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What: 1999 Women’s World Cup logo

Whereas most of the sports logos introduced over the past few years require a decoder ring to figure out who (or what) they represent, the design of the 1999 Women’s World Cup logo is a refreshing change.

On a bright gold background, the name of the tournament, which will hold its championship game at the Rose Bowl, is clearly spelled out, as are the year and the host nation’s “USA.” The figure with the ball is artsy but easily recognizable as a pony-tailed female soccer player. The logo not only incorporates the traditional red, white and blue, it adds a touch of green called “classic turf.”

In picking a designer, the tournament’s organizing committee avoided the larger New York and Los Angeles firms to work with Duffy Design, a group out of Minneapolis. The classy logo will be included on all merchandise, and with the U.S. women’s team being considered as a pre-tournament favorite (unlike the disappointing U.S. men’s team), it is expected to get plenty of exposure.