| Hosts: Australia and New Zealand Dates: 20 July-20 August |
| Scope: Live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app. Full coverage details; Latest news |
The wait is almost over. The biggest FIFA Women’s World Cup – featuring European champions England and the Republic of Ireland – finally gets underway on Thursday.
Australia and New Zealand are co-hosting the ninth edition, which for the first time will feature 32 nations, including defending world champions the United States.
This is the first Women’s World Cup to have two co-hosts.
New Zealand Start the tournament against Norway First at Eden Park (08:00 BST kick-off). Australia will play against the Republic of Ireland Stadium in Sydney, Australia on the same day (11:00 kick-off).
Organizers hope the opening two matches will attract a combined crowd of 100,000 fans.
It will be the most watched Women’s World Cup ever, with more than 1.3 million tickets purchased in advance for 64 matches at 10 venues across nine cities.
Organizers are targeting a record two billion television viewers for the 2023 edition, more than double the audience that watched the 2019 World Cup in France.
“The future is women. Thank you to the fans for supporting the greatest FIFA Women’s World Cup ever,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Along with the Republic of Ireland, seven other nations are making their World Cup debuts – Vietnam, Zambia, Haiti, Morocco, Panama, Philippines and Portugal.
The United States – chasing a fifth world title – is the number one team in the world, while Zambia is ranked 77th and the lowest ranked team in the tournament.
The final will take place on August 20 at the Australian Stadium (11:00 kick-off).
First World Cup
This Women’s World Cup has been labeled as the biggest women’s sporting event ever staged. One thing is certain: the tournament will be huge in terms of showcasing and growing women’s football around the world.
For the first time, FIFA will pay players directly at the Women’s World Cup. Amounts increase the deeper teams progress, from around £24,000 per player for the group stage to £200,000 allocated to each champion.
These are significant sums at a time when the average salary in the women’s game worldwide is £11,000, according to last year’s FIFA benchmarking report. Overall prize money increased by £23m to £84m in 2019.
In another first, referees will announce the rationale for Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decisions to fans in stadiums and television audiences via microphones and loudspeakers.
as in Men’s World Cup in Qatar last year Referees are encouraged to stop wasting time, so extra time is longer but longer goal celebrations extend stoppages.
Meanwhile, leaders Armbands are allowed to be worn With messages of inclusion, gender equality and post-peace rainbow armbands were not allowed at the men’s tournament last year.
However, none of the eight armbands available explicitly advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Who will win this Women’s World Cup?
Last time the United States Missed the World Cup in 2011 when they were beaten on penalties by Japan in the final in Frankfurt, Germany.
Since then he has won 13 out of 14 on the global stage and will go into this edition chasing a record third consecutive success after victories in 2015 and 2019.
However, boss Jill Ellis has stepped down after guiding the Stars and Stripes to World Cup glory in France in 2019, while two-time World Cup and Olympic gold medalist Carli Lloyd has ended her international career.
With 14 of the 23 players making their first World Cup appearance and Megan Rapinoe — considered a true American icon — announcing this will be her fourth and final World Cup, could there be a changing of the guard at the top of women’s soccer?
of England Unforgettable Euro 2022 success has put them right in the conversation when it comes to predicting World Cup favourites.
However, injuries have hit hard and several key players are missing, including Beth Mead, who was named the best player at Euro 2022 and won the Golden Boot award given to the tournament’s top scorer.
Spain Alexia Putellas has the best women’s player in the world, but a two-time winner Germany Has a strong and experienced team.
France Led by veteran manager Hervé Renard, will be co-host Australia Supported by a large crowd and featuring Chelsea’s prolific forward Sam Kerr.
Controversial construction
Olympic champions Canada are also hoping to go deep into the tournament, but are one of several nations whose World Cup preparations have been disrupted by domestic issues.
Spain and France have also made headlines in recent months, with rows between players and unions escalating, although France’s problems have been resolved with Renard’s appointment.
Jamaica – and even Nigeria’s head coach – have taken action or called on their federations over issues such as pay, resources and personnel.
England players Desperate with the Football Association over its stance on performance-related bonuses.
Meanwhile, the South African team selected by coach Desiree Ellis did not take part in their final warm-up matches on home soil before leaving for the World Cup, meaning a back-up team including a 13-year-old girl was hastily assembled to face Botswana to avoid a penalty.
Six World Cups and counting
With 32 teams in this edition – up from 24 in 2019 and 16 in 2011 – there are 736 players in this World Cup.
Three of them are making their sixth appearance in the tournament – Marta (Brazil), Onom Ebi (Nigeria) and Christine Sinclair (Canada).
Having turned 40 in May, defender AB is Australia and New Zealand’s oldest player.
But she still trailed Brazil’s Farmiga, who held the record for the oldest player in the competition at 41 years and 112 days in 2019.
Meanwhile, there are a number of players fresh out of high school.
South Korea’s Casey Fair, 16, will become the youngest player ever at a Women’s World Cup if she appears in her country’s first two group games against Colombia or Morocco.
A growing list of injuries
The United States, Netherlands, England, France and Canada are among the nations without key players due to injury.
As well as captain Becky Sauerbrunn (leg), forward Mallory Swanson (torn patellar tendon), midfielder Sam Mewis (knee) and forward Kristen Press (knee) are also on the United States’ injury list.
Netherlands all-time leading scorer Vivienne Miedema is out with anterior cruciate ligament damage – the same injury that prevented England’s Leah Williamson and Meade from taking part.
Attacking midfielder Fran Kirby (knee) is also missing for the Lionesses.
France are also without midfielder Amandine Henry (calf), five-time Champions League winner Delphine Cascarino (ACL) and striker Marie-Antoinette Catoto (ACL).
Another player out with an ACL injury is Canadian forward Janine Beckie.
How to follow the BBC on…
The BBC is your destination for coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
With 33 live games on BBC TV and iPlayer, along with coverage of key matches on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds, football fans can enjoy the Australia and New Zealand Women’s World Cup wherever they are.
With the first pick of the last-16 stage, the BBC will show England’s first knockout game if they make it past the group stage.
BBC is the only place you can watch both semi-final matches on August 15-16. The final, on Sunday, 20 August, will be broadcast by both the BBC and ITV.
