FIFA Women’s World Cup groups. Photo credit: FIFA.
With the start of the World Cup almost upon us, here’s a guide to each group looking at each side’s prospects of making the knockout stages and where the headlines could be made.
Group A
Co-hosts New Zealand will get the tournament underway on 20 July as they face Norway in Auckland. The Football Ferns will be hoping the home crowd will be the difference as they look to reach the knockout stages for the first time at the sixth attempt.
The Norwegians are the highest ranked team in what could be a close group and that opening clash could be a major factor in determining who reaches the knockout stages. Switzerland will also be in contention.
The Swiss opener sees them take on Philippines, who will be making their World Cup debut after reaching the semi finals of last year’s Asian Cup. While they are not expected to qualify from the group, they could have a say in who does.
Group B
Republic of Ireland’s maiden World Cup will see them get a major moment in the spotlight as they take on co-hosts Australia in Sydney on the tournament’s opening day, with the match moved to a larger stadium due to ticket demand.
Home hopes will no doubt rest on Sam Kerr, coming off the back of yet another prolific season for Chelsea. However, Olympic champions Canada have a superstar forward of their own in Christine Sinclair. Those two going head-to-head is a mouth watering prospect for fans.
While the rankings suggest it should simply be a case of Australia v Canada deciding who tops the group- as well as who potentially faces England in the Last 16, Nigeria are 11-time African champions and should not be underestimated.
Group C
With everything being equal, Spain would be favourites to win the group ahead of former champions Japan. However, the Spanish squad will not be at full strength as last year 15 players made themselves unavailable after expressing concerns over conditions, as well as issues with manager Jorge Vilda.
Many of these players have since returned, but the off field issues remain. Japan are not without their own issues either, with the 2011 champions currently ranked outside the top 10 and in the midst of rebuilding.
Costa Rica will be looking to take advantage of the issues at their group rivals, while debutants Zambia are the lowest ranked team at the tournament. Spain and Japan will still be favourites to qualify, but it may not be plain sailing for either of them.
Group D
The final round of matches will see the European and Asian champions go head-to-head as England face China. England will be without a number of players who were part of the success last summer but will still be confident of their chances of a deep run Down Under.
As well as the two continental champions, this group also features Denmark, who are one place higher than China in the current world rankings. With three of the world’s top 15, this group promises plenty of excitement.
Then there is Haiti. How long their maiden World Cup lasts remains to be seen, but they are likely to provide plenty of entertainment while it does. Their seven matches so far in 2023 have produced 25 goals.
Group E
One of the headline ties of the Group Stage sees a repeat of the 2019 final as the United States face Netherlands in Wellington. The US won 2-0 four years ago and Vlatko Andanovski’s side will be looking to become the first nation to win three successive senior World Cups.
The other two teams in the group, Vietnam and Portugal, are both making their debut at this World Cup. Portugal have history with the Dutch though, having run them close at Euro 2022. They also held England in the build up to this World Cup. The sides meet again in their opening match on 23 July.
As the lowest ranked team in the group, Vietnam will be the outsiders and face a stern test in their opener as they take on the back-to-back defending champions. After qualifying through the Asian play-offs, they will be looking to make an impression on the big stage.
Group F
One of two groups, along with Group E, to feature two of the world’s top 10. Ever presents Brazil are the reigning South American champions, but it is France that go into the tournament as the higher ranked team.
Reports of infighting which have dogged previous French campaigns appear to be a thing of the past, but Brazil boast the legendary Marta, the tournament’s all-time leading scorer with 17 who will be appearing at an incredible sixth World Cup.
While Jamaica may not have the same expectation, they boast a star forward of their own in the form of Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, who is coming off the back of a prolific first season in England for Manchester City. Panama were the final team to qualify for this World Cup and will be making their debut
Group G
Third ranked Sweden will be heavy favourites to progress as group winners. After reaching the semi finals of the last two major international tournaments, the Scandanavians will be looking to go one better and reach their first final in 20 years.
Italy have reached back-to-back Women’s World Cups for the first time, having reached the quarter finals on both of their previous appearances, and will be backing themselves to reach the knockout stages once again this time around.
Argentina and South Africa were both knocked out in the Group Stage four years ago. South Africa won last year’s Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, while Argentina reached the semi finals of the Copa America Feminina.
Group H
In a similar vein to Sweden, perennial challengers and second ranked Germany will be heavy favourites to win the group. The next highest ranked team in the group are 17th placed South Korea.
The other three teams in the group- South Korea, Colombia and Morocco, were all runners-up in their respective continental championships last year. All three will be realistically targeting second place in the group, with Colombia and South Korea the first of the trio to go head-to-head, on 25 July in Sydney.
If Morocco need inspiration they need only look to their men’s team, who broke new ground in December as the first African nation to reach the semi finals of a senior World Cup. Nobody will expect a repeat here, but with an open group behind the Germans, qualifying is not impossible
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