Spain win historic FIFA Women’s World Cup final against England

The victory by Spain's women has been celebrated by their male counterparts, who took home the men's trophy from South Africa in 2010.

“Champions of the world! Champions of the world,” they wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, adding, “An entire country has vibrated with you girls. You have changed FOREVER the history of Spanish women’s football.”

The early strike by Spain’s Olga Carmona played perfectly into La Roja’s high possession game, England Captain Millie Bright conceded after the game.

“Against a team like this where you let them get that sort of momentum, it’s actually really difficult,” Bright told reporters after the game. “They love to possess the ball.”

Spain had the edge in possession, 47%-37%, and had more attempts on goal, 14-7, and shots on target, 5-3.

The captain said she was proud of her teammates for bringing England to the nation’s first Women’s World Cup final.

“A lot of emotion, but really proud of the team, to come this far to play in the World Cup final, not many players do that,” she said. “So yeah, really proud.”

Even as the world’s No. 6-ranked team, Spain’s Golden Ball winner Aitana Bonmatí said her side knew it had the potential to win it all.

“Everyone knew the goal at the beginning of the preparation of the tournament,” told reporters after the match. “We have been working a lot of years for this moment.”

LONDON — In east London’s Bar Kick, a devastated Kate Litman was rueing Englands missed chances.

“We deserved to score in the second half” Litman said, adding, “We created so many opportunities in the second half, but we didn’t have the bodies when we needed them.”

Litman said that other fans looked crestfallen as they filed out of the bar before Spain lifted the trophy.

She added that goalkeeper Mary Earps, was England’s “star.”

The Spanish team are walking onto the podium to receive their winners medals from FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Spain's Aitana Bonmatí was awarded the Golden Ball while England's Mary Earps took home the Golden Glove as the top outfielder and goalkeeper, of the competition.

Spain's Salma Paralluelo, 19, was named the Best Young Player.

Japan's Hinata Miyazawa found the net five times and she took home the Golden Boot as the competition's high scorer.

FIFA's President Gianni Infantino is presenting the England with their medals.

The Lionesses are “game-changers” despite their loss to Spain, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted shortly after the game ended.

“You left absolutely nothing out there," Sunak wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "It wasn’t to be, but you’ve already secured your legacy as game changers. We are all incredibly proud of you.”

Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposition Labour Party also took to X to pay tribute to the team. He said the result was “heartbreaking” but that the they “inspired the whole country.”

Spain became champions of the women's soccer world with a hard-fought victory over England.

The Spanish held slight advantages in possession, 46%-37%, attempts on goal, 14-7, and shots on target, 5-3.

Captain Olga Carmona's goal in the 29th minute ended up being the winner, but it could have been more because Jennifer Hermoso had a penalty saved by England's goalkeeper Mary Earps in the second half.

Captain Olga Carmona's goal seals the victory. It’s the first time Spain has won the title.

Salma Paralluelo looked to end the game with a strike from inside the area, but England's Lucy Bronze blocked it.

A massive 13 minutes have been added to the end of 90, as England desperately seeks that elusive equalizer.

The time taken to treat England's Alex Greenwood, who took a knee to the head, and the VAR review that led to a penalty contributed to this extended play.

Olga Carmona's goal in the 29th minute remains the only goal so far.

Mariona Caldentey comes off and Alexia Putellas enters the field.

Striker Ella Toone comes on for Bethany England.  

Queen Letizia of Spain and her 16-year-old daughter Infanta Sofia joined Spanish fans at Sydney's Stadium Australia.

No member of the U.K. family has made the journey to watch the final, including Prince William, who is the President of the English Football Association.

England substitute Lauren James made her biggest impact on the match yet, forcing Spanish goalkeeper Catalina Coll into a nice save.

The Spanish stopper got her right hand up to make a sharp-angle stop, preserving Spain's 1-0 lead.

Ivana Andres comes on for Laia Codina.

The Lionesses are still in the match as Mary Earps guessed correctly, giving England 20 more minutes to find an equalizer.

It would likely have been game over otherwise.

Jennifer Hermoso hits a low shot but Mary Earps dives to her left and smothers the ball.

After reviewing the video footage, Tori Penso has decided it's a penalty for Spain.

Spain drove into the box and the ball brushed England's Keira Walsh on the hand. Referee Tori Penso is checking the video.

Aitana Bonmati drives into the middle of the pitch and fires a shot. But it's just over the bar.

Lauren Hemp protested the call as she appeared to make minimal contact on Spain's Laia Codina in the 55th minute.

It could be a crucial call against England's most aggressive attacker so far this match.

LONDON — Back at Bar Kick in east London, spirits were still high among England supporters crowding around TV screens for the game, fan Kate Litman told NBC News.

“I’m nervous because Spain have been playing well, but we’ve come back from 1-0 down before,” she said.

England's Lauren Hemp flies into a tackle with Laia Codina and is received a yellow card for the challenge.

