The summer Women’s World Cup is going to be the biggest event of its kind in history. In previous editions of the Women’s World Cup, 24 nations were divided into six groups of four. However, an expansion to 32 teams (from six confederations) means the 2023 World Cup will be the biggest to date. It also means that Groups A, B, C, D, E, F will be joined by two new groups in Group G and H.
Each team will play a total of three games during the group stage. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage, culminating in the grand final where the champions will be crowned. Below, we take a look at the groups and the likely teams to advance into the knockout stages of the tournament.
Group A
- New Zealand
- Norway
- The Philippines
- Switzerland
In Group A, co-hosts New Zealand will be looking to use their home advantage to progress to the knockout stage, leaning on their physical style of football. Norway, a team with a proud footballing history, will rely on their experienced squad and their strength in the air. The Philippines, while not as well-known in the footballing scene, have shown significant progress in recent years and their ambitious style of play may spring a surprise. Switzerland, known for their disciplined defensive structure, will seek to use that to their advantage.
Team to Watch – Norway
Group B
- Australia
- Canada
- Nigeria
- Republic of Ireland
Group B features the other co-hosts of the tournament, Australia. The Matildas are expected to go a long way in the competition, boosted by the knowledge that the final will be played in the Sydney Olympic Stadium in Australia, with a capacity of up to 83,500 fans. They will look to harness the energy of the home crowd and their attacking prowess to progress deep into the tournament. Canada, renowned for their physicality and aerial dominance, will pose a threat to any opponent. Nigeria's speed and direct style of play have caused problems for many opponents in the past. The Republic of Ireland, while perhaps the underdog in this group, will look to their strong team spirit and tenacity to make an impact.
Team to Watch – Australia
Group C
- Costa Rica
- Japan
- Spain
- Zambia
Group C consists of the 2011 World Cup winners, Japan. The Japanese team is certainly one to watch in the group, relying on their technical precision and disciplined approach to play. Spain is also considered as a strong contender to advance to the knockout stages. Their possession-based style of play and technical abilities will be a delight to watch. Costa Rica will be looking to their passionate playstyle and tenacity to compete. Zambia, one of the less well-known footballing nations, will hope to use their underdog status to their advantage.
Team to Watch – Spain
Group D
- China
- Denmark
- England
- Haiti
In Group D, last year’s UEFA Women’s Euros winners are likely to advance to the knockout stages of the competition. England have an exciting mix of experience and youth and are considered to be favourites to win the 2023 Women’s World Cup. The Three Lionesses defeated Germany in the Euros final 2-1 after extra time. Denmark's well-organised defensive structure and counter-attacking style will pose a threat. China, with their disciplined approach and physicality, will be a tough opponent to break down. Haiti, a newcomer to the tournament, will hope to seize the opportunity to showcase their progress in women's football.
Team to Watch – England
Group E
- The Netherlands
- Portugal
- The United States
- Vietnam
Group E features the current and most successful World Cup champions, the United States. The United States won the two most recent editions of the World Cup, in 2015 and 2019. As the 2023 World Cup draws closer to its opening game, the United States are favourites among the bookies to win the competition for a record fifth time. They will be the team to beat in this group. The Netherlands' attacking flair and technical quality will be a joy to watch. Portugal will rely on their tactical flexibility and creativity to navigate through the group. Vietnam, a less established team on the global stage, will aim to compete fiercely and gain valuable experience.
Team to Watch – The United States
Group F
- Brazil
- France
- Jamaica
- Panama
In Group F, France and Brazil are expected to advance to the latter stages. Neither team has ever won the World Cup but both of them have come close to doing so. France, as one of the top teams in the world, will be expected to perform well, drawing on their solid defensive base and creativity in attack. Brazil's skilful, attack-minded style of play is always a crowd-pleaser, and they will be a threat to any opponent. Jamaica's physicality and speed could potentially upset more established teams. Panama will hope to show their progress in the sport and compete strongly.
Team to Watch – France
Group G
- Argentina
- Italy
- South Africa
- Sweden
In Group G, Sweden will be the team to beat. They are currently ranked as second-best team in the world (after the US) and have a history of doing well in World Cup competitions. The Blue and Yellow team have finished as runners-up once and in third place on three occasions. Italy, known for their tactical discipline, will be a tough opponent. Argentina will rely on their passion and determination to compete in this tough group, hoping to replicate the success of the men’s team in Qatar last December. South Africa, are the underdogs of the group, making only their second appearance in the competition.
Team to Watch – Sweden
Group H
- Colombia
- Germany
- South Korea
- Morocco
In Group H, Germany is the powerhouse team of women’s football, making them the one to watch for the group. The Euros finalists have won the Women’s World Cup twice consecutively in 2003 and 2007. Furthermore, they have won the Euros competition eight times as well. Their stellar record, combined with a squad full of talent, makes them a formidable force. South Korea brings a different style of play, noted for their technical acumen and disciplined approach, they will not be an easy side to overcome. Colombia, with their passionate playstyle, will certainly add a vibrant dynamic to the group. Morocco will be eager to make an impression in their debut. Their participation highlights the growing popularity and global reach of women's football.
Team to Watch – Germany
Group Stage Schedule
The first group stage match will be played on the 20th of July at 19:00 UTC+12 between New Zealand and Norway. The match will be played in Auckland, at the national Eden Park stadium.
The 48th and final match of the group stage is played between Morocco and Colombia at 18:00 UTC+8 on the 3rd of August. The match is played at the Perth Rectangular Stadium in Western Australia.
Group Stage Qualifiers
As mentioned before, the winners and runner up of the groups will advance to the knockout stages of the competition. Four wins in the knockout stage are required to be crowned as world champions. The first stage is the Round of 16, followed by the quarterfinals, semi-finals and the final.
Finishing first or second in the group stage will determine the Round of 16 opponents and which side of the draw your nation is on. The Round of 16 will be determined by:
- Group A Winners v Group C Runner up
- Group B Winners v Group D Runner up
- Group C Winners v Group A Runner up
- Group D Winners v Group B Runner up
- Group E Winners v Group G Runner up
- Group F Winners v Group H Runner up
- Group G Winners v Group E Runner up
- Group H Winners v Group F Runner up
How to Bet on the 2023 Women’s World Cup
Here at Zetbet, you will find a variety of different bets to place once the FIFA Women’s World Cup starts. Even before a ball is kicked, we have many outright bets on a variety of outcomes, such as the team to win the World Cup or reach the final. For every fixture, we offer a plethora of different betting markets including the result, number of goals or cards, team props and players props. Explore our vast collection of betting markets and make your predictions for the 2023 Women’s World Cup.