45 days to go - FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP
The number of participants in FIFA Women’s World Cup™ qualifiers has almost tripled from 45 teams in 1991 to 128 in 2015, while the number of qualification matches has also risen considerably from 110 in 1991 to 398 in 2015.
Back in 1991, hosts China PR automatically qualified for the inaugural Women's World Cup but they nevertheless competed alongside the other Asian hopefuls. Canada did not compete in last year's CONCACAF Women's World Cup qualifiers, but the Canucks maintained their fitness and match sharpness through a series of friendlies, while the likes of USA, Mexico and Costa Rica earned their spots at Canada 2015.