We all want to perform well on the big stage, and AP’s photo team did exactly that at the recent Women’s World Cup in France, a tournament that is being called the greatest edition yet of the sport’s most prestigious event.
AP’s photo coverage was strong from the outset of the 52-match marathon, with significant contributions during the month from photographers Laurent Cipriani, Thibault Camus and Michel Spingler. But it was the crew’s performance in the championship final that really stood out. Intelligent planning from Paris and London, and brilliant execution by specialist photographers and remote editors saw AP photos dominate play with their coverage of the 2-0 victory by the U.S.
U.S. players, from left, Alex Morgan (13), Megan Rapinoe (15), Allie Long (20) and Tobin Heath (17) celebrate their victory in the Women’s World Cup championship final against the Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon outside Lyon, France, July 7, 2019.
AP Photo / David Vincent
U.S. co-captain Megan Rapinoe raises trophies after the team won the Women’s World Cup final soccer match against the Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon outside Lyon, France, July 7, 2019.
AP Photo / Francois Mori
The U.S. team listens to the national anthem before the Women’s World Cup championship final match against the Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon outside Lyon, France, July 7, 2019.
AP Photo / Francois Mori
Netherlands’ Anouk Dekker, left, walks past United States' players embracing Rose Lavelle, right, after Lavelle scored her team’s second goal during the Women’s World Cup final match at the Stade de Lyon outside Lyon, France, July 7, 2019. The U.S. won 2-0.
AP Photo / Alessandra Tarantino
U.S. midfielder Rose Lavelle, center at right, celebrates with teammates Megan Rapinoe and Tobin Heath after scoring her team’s second goal in the Women’s World Cup championship final against the Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon outside Lyon, France, July 7, 2019.
AP Photo / Claude Paris
U.S. midfielder Rose Lavelle (16) celebrates with teammates after scoring her team’s second goal during the Women’s World Cup championship final match against the Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon outside Lyon, France, July 7, 2019.
AP Photo / Francois Mori
U.S. co-captain Megan Rapinoe celebrates after scoring her team’s second goal during the Women’s World Cup quarterfinal match against France at the Parc des Princes in Paris, June 28, 2019.
AP Photo / Francisco Seco
United States teammates hoist the trophy celebrating their Women’s World Cup championship after their final match against the Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon outside Lyon, France, July 7, 2019. The U.S. defeated the Netherlands 2-0.
AP Photo / Francisco Seco
Surrounded by teammates, U.S. co-captain Megan Rapinoe raises the championship trophy after winning the Women’s World Cup final soccer match against the Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon outside Lyon, France, July 7, 2019.
AP Photo / Claude Paris
A French soccer fan waits for the start of the Women’s World Cup match between France and South Korea in Group A at the Parc des Princes in Paris, June 7, 2019.
AP Photo / Francisco Seco
England’s Lucy Bronze lies on the pitch in dejection at the end of the Women’s World Cup semifinal soccer match against the United States at the Stade de Lyon outside Lyon, France, July 2, 2019.
AP Photo / Laurent Cipriani
England teammates celebrate after winning the Women’s World Cup quarterfinal soccer match against Norway at the Oceane stadium in Le Havre, France, June 27, 2019.
AP Photo / Francisco Seco
Netherlands’ player Dominique Bloodworth, kneeling, celebrates with goalkeeper Sari Van Veenendaal after winning their Women’s World Cup semifinal soccer match against Sweden at the Stade de Lyon outside Lyon, France, July 3, 2019.
AP Photo / Laurent Cipriani
Brazilian referee Edina Alves Batista shows a second yellow card to England’s Millie Bright during the Women’s World Cup semifinal match between England and the United States at the Stade de Lyon outside Lyon, France, July 2, 2019.
AP Photo / Francisco Seco
England's Ellen White celebrates after scoring her team’s second goal during their Women’s World Cup quarterfinal match against Norway at Oceane Stadium in Le Havre, France, June 27, 2019.
AP Photo / Alessandra Tarantino
France’s Amandine Henry scores her team’s second goal during the Women’s World Cup round of 16 match against Brazil at the Oceane stadium in Le Havre, France, June 23, 2019.
AP Photo / Francisco Seco
Italy’s Sara Gama, top, celebrates with teammates at the end of the Women’s World Cup Group C match between against Brazil at the Stade du Hainaut in Valenciennes, France, June 18, 2019. Italy advanced to the round of 16.
AP Photo / Michel Spingler
Jamaica’s Cheyna Matthews, front, fights for the ball with Australia’s Steph Catley during their Women’s World Cup Group C match at Stade des Alpes stadium in Grenoble, France, June 18, 2019.
AP Photo / Laurent Cipriani
Canada’s Nichelle Prince, right, celebrates after scoring her team’s second goal during their Women’s World Cup Group E match against New Zealand in Grenoble, France, June 15, 2019.
AP Photo / Francisco Seco
Canadian players warm up before the start of the Women’s World Cup Group E match against New Zealand in Grenoble, France, June 15, 2019.
AP Photo / Francisco Seco
China’s Li Ying, center, celebrates after scoring the opening goal past South Africa goalkeeper Kaylin Swart, right, during their Women’s World Cup Group B match at Parc des Princes in Paris, June 13, 2019. China won 1-0.
AP Photo / Alessandra Tarantino
Brazil’s Marta, second from left, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during their Women’s World Cup Group C match against Australia at Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier, France, June 13, 2019.
AP Photo / Claude Paris
U.S. scorer Samantha Mewis lifts teammate Megan Rapinoe, right, as they celebrate the team’s fourth goal during the Women’s World Cup Group F match against Thailand at the Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, France, June 11, 2019.
AP Photo / Alessandra Tarantino
South Korea’s Kim Hye-ri, left, and France’s Eugenie Le Sommer vie for the ball during their Women’s World Cup Group A match at the Parc des Princes in Paris, June 7, 2019.
AP Photo / Francisco Seco
A five-strong team of photographers – staffers Alessandra Tarantino, based in Rome; Francisco Seco, Brussels; and Francois Mori, Paris; joined by freelancers Vincent Michel and Claude Paris – won the day in a manner arguably even more decisive than the U.S. women. Each photographer had a dedicated remote editor assigned to ensure that images reached our customers in just minutes. Armando Franca in Lisbon, Petr Josek in Prague, Paris photo editor Bertrand Combaldieu, London-based photographer Frank Augstein and Darko Bandic in Zagreb all edited and transmitted remotely, playing a key role in the success.
First action images from the match moved within three minutes of the start of the game, and when the U.S. team lifted the trophy in celebration, those photos again hit the wire in under three minutes. In fact, from the start of the event all 52 matches were edited remotely, again a testament to outstanding planning.
United States teammates hold the trophy celebrating their Women's World Cup championship after the final match against the Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon outside Lyon, France, July 7, 2019.
AP Photo / Francisco Seco
But this was not just about speed and numbers of photos; AP’s quality was outstanding, producing iconic images of now-household names Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and their teammates. The list of front pages is long and includes prestigious titles like The New York Times, L’Equipe, The Guardian, The Times, the Los Angeles Times and the Houston Chronicle.
For a performance that befitted the biggest stage in the world on July 7, the team of Tarantino, Seco, Mori, Michel and Paris – with international AP support – shares AP’s Best of the Week.