The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, taking place in Australia and New Zealand, will feature 32 national teams from five different confederations.
These teams will be competing for the prestigious World Cup trophy and the tournament will be held from July 20 to August 20.
Meanwhile, the United States Women’s National Team are considered the favorite with odds of +225 in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, according to Caesars Sportsbook.
Following closely behind them is the England Lionesses team with odds of +375.
Can the reigning World Champions; the United States, and England, the winners of last year’s UEFA European Championship, impress the world once again?
In this article, we will be discussing some factors that can help determine the validity of the rhetorical question mentioned above.
England and USWNT Strengths
The USWNT have achieved a remarkable feat by winning four World Cup titles, including the most recent two.
Furthermore, the US Women’s National Team (USWNT) hold the top position in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings.
This prestigious ranking is a result of their remarkable achievement in winning the last two World Cup titles.
The USWNT have been incredibly successful in the Women’s World Cup, winning four out of the last eight editions.
They have consistently performed well, never finishing worse than third overall.
As of 2023, the USWNT have achieved a remarkable nine-game winning streak. This includes two victories against the Republic of Ireland in April, as well as a recent friendly win against Wales.
On the other hand, England have undergone a remarkable transformation under the leadership of Sarina Wiegman, becoming a formidable force on the global stage.
Many people now consider the Lionesses to be the most likely team to win the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Under the guidance of coach Sarina Wiegman and with captain Millie Bright at the helm, England achieved a remarkable feat last year by clinching their inaugural major title.
Their victory came in the final of the European Championships, where they triumphed over the formidable two-time world champions, Germany.
They further solidified their performance by winning the 2023 Women’s Finalissima against Brazil, proving that their previous success was not a mere coincidence.
Under the leadership of Wiegman, England achieved an impressive 30-game unbeaten streak. This remarkable run also featured a thrilling victory over Brazil in the Finalissima, which was decided by a penalty shootout.
However, their winning streak came to an end in April when they suffered a 2-0 loss to Australia in a friendly match.
With talented young players like Alessia Russo and Ella Toone prepared to assume more prominent roles, Wiegman can approach the World Cup with confidence.
England and USWNT challenges
The USWNT will face challenges, particularly due to injuries. The team’s captain, 38-year-old Becky Sauerbrunn, will not be able to participate in the tournament.
Her absence creates a defensive gap in the team that needs to be addressed.
Additionally, Mallory Swanson is currently unavailable due to an injury. It is worth noting that she has an impressive record of eight goals in her last seven appearances with the USWNT.
Notably, she scored four goals in the recent SheBelieves Cup.
Also, Catarina Macario and Sam Mewis are currently unavailable for the United States, which adds to their tension.
However, it is expected that the United States still boasts a talented roster and a proven track record.
On the other hand, England are expected to come out of the group stage easily, but China and Denmark could present tough obstacles.
Also, England’s injury concerns may pose some challenges for them.
England will be missing several of their Euro-winning stars in this tournament.
Leah Williamson, Beth Mead, and Fran Kirby are all out due to injuries.
However, England have a vast talent pool to draw from, which gives them the ability to overcome the absence of the trio due to injuries.
Group stage fixtures
This week, the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) will be taking center stage in the world of soccer.
The United States will commence their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign on July 21 in Auckland.
The opening match will take place against Group E rival Vietnam at 9 p.m. ET.
Following that, the U.S. team will compete against the Netherlands on July 26 and Portugal on August 1.
Meanwhile, The Lionesses, who are in Group D for the tournament, will kick off their World Cup campaign against debutantes Haiti at 10:30am inside Brisbane Stadium in Australia.
They will then face Denmark and the People’s Republic of China.
2023 Women’s World Cup groups
Group A
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Switzerland
Group B
Australia
Canada
Republic of Ireland
Nigeria
Group C
Costa Rica
Japan
Spain
Zambia
Group D
England
Haiti
Denmark
China
Group E
United States
Vietnam
Netherlands
Portugal
Group F
France
Jamaica
Brazil
Panama
Group G
Sweden
South Africa
Italy
Argentina
Group H
Germany
Morocco
Colombia
South Korea
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