1978 FIFA World Cup Netherlands and Brazil were the gold, silver and bronze medalists, respectively. Iran and Tunisia made their first appearances in the tournament. This was also the last World Cup tournament to use the original inclusion of 16 teams. Since the first World Cup in 1930, only 15 teams (plus the host, who automatically qualified) had been allowed to qualify (the reigning title holders also received automatic qualification from 1934 through 2002); but for the next World Cup, in Spain, FIFA expanded that tournament to 24 teams. The official match ball was the Adidas Tango. Argentina was chosen as the host nation
1999 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification groups, from which the group winners qualify for the World Cup. The four runners-up were drawn into two home-and-away knock-out matches, winners of those matches also qualifying. The 1998 CONCACAF's Women's Championship winner Canada qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup 1999. The runner-up Mexico qualified in two playoff-matches against the second-placed team of CONMEBOL – Argentina. The United States qualified as hosts. The 1998 OFC Women's Championship determined the OFC's one qualifier for the FIFA Women's World Cup 1999 – the winner Australia. The third edition of the Sudamericano Femenino (Women's South American Championship) in 1998 determined the CONMEBOL's