The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off Thursday, July 20th with matches in Auckland, New Zealand and Sydney, Australia. Can the United States Women’s National Soccer Team make it three in a row? If they do win it all again, it would be the fifth FIFA Women’s World Cup title for the Americans.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup has been held every four years since its founding in 1991. This year’s soccer tournament is being jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand. Matches are scheduled to take place from July 20th through August 20th. The tournament opens with a group stage. Teams from 32 countries are divided into eight groups of four. The top two teams from each group move on to the knockout stage starting with a round of 16 teams.
The U.S. team begins the tournament in Group E with Vietnam, the Netherlands, and Portugal. You can see the first match for the American squad on Friday, July 21st at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Fox. They’ll be taking on Vietnam at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand. The championship match will be on August 20th in Sydney, Australia. Click here for the complete schedule.
The United States Women’s National Soccer Team is led by head coach Vlatko Andonovski, along with captains Lindsay Horan and Alex Morgan. The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup also marks the last major tournament for USNWT star Megan Rapinoe. The 38-year-old announced that she will retire from professional soccer at the end of the year.
So where does the USNWT stand heading into the tournament? Right at the top, just as they have since 2017. According to The Sporting News, here are the top 10 teams to beat based on world ranking points:
1. USA (2090.03 points)
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Megan Rapinoe #15 of the United States shoots against Japan during the 2023 SheBelieves Cup at GEODIS Park on February 19, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. Rapinoe, 38, announced that she will retire from professional soccer at the end of 2023. The USNWT won the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991, 1999, 2015, and 2019. That’s more than any other country.
2. Germany (2061.56 points)
(Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Presentation photo of the German Women’s National Soccer Team on July 03, 2023 in Herzogenaurach, Germany. Germany will participate in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. The tournament is being held at multiple sites in Australia and New Zealand from July 20th to August 20th 2023. Germany won the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2003 and 2007.
3. Sweden (2049.71 points)
(Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Alexandra Popp (L) of Germany challenges Elin Rubensson (R) of Sweden during the Women’s friendly match between Germany and Sweden at Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena on February 21, 2023 in Duisburg, Germany. Sweden finished second in the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup. They placed third in the 1991, 2011, and 2019 tournaments.
4. England (2040.76 points)
(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Players from the England Women’s National Football Team pose for a photo prior to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Qualifier group D match between England and Luxembourg at Bet365 Stadium on September 06, 2022 in Stoke on Trent, United Kingdom. England finished fourth in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
5. France (2026.65 points)
(Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Wendie Renard of France leads the team out during the International Friendly match between the Australia Matildas and France at Marvel Stadium on July 14, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. France finished fourth in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup and hosted the event in 2019. The 2023 tournament runs from July 20th to August 20th and is being jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
6. Spain (2002.28 points)
(Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Spain pose for a team photo during the UEFA Women’s Euro England 2022 Quarter Final match between England and Spain at Brighton & Hove Community Stadium on July 20, 2022 in Brighton, England. The Spain Women’s National Football Team has represented Spain in international women’s soccer competition since 1980.
7. Canada (1996.34 points)
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Adriana Leon #19 of Canada takes a shot against Brazil during the 2023 SheBelieves Cup at GEODIS Park on February 19, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. Canada finished fourth in the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup and hosted the tournament in 2015.
8. Brazil (1995.30 points)
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Andressa Alves of Brazil and her team sing as they thank the crowd during the Women’s International Friendly match between the Australia Matildas and Brazil at CommBank Stadium on October 23, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. The final of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup will also be played in Sydney on August 20th. Brazil finished second in 2007 and third in 1999.
9. The Netherlands (1980.47 points)
(Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Romee Leuchter of The Netherlands celebrates after scoring their side’s second goal during the UEFA Women’s Euro England 2022 group C match between Switzerland and Netherlands at Bramall Lane on July 17, 2022 in Sheffield, England. The Netherlands finished second to the USNWT in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
10. Australia (1919.69 points)
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Australia team photo during the National anthem during the International Women’s Friendly match between the Australia Women’s National Soccer Team, nicknamed the Matildas, and Canada at Suncorp Stadium on September 03, 2022 in Brisbane, Australia. The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is being played in Australia and New Zealand from July 20th through August 20th.
