As is customary in international tournaments, the hosts were seeded first in Group A where they were drawn with Denmark, Nigeria and debutants, North Korea who finished as runners-up to China in the 1997 AFC Women's Championship, the first time they had entered. Denmark had topped their group in the European qualifiers having won all their games.
Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Knock Out Stages
Denmark
United States
The hosts got off to a perfect start in the opening match of the tournament played in New Jersey. The USA led at half-time thanks to Mia Hamm (17') while late goals from Foudy (73') and Lilly (89') put the game beyond reach.
Korea DPR
Nigeria
Akide put Nigeria into the lead five minutes after half-time. Jo Song Ok equalised in the 74th minute only for Rita Nwadike to score for Nigeria five minutes later. The west African side hung on to their lead in a bad tempered finish during which three Koreans and one Nigerian were cautioned.
United States
Nigeria
Okosieme delivered a shock goal in the second minute for Nigeria who held on to their lead for just 15 minutes before Mia Hamm drove a free kick hard and low into a crwded penalty where it cannoned off a Nigerian defender and into the net. Within a minute, Hamm put the United States into the lead a minute later and from then on it was one way traffic.
Korea DPR
Denmark
This performance may be compared to that of the North Korean men's team in 1966. At half-time the newcomers were 2-0 up against the fancied Danish side. In the 73rd minute Kim Sum Il scored a third but Johansen pulled one back for the Danes a minute later.
Nigeria
Denmark
Denmark's misery was completed by Nigeria who clinched their place in the next round with goals in each half.
United States
Korea DPR
Three goals in the second half assured the USNWT of maximum points and a place in the knock-out stages.