England's star forward Lauren James has entered the match, as the Lionesses seek an equalizing goal.

James missed England's quarterfinal and semifinal matches as she served a suspension for stepping on Nigera's Michelle Alozie in an ugly moment of the Lionesses’ round-of-16 victory.

The 21-year-old forward apologized for the unsportsmanlike act and vowed to "learn from" it.

Spain have kicked off the second half.

This is the first time a senior England team has reached the World Cup final in 57 years, and the Lionesses debut in the championship game.

The last time a senior team reached the final was the men's squad in 1966. In a game against West Germany, England won 4-2 in extra time.

The Lionesses have at least 45 minutes to find an equalizer in a match that's been marked by end-to-end attacks.

While Spain has controlled most of the possession, England has created chances and will hope to be equally aggressive in the second half.

Spain has outshot England, 6-3, with both sides putting two on target.

Salma Paralluelo hits a lovely shot from outside the box but it hits the post.

England break nicely down their right side and in comes the cross. But Lauren Hemp is judged offside after the ball runs across the goal.

The ball drops to Irene Paredes in the England penalty area, but she smashes it wide.

Lucy Bronze was on the attack for England before she was met by a wall of four Spanish defenders at midfield.

That dispossession ignited a lightning fast Spanish counter, ending in Olga Carmona's strike and 1-0 lead for La Roja. 

Olga Carmona drives into the England box and hits a hard and low shot into the bottom corner.

Some nice play from England and the ball comes to Lauren Hemp on the edge of the box. She hits a great shot but it crashes off the bar.

Spain's Irene Paredes and England's Lauren Hemp both went down in rough challenge for the ball in an early moment.

There was no whistle in an early sign both sides will have some latitude in physical play.

LONDON — At the heaving Bar Kick in east London, Kate Litman, 26, said she arrived an hour before kick off to make sure she got her spot.

Having rearranged a holiday to Scotland to make sure she could be in the nation’s capital for the final, Kate told NBC News she was “feeling the pressure but it’s so exciting to see such a big turnout for women’s football.”

She added that she thought England had "got this in the bag."

Driving into the box on the right hand side, England's Lauren Hemp hits a low shot. But it's not powerful and Spanish goalkeeper Catalina Coll saves.

England kick off the games in Sydney.

The teams have taken to the field. Who will make history? 

While the U.S. women's national team is nowhere to be found at Stadium Australia on Sunday, three American officials will be running the world's biggest match.

Tori Penso and her assistants, Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt, will be blowing the whistle and raising flags as England and Spain fight for the sport's ultimate trophy.

Coach Sarina Wiegman has picked an unchanged starting 11 from the semifinal, meaning star player Lauren James will be on the bench. 

England's starting XI: Mary Earps (GK), Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh, Alex Greenwood, Millie Bright (C), Georgia Stanway, Rachel Daly, Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp, Jess Carter, Alessia Russo

Coach Jorge Vilda has made one change to his semifinal starting XI with Salma Paralluelo coming in for Alexia Putellas.

Spain's starting XI: Catalina Coll (GK), Laia Codina, Irene Paredes, Olga García, Ona Batlle, Teresa Abelleira (C), Jennifer Hermoso, Aitana Bonmatí, Mariona Caldentey, Alba Redondo and Salma Paralluelo

Spain has defied expectations by reaching the final despite a near-mutiny by players last fall when 15 quit the national team citing mental health concerns. The players also called on the federation to create a more professional environment.

Three of those players — midfielder Aitana Bonmati, forward Mariona Caldentey and defender Ona Batlle — reconciled with the federation and came back for the tournament. 

Coach Jorge Vilda has thanked the federation for supporting him repeatedly during the tournament, and his players have said they are focused on the present.

Spain earned its spot in the final with a 2-1 victory over Sweden on Tuesday. Salma Paralluelo ended a scoreless stalemate with a goal in the 81st minute. After Sweden tied it, Olga Carmona scored the game winner in the final minute of regulation time.

The rallying cry “It’s Coming Home” is one game away from reality and the end of England’s 57-year drought in global soccer.

The World Cup trophy can return this Sunday to the birthplace of soccer for the first time since 1966. But if it happens, the journey back to England will be with the women’s national team and not the men’s.

The Lionesses have roared their way into their first Women’s World Cup title game, Sunday against Spain. It is the first all-European final since 2003, when Germany beat Sweden.

It has been a magical ride for both teams: England has been on top of the global game since winning the European Championship last summer, and Spain is in its first final less than a year since 15 players quit the team in protest.

It’s the Women's World Cup final round and Spain will take on England.

When: 6 a.m. ET Sunday, 8 p.m. local time.

Where: Stadium Australia in Sydney. It is the largest venue being used for the tournament and seats nearly 75,000 spectators.

How to watch: Watch the action on Fox, Telemundo and Peacock.