the match was the third between the two teams in world cup play. the united states beat japan 3–0 in pool play in 1991, and won 4–0 in a 1995 quarterfinal match. going into the final, the usa had never lost to japan, with 22 wins and 3 draws. prior to the world cup, the united states was the top-ranked team in the fifa women's world rankings, while japan was ranked fourth.