2023 Women’s World Cup
AU ‧ NZ ‧ 2023
2023 Women’s World Cup: Excitement Builds as Host Nations Australia and New Zealand Kick Off Tournament
Group A : New Zealand , Norway, Philippines, and Switzerland
Group B : Australia, Republic of Ireland, Nigeria, and Canada
Group C : Spain, Costa Rica, Zambia, and Japan
Group D : England, Haiti, Denmark, and China
Group E : United States, Vietnam, Netherlands, and Portugal
Group F : France, Jamaica, Brazil, and Panama
Group G : Sweden, South Africa, Italy, and Argentina
Group H : Germany, Morocco, Colombia, and South Korea
The 9th FIFA Women’s World Cup is set to kick off with 32 teams, up from 24 in the previous edition, including eight debutants. Brazil, Germany, Japan, Nigeria, Norway, Sweden, and the United States will be appearing in their 9th consecutive tournament.
The title is likely to remain in North America or move to Europe, as the pre-tournament favorites include the United States, England, Spain, and Germany
United States is seeking a record-setting third consecutive title win to make it a record-setting 5th World Cup title. They have finished on the podium in every tournament, winning the gold medal four times, the silver medal once, and the bronze medal three times.
Favorites: England, Germany, Spain, and the United States
Debutants: Haiti, Ireland, Morocco, Panama, the Philippines, Portugal, Vietnam, and Zambia
Second Timers: Costa Rica, Jamaica, South Africa, and Switzerland
Titles: United States (4), Germany (2), Japan (1), and Norway (1)
THE GOLDEN BALL WINNERS
1991 Carin Jennings – United States
1995 Hege Riise – Norway
1999 Sun Wen – China
2003 Birgit Prinz – Germany
2007 Marta – Brazil
2011 Homare Sawa – Japan
2015 Carli Lloyd – United States
2019 Megan Rapinoe – United States
THE HOST NATIONS
Historically, all host nations have advanced from the group stage and reached at least the quarter-finals.
All host nations of the Women’s Football World Cup have been eliminated in the quarter-finals, except for the United States.
For Australia, a quarter-final finish is not uncommon, but for New Zealand, it would be their best finish in World Cup history. As host nations, Australia and New Zealand will have the opportunity to achieve their best finish in World Cup history, with the support of their home fans. Both nations will play on the opening day, with Australia facing the Republic of Ireland and New Zealand taking on Norway.
RECORD TOP SCORERS
Marta (Brazil) has another tournament to extend her lead at the top of the scoring chart.
Michelle Akers (United States) holds the record for the most goals in a tournament by scoring 10 goals in 1991.
Marta (Brazil) – 17 goals
Birgit Prinz (Germany) – 14 goals
Abby Wambach (United States) – 14 goals
Michelle Akers (United States) – 12 goals
Cristiane (Brazil) – 11 goals
Sun Wen (China) – 11 goals
Bettina Wiegmann (Germany) – 11 goals
United States has been the only nation to host the tournament on multiple occasions (2), and the only nation to win the title as the host (1999).
Brazil is the team to beat from the CONMEBOL, even though they have never won the trophy.
Norway and the United States are the only teams to have won the title after finishing as runners-up in the previous tournament. Norway lost in the 1991 final and won in 1995, while the United States lost in 2015 and won in 2019. The Netherlands were runners-up in the last tournament. Can they go one better this time?
Germany and the United States are the only teams to have defended the title.
THE PAST WINNERS
1991: United States
1995: Norway
1999: United States
2003: Germany
2007: Germany
2011: Japan
2015: United States
2019: United States
In 1991, Michelle Akers scored both goals for the United States in their first Women’s World Cup victory, defeating Norway. Akers opened the scoring in the 20th minute and scored her second goal to restore the lead in the 78th minute, after Linda Medalen equalized in the 29th minute.
In 1995, Norway secured the title with two first-half goals (37th and 40th minute) against Germany. The United States claimed the crown in 1999 by defeating China in a penalty shootout, becoming the first host nation to win the title.
Germany won their first title in 2003 by coming from a goal down and eventually winning with a golden goal in extra time against Sweden. They successfully defended their crown in 2007 by defeating Brazil with two second-half goals.
Japan overcame a goal deficit on two occasions and knocked out the United States in a penalty shootout in 2011. Carly Lloyd’s 16-minute hat-trick propelled the United States to a convincing 5-2 victory over Japan, reclaiming the title in 2015, and they defended the title once again in 2019 by defeating the Netherlands with two goals in the second half.
RESULTS FROM PREVIOUS FINALS
1991: United States 2-1. Norway
1995: Norway 2-0. Germany
1999: United States 0-0 (5-4 pen) China
2003: Germany 2-1. Sweden
2007: Germany 2-0. Brazil
2011: Japan 2-2 (3-1 pen) United States
2015: United States 5-2. Japan
2019: United States 2-0. Netherlands
GROUP STAGE FIXTURES
July 20.
Group A : New Zealand vs. Norway
Group B : Australia vs. Republic of Ireland
July 21.
Group A : Philippines vs. Switzerland
Group B : Nigeria vs. Canada
Group C : Spain vs. Costa Rica
July 22.
Group C : Zambia vs. Japan
Group D : England vs. Haiti
Group D : Denmark vs. China
Group E : United States vs. Vietnam
July 23.
Group E : Netherlands vs. Portugal
Group F : France vs. Jamaica
Group G : Sweden vs. South Africa
July 24.
Group F : Brazil vs. Panama
Group G : Italy vs. Argentina
Group H : Germany vs. Morocco
July 25.
Group A : New Zealand vs. Philippines
Group A : Switzerland vs. Norway
Group H : Colombia vs. South Korea
July 26.
Group B : Canada vs. Republic of Ireland
Group C : Japan vs. Costa Rica
Group C : Spain vs. Zambia
July 27.
Group B : Australia vs. Nigeria
Group E : United States vs. Netherlands
Group E : Portugal vs. Vietnam
July 28.
Group D : England vs. Denmark
Group D : China vs. Haiti
Group G : Argentina vs. South Africa
July 29.
Group F : France vs. Brazil
Group F : Panama vs. Jamaica
Group G : Sweden vs. Italy
July 30.
Group A : Switzerland vs. New Zealand
Group A : Norway vs. Philippines
Group H : South Korea vs. Morocco
Group H : Germany vs. Colombia
July 31.
Group B : Canada vs. Australia
Group B : Republic of Ireland vs. Nigeria
Group C : Japan vs. Spain
Group C : Costa Rica vs. Zambia
August 1.
Group D : China vs. England
Group D : Haiti vs. Denmark
Group E : Portugal vs. United States
Group E : Vietnam vs. Netherlands
August 2.
Group F : Panama vs. France
Group F : Jamaica vs. Brazil
Group G : Argentina vs. Sweden
Group G : South Africa vs. Italy
August 3.
Group H : South Korea vs. Germany
Group H : Morocco vs. Colombia
