Algarve Cup
| Algarve Cup | |
| Full name | Algarve Women's Football Cup |
| Association | FPF , FIFA |
| First edition | 1994 |
| Teams | 8 or 12 |
| Game mode |
Round tournament (3 groups of 4 teams or 4 groups of 3 teams) Placement games |
| Title holder |
 Germany (4th title)
|
| Record winner |
 USA (10 wins)
|
| Record player | ? |
| Record scorer |
Abby Wambach (23)
|
The Algarve Women's Football Cup , ( Portuguese : Mundialito de Futebol Feminino , English : Algarve Women's Football Cup ), or Algarve Cup for short , is an international football tournament for women's national football teams. The tournament has been held every spring in the Algarve in Portugal since 1994 and is one of the most important tournaments in women's football , alongside the Olympic Games and the world and continental championships.
The tournament is an invitation-only tournament, whereby the games are officially rated as friendly games. It is organized by the Portuguese FPF in cooperation with the football associations from Denmark , Norway and Sweden with the support of FIFA . The four countries also took part in all events with the exception of 2016, when Norway and Sweden were prevented by an Olympic qualifying tournament. All teams that were previously in the top 10 of the FIFA world rankings took part at least once.
The US team is the most successful participant with ten wins. This is followed by Norway with five, Sweden and Germany with four each and China with two wins. Teams from CONCACAF and UEFA have each won the tournament eleven times, with the two continental associations taking turns since 2011. Two victories went to Asia. The reigning world champion almost always took part and won the tournament six times. Only in 2004 and 2011, when the German team and in 2016 and 2017, when the American team did not participate, were an exception to this rule.
Venues
So far , the venues have been Albufeira , Alvor , Faro , Ferreiras , Guia , Lagoa , Lagos , Loulé , Montechoro , Olhão , Paderne , Parchal , Portimão , Quarteira , Silves and Vila Real de Santo António .
|
 Estádio Algarve in Faro |
mode
In the first edition in 1994, six teams played in two groups of three, from 1995 to 2001 eight teams in two groups of four; places 1 to 6 or 8 were determined in the games of those who were tied.
Twelve teams have participated since 2002 and the following mode applied until 2014: The eight teams with the highest ratings formed groups A and B, and the four weaker teams formed group C. First, the teams in their group played each against each other for the placement. First the best number of points, then the direct comparison and only then the goal difference was decisive for the placement. Then proceed as follows:
- Game for 11th place: The third and fourth placed teams in Group C.
- Game for 9th place: The second-placed team in group C against the worse fourth-placed team in groups A or B.
- Game for 7th place: Winner of group C against the better fourth-placed team in groups A or B.
- Match for 5th place: The third-placed teams in groups A and B.
- Match for 3rd place: The teams placed second in groups A and B.
- Final game: The winners of groups A and B played for the tournament victory.
The grouping has been changed for the 2015 edition. Groups A, B and C were now about equally strong. In the final, the two best group winners met each other, in the game for third place the worst group winner and the best group runner-up. The same procedure was followed in 2017 and 2018.
In 2016 the tournament - like the Cyprus Cup , which again took place in parallel - only took place with eight teams and for the first time without the participation of the defending champion, as the qualifying tournaments for the 2016 Olympic Games in Asia and to determine the last European starter and the SheBelieves Cup 2016 took place at the same time . The eight teams initially played in two groups. The equally ranked teams then played for places.
In 2019 there were four groups with three teams each, so that each team only had two group games and was free of play on one match day. Then the two best group winners played in the final, the third best and worst group winners in the match for third place. The other placements were played out in the same way. Rules were also introduced for the weather-related cancellation of games after the game was abandoned in 2018 and the final could not take place due to weather conditions. However, these regulations did not have to be used in 2019.
If it was a draw after the regular playing time of the placement games, extra time followed in the past and then possibly a penalty shoot-out . Overtime has not been played since 2008.
First participations
In the 26 tournaments held so far, there were a total of 36 different participants. The following overview shows which country first participated in which event (number of participations in brackets, as of 2020).
| year | First time participant | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 |
 Denmark (26)
|
 Finland (18)
|
 Norway (25)
|
 Portugal (26)
|
 Sweden (25)
|
USA (20)
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| 1995 |
 Italy (4)
|
 Netherlands (6)
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| 1996 |
 China (23)
|
 Iceland (15)
|
 Russia (5)
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| 1997 | not a first-time participant | |||
| 1998 | not a first-time participant | |||
| 1999 |
 Australia (3)
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| 2000 |
 Canada (8)
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| 2001 | not a first-time participant | |||
| 2002 |
Germany (11)
|
 England (2)
|
 Scotland (2)
|
 Wales (8)
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| 2003 |
 France (6)
|
 Greece (2)
|
 Ireland (5)
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| 2004 |
 Northern Ireland (2)
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| 2005 |
 Mexico (3)
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| 2006 | not a first-time participant (Slovakia was invited to replace Northern Ireland but also withdrew) | |||
| 2007 | not a first-time participant | |||
| 2008 |
 Poland (3)
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| 2009 |
 Austria (3)
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| 2010 |
 Faroe Islands (1)
|
 Romania (2)
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| 2011 |
 Chile (1)
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 Japan (7)
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| 2012 |
 Hungary (2)
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| 2013 | not a first-time participant | |||
| 2014 |
 North Korea (1)
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| 2015 |
 Brazil (2)
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 Switzerland (2)
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| 2016 |
 Belgium (1)
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 New Zealand (1)
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| 2017 |
 Spain (2)
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| 2018 |
 South Korea (1)
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| 2019 | not a first-time participant | |||
| 2020 | not a first-time participant | |||
The tournaments at a glance
(*) Reigning world champion
Leaderboards
|
* No participant from Africa yet. |
Participant overview
| team | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Australia
|
- | - | - | - | - | 5. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4th | 4th | - | - |
|
Belgium
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5. | - | - | - | 6th |
|
Brazil
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7th | 2. | - | - | - | - |
|
Chile
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 11. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
China
|
- | - | 3. | 2. | 5. | 1. | 3. | 3. | 1. | 2. | 6th | 7th | 6th | 10. | 9. | 5. | 4th | 7th | 9. | 6th | 5. | 12. | - | 10. | 11. | 12. | - |
|
Denmark
|
4th | 2. | 4th | 4th | 2. | 4th | 6th | 2. | 6th | 9. | 7th | 6th | 9. | 2. | 2. | 3. | 5. | 6th | 5. | 7th | 6th | 6th | 7th | 3. | 10. | 6th | 5. |
|
Germany
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4th | - | - | 2. | 1. | 8th. | 4th | 4th | 2. | - | 1. | 2. | 1. | 3. | - | - | - | - | 1. |
|
England
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 9. | - | - | 8th. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
Faroe Islands
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 12. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
Finland
|
6th | 5. | 8th. | 6th | 8th. | 8th. | 7th | 7th | 7th | 6th | 9. | 10. | 7th | 6th | 8th. | 7th | 8th. | 10. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
France
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4th | 3. | 3. | 4th | 4th | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2. | - | - | - | - | - |
|
Greece
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8th. | 11. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
Ireland
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 11. | - | - | 10. | 11. | 12. | - | - | - | 11. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
Iceland
|
- | - | 6th | 7th | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 9. | 7th | 6th | 9. | 2. | 6th | 9. | 3. | 10. | 3. | 9. | 9. | 9. | - |
|
Italy
|
- | 7th | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4th | - | - | 7th | 6th | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2. |
|
Japan
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3. | 2. | 5. | 2. | 9. | - | 6th | 6th | - | - |
|
Canada
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | 5. | 4th | 8th. | 7th | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1. | 2. | 5. | 3. | - |
|
Mexico
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 9. | 8th. | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8th. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
New Zealand
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4th | - | - | - | 4th |
|
Netherlands
|
- | 6th | - | 5. | 6th | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5. | 1. | 11. | - |
|
Northern Ireland
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 12. | 12. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
North Korea
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8th. | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
Norway
|
1. | 3. | 1. | 1. | 1. | 3. | 2. | 5. | 2. | 3. | 2. | 5. | 5. | 5. | 3. | 9. | 6th | 5. | 7th | 3. | 10. | 5. | - | 11. | 7th / 8th | 1. | 3. |
|
Austria
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 10. | 11. | - | - | - | 11. | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
Poland
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 11. | 11. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2. | - |
|
Portugal
|
5. | 8th. | 7th | 8th. | 7th | 7th | 8th. | 8th. | 11. | 10. | 8th. | 11. | 11. | 12. | 10. | 8th. | 10. | 9. | 10. | 11. | 12. | 11. | 8th. | 12. | 3. | 10. | 8th. |
|
Romania
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7th | 12. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
Russia
|
- | - | 5. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 9. | - | 6th | 8th. | 12. | - | - |
|
Scotland
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 10. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5. | - |
|
Sweden
|
3. | 1. | 2. | 3. | 4th | 6th | 4th | 1. | 3. | 5. | 5. | 4th | 3. | 3. | 5. | 1. | 3. | 4th | 4th | 4th | 4th | 4th | - | 7th | 1. | 4th | 7th |
|
Switzerland
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8th. | - | - | - | 8th. | - |
|
Spain
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1. | - | 7th | - |
|
South Korea
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7th / 8th | - | - |
|
Hungary
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 12. | 10. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
United States
|
2. | 4th | - | - | 3. | 2. | 1. | 6th | 5. | 1. | 1. | 1. | 2. | 1. | 1. | 2. | 1. | 1. | 3. | 1. | 7th | 1. | - | - | - | - | - |
|
Wales
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 12. | 12. | 10. | - | - | - | - | 12. | - | 8th. | 8th. | 12. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Goal scorers
Awards
The number in brackets indicates the number of awards from the second.
|
Trivia
- Most victories as a coach: April Heinrichs (USA), Silvia Neid (Germany) and Pia Sundhage (Sweden, with the USA team) - 3 each
- Most wins as coach: Even Pellerud and Per-Mathias Høgmo (both Norway), Greg Ryan (USA) - 2 each
- Most frequent pairing: Norway - USA 15 ×
- Most opponents: Portugal - 30 (Portugal already played against all participants except Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and South Korea)
- Biggest wins: Sweden - Finland (1996), USA - Portugal (2000) and Germany - Finland (2010) all 7-0
- Most games: Denmark (102), Portugal (100), Norway and Sweden (97 each)
Web links
- RSSSF.com Archive (English)
- Dossier de imprensa , information on the 2015 tournament, summary of previous events (Portuguese; PDF; 2.12 MB)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d Because the Italians did not show up because of COVID-19 , Germany was declared the tournament winner without a fight.
- ↑ a b c d The 2018 final between the Netherlands and Sweden was canceled due to continuous rain. There were two first and no second place finishers.
- ↑ ALGARVE CUP EM NÚMEROS (Portuguese).