A Quarter-Century On: The Enduring Legacy of an Iconic World Cup Photo

Robert Beck’s renowned photograph of Brandi Chastain’s celebration after her decisive penalty in the Women’s World Cup final depicts two individuals, positioned on opposite sides of a goal net, moments before the creation of a sports image so iconic it would alter the course of their lives. A quarter-century ago, before a capacity audience of 90,185 at California’s Rose Bowl Stadium, Brandi Chastain converted the decisive penalty in a shootout, securing the Women’s World Cup victory for the United States against China on their home turf. This final match marked a pivotal turning point for women’s football, its significance amplified by a photographer who captured an image that resonated far beyond the realm of sport. BBC World Service’s World Football has investigated the narrative surrounding that photograph, focusing on Chastain, the player who scored the winning penalty, and its subsequent influence on women’s football. Initially, the 1999 World Cup was not slated for venues like the Rose Bowl (shown on the final’s date), but the US team’s triumph at the 1996 Olympics prompted organizers to reconsider earlier plans for smaller stadiums. Robert Beck’s initial task upon his arrival at the sun-drenched Rose Bowl on 10 July 1999 for the Women’s World Cup final involved photographing the spectators and prominent figures such as then-US President Bill Clinton. Beck noted that he had attended very few football matches prior to reaching the stadium. He stated, “I got there and saw how many people were there, I was kind of surprised. I mean, it still didn’t hit me how important an event it was.” The USA team had previously secured a global tournament victory in 1991, later retroactively designated as the Women’s World Cup, yet this achievement garnered minimal recognition. In 1995, they were defeated by eventual champions Norway in the World Cup semi-finals, but excitement for the tournament being hosted domestically had intensified throughout the decade, and by 1999, the US team performed strongly, advancing to the final. In an uncommon arrangement for a World Cup, the third-place play-off between Brazil and Norway preceded the main event. This match, which concluded with penalties, combined with a performance by Jennifer Lopez, necessitated the USA and China teams warming up in the stadium’s confined corridors. US defender Chastain clearly recalls the environment, describing “the water dripping from the ceiling, the mildew – you can smell it”. She further commented, “It’s dark, it’s dank… it’s perfect. And this just became another one of those opportunities for us to embrace and say, ‘let’s go’.” Mia Hamm, wearing number nine for the USA, served as the team’s public face throughout the tournament, featuring in television commercials and on billboards. Upon reaching the field, the teams completed a goalless 90 minutes. Following an additional challenging 30 minutes of extra time, Beck, holding his camera, moved pitchside with his assistant to get ready for the penalty kicks, even though neither possessed official field access. Beck stated, “We didn’t have credentials to get on the field. But I said ‘no-one is going to pay attention’. This was pre-9/11, security was much more lax than it is now.” Consequently, they proceeded to a tunnel and, unnoticed, simply walked onto the pitch. They positioned themselves behind the goal until a security guard eventually noticed them and instructed them to relocate. Beck recounted, “We were gathering our stuff, we go to leave and the security guy says ‘stop, don’t move, they’re about to start. It’s too late… you can’t distract them, so stay still where you are.'” He described the situation as, “I don’t know what to call it – divine intervention, right place at the right time.” Both teams converted their initial two penalties, but goalkeeper Briana Scurry subsequently saved Liu Ying’s spot-kick, giving the Americans an edge. Briana Scurry, a member of the US gold-medal winning team at the 1996 Olympics, made a save on Liu Ying’s penalty. The subsequent three penalties were successfully converted, making the hosts’ final kick the decider. The responsibility for the crucial penalty fell to 30-year-old Chastain, who had been excluded from the 1995 World Cup squad. The left-back, initially designated as the sixth penalty taker, recalled feeling nervous after head coach Tony DiCicco moved her to fifth and directed her to take the game’s final kick using her left foot. Chastain’s dominant foot is her right. She stated, “I’d never taken a penalty with my left foot in a game before, and certainly not in a World Cup final, and certainly not in front of 90,000 people.” She approached the line and positioned the ball on the penalty spot. Chastain recounted, “I took a deep breath and waited for the whistle, and as Tony told me, I took it with my left foot.” Chastain, who would later earn 192 