It wasn't just a game. Honestly, calling the Women's World Cup final at Stadium Australia a mere sporting event feels like a massive understatement. When Olga Carmona’s left foot connected with that ball in the 29th minute, the sound wasn't just a thud; it was a shift in the tectonic plates of global sports. Spain won. England lost. But the narrative that came out of Sydney on August 20, 2023, was way messier and more fascinating than a simple scoreline.
You’ve probably seen the highlights.
Spain, a team essentially in the middle of a civil war with their own federation, played some of the most beautiful, rhythmic "tiki-taka" football we've seen in a decade. England, the reigning European champions, looked uncharacteristically rattled. It was 1-0. It stayed 1-0. But if you look closer at the actual data and the atmosphere in that stadium, you see a sport that has finally outgrown the "developing" label. This wasn't a spectacle for the sake of progress. It was just elite, brutal, high-stakes soccer.
The Spain "Mutiny" and Why This Win Was Weird
Most people don't realize how close Spain came to not even having a team. A year before the Women's World Cup final, 15 players—"Las 15"—basically went on strike. They wanted better coaching, better medical support, and a professional environment that didn't feel like it was stuck in 1985.
Jorge Vilda, the coach at the time, stayed. Most of the players didn't come back.
Aitana Bonmatí did. Mariona Caldentey did. They decided to play, even if the vibes were, frankly, terrible. When they lifted that trophy, the tension was palpable. You could see it in the way the players celebrated with each other but kept a visible distance from the coaching staff. It’s a miracle of professional compartmentalization. Imagine going to work every day with a boss you’ve publicly denounced and then somehow winning the most prestigious prize in your industry. That is what Spain did.
Bonmatí was the engine. She won the Golden Ball for a reason. She doesn't just pass; she dictates terms. If you watch the film of the first half, she’s constantly pulling England’s Georgia Stanway out of position. It’s subtle. It’s brilliant. It’s why Spain had 58% possession in a final against a team as physically dominant as England.
England’s Tactical Nightmare
Sarina Wiegman is a genius. Let’s just get that out of the way. She’s the only coach to lead two different nations to a Women's World Cup final. But in Sydney, she got outmaneuvered.
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England started with their 3-5-2 formation, the one that helped them crush China and squeeze past Nigeria. It didn't work. Spain’s wingers stayed so wide that England’s wing-backs, Lucy Bronze and Rachel Daly, were pinned back. They couldn't attack. England looked like they were playing in quicksand.
Wiegman tried to fix it. At halftime, she made a gutsy double sub: off went Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp, on came Chloe Kelly and Lauren James. She switched to a 4-3-3. It helped. It really did. England started winning second balls. Mary Earps—who is quite literally a wall in human form—saved a penalty from Jenni Hermoso that should have buried the Lionesses. That save was pure theater. Earps screaming at her teammates after the save became an instant meme, but it was also a masterclass in psychological warfare.
But even with the momentum shift, England couldn't break the Spanish press. Spain’s defense, led by Irene Paredes, was just too disciplined. They didn't panic.
The Impact Beyond the 90 Minutes
The numbers are stupidly big.
- 75,784 people in the stands.
- 2 billion viewers globally across the tournament.
- $570 million in revenue generated.
People keep saying women’s sports need "investment." The Women's World Cup final proved they are already an investment that has paid off. In the UK, the BBC reported a peak audience of 12 million. In Spain, despite the game happening on a Sunday morning, it was the most-watched women's soccer match ever.
But it’s not all sunshine. We have to talk about what happened on the podium. Luis Rubiales, the then-president of the Spanish FA, forcibly kissed Jenni Hermoso during the medal ceremony. It was a dark cloud over a historic achievement. It led to his resignation and a massive reckoning within Spanish sports culture. It reminded everyone that while the players are world-class, the institutions behind them are often still playing catch-up.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Quality
I hear this a lot: "The goalkeeping isn't there yet."
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Absolute nonsense.
If you watched Mary Earps in that final, or Cata Coll for Spain, you saw elite positioning. Coll, who hadn't even earned a senior cap before the knockout stages, played with the nerves of a veteran. The "poor goalkeeping" trope is a holdover from twenty years ago when the goals were the same size but the training wasn't there. Now? These athletes are specialized. The gap is closing at a terrifying speed.
Why Spain’s Style Is the New Blueprint
Spain didn't win because they were faster or stronger. They won because they were smarter with the ball. They've exported the "Spanish School" to the women's game. It’s about triangles. It’s about the "third man" run.
Salma Paralluelo is the perfect example of this evolution. She’s a former track star—literally a world-class hurdler—who decided to play soccer. Her pace is frightening, but her technical ability under pressure is what makes her a nightmare for defenders. She’s 19. She started in a Women's World Cup final. Think about that.
Actionable Insights for the Future of the Sport
If you're a fan, a brand, or an investor, the takeaway from the 2023 final is clear: the "niche" era is over. This is a mainstream product.
For Brands: Stop treating women’s soccer like a charity project. The ROI (Return on Investment) is in the engagement. Fans of women's sports are statistically more likely to support sponsors than fans of men's sports. It's about loyalty.
For Developing Nations: Look at Morocco or Jamaica. They didn't have the resources of the US or Germany, but they made it deep into the tournament through tactical organization and sheer grit. The blueprint for success isn't just "have more money"—it's about structured youth development and giving players a professional environment.
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For Fans: Get used to the parity. The days of the USA winning every game 8-0 are gone. Spain, England, France, Australia, and Japan are all playing at a level where anyone can beat anyone on a given Sunday.
The Women's World Cup final was a chaotic, beautiful, politically charged masterpiece. It showed us that soccer is at its best when it's unpredictable. Spain wasn't supposed to win, given the turmoil. England was "bringing it home" until they weren't.
To really understand where the game goes next, watch the domestic leagues. The WSL in England and Liga F in Spain are seeing massive attendance spikes because people didn't stop caring once the final whistle blew in Sydney. The momentum didn't evaporate; it just moved house.
Check the schedules for the upcoming UEFA Women’s Nations League or the NWSL in the States. The tactical battles we saw in the final are happening every weekend now. Don't wait for the next World Cup in 2027 to tune back in. The evolution is happening in real-time.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts:
- Follow the Individuals: Track players like Aitana Bonmatí and Keira Walsh in their club seasons. Their tactical roles often differ from the national team, offering a deeper look at their versatility.
- Analyze the Data: Use sites like FBref to look at "Progressive Carries" and "Expected Goals (xG)" from the final. You'll see that Spain's dominance was even more pronounced in the numbers than it appeared on TV.
- Support Local: The 2023 final was built on the backs of professional leagues. Find your nearest professional women's club and attend a match. The atmosphere is different, but the intensity is exactly the same.
The 2023 final wasn't the end of a journey. It was a starting gun. Soccer is different now, and honestly, it’s about time.