Everything you need to know about the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023

All the information you need on teams, groups, fixtures, dates, venues and more about Australia & New Zealand 2023.

• Australia and New Zealand will co-host the ninth FIFA Women's World Cup

• Check out the groups, qualifiers and find out how to buy tickets

• Read information on dates and venues

Women's World Cup dates 20 July to 20 August 2023.

Women's World Cup teams

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.

GROUP STAGE ANALYSIS

Group A: New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Switzerland

Co-hosts New Zealand have been drawn against 1995 champions Norway – who they will face in the tournament’s opening game in Auckland – Philippines and Switzerland in an incredibly competitive Group A.

The Football Ferns would give themselves every chance to advance despite not having won in their previous 10 games since they will have a large home crowd supporting them during each of their three games.

Norway, the favorites to top their group and led by superstar Ada Hegerberg, will hope to put their Euro 2022 disappointment behind them and advance to the knockout stage for the third time in a row. Switzerland, one of the three European teams to qualify via the play-offs, will compete in the tournament for the first time.

Alen Stajcic, a former Matildas coach, is leading the Philippines in their first-ever World Cup appearance.

Australia, Canada, Nigeria, and Republic of Ireland make up Group B.

Other co-hosts Australia was likewise placed in a challenging group at the FIFA Women's World Cup, alongside the hosts Republic of Ireland, 11-time African champions Nigeria, and Olympic gold medalists Canada.

The Matildas enter the competition in strong shape, having already defeated European champions England and won the Cup of Nations on home soil in February, which includes a victory over Spain.

Even with home-field advantage, the task won't be simple against three formidable opponents.

With players like Adriana Leon, Christine Sinclair, and Ashley Lawrence, to name a few, Canada poses the largest threat to Australia after defeating them twice last year. However, they have never quite been able to successfully translate their star strength into World Cup victory.

For the second time in the country's history, Nigeria advanced from the group stage in 2019. Asisat Oshoala, probably the best women's football player in African history, who has been on fire for Spanish powerhouse Barcelona, will serve as the team's captain.

Ireland, who qualified for the World Cup for the first time through the play-offs, is expecting to make a big splash. Their midfield, which features stars Katie McCabe and Denise O'Sullivan, is as skilled as any in Group B.

With players like Adriana Leon, Christine Sinclair, and Ashley Lawrence, to name a few, Canada poses the largest threat to Australia after defeating them twice last year. However, they have never quite been able to successfully translate their star strength into World Cup victory.

Furthermore, if recent history is any indication, their stubborn temperament can give rival sides a lot of trouble.

However, the draw hasn't been kind to Canada and Ireland, who must travel to Perth in the middle of two games on the east coast.

Group C: Costa Rica, Japan, Spain, Zambia

Heavyweights in women's football Spain and Japan face off against Costa Rica and another debutant, Zambia, in Group C.

Though a conflict between senior players and the federation and coach Jorge Vilda clouded Spain's training, the first two enter the group as overwhelming favorites to advance.

With both the champion and runner-up sides taking on teams from Group A in the Round of 16, Japan, who won the competition in 2011 and finished second in 2015, is hoping to make another strong showing.

Costa Rica is competing in their second World Cup and memorably drew with Spain in their first competition back in 2015, where they narrowly missed making it to the Round of 16.

Zambia, who are the first men's or women's team from a landlocked African nation to qualify for a senior World Cup, are attempting to start a significant ruckus in the meanwhile.

At the competition, all eyes will be on star striker Barbara Banda, who dominated in Tokyo by becoming the first female athlete to score back-to-back hat-tricks at the Olympics.

Group D: China, Denmark, England, Haiti

The highest-ranked team in Group D and reigning European champions England are heavy favorites to advance.

With Leah Williamson and Beth Mead out injured, Denmark, China, and Haiti stand in the Lionesses' way, but their depth should be enough for Sarina Wiegman's team to still win the group.

