The World Cup will be co-hosted by the two Oceanic nations of Australia and New Zealand. It is the first time two nations will co-host the Women’s World Cup and it is also the first time ever two nations from different confederations do so. Australia belongs to the AFC confederation while New Zealand is part of the OFC confederation.
The tournament will commence on the 20th of July and last for a month. The final will be played at the Australian Stadium on the 20th of August. There are a total of ten venues that will host matches from nine different cities. Six of the stadiums are located in Australia while the remaining four are in New Zealand. The biggest stadium of them all is the Australian Stadium, with a capacity of 83,500.
The tournament was launched in 1991 and has only ever been won by four nations. The four nations to win it include the United States, Germany, Norway and Japan. The record holders for the trophy are the United States, winning it on four occasions. Germany have won it twice and then both Norway and Japan have won it once apiece. In this edition of the tournament, we take a look at the structure of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the teams and players to look out for.
The Structure of the Tournament
The Women’s World Cup will feature a record 32 national teams that are divided into eight groups of four. In previous years, there were only six groups but in the upcoming event, Groups A through H will all feature teams from around the world.
The group stages will consist of a total of 48 matches. All teams will play a total of three matches in the group stage. The top two teams from their respective groups will qualify for the knockout stages of the competition.
Once the group stage has been completed, the knockout stage commences. There are four rounds of the knockout stages, the Round of 16, the quarterfinals, the semi-finals and the final. During the group stage, there are 32 teams in the tournament. In the round of 16, only 16 teams remain. The quarterfinals feature only eight teams, and the semi-finals only has four teams. The losers of the semi-finals play against each other in a game for third place. The winners of both semi-final fixtures face-off in the Women’s World Cup final. The winner of that match is crowned as champion of the world.
Top Teams and Players to Watch
United States – Alex Morgan
The United States is the current champions and record World Cup winners. The nation has won the competition a record four times, most recently in the previous two editions of the tournament. In 2015 and 2019, Alex Morgan was part of the side that helped the team write history, winning the competition in consecutive tournaments.
Morgan, who currently plays for San Diego Wave, has scored an astounding 121 international goals from 206 international caps. At the start of the tournament, she will have just turned 34-years-old, perhaps indicating this may be her last stint at winning the most prestigious trophy in women’s football. The veteran footballer has had a torrid time in recent years with injuries but always appears to be fit and focused when the national team are ready to play at a tournament. The 2023 Women’s World Cup is expected to gain record viewing numbers, so it may be Morgan’s final chance to stamp her name in the history books by leading her team to a third successive World Cup trophy.
England – Chloe Kelly
England are the 2022 Euro champions and have won all ten of their qualifiers to secure a spot in the Australia and New Zealand World Cup count. The Three Lionesses tasted glory in last year’s final, defeating Germany 2-1 in the final. Germany have won the UEFA Women’s Euros a record eight times. However, they were defeated in the final, courtesy of a Chloe Kelly strike in extra time.
Chloe Kelly is a Manchester City forward that had most recently brought the taste of victory to England. The 25-year-old had scored the winning goal in the final, securing a historic victory at Wembley Stadium. To date, she has scored 6 international goals in 23 appearances. If England are to progress to the latter stages of the tournament, she may prove to be the difference maker yet again.
Germany – Lea Schüller
The German national football team have a fantastic chance of doing well in the Oceanic region. Germany has won the World Cup twice, in 2003 and 2007. The national side has also won the UEFA Euros competition far more times than any other European team. Many may believe captain Alexandra Popp to be the most important player on the team, however, Lea Schüller is certainly the one to watch.
Popp has scored an incredible 61 international goals from 127 international games. However, Bayern Munich’s Schüller has been the shining player in Germany’s qualifier matches. The 25-year-old scored an exceptional 15 goals from 10 matches. In total, she already has 30 goals to her name from only 46 international caps.
France – Eugénie Le Sommer
Much like England, France was the only other European team to win all of their qualifying matches. The French team made it ten wins out of ten to secure a place among the final 32 teams at the World Cup. France’s best ever finish was reaching the semi-finals of the 2011 World Cup. They lost the match for third, eventually ending the competition in fourth place.
However, this time things may be different. The French national team is a dark horse to potentially go all the way and taste victory in Sydney, come the 20th of August. The team features a fantastic crop of talent, including hungry young players and seasoned veterans that know how to win matches singlehandedly. One of the best players in the side is Eugénie Le Sommer, who currently plays for Lyon. At 34 years of age, this may be Le Sommer’s final World Cup. She has scored a record 88 international goals from 177 international caps. Le Sommer is just under 10 caps short of becoming the most capped player for Les Bleus. She could gain that record by playing every match in the World Cup, presuming France make it to the final.
Australia – Sam Kerr
It would be a fantastic story to see Australia win the World Cup. The United States are the only team to have hosted and won the trophy, when they did so on penalties in 1999. Australia could become the second nation to follow this feat and they will need their star player and captain to lead them through it.
Sam Kerr is Australia’s number one player and most decorated professional. She currently plays for Chelsea and has scored a record 63 goals for Australia. Kerr has made 120 appearances for the Australian national team and could end her career as the record holder, which currently sits with Claire Polkinghorne on 154 caps. Australia will relish the chance they have to win the World Cup for the first time and become only the second AFC team to do so. If they are going to have a successful tournament, one would believe that the majority of responsibility rests on the shoulders of their captain, Sam Kerr.
Enjoying the Tournament
Whether you're a dedicated football fan or a casual viewer, the Women's World Cup has something to offer. It's an event full of drama, skill, and the joy of the game. Here are a few ways to get the most out of the tournament:
- Follow Your Team: There's nothing quite like cheering on your home nation in a World Cup. It's a chance to show your national pride and connect with other fans.
- Discover New Teams: With teams from around the world competing, the World Cup is a great opportunity to learn about different countries and cultures.
- Appreciate the Skill: The Women's World Cup is a showcase of some of the best talent in women's football. Take the time to appreciate the skill and strategy on display.
Explore the Various Betting Markets for the Women’s World Cup
At Zetbet, we offer a plethora of betting markets for you to wager on once the tournament begins. In addition to covering every single fixture with hundreds of different offers, you can also place long-term wagers on outright results.
As we get closer to the 2023 Women's World Cup, keep an eye out for more specific information about teams, players, and match schedules. The World Cup is a dynamic event, and there's always something new to learn and appreciate.