NOTES
Cool to see Messi’s introduction to MLS in Miami Sunday night – even if Apple TV and Fox blew it. Here’s the full 20 minute revised very spanish heavy video in the rain . I have to admit I am pretty excited to see Messi and his increasing # of Barcelona teammates wearing the pink & black of Miami. Indy’s own Lauren Cheney/Holiday and Jrue Holiday accept Ali Award at last week’s ESPYs. US Ladies won Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPY’s.
Some cool commercials for the Women’s World Cup which starts Thursday are coming here’s a few What’s it gonna take to stop the US, Frito Lays, The World Cup, The Wait is Over , Alyssa Naeher Saves the day, Messi Women’s World Cup Commercial. Lioness from England, Australia Lets Play, Austrailia/NZ. France WC Commercial
US Women Quest for 3 Straight Starts Fri 9 pm on Fox vs Vietnam
The US Ladies will start their quest for an unprecedented 3rd straight World Cup title down under this Friday night, at 9 pm vs Vietnam. No other team men’s or women have ever won 3 in a row – the US ladies have won back-to-back twice. Tons of stories below about the team and the entire World Cup along with a full preview. The US will play Fri, Wed July 27 9 pm vs Netherlands and Tues Aug 1 vs Portugal as 3 am? So all the talk is about the world having caught up with the US in women’s soccer. Yes all of Europe’s big leagues now have teams and Women’s Champions League is becoming a thing overseas and salaries are going up big time especially in Europe, but as I look at the top competition for the US this World Cup – I don’t see a lot of teams that worry me this summer. England and Spain both took the US behind the woodshed last summer – and beat us pretty good in friendlies. But since then England has lost superstar Beth Mead and I saw them in person vs Brazil when they needed a last second goal to pull out a win over a Brazil team missing its 2 best players. England is simply not the same team they were even last summer. Spain – half the team isn’t coming however a healthy Alexia Putellas, the 2021 Ballon D Or winner, should lift them to the final 4 at least. France – heck half the team quit then came back when they got their coach back – is this enough to carry the French thru to that elusive final they so desperately want . Germany – another team that has looked just ok – they lost to Zambia in their going away game in Germany last week? Wake up call? Canada – still fighting with their federation over money and staying at the Day’s Inn because they’re soccer federation has no money and an aging star in Sinclair who is back for her swan song? Brazil? They still have Marta yes – and the defense has improved under former US coach Pia Sunhage – I do think they make a decent run into the round of 8 – but beat the US? I know this is a young US team – with a number of first time tourney players – but I just feel like the US will absolutely make the Semi-Finals –(The US has made every Semi-Final in each WC) and should make the final.
Shane’s Starters vs Vietnam
MLS All Star Game Tonight vs Arsenal 8 pm on Apple TV, Messi plays Fri, Leagues Cup vs Liga MX starts Friday night
The MLS All Star game kicks off tonight as the Allstars will face Arsenal. Expect new US #9 Balogen to play if not Matt Turner in goal for Arsenal as well. Tues night Arsenal won the All Star’s vs Arsenal Skills Challenge when American Aaron Trusty now a Gunner hit the crossbar to win it. Of course my favorite was the Goalie Wars won by Charlotte FC’s Isaaac Walker. Oh by the way Columbus will host the next MLS Allstar game – I for 1 will plan to be there. MLS Welcomes Messi Friday night as Miami hosts Cruz Azul in Leagues Cup action at 7 pm on Apple MLS Season Pass. Tickets range from $750 to over $10K each as the who’s who of Miami is expected to show up. Not sure why more Miami games are not being moved to FS1 – but it appears MLS is gonna ride with Apple TV MLS Season Pass it is just $39 now I think for the rest of the season. Leagues Cup is a month long tourney pitting all club teams from MLS & Liga MX in Group Stage games that that will lead to a round of 32 Champions League like playoff. There will be no ties as shootouts will follow each tie game. I am decently excited to see how this turns out.
Indy 11 Women Host W League Final @ the Mike Sat @ 2 pm
The Girls in Blue advance to the USL W League Final and have earned the right to host the North Carolina Courage U23 this Saturday, July 22 at 2 p.m. at the Mike. A stoppage time goal in the 91st minute from former Carmel High star Alia Martin proved to be the match winner as Indy Eleven earned a 3-2 win over San Francisco Glens SC, giving the Girls in Blue their first trip to the USL W League National Final. a great way to root on our local players like Carmel High former stars Katie and Susie Sodestrom, Casidy Lindley, Alia Martin, and Quincy McMahon along with Noblesville High’s Maddie Fancher, Sara Kile, Nona Reason, and Jenna Chatterton and other local former high school stars like Annika Creel, Rachel & Sam Dewey and more now playing college ball in the fall and summers for the Indy 11. Full ladies Roster Pics Tix are just $20 for the Indy 11 Women’s game at 2 pm followed by the 7 pm game with Tampa Bay and are avail as a double header > LOL < for $20 – click here to order.
