Preview of the 2023 Women’s Football World Cup: Favorites, Format, and Contenders

Thirty-two nations dream of it, but only one of them will be crowned world champion, on August 20, at Stadium Australia in Sydney.

Four years after the crowning of the United States in France, the World Cup returns to the fore, from July 20 to August 20. It is in the smallest continent of the globe, in Oceania, that the biggest football competition in the world will be held. For the first time in history, two countries have been selected to host the ninth edition of the World Cup: Australia and New Zealand, where women’s football is experiencing a recent and significant boom. Between news, favorites and broadcast, franceinfo: sport presents everything you need to know before the start of the competition.

The format of the 2023 edition

Another first, the 2023 edition will be contested by 32 teams, compared to 24 in France and 12 during the inaugural event in 1991. A decision taken by Fifa to “promote the development of women’s football”. Along the same lines, France Télévisions has undertaken to broadcast 32 matches on its channels and on the france.tvincluding, from the group stage, the clash between France and Brazil (July 29, at noon, French time) or the remake of the final of the previous edition between the United States and the Netherlands (July 27, at 3 a.m. French time).

The schedule for the Women’s Football World Cup, from July 20 to August 20, 2023. (HENRI LAURIANO / FRANCEINFO SPORT)

If pools A, C, E and G are scheduled in New Zealand, the other four – including that of the France team – are in Australia. To continue their adventure and reach the final phase, the teams involved will have to climb to the first two places in their group. The final, which will be played in the 83,500-seat Stadium Australia (Sydney), will be broadcast, whatever the poster, on the antennas of France Télévisions.

A half and more if affinity for the Blues

The time is for peace and renewal. After delicate years under the leadership of Corinne Deacon, the tricolor clan has begun its renaissance since the appointment of Hervé Renard on March 30. From an accounting point of view, they were close to a perfect balance sheet before starting their World Cup. If everything had started under the best auspices with three consecutive victories, the France team lost in its last preparation match against Australia on July 14, letting itself be somewhat caught up in its past setbacks.

Host of the World Cup in 2019, France had seen its dream shattered by the United States in the quarter-finals of the competition. Four years later, Les Bleues have made a clean sweep of the past to start from scratch. If he still has to settle the last details of his training, Hervé Renard has never hidden his ambition. “When you have a team fifth in the world, you can legitimately hope to reach the semi-finals“, he had advanced, on June 18, on the Stage 2 plateau.

The United States, not so undisputed favorites

Since the creation of the World Cup in 1991, the United States, four times winners and two-time defending champions, have always settled on the podium of the competition. With their status as the first nation in the FIFA world rankings, the Americans are the natural favorites for final victory. “Will I be happy if we get something other than a third straight win? Absolutely notassured Vlatko Andonovski, the coach of the United States. Our goal is to win the World Cup.”

If the quality of its workforce is well established, the selection led by the American-Macedonian coach has still hinted at some flaws. Of their 14 friendly matches played, the Americans lost only three times, of course, but each time against high-ranking nations: England, reigning European champions, Spain, and Germany, finalist of the last Euro. What leaves a hint of hope to the best nations.