The FIFA Women’s World Cup is the biggest and most prestigious tournament in women’s football (soccer), featuring the best teams and players from around the world. The ninth edition of the tournament will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand and will take place from 20 July to 20 August 20231 This will be the first time that the Women’s World Cup will have more than one host nation, and also the first time that it will be held across two confederations, as Australia is part of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), while New Zealand is part of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC)1 In addition, this tournament will also be the first to feature 32 teams, up from 24 in the previous editions, following the same format as the men’s World Cup from 1998 to 2022
The Hosts: Australia and New Zealand
Australia and New Zealand are both passionate about football and have a strong history of hosting major sporting events. The two countries have jointly bid for the Women’s World Cup, promising to deliver a tournament that will celebrate diversity, inclusion, and sustainability, as well as showcase the best of women’s football
Australia is one of the leading nations in women’s football, having qualified for seven consecutive Women’s World Cups since 1995, and reaching the quarter-finals four times. The Matildas, as they are affectionately known, are currently ranked seventh in the world by FIFA, and boast some of the most talented and popular players in the game, such as Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord, and Ellie Carpenter. Australia has also hosted several international tournaments, such as the AFC Asian Cup in 2015 and the Olympic Football Tournament in 2000
New Zealand is also a regular participant in the Women’s World Cup, having qualified for five editions since 1991, and reaching the round of 16 for the first time in 2019. The Football Ferns, as they are nicknamed, are currently ranked 22nd in the world by FIFA, and have some experienced and exciting players in their squad, such as Abby Erceg, Ria Percival, and Hannah Wilkinson. New Zealand has also hosted several international tournaments, such as the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2008 and 2018, and the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2010
The two hosts will share the hosting duties equally, with each country hosting five groups and four knockout matches. The opening match and opening ceremony will take place at Eden Park in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau on 20 July 2023, where New Zealand will face Norway in Group A. The final will take place at Stadium Australia in Sydney/Gadigal on 20 August 2023. The tournament will be played in nine host cities at ten stadiums across Australia and New Zealand
The Format: Groups and Knockout Stages
The Women’s World Cup 2023 will follow the same format as the Men’s World Cup from 1998 to 2022. The tournament will consist of two stages: a group stage and a knockout stage.
The group stage will feature eight groups of four teams each (A to H), with each team playing three matches against their group opponents. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage, along with the four best third-placed teams. The group stage will take place from 20 July to 2 August 2023
The knockout stage will feature 16 teams in a single-elimination bracket, with four rounds: round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final. The knockout stage will take place from 5 to 20 August 2023
The match schedule for the tournament was confirmed by FIFA on 1 December 2021, and can be found here:
The Teams: Qualifiers and Favorites
The Women’s World Cup 2023 will feature 32 teams from six confederations: AFC (6), CAF (4), CONCACAF (4), CONMEBOL (3), OFC (1) and UEFA (11). The hosts Australia and New Zealand automatically qualified for the tournament, while the remaining 30 spots were allocated through continental qualifying competitions. The final two spots will be decided by inter-confederation play-offs between the fifth-placed teams from AFC and CONMEBOL, and the second-placed teams from CAF and CONCACAF. The qualifying competitions are expected to be completed by April 2023
As of June 2023, the following teams have qualified for the tournament:
The draw for the group stage will take place on 29 April 2023 in Sydney/Gadigal, where the 32 teams will be divided into eight groups of four based on their FIFA rankings and geographical considerations
The favorites for the tournament are the defending champions United States, who have won four out of eight Women’s World Cups so far and are currently ranked first in the world by FIFA. The US team has some of the most decorated and influential players in women’s football history, such as Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and Carli Lloyd. The US team will face some tough competition from other top-ranked teams such as Germany (second), France (third), Netherlands (fourth), and England (fifth), who have all reached at least the semi-finals in previous editions. Other teams to watch out for are Brazil (sixth), Australia (seventh), Japan (eighth), and Sweden (ninth), who have all shown impressive performances in recent tournaments and have some star players in their ranks
The Expectations: Beyond Greatness
The Women’s World Cup 2023 promises to be a spectacular event that will showcase the best of women’s football and inspire millions of fans across the world. The tournament will also celebrate the diversity, inclusion, and sustainability of the sport and its participants, as well as promote the development and growth of women’s football in Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. The official slogan of the tournament is “Beyond Greatness”, reflecting the ambition and aspiration of the players, teams, and hosts to achieve new heights and break new barriers in women’s football
The tournament will also feature some exciting innovations and initiatives that will enhance the experience for fans, players, and stakeholders. For example, FIFA has announced that it will introduce Video Assistant Referees (VAR) in a Women’s World Cup, following its successful implementation in the Men’s World Cup in 2018. FIFA has also increased the prize money for the tournament to USD 60 million, up from USD 30 million in 2019, as part of its commitment to invest USD 1 billion in women’s football over four years. Furthermore, FIFA has launched a digital content platform called FIFA OCEAUNZ that will provide exclusive access to behind-the-scenes stories, interviews, and features from the tournament
The Women’s World Cup 2023 is expected to attract a global audience of over one billion viewers across various platforms and media outlets. The tournament will also generate significant economic and social benefits for the host countries and regions, as well as create a lasting legacy for women’s football in Oceania and Asia
Conclusion
The Women’s World Cup 2023 is set to be a historic and memorable event that will captivate and inspire fans around the world with its thrilling matches, amazing players, and inspiring stories. The tournament will also showcase the beauty and diversity of Australia and New Zealand as co-hosts, as well as their passion and commitment to women’s football. The Women’s World Cup 2023 is not just a football tournament; it is a celebration of women’s empowerment, excellence, and equality. Don’t miss this opportunity to witness history in the making and join the millions of fans who will cheer for their teams and heroes in the biggest and best Women’s World Cup ever.
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