Let’s revisit the cream of the crop from a stellar year.

Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on Monday apologised for kissing star player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain won the Women's World Cup.

There have never been two teams that have come to this tournament in polar opposite circumstances. 

An English side reached a football World Cup final for the first time in 57 years, with coach Sarina Wiegman saying she felt she was living in a "fairytale" after her team advanced to the Women's World Cup final with a 3-1 win over tournament co-hosts Australia in Sydney.

 England reached their first Women's World Cup final after a 3-1 victory over Australia on Wednesday despite a wonder goal from Matildas striker Sam Kerr as the co-hosts' fairytale run came to an end.

Australia and England re-engage one of the oldest and fiercest rivalries in sport when they meet with a place in the Women's World Cup final on the line at a sold-out Stadium Australia on Wednesday.

Teenager Salma Paralluelo gave another reminder of her precious talent by coming off the bench Tuesday for the second game running to play a pivotal role for Spain at the Women's World Cup.

Spain's build-up to the Women's World Cup was mired in an ugly player mutiny, but coach Jorge Vilda said there are no cracks in his squad ahead of their World Cup quarter-final game on Friday against the Netherlands.

Jill Roord scored her fourth goal of the tournament as the Netherlands marched into the quarter-finals of the Women's World Cup with a 2-0 win over South Africa at Sydney Football Stadium on Sunday.

South Africa won a Women's World Cup match for the first time with a stunning 3-2 victory over Italy to reach the last 16 in a thriller on Wednesday.

The four-times champions have put their trust in the next generation this year and were rewarded with a showstopping performance from the 22-year-old forward, who also provided the assist for co-captain Lindsey Horan's goal in the second half

Australia captain and forward Sam Kerr was ruled out of two games of the Women's World Cup, including the opener against Ireland on Thursday, after picking up a calf injury in training a day earlier.

The sport's governing body expects 2 billion people to tune in for the 64-game tournament being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, with the event set to kick off in Auckland on Thursday

Four years after the United States won the Women's World Cup to cheers of "equal pay", this year's co-hosts Australia have thrust the issue of gender equity back on to soccer's biggest stage as players across federations demand better conditions and pay.

Speaking at the FIFA Congress in Kigali after being re-elected for a third term as president, Infantino said the total pot, covering prize money as well as compensation for preparations and for clubs, would be $152 million.

The beautiful game has been the most popular sport on the planet for over a century, but although the field has been dominated by men for most of its history, times have begun to change in the last few decades.