Over the course of the tournament, the USA won the first Women’s World Cup in 1991 with an aggregate score of 25-7 at a time when it looked like women’s soccer was destined to be ruled by only a few progressive countries willing to support the game. Yet, years later, an unexpected parity has blossomed in the sport.

Being that the women’s game has only been accepted by many countries until recently, there’s a great opportunity for change both good and bad to take place.

Here are five countries that have experienced significant changes in recent years:

1. Tournament Favorites – France

In the seven prior World Cups, France was never pegged as a tourney favorite. Yet a seasoned squad stacked with quality players and a country still reeling from World Cup glory has consolidated their odds. Even if the country wasn’t playing host to the 2019 edition of the World Cup, they’d still be considered favorites.

Despite the recent retirement of arguably the best France player of all time, Louisa Nécib Cadamuro, France is still stocked with quality players. Only France can boast having two players – Wendie Renard and Amandine Henry – on the final shortlist of 2018’s Best FIFA Women’s Player Award. The squad France will bring to next summer’s Women’s World Cup will be mostly comprised of players that have played in multiple major tournaments and are now entering the prime of their careers.

It should also be mentioned that France has one of the best women’s domestic leagues in the world, and that Lyon, a side that is nearly a mirror reflection of the national team, recently won the domestic title and the most recent UEFA Champion’s League.

2. Dark Horse – The Netherlands

Typically countries that compete well are populous and have a winning tradition. Yet with only 17 million citizens and four World Cup games to its name, the Netherlands has neither.

The women’s Dutch side announced itself in world football after winning Euro 2017. On their road to victory, they swept aside Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and England – countries with far greater footballing success than their own. Winning such a competitive tournament means that Holland can play with the greats.

Leading their squad is the 25-year-old Barcelona midfielder Lieke Martens. She was an unknown commodity a few year back, but has burst onto the scene as of recent after winning the UEFA Women’s Players of the Year 2016-17 and the Best FIFA Women’s Player in 2017 awards.

With a current world ranking of 9th position, and fans eager to compensate for the men’s team failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, Holland has all the pieces in place to make a deep run in next year’s tournament.

3. Most Progress – Mexico

After three group stage exits, Mexico currently holds a -24 World Cup goal difference. Only three other nations have worse records at the World Cup. Yet despite the national embarrassment of the past, Mexico has positioned itself to raise the glasses of more than a few jubilant fans.

Mexico walked into the 2018 CAC Women’s Games as favorites and walked out with a chalice in hand. With convincing wins over Venezuela in the semis and Costa Rica in the final, Mexico showed that opposing coaches might want to do some scouting before stepping onto the pitch. While winning the Central American and Caribbean Games might not be the equivalent of a European championship, it is indicative of progress.

Even more so than winning an international football competition, Mexico has shown progress through investing in the women’s game. Women’s football in Mexico has perhaps made the greatest strides of any nation ahead of the 2019 World Cup. 2016 was the inaugural year of the Liga MX Femenil, Mexico’s domestic women’s league. The league has largely been a success both on the pitch and in the stands. The second leg of the 2017 final between Guadalajara and Pachuca saw 32,466 fans cheer on their sides.

Mexico won’t be challenging for a World Cup anytime soon, but they have shown that their national team is on the rise and may soon become the best women’s national side in Latin America.

4. Biggest Disappointment – Brazil

Brazil’s FA is the antithesis of Mexico. In 2017, players from the national team penned an open letter to their FA. The list of grievances included the unwarranted firing of the team’s first-ever female coach, lack of leadership opportunities offered to women within the organization, and a general lack of respect. As a result of the aforementioned injustices, stalwarts such as Cristiane, Rosana, Andreia Rosa, Fran, and Maurine chose to retire.

Despite the country’s history of neglect for women’s football – women’s football was banned until 1979 – Brazil has rallied against the current and provided the sport with some of the best female athletes in the world. In such chaotic times, Brazil has still managed results, finishing first in the 2018 Copa America and fourth in the Olympics.

Yet with the squad seemingly ready to implode, the resentment the women’s team has for its FA may come to a boil at the 2019 World Cup. The stagnation of Brazil’s FA may leave them in the dust as other nations choose to invest and support their women’s national sides.

5. Most Significant Off-Field Gains – New Zealand

Earlier this year, New Zealand’s FA became the first to offer both national teams equal benefits. While in late 2017, Norway became the first to provide their women’s team with equal pay, the Kiwis took it a step further by ensuring that both teams have the same travel budget.

Perhaps we won’t see New Zealand’s newfound equality manifest itself on the pitch in the form of high quality play in the 2019 World Cup, but such a decision no doubt galvanized the nation’s female footballers to adopt and excel in the sport.

The US women’s national side made economic gains as well having recently signed a collective bargaining agreement that gave players a 30% pay increase yet still falls short of pay equity.