The Women’s World Cup is here, and teams and fans around the globe are heading to ten stadiums to compete and train harder than ever before and watch the competition like a hawk.
Five pitches in Australia and four in New Zealand are holding this keenly anticipated month-long event kickstarting July 20 to August 20. For those not fortunate enough to watch the action live, fear not: there are numerous betting sites with experts on board, presenting the top picks currently.
But, for now, here’s everything you need to know about the Women’s World Cup 2023 – and with intriguing twists!
Teams Setting the Women’s World Cup In Motion
Setting the stage for the tournament’s open day is Australia against Ireland and New Zealand vying with Norway – both of which are preparing to set the tone for the thrilling matches in the pipeline.
All teams that have qualified, however, are Australia, Argentina, Brazil, China, Colombia, Canada, Costa Rica, England, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Haiti, Jamaica, Japan, Italy, Morocco, New Zealand, the Netherland, Nigeria, Panama, Norway, the Philippines, South Africa, Portugal, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Vietnam, Zambia, Switzerland, and, of course, the United States.
The United States – the current titleholders – will first go head-to-head against the Netherlands, Portugal, and Vietnam in the group stage. Then, the top two teams will go onto round 16, spurring the tournament into the next enticing step, whereby the other countries will join the competition.
It’s also important to note that eight teams are new to the game: Panama, Morocco, Haiti, Ireland, Vietnam, Portugal, Zambia, and the Philippines. Get prepared for this year’s tournament by checking out the stats form last year exciting Women’s Euro 2022.
Notable Injury Issues
Unfortunately, many injuries are taking their toll this year, causing a stir amongst teams and fans alike. Iconic players from the United States, England, France, the Netherlands, and Canada have serious injuries, thus, can’t partake in the season.
Knee injuries, in particular, are a major cause for concern, affecting the USA’s Mallory Swanson; England’s Beth Mead, Fran Kirby, and Leah Williamson; the Netherland’s Vivianne Miedama and France’s Delphine Cascarino and Marie-Antoinette – all of whom cannot participate in the career-changing event as a consequence.
On the flip side, Janine Beckie tore her anterior cruciate ligament during a game in March, excluding her from the Canadian team for the first time. This is a tremendous loss considering she was instrumental in Canada taking home the Tokyo Games’ golden medal.
Off-Pitch Controversies
Meanwhile, off-pitch issues are ruffling feathers. Europe is potentially facing a TV blackout following disputes regarding broadcasting rights.
Moreover, France fired its manager Corinne Diacre, with three key players refusing to present the country this summer if she continued taking over the team’s reins. Following this, the team placed a vote, leading Diacre to be replaced by Saudi Arabia’s former coach, Herve Renard, who led the country to victory against Argentina during the men’s World Cup.
On the other hand, Canadian players continue to fight with their union, which has resulted in the federation’s president resigning. Funding issues and support remain unresolved as a consequence.
Another compelling side story includes FIFA abruptly cancelling its sponsorship deal with the tourism authority behind Saudi Arabia, with no official public announcement made.
Regardless of these dramas, the Women’s World Cup is ready for a month of thrilling competition and will go on to showcase determination and skill with rising stars.
