FIFA and France Football revealed the 10 footballers considered to win the FIFA Best Women's Player award, as well as the 10 coaches aspiring to win the FIFA Best Women's Coach award.
The award recognizes the best female footballers from November 22, 2014, to November 20, 2015.
The winners will be chosen by the captains and coaches of the national women's teams, as well as by representatives of international media selected by the governing body.
Voting will take place from October 26 to November 20; 10 days later FIFA will announce the final three nominees.
The winners will be announced on January 11, at the Ballon d'Or ceremony, which will take place in Zurich, Switzerland.
The list of candidates is as follows:
Players
Nadine Angerer: Germany, Brisbane Roar/Portland Thorns
Ramona Bachmann: Switzerland, FC Rosengard
Kadeisha Buchanan: Canada, West Virginia University
Amandine Henry: France, Olympique de Lyon
Eugénie Le Sommer: France, Olympique de Lyon
Carli Lloyd: United States, Houston Dash
Aya Miyama: Japan, Okayama Yunogo Belle
Megan Rapinoe: United States, Seattle Reign
Celia Sasic: Germany, 1.FFC Frankfurt
Hope Solo: United States, Seattle Reign
Coaches
Calle Barrling: Sweden, Sweden U-19
Colin Bell: England, 1.FFC Frankfurt
Farid Benstiti: France, Paris Saint-Germain
Jill Ellis: United States, United States National Team
Laura Harvey: England, Seattle Reign
John Herdman: England, Canada National Team
Gerard Precheur: France, Olympique de Lyon
Mark Sampson: Wales, England National Team
Norio Sasaki: Japan, Japan National Team
Thomas Wörle: Germany, Bayern Munich