The ninth renewal of the Women’s World Cup is due to get underway in Australia and New Zealand later this month, with the Southern Hemisphere countries holding joint-hosting duties for the first time in the tournament’s storied 32-year history.
Running from July 20 to August 20, the 2023 Women’s World Cup is set to be the biggest edition of the competition yet as FIFA have expanded the number of participating teams from 24 to 32 — meaning the Philippines, Vietnam, Morocco, Zambia, Haiti, Panama, Portugal and the Republic of Ireland are all making their maiden appearances.
The tournament will be held at 10 venues across nine cities, including Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland, and there will be some 64 matches from start to finish. Anticipation is starting to grow, so let’s look at the sides currently leading the way in the Women’s World Cup odds.
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USA – 5/2
If you’re familiar with women’s football, it will come as no surprise that the United States women’s national soccer team (USWNT) are the outright favourites for Women’s World Cup. The USA have won the Women’s World Cup a record four times since it was formed 32 years ago, lifting the inaugural trophy in 1991 before further successes in 1999, 2015 and 2019.
The Stars and Stripes, managed by Vlatko Andonovski, are going for a record third-straight Women’s World Cup triumph in Australia and New Zealand after reigning victorious in Canada and France and it would be foolish to overlook the No.1-ranked team in the world.
The US have been drawn in Group E with debutants Vietnam and Portugal, while they will also rekindle their rivalry with the Netherlands — who they beat 2-0 in the 2019 final at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais.
England – 7/2
England have been knocking at the door in the last couple of renewals of the Women’s World Cup, beating Germany 1-0 after extra-time to secure third in 2015 before losing the bronze medal match to Sweden last time out in France, and the Lionesses’ recent European glory could be exactly what they needed to spur them on to World Cup success for the first time in Australia and New Zealand.
The appointment of Sarina Wiegman, who guided the Dutch to the 2019 final, in 2020 has been a revelation as she has an 80% win rate and England have lost just once in her 31-game tenure to date. The Lionesses have been ruthless in that time as well, often thrashing teams by large margins, and they will need the same attitude Down Under.
The World No.4-ranked side have been paired in Group D with Haiti, Denmark and China, and should face no problems against their counterparts in Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide.
Spain – 6/1
Another team on the hunt for their first World Cup success is Spain. Given how successful the men’s team have been on the international stage and the football heritage that has come from the Iberian Peninsula country thanks to the likes of powerhouses Real Madrid and Barcelona, it’s somewhat of a surprise that La Roja only made their World Cup debut in 2015.
Spain failed to even win a game on their maiden appearance in Canada but reached the round of 16 in 2019, where they were beaten by the US. Jorge Vilda’s were beaten by in England in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Euros last year, but have been in fine form since — losing just once in 11 games, while they notably beat the US 2-1 in a friendly last October.
La Roja have a more than manageable group as they are set to face Costa Rica, Zambia and Japan. Three wins could give them the confidence to kick on in the group stages and many of these players are coming in off the back of a Women’s Champions League triumph with Barcelona — including two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas.