Women’s Football in the 90s: The Moments That Built the Game

If your feed is anything like mine, it has been full of football flashbacks to the 90s and taking this trip down memory lane has been refreshing. So we thought we’d lean into it a bit more, not just for nostalgia’s sake, but because so much of what we’re watching now in the women’s game is rooted in the 90s.

Here are our top 5 moments from women’s football in the 90s that shaped where we are today.

1. Arsenal’s Era of Domestic Dominance

   

   Photo Credit: Courtesy of the FA

If you were watching women’s football in England in the 90s, chances are you were watching Arsenal Women - or then known as Arsenal Ladies - win something.

Their rise started early in the decade, picking up the League Cup in 1992 and then immediately earning promotion to the top division. The best part is that they didn’t just settle there, but instead, they won the top division league at the first attempt. From that point on what Arsenal had was sustained dominance.

But what really set Arsenal apart wasn’t just results, it was how seriously they took everything around the game. While a lot of teams were still figuring things out, Arsenal were investing in structure for things like training, coaching, recruitment. Albeit not to the standard that we are at today, but it was a start. They moved into Meadow Park, where they still play the odd game after their official move to the Emirates Stadium ahead of this season, and built a proper environment, and started treating the women’s side more like the men’s setup. Whilst the attendances were nothing like what we see today, the stage was set to be watched. 

Players like Kelly Smith and Rachel Yankey came through and played key roles during that period, and you can trace a direct line from that squad to the success Arsenal have had since. And one fun fact is that Emma Hayes - former Chelsea Women’s manager and now currently managing the US Women’s National Team - was part of Arsenal’s academy setup in the 90s, even making the senior squad in her final few seasons before a career ending injury. 

They ended the decade with multiple FA Cups, league titles, and a reputation as the team to beat. More importantly, they set a benchmark showing what was possible when a club started to back its women’s team. 

2. The First Official Women’s World Cup

Photo Credit: BBC Bitesize

Whilst now the FIFA Women’s World Cup feels like a natural segment in our football calendar, the first official Women’s World Cup didn’t happen until 1991.

Before that, we had iconic unofficial tournaments - like Copa 71 - but nothing with FIFA backing. That finally changed in 1991 China, where 12 teams competed in what was then called the FIFA Women’s World Championship. It might not have had the branding or legacy we know now, but it was a huge step.

The United States women’s national soccer team won that first tournament, beating Norway in the final.

It was evident that the world lacked the global media of women’s football, where by 1999 WWC hosted in the USA, the final at the Rose Bowl had over 90,000 fans in attendance, which is still one of the biggest crowds in women’s sport. That final, with Brandi Chastain’s iconic celebration, is one of those moments people still reference today and was one that dominated our timelines these last few weeks.

The 90s not only gave us an official World Cup, but it also proved that there was a demand for it. 

3. USWNT Take Over the World

Roberto Schmidt/Agence France-Presse - Getty Images

If one team defined the 90s on the international stage, it was the United States women’s national soccer team.

This was a team of winners that dominated on the global stage. This team were World Cup winners in 1991 and 1999, Olympic gold medallists in 1996, and consistently miles ahead in terms of preparation and structure. While a lot of countries still treated women’s football as an afterthought, the US were building something serious. Players like Mia Hamm and Michelle Akers played a massive role in pushing the game into the mainstream.

What’s easy to forget is how little support they initially had. After winning the 1991 World Cup, they came home to barely any recognition. But by the end of the decade, that had completely flipped and the team was celebrated and embraced. 

The 1999 team, in particular, changed everything. This was a cultural shift in western women’s sport, and suddenly young girls across the US wanted to play football.

4. Germany’s European Stronghold

Photo Credit: Bongarts

While the US were running things globally, Germany women’s national football team were dominating Europe.

They won three European Championships in the 90s, during a time when the tournament format itself was still evolving. Early editions were small, with just four teams competing in the finals, but by the end of the decade, it had expanded, reflecting the growth and demand of the game.

Germany’s success story wasn’t just about talent but also one of consistency. They built a system that produced competitive teams year after year, and they were often ahead of others in terms of organisation and structure.

They’re still the most successful team in the competition’s history, winning the tournament a  total of 8 times, which says a lot about the foundation built during that period.

It’s easy to focus on the big global moments, but Europe’s development, and Germany’s role in it, was just as important in pushing standards forward.

5. Big Shifts for the FA in England

Photo Credit: Getty Images

The 90s were also when things started to properly change off the pitch in England. Up until that point, the women’s game had largely been run by the Women’s Football Association (WFA), but in 1993, control officially moved to The Football Association. This was a huge step for women’s football, as equity was finally on the table. 

Around the same time, the national league system was expanding. A 24-club league launched in 1991, before splitting into multiple divisions. Suddenly, there was more opportunity and competition, and something resembling a proper football pyramid - though we still have far to go with this.

Centres of Excellence for young girls was also introduced, finally giving young girls access to high quality facilities and youth programs that their male counterparts always had. Additionally, in 1998, the FA appointed Hope Powell as England’s first full-time women’s head coach. Again, stuff that feels standard now, but at the time, it was a huge change.

Whilst it was far from perfect, progress was key. The women’s game was finally thought of, and the potential was visible.

Photo Credit: Asian Football Confederation

The 90s weren’t polished but they showed us women fighting to play, and federations finally listening and giving them some level of support. This was a decade where the foundations were built by players and teams who didn’t have what the current generation has now.

So as the 90s nostalgia fills our timeline, hopefully you know a bit more about the context behind those iconic moments, and the people that filled those spaces.