However, if they win, Australia or Canada might be waiting for them in the Round of 16, creating a highly anticipated first knockout-phase encounter.

The initial match in Perth might be decisive for any team in the contest between China and Denmark for second place in the group.

The Steel Roses, who just won the Asian championship last year, have advanced through the group stage in each of their seven outings.

Despite impressive performances at European Championships, Denmark hasn't exactly been able to carry that success overseas. They are really playing in their first World Cup since 2007. Pernille Harder, their star striker, is crucial to their chances of progressing.

Having defeated Chile in a thrilling intercontinental play-off, Haiti enters its first-ever World Cup campaign with nothing to lose.

Group E: Netherlands, Portugal, United States, Vietnam

The USA and Netherlands are scheduled to square off in Wellington, which will serve as the group's main event and serve as a rematch of the 2019 final.

Both teams are predicted to win their groups, with the US seeking to become the first men's or women's team to win three straight World Cups. Becky Sauerbrunn, though, won't be competing for the USA due to injury.

The Netherlands, meanwhile, are attempting to travel even further down under in order to exact revenge for their loss from four years ago. However, the Dutch were kicked out of the Euros in the quarterfinals by the aforementioned country and have never really recovered from their defeat in France.

Due to the absence of star striker Vivienne Miedema, the task has been made much more challenging for Fenna Kalma, who only Erling Haaland (46) and Kylian Mbappe (56) scored more goals in 2022 than she did.

Portugal is another group E squad to keep an eye on after climbing the international rankings in recent years and qualifying for their first international Cup.

On the other hand, Vietnam, who are also making their debut, will be trying to pull off a massive upset and will face the defending champions in Auckland in their first group.

Group F: Brazil, France, Jamaica, Panama

France and Brazil, two of the tournament favorites, begin their World Cup campaign in an interesting Group F.

The French, who are currently led by Herve Renard, are one of the favorites to win the World Cup for the first time ever, but they will have a difficult time beating Brazil's might.

In the second matchday in Brisbane, which is one of the games of the group stage and is likely to have a significant impact on who wins the group, both teams will square off.

Brazil will travel to Australia without their star midfielder Formiga, but they have still called upon Marta despite her injury concerns. Players like Debinha and Kerolin are among those to keep an eye on as they prepare for a deep run.

With renowned striker Bunny Shaw leading the charge, Jamaica is making its second appearance in the tournament and has the potential to cause some problems. In the meantime, Panama is another tournament debutant looking to make a splash.

Group G: Argentina, Italy, South Africa, Sweden

Sweden is the heavy favorite to win Group G, where they will compete in New Zealand against teams like Italy, Argentina, and South Africa.

Given their recent results at international competitions, which includes a third-place finish in 2019, a silver medal in Tokyo, and a semi-final exit at the Euros, the Swedes are one of the teams expected to advance far in the competition.

South Africa, the defending African champion, and Argentina are both aiming to improve on their winless seasons from four years ago.

Italy will be hoping to get past their disappointing performance at Euro 2022, when they came last in their group with just one point.

Either of the top two teams faces a matchup with the USA or the Netherlands.

Group H: Colombia, Germany, South Korea, Morocco

Although Germany is the clear favorite to win Group H, the outcome of the closely contested race for second is anyone's guess.

Amazingly, on their last chance, all four teams came close to claiming European title as well.

Germany, who finished second in the Euros after losing to England in the championship match, is one of the teams expected to compete in the competition in late August.

The Germans' Round of 16 matchup against either France or Brazil promises to be exciting.

Colombia is back on the international stage after reaching the knockout rounds in 2015 and is also coming off a runners-up performance at the Copa America the previous year.

South Korea, who finished second to China in the Asian Cup last year, will be trying to advance to the knockout stage for the first time in only two attempts.

Morocco, the first Arab team to compete at a Women's World Cup, will be looking to make a splash and build on their impressive performance at the African Cup of Nations, where they lost to South Africa in the final.