In the upcoming 2023 edition of the Women’s World Cup, a record number of 32 teams will participate, including eight countries making their debut in the tournament. This comprehensive guide will provide you with all the necessary information about the upcoming event.
Where Does The Women’s World Cup Start – And When?
The 2023 Women’s World Cup will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand, making it the first time in history that the tournament will be co-hosted by two countries. Over the course of 32 days, a total of 64 matches will be played across 10 different stadiums.
The tournament kicked off on July 20 at Eden Park in Auckland, where New Zealand faced off against Norway. The final match will be played on August 20 at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
Who Is Competing?
The participating teams in this year’s tournament include the top teams from each region, determined through confederation tournaments and inter-continental qualifier playoffs held in February. Along with the hosts who qualified automatically, 7 countries will be making their debut in the Women’s World Cup: Morocco, Panama, Portugal, Haiti, the Republic of Ireland, Vietnam, and Zambia. Additionally, this will be the Philippines’ first appearance in either the men’s or women’s FIFA World Cup tournament.
Team USA
In the previous Women’s World Cup held in 2019, the United States emerged as the champions, defeating the Netherlands in France. It was their fourth victory in the history of the tournament, having previously won in 1991, 1999, and 2015.
The U.S. women’s team enters this year’s tournament as the favorites (with average odds of 5/2 at the time of writing), aiming for a third consecutive win. This is leading to some attractive betting odds at a wide range of online sportsbooks. And, there’s a huge range of these for players to choose from, including all those operating in the state of New Jersey, which is one of the biggest states for betting. If you’re not in NJ, however, don’t fear, more and more states are opening up legal online and in-person betting opportunities for fans to place a bet on Team USA bringing the cup home.
However, England’s Lionesses, who clinched the 2022 UEFA European Women’s Football Championship, are regarded as the third-favorites by many bookmakers (9/2), behind Spain at 7/2. So, soccer fans are sure to have a thrilling couple of weeks following whichever team they’ve backed throughout the tournament.
The roster for Team USA, consisting of 23 members, was announced by coach Vlatko Andonovski. The announcement was made through a social media post featuring various famous faces, including President Joe Biden. Veterans Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan will be making their fourth appearance at the World Cup. The team also includes debutants such as Alyssa Thompson, who is the youngest player on the team at just 18.
Here is the complete roster for Team USA:
Goalkeepers:
Aubrey Kingsbury
Casey Murphy
Alyssa Naeher
Defenders:
Alana Cook
Crystal Dunn
Emily Fox
Naomi Girma
Sofia Huerta
Kelley O’Hara
Emily Sonnett
Midfielders:
Savannah DeMelo
Julie Ertz
Lindsey Horan
Rose Lavelle
Kristie Mewis
Ashley Sanchez
Andi Sullivan
Forwards:
Alex Morgan
Megan Rapinoe
Trinity Rodman
Sophia Smith
Alyssa Thompson
Lynn Williams
The First Ever Women’s World Cup
In an unexpected turn of events, the inaugural edition of the Women’s World Cup in 1991 defied all odds and shattered expectations. Back then, the tournament was far from being the grand spectacle it is today. In fact, FIFA took a rather dismissive stance, going so far as to give it the awkward title of the “1st FIFA World Championship for Women’s Football for the M&M’s Cup.” Quite a mouthful, isn’t it?
Holding the tournament in low regard, FIFA even shortened the match duration to a mere 80 minutes, as if implying that female players lacked the stamina for a full 90 minutes. Furthermore, there were no significant broadcasting agreements in place. If you are old enough to remember the very first Women’s World Cup, chances are you probably didn’t watch it. When the United States emerged triumphant, their victory went largely unnoticed by their fellow countrymen and women. Live coverage was nonexistent, and the nascent internet had not yet become a platform for global viewership.
Nevertheless, against these odds, the tournament proceeded, leaving us with precious remnants that FIFA now shares on YouTube—accompanied, curiously enough, by electronic dance music. While very few can recollect witnessing the event first-hand, the significance of this first Women’s World Cup remains indelible and deserving of acknowledgement.
The Unstoppable Rise Of Women’s Football
In October 2022, FIFA unveiled a comprehensive report elucidating the substantial rise in both commercial and broadcast revenues on a year-on-year basis for clubs and leagues.
Notably, within the United States, the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) has observed a progressive escalation in its salary cap since its inception in 2013. Initially, players would commonly earn $20,000 or less annually, but presently, the minimum salary for 2023 stands at approximately $36,400, a substantial increase.
Furthermore, the league has witnessed a remarkable shift from its previous maximum limit of $200,000. Impressively, the NWSL’s salary cap has experienced a significant surge of 25 percent from 2022 to 2023, reaching an impressive $1.375 million.
As a testament to its soaring prosperity, the league plans to expand to 14 teams in 2024, with an ambitious target of reaching 16 teams by 2026.
So, while the Women’s World Cup is undoubtedly big news, it’s just the start of an exciting and successful footballing calendar over the next few years.
And long may it continue.
