Australia and New Zealand will co-host the ninth FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will take place from 20 July to 20 August 2023.
32 nations will compete in the Women’s World Cup for the first time. Born as a 12-team tournament in 1991, it was expanded to include 16 countries at USA 1999 and 24 at Canada 2015.
Following the group stage draw which took place in October 2022, the full fixture schedule for the tournament is now in place, with New Zealand v Norway the opening game on 20 July, and the final taking place on 20 August.
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Netherlands can achieve something beautiful again
One of the most exhilarating attacking players of her generation, Netherlands great Lieke Martens has a trophy cabinet befitting of her immense talent.
She has been a European champion at club and international level, lifted domestic league championships at Standard Liege, Barcelona and Paris St Germain, and won a slew of prestigious individual honours, including the 2017 Best FIFA Women’s Player Award.
While a major title has remained elusive, Martens has an opportunity to put that right as the Netherlands target FIFA Women’s World Cup™ glory at Australia & New Zealand 2023.
The Dutch were runners-up at the previous World Cup – with Martens and Co edged out in the final by USA – and the 30-year-old reveals she has envisioned what it would be like to go one step further Down Under.
“Yes, you do dream about that,” she tells FIFA. “And I think it is very good that you keep trying to make that dream a reality.
“If we were to win, it would be complete. I would have won everything that I ever dreamt of winning. It will be a tough challenge, but nothing is impossible. I’m going to give everything I can to be as prepared as I can be. I also trust in this team. I just hope we can get into the flow.”
Expectations have soared in the Netherlands since their UEFA Women’s EURO 2017 triumph. Their final win over Denmark – in which Martens scored on her way to being named Player of the Tournament – was watched by a Dutch television audience of more than five million, with a further 500,000 tuning in for their World Cup final showdown with USA two years later. That equated to 88 per cent of the Dutch viewing public.
Martens admits the added pressure has taken some adjusting to, but she is convinced the team possesses the mentality to excel when the stakes are highest.
“Suddenly, after the EURO win, people expect a lot from us,” she says. “I think we dealt with that well as a team. We have slowly grown into it, and we are still dealing with it.
“People expect us to always be able to battle for the grand prizes, and we have given ourselves that standard. The character in the team is back and maybe we can achieve something beautiful again at this World Cup.”
The Netherlands’ status as a genuine global force in women’s football is a relatively recent development, with the Dutch only qualifying for their maiden Women’s World Cup at Canada 2015. Martens, then aged 22, scored the nation’s first-ever goal at the tournament, hitting a stunning winner in a 1-0 victory over New Zealand.
Brazil aims high at Women’s World Cup despite Marta’s injuries
Marta has won the world player of the year award six times but has never won the Women’s World Cup in five previous attempts with Brazil.
That’s something she and the team want to change.
Marta has been recovering from a knee injury but the 37-year-old striker is expected to play a role in Brazil’s bid for the title.
Brazil, one of the three South American teams in the tournament, is expected to advance to the knockout stage in Group F. The group also includes France, the team that eliminated the Brazilians four years ago in the round of 16, Jamaica and Panama.
USA favored to win it all Down Under
Bettors are already budgeting which squad they’re backing in the tournament. And when it comes to the odds board, the reigning world champion United States is at the top.
A year out from the World Cup, the USA women were the +200 betting favorites to win it all, while England was second, at +400. But the odds for the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) have lengthened to +275, and England’s have shortened to +350.
Led by a mix of veterans like captain Becky Sauerbrunn and supported by fresher faces like Sophia Smith, many gamblers are banking on these stellar athletes to create football magic again this year.
Sources: Fifa, Fox Sports and AP