caps for her nation, powerfully struck the ball beyond China’s goalkeeper Gao Hong. The stadium erupted in celebration, and the USA secured the World Cup title. Photographer Beck was positioned on the opposite side of the net. He described, “Brandi makes the kick and I’m in a cocoon.” He added, “It just goes crazy – you could probably hear it in the UK – the sound of 90,000 people cheering and going crazy.” Chastain removed her shirt, revealing her sports bra, and fell to her knees, screaming, as her teammates rushed to join her. Television viewership for the final in America reached a peak of an estimated 40 million. Beck captured the image from behind the goal, a moment of being in the right place at the right time. Chastain commented, “You never know how you’ll react emotionally to a moment like that.” She concluded, “That moment was insanity.” Beck’s photograph of Chastain’s celebration was selected for the front cover of Sports Illustrated, a leading global sports magazine, and subsequently became one of the most iconic covers ever. Several days after the match, Beck acquired his copy and viewed it for the first time. He remarked, “It was a better cover than I imagined. It was just Brandi and it was just one word – the word ‘yes’.” Brandi Chastain made numerous media appearances in the months following her game-winning moment. Kelly Whiteside, a Montclair State University professor and sports journalist, covered the USA team throughout her career and recalls the photograph’s influence on the media landscape. Whiteside stated, “If you walked into a grocery store that week and you were at the checkout line, all you would see is a cover of Brandi Chastain celebrating that game. That week was really historic from a media perspective.” She added, “The way she celebrated and the fact that image has become, in our country, one of the most iconic sports images of all time… is just an indelible moment in American sports history.” Whiteside noted that the impact was “two-fold,” both validating women’s sport and motivating future generations. She explained, “All the players that came after the ’99 team point to that moment in time.” She continued, “They inspired them to become soccer players.” The photograph symbolized resilience and strength for women in sports. Goalkeeper Scurry attributed the establishment of the inaugural women’s football league directly to the success of the “99ers.” Scurry commented, “That first 18 league was basically the brainchild and the inspiration of the 1999 World Cup, and so that was the first start of an iteration of a league that was professional for women’s soccer.” Although progress was not linear and the league folded within two years, its influence remained extensive, and Scurry believes it “set the groundwork” for subsequent developments. Approximately five years after the final, Beck attended a basketball game where Chastain was employed as a TV reporter. As they had never met, Beck chose to introduce himself. Beck described, “Brandi just jumps on me and she wraps her arms around me and she’s crying.” He recalled her saying, “‘Robert, you don’t understand what that cover meant to hundreds of thousands of women and little girls in our country and around the world’.” He admitted, “I had never thought of it like that.” She continued, “‘girls now know that they can be athletes. Girls now know that they can be on the cover of Sports Illustrated’.” He concluded, “It completely changed the way I looked at that cover.” The influence extended beyond the United States. Englishwoman Emma Hayes, currently the head coach of the US national team, stated, “They were my role models as an English girl.” Hayes and her team are scheduled to travel to England next week for a friendly match at Wembley Stadium, a location where Chloe Kelly famously mirrored Chastain’s celebration by twirling her shirt overhead after scoring England’s winning goal in the Euro 2022 final. Brandi Chastain sent a tweet to Chloe Kelly following her Euro 2022 final celebration, stating “I see you”. Chastain experienced her moment, as did Kelly, and now former Chelsea coach Hayes believes her current US team possesses “an amazing opportunity” to forge their own legacy. Hayes shared, “I have this really cool picture I use with the team which is the [99ers] team on the podium with that ridiculous crowd [behind them] and across it I put a quote ‘people don’t remember time, they remember moments’. That’s what I remember.” Sandi Toksvig is accompanied by Gyles Brandreth, Lulu, Emmanuel Sonubi, and Alan Davies. Take the microphone for Queen, Taylor Swift, Bon Jovi, Katy Perry, and others. Ben Fogle and Kate Humble return for the celebrations at Longleat Safari Park. Covering topics from microplastics in our air, soil, and waterways, to the scale of food waste during this season. © 2024 BBC. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. 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