The 2023 Women's Finalissima was the first edition of the Women's Finalissima, an intercontinental women's football match between the winners of the most recent European and South American championships. The match featured England, winners of UEFA Women's Euro 2022, and Brazil, winners of the 2022 Copa América Femenina. It was played at Wembley Stadium in London on 6 April 2023. The match was organised by UEFA and CONMEBOL as part of a renewed partnership between the two confederations.

England won the match 4–2 on penalties following a 1–1 draw after 90 minutes to secure the inaugural Women's Finalissima title.

Background On 12 February 2020, UEFA and CONMEBOL signed a renewed memorandum of understanding meant to enhance cooperation between the two organisations. As part of the agreement, a joint UEFA–CONMEBOL committee examined the possibility of staging European–South American intercontinental matches, for both men's and women's football and across various age groups. In September 2021, UEFA and CONMEBOL announced the revival of the Artemio Franchi Cup between the winners of the men's UEFA European Championship and Copa América. On 15 December 2021, UEFA and CONMEBOL again signed a renewed memorandum of understanding lasting until 2028, which included specific provisions on opening a joint office in London, England and the potential organisation of various football events. On 2 June 2022, the day after staging the 2022 Finalissima, CONMEBOL and UEFA announced a series of new events between teams from the two confederations. This included the Women's Finalissima, to be played by the winners of South America's Copa América Femenina and Europe's UEFA Women's Championship. As part of the announcement, the first edition was confirmed to take place in Europe, with the exact date and venue to be announced at a later date. The match was provisionally scheduled to be held during the FIFA International Match Calendar window of 13 to 25 February 2023, but was later confirmed to take place on 6 April 2023 in London. On 26 October 2022, it was confirmed the match would take place at Wembley Stadium.

In the UK, the match was broadcast live on TV by ITV1 and STV, with radio coverage being provided by BBC Radio 5 Live.

Teams TeamConfederationQualificationFIFA RankingsMarch 2023UEFAWinners of UEFA Women's Euro 20224CONMEBOLWinners of the 2022 Copa América Femenina9

England qualified for the match by virtue of winning UEFA Women's Euro 2022 as hosts, having defeated Germany 2–1 after extra time in the final. The win secured England's first major women's football title. Brazil qualified for the match by virtue of winning the 2022 Copa América Femenina, having defeated hosts Colombia 1–0 in the final. The win was Brazil's eighth Copa América title.

Match

Details

GK 1 Mary Earps RB 2 Lucy BronzeCB 5 Leah Williamson (c)CB 6 Alex GreenwoodLB 3 Jess CarterDM 4 Keira WalshCM 8 Georgia StanwayCM 10Ella TooneRW 7 Lauren James LW 11Lauren Hemp CF 9 Alessia Russo Substitutes:GK 13Ellie RoebuckGK 21Hannah HamptonDF 12Maya Le TissierDF 14Esme MorganDF 15Niamh CharlesDF 23Lotte Wubben-MoyMF 16Jordan NobbsMF 18Laura CoombsFW 17Chloe Kelly FW 19Rachel Daly FW 20Jess ParkFW 22Katie Robinson Manager: Sarina Wiegman GK 12Letícia IzidoroRB 14Lauren CB 3 KathellenCB 4 Rafaelle (c) LB 6 TamiresRM 2 Antônia CM 17Ary Borges CM 15Luana LM 21KerolinCF 16Beatriz CF 18GeyseSubstitutes:GK 1 CamilaGK 22LucianaDF 13TarcianeDF 19YasmimDF 20Fe Palermo MF 7 Duda Francelino MF 8 Ana VitóriaMF 9 Andressa MF 10Duda SantosMF 25Gabi PortilhoFW 11Adriana FW 23Gabi Nunes Manager: Pia Sundhage

Player of the Match: Keira Walsh (England)

Assistant referees: Élodie Coppola (France) Manuela Nicolosi (France) Fourth official: Esther Staubli (Switzerland) Video assistant referee: Jérôme Brisard (France) Assistant video assistant referee: Maïka Vanderstichel (France)Match rules 90 minutes Penalty shoot-out if scores level Maximum of twelve named substitutes Maximum of five substitutions

Statistics

+First halfStatisticEnglandBrazilGoals scored10Total shots91Shots on target40Saves03Ball possession73%27%Corner kicks31Fouls committed35Offsides31Yellow cards01Red cards00

+Second halfStatisticEnglandBrazilGoals scored01Total shots28Shots on target13Saves21Ball possession55%45%Corner kicks12Fouls committed55Offsides41Yellow cards20Red cards00

+OverallStatisticEnglandBrazilGoals scored11Total shots119Shots on target53Saves24Ball possession64%36%Corner kicks43Fouls committed810Offsides72Yellow cards21Red cards00

Aftermath England midfielder Keira Walsh was named official player of the match, with teammate Lucy Bronze voted by fans as England's player of the match. Brazil's Geyse was highlighted for her constant attacking threat throughout the match; coach Pia Sundhage praised Geyse's contribution and credited her move to Barcelona the previous summer for her form. After the match, pundits on British show Football Focus suggested that Walsh and Bronze also joining Barcelona at the same time had similarly improved their form, while giving the same assessment to Georgia Stanway and her move to Bayern Munich.

England's unbeaten run before the match included several encounters that were deemed not challenging enough for the team to prepare for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup set to take place in July and August 2023; sports media agreed that while England had looked equally dominant in the first half of the Finalissima, the threat of Brazil in the second half was "the test England needed". The experience of the penalty shoot-out in front of such a large crowd was also considered beneficial for the teams.

Both teams played international fixtures again five days later on 11 April 2023. England would go on to lose 2–0 to Australia in Brentford, their first defeat under manager Sarina Wiegman and ending a 30-match unbeaten run that started in September 2021. Meanwhile, Brazil would beat Germany 2–1 in Nuremberg.

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