necessary, by kicks from the penalty mark to determine the winner. However, if the match is played directly preceding the final and is a draw after 90 minutes, no extra time shall be played and the winner shall be determined immediately by kicks from the penalty mark.

4. If the final is a draw after 90 minutes, extra time shall be played (two periods of 15 minutes each) and followed, if necessary, by kicks from the penalty mark to determine the winner.

Contest Duration

Each match lasts 90 minutes, divided in two periods of 45 minutes each, with an interval of 15 minutes in between.If a match in the knockout stages is a draw after 90 minutes, extra time shall be played (two periods of 15 minutes each) followed, if necessary, by kicks from the penalty mark to determine the winner.