If the FIFA Women’s World Cup had expanded to 48 teams instead of 16 beginning in 1999, dozens of additional nations would have reached football’s biggest stage. While the strongest teams would still have qualified comfortably, the biggest winners are nations that consistently hovered just outside the qualification line.
Using every World Cup qualification cycle from 1999 through 2023, these are the nations that would have gained the most additional appearances under a 48-team format. They also stand to be the teams that would benefit the most if the tournament were expanded.
Iceland
UEFA (7 additional appearances)
Iceland have established themselves as one of Europe’s most consistent women’s national teams. Although they regularly qualified for the UEFA Women’s Championship, the Women’s World Cup proved considerably more difficult due to Europe’s limited allocation of places. In 2011, Iceland drew France and lost 3–1 on aggregate, missing direct qualification. France went on to finish 4th at the 2011 Women’s World Cup. Furthermore, in 2023 qualifying, Iceland entered the final match level with the Netherlands. A draw would have secured first place and automatic qualification. However, the Netherlands scored a 93rd-minute winner to win 1–0.
Trinidad and Tobago
CONCACAF (7 additional appearances)
Trinidad and Tobago would also have benefited from a larger Women’s World Cup. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s they were consistently among CONCACAF’s strongest teams outside of the United States and Canada, regularly qualifying for the final stages of regional tournaments. They finished fourth at the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship, earning an intercontinental playoff against Ecuador. After a 0–0 first leg, they conceded a 91st-minute goal in the second leg to lose 1–0 on aggregate, missing their first World Cup by moments.
Papua New Guinea
OFC (7 additional appearances)
Papua New Guinea have long been one of Oceania’s strongest women’s national teams outside of New Zealand. They consistently reached the latter stages of OFC Women’s Nations Cups. Papua New Guinea came closest to qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup after reaching the OFC Women’s Nations Cup final, where they lost 1–0 to New Zealand. They were given a second chance through the intercontinental playoffs but fell 2–0 to Panama.
Myanmar
AFC (6 additional appearances)
Myanmar spent many years among the leading nations just below Asia’s traditional powers. They regularly advanced to the final stages of AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualification and remained competitive against stronger opposition. In the 2003 AFC Women’s Championship, they finished second in their group, but that was not enough to advance to the knockout stage matches.
Ukraine
UEFA (5 additional appearances)
Ukraine consistently fielded competitive women’s national teams but often found themselves competing against Europe’s deep pool of teams. They regularly remained in contention throughout qualifying before narrowly missing out. A 48-team tournament would significantly increase Ukraine’s chances. They almost qualified for the 2015 World Cup, but lost 4–3 on aggregate to Italy in the final playoff round.
Finland
UEFA (5 additional appearances)
Finland have been consistently competitive in European women’s football, regularly qualifying for the UEFA Women’s Championship but finding World Cup qualification more elusive. Their closest call came in 2023, when they remained in contention until the final stages of qualifying before narrowly missing a playoff place.
Paraguay
(CONMEBOL – 5 additional appearances)
Paraguay have regularly challenged South America’s traditional powers and consistently remained among the continent’s strongest women’s national teams. Their closest opportunity to make the World Cup came in 2023, when they reached the intercontinental playoffs after finishing third at the 2022 Copa América Femenina but were eliminated by just one goal versus Panama.
South Africa
CAF (5 additional appearances)
South Africa developed into one of Africa’s strongest women’s national teams well before making their first World Cup appearance in 2019. They consistently reached the later stages of African qualifying tournaments and frequently finished just outside the available places. Expansion would likely establish Banyana Banyana as regular World Cup participants.
Cameroon
CAF (5 additional appearances)
Cameroon emerged as one of Africa’s leading women’s football nations during the 2010s, but their competitiveness extended beyond the two World Cups in 2015 and 2019 they ultimately reached. They regularly advanced deep into African qualifying tournaments. Additional qualification places would likely make Cameroon a fixture at the Women’s World Cup.
Haiti
CONCACAF (5 additional appearances)
Czech Republic inherited one of Europe’s strongest football traditions after the breakup of Czechoslovakia. Although they qualified in 2006, several other campaigns ended in playoff defeats or second-place group finishes. Their consistent high FIFA ranking suggests they were stronger than their World Cup appearances indicate.
Vietnam
AFC (5 additional appearances)
Vietnam steadily developed into one of Asia’s strongest women’s football nations before finally qualifying for the 2023 Women’s World Cup. They were also close to qualifying in 2015, when they reached the AFC Women’s Asian Cup semifinals but lost the third-place playoff to Thailand, by a score of 2-1.
Chinese Taipei
AFC (5 additional appearances)
Taiwan had been one of Asia’s pioneering women’s football nations, finishing among the continent’s elite during the 1970s and 1980s. Although newer powers gradually emerged, they remained highly competitive in qualifying. Their closest opportunity came in the 1997 AFC Women’s Championship semifinals but narrowly missed one of Asia’s qualification places, losing to Japan in the 3rd place match.