Aotearoa is playing host to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 (well, co-host with our neighbours across the ditch) and the opening ceremony’s set to kick off on July 20 at our very own Eden Park. While this news has FIFA fans up and down the motu frothing, for others it’s very much a smile-and-nod situation. If that’s a bit of you, you’ll be stoked to know we’ve put together a cheeky guide to make sure you don’t look like a total newb.
First up though, some intel on the tournament itself which takes place every four years. This year the gameplay will span 5-8 August, seeing 32 teams battling it out in 16 matches across ten stadiums in our own backyard and in Oz. In Aotearoa those matches will take place in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington, Ōtepoti/Dunedin and Kirikiroa/Hamilton. Aussie-based fans will be flocking to Sydney, Boorloo/Perth, Meaanjin/Brisbane, Naarm/Melbourne and Tarntanya/Adelaide.
Nab yourself a ticket (or five) here and if you can’t make it to any of these spots, watch the games live on Sky Sports NOW. Which brings us to perhaps the most important question of all—who to root for (aside from the obvious)? Without further ado, here’s a roundup of the best teams to watch in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
Football Ferns
Aotearoa
A.K.A The future FIFA champions. While we’re not the top seed in our group (that’s a technical term for favourite) and we’re yet to register a win in the five FIFA Women’s World Cups we’ve played in, that isn’t to say 2023 couldn’t be our year (start manifesting, stat). Captained by Ali Riley and coached by Jitka Klimkova, we’re in a great position to make waves. Cheer on our team against Norway on 20 July at Eden Park, against the Philippines on 25 July at Wellington Regional Stadium, and against Switzerland on 30 July at Dunedin Stadium.
Matildas
Australia
A.k.a. The opposition. They may be our fellow co-hosts but they’re also our sworn enemies, particularly and especially after the whole pavlova origin shenanigans and the fact that vegemite exists (lest we forget). Historically they’ve struggled to get past the quarter-finals, but the hype around this team, coached by Tony Gustavsson and captained by Sam Kerr, is strong. Support our favourite rivals as they take on Ireland on 20 July at Stadium Australia, Nigeria on 27 July at Brisbane Stadium, and Canada on 31 July at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (The USWNT)
USA
The current reigning champs have snatched the cup four times in the history of the tournament. This year, coached by Vlatko Andonovski, The USWNT is chasing the mythical “three-peat” (a cute term for three wins in a row) which would be all the more impressive given no team—men’s or women’s alike—has ever managed to take out this title. They’ll have to do it without captain Becky Sauerbrunn, however, who is still in rest mode after a foot injury. Catch The USWNT in action at Eden Park on 22 July against Vietnam, Wellington Regional Stadium on 27 July against The Netherlands, and 1 August at Eden Park against Portugal.
Orange Lionesses / Oranje Leeuwinnen
The Netherlands
The Orange Lionesses are definitely a team to watch as they take to the pitch, salty with four years of seething after having been pipped at the post by Team USA back in 2019, and losing their former coach to the U.K. We’re crossing our fingers for some goosebump-inducing moments of pure unadulterated vengeance. Coached by Andries Jonker and captained by Sherida Spitse, watch them take on Portugal on 23 July at Dunedin Stadium, The USA on 27 June at Wellington Regional Stadium, and Vietnam on 1 August at Dunedin Stadium.
Lionesses
England
Fresh from winning the UEFA Women’s EURO last year, the Lionesses will be launching onto the pitch with a roar (sorry not sorry) as favourites second only to The USA. They’ll be down three major players—including captain Leah Williamson—due to injury but are nevertheless expected to prove formidable opponents under the savvy coaching of Sarina Wiegman. They’ll be ripping up the pitch at Brisbane Stadium on 22 July going head-to-head with Haiti, at Sydney Football Stadium on 28 July with Denmark, and Hindmarsh Stadium on 1 August with China PR.
Nadeshiko
Japan
Serving underdog realness and stealing the limelight back in 2011, then getting so close in 2015 only to be swiftly backhanded by the USA, the Nadeshiko have been more lowkey in recent FIFA Women's World Cups. That could all change though with the team levelling up, or, as the sports pros say “gaining momentum”, in external competitions, coached by Futoshi Ikeda and captained by Saki Kumagai. The team will vie against Zambia on 22 July at Waikato Stadium, Costa Rica on 26 July at Dunedin Stadium, and Spain on 31 July at Wellington Regional Stadium. Get amongst.
Les Bleues
France
Captained by the icon that is Wendie Renard, you’re going to want to keep an eye on Les Bleues. “I still have the same determination even after winning numerous titles,” Renard says in a FIFA spotlight soundbite. “Seasons come and go but they’re not all the same and football also evolves. You have to evolve with it if you don’t want to get left behind.” *Mic drop.* Coached by recently appointed Herve Renard, we’re excited to see what the team brings to the pitch this year. Witness them contend with Jamaica on 23 July at Sydney Football Stadium, Panama on 29 July at Perth Rectangular Stadium, and Brazil on 2 August at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
DFB-Frauenteam / Deutsche Fußballnationalmannschaft Der Frauen
Germany
A staple qualifier in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, DFB-Frauenteam have taken out the competition twice and has ranked highly in all other iterations of the tournament. The nation is the only one to be able to claim their women’s and men’s teams have become world champions. Talk about a power couple. Coached by Martina Voss-Tecklenburg and captained by Alexandra Popp, you know this team will probably definitely have you on the edge of your seat. They’re set to face Morocco on 24 July at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Colombia on 30 July at Sydney Football Stadium, and Korea Republic on 2 August at Brisbane Stadium.
Lionesses of Atlas / منتخب المغرب لكرة القدم للسيدات
Morocco
Fellow Group H competitor alongside Germany, it’d have been remiss of us to make a round-up of teams to watch without mentioning Morocco. This FIFA Women’s World Cup will be the first or “maiden” appearance for the Moroccan women’s soccer team, which also just happens to be the first Arab team to take to the pitch. Needless to say, we’re very excited to see what this team delivers. Coached by Reynald Pedros and captained by Ghizlane Chebbak they’ll tackle Germany on 24 July at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Korea Republic on 30 July at Hindmarsh Stadium and Colombia on 3 August at Perth Rectangular Stadium.
The Blue and Yellow / Blågult
Sweden
The last two Cups have seen Sweden crawl up the ranks, snagging bronze in France in 2019 and then silver in Tokyo in 2020. The world waits with bated breath to see if they’ll continue this pretty freakin’ stellar trajectory. Of course The Blue and Yellow will have to shake The States off their beeline for a three-peat so it’s going to be one helluva battle… if they manage to get to that point. Coached by Peter Gerhardsson and captained by Caroline Seger, the team will start by having at South Africa on 23 July then Italy on 29 July both at Wellington Regional Stadium, and Argentina on 2 August at Waikato Stadium.
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Image credit: FIFA via Getty Images.