GAMES ON TV
Wed, July 19
9 am ESPN2 Man United vs Olympique Lyon
7 pm ESPN2 Detroit City vs Louisville City USL
7:30 pm ESPN Wrexham vs Chelsea
8 pm Apple TV MLS All-Stars vs Arsenal
10 pm ESPN+ World Cup Preview
Thur, July 20 Women’s World Cup Starts
3 am Fox New Zealand vs Norway
6 am Fox Australia vs Ireland
10:30 pm Fox Nigeria vs Canada
Fri, July 21
1 am FS1 Philipines vs Switzerland
3:30 am FS1 Spain vs Costa Rica
6 pm ESPN2 ESPNFC Women’s Soccer Special
9 pm Fox USWNT vs Vietnam
Sat, July 22
3 am FS1 Zambia vs Japan
5:30 am Fox England vs Haiti
8 am Fox Denmark vs China
2 pm ?? Indy 11 Playoff Final @ the Mike
4:30 pm ESPN Man United vs Arsenal
7 pm WRTV, ESPN+ Indy 11 vs Tampa Bay Rowdies
8 pm FS1, Univision Philly vs Tijuana Leagues Cup
Sun July 23
1 am FS1 Sweden vs South Africa
3:30 am FS1 Netherlands vs Portugal
6 am Fox France vs Jamaica
7 pm FS1, Univision NY City vs Atlas Leagues Cup
Mon July 24
2 am FS1 Italy vs Argentina
4:30 am FS1 Germany vs Morroco
7 am FS1 Brazil vs Panama
10 pm FS1 Colombia vs Korea
Tues, July 25
1:30 am FS1 New Zealand vs Phillipines
4 am FS1 Switzerland vs Norway
8 pm FS1, Univision Santos Laguna vs Houston Leagues Cup
10:30 pm FS1, Uni LA Galaxy vs Leon Leagues Cup
Wed, July 26
1 am FS1 Japan vs Costa Rica
3:30 am FS1 Spain vs Zambia
8 am FS1 Canada vs Ireland
9 pm Fox USWNT vs Netherlands
Thur, July 27
3:30 am FS1 Portugal vs Vietnam
6 am FS1 Australia vs Nigeria
8 pm FS1 Argentina vs South Africa
8 pm ?? Guadalajara vs Cincy Leagues Cup
10 pm FS1 America vs St Louis City
Fri, July 28
4:30 am FS1 England vs Denmark
7 am FS1 China vs Haiti
Sat, July 29
3 am FS1 Sweden vs Italy
6 am Fox France vs Brazil
8:30 am Fox Panama vs Jamaica
Sun, July 30
12:30 am Fox Korea vs Morocco
3 am Fox Switzerland vs New Zealand
3 am FS1 Norway vs Phillipines
5:30 am FS1 Germany vs Colombia
7 pm FS1 Pumas vs DC United Leagues Cup
9 pm FS1 Monterrey vs Seattle Sounders Leagues Cup
Mon, July 31
3 am Fox Japan vs Spain
3 am FS1 Costa Rica vs Zambia
6 am Fox Canada vs Australia
6 am FS1 Ireland vs Nigeria
8 pm ? ? America vs Columbus Crew
8 pm ESPN+ Louisville City vs Indy 11
Tues, Aug 1
3 am Fox United States Women vs Portugal
3 am FS1 Vietnam vs Netherlands
7 am Fox England vs China
7 am FS1 Haiti vs Denmark
Sat, Aug 5
7 pm TV 23 Indy 11 vs Memphis- Star Wars Night
Soccer Saturday’s are every Sat 9-10 am on 93.5 and 107.5 FM with Greg Rakestraw
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US Women & World Cup
Who should start for the USWNT? You choose! ESPNFC
2023 Women’s World Cup odds: Chris ‘The Bear’ Fallica’s best futures bets Fox Sports
USWNT welcomes rivals’ improvement at WC eSPNFC Caitlin Murray
Which Team Poses Biggest Threat to USWNT ? Fox Sports
World Cup: Why Germany and Spain are top contenders for the title
Women’s World Cup roundtable: Who is the USWNT’s most important player?
If USWNT can’t three-peat at World Cup, is Vlatko’s job safe? ESPNFC Jeff Carlisle
Carli Lloyd’s 15 most important USWNT players
USWNT player-by-player guide: Get to know all 23 players going to World
Meet all 23 USWNT players going to the World Cup: Fun facts, insightful stats and more ESPNFC Caitlin Murray
USWNT stars Morgan, Rapinoe and more talk expectations, plans ahead of 2023 World Cup
Who could be the breakout star for this young, talented USWNT squad?
Meet the 23 is the Cool Series on USSoccer’s Twitter feed here’s (F)Alyssa Thompson, (D) Sofia Huerta, GK Aubrey Kingsbury, (D) Naomi Girma, (D) Alana Cook, (M) Ashley Sanchez, (D) Emily Fox.
Is U.S. women’s soccer ready for its toughest test? Analyzing the World Cup roster
Julie Ertz is back to take control
Vlatko Andonovski is ready to meet unimaginable expectations
Naomi Girma brings calm to USWNT defense
Lynn Williams finally gets her shot
Trinity Rodman’s ready to bring the swagger
It’s Lindsey Horan’s time to lead
Women’s World Cup 2023: All you need to know ESPN
The contenders: The five teams most likely to dethrone the USWNT at the World Cup
Ranked: The 25 best players at the 2023 Women’s World Cup ESPN
2023 Women’s World Cup: Group A Preview
2023 Women’s World Cup: Group B Preview
2023 Women’s World Cup: Group C Preview
2023 Women’s World Cup: Group D Preview
Women’s World Cup Guide, Group A: New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Switzerland
Women’s World Cup Guide, Group D: England, China, Denmark, Haiti
How Haiti, amid ‘living hell’ back home, became the ultimate Women’s World Cup underdog
Germany great Popp chases World Cup glory to cap remarkable career
Julie Foudy celebrates sisterhood as U.S. women’s national team departs for World Cup
Meet all 23 USWNT players going to the World Cup: Fun facts, insightful stats and more
USWNT: 2023 Women’s World Cup roster by the numbers
World Cup scouting report: How Vietnam