Spain

The Spain women's national football team (Spanish: Seleccion Espanola de Futbol Femenina) has represented Spain in international women's football competition since 1980, and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain.

Spain have qualified two times for the FIFA Women's World Cup and three times for the UEFA Women's Championship, reaching the semifinals in 1997. Contrast to its lackluster senior side, Spain's youth teams are one of the most successful and have enjoyed a great success in 2018, getting the two continental titles (U-17 and U-19), and reaching the two worldwide finals, winners in the U-17 World Cup and runners-up in the U-20 World Cup.

History

Early years

After underground women's football clubs started appearing in Spain around 1970 one of its instigators, Rafael Muga, decided to create a national team. It was an unofficial project as football was considered an unsuitable sport for women by both the Royal Spanish Football Federation and National Movement's Women's Section, which organized women's sports in Francoist Spain. When asked about the initiative in January 1971 RFEF president Jose Luis Perez Paya answered I'm not against women's football, but I don't like it either. I don't think it's feminine from an esthetic point of view. Women are not favored wearing shirt and trousers. Any regional dress would fit them better.

One month later, on 21 February 1971, the unofficial Spanish national team, including Conchi Sanchez, who played professionally in the Italian league, made its debut in Murcia's La Condomina against Portugal, ending in a 3–3 draw. The team wasn't allowed to wear RFEF's crest and the referee couldn't wear an official uniform either. On 15 July, with a 5-days delay for transfer issues, it played its first game abroad against Italy in Turin's Stadio Comunale, suffering an 8–1 defeat. It was then invited to the 2nd edition of unofficial women's world cup (Mundialito 1981), b

This page also has a version in other languages :  Женская сборная Испании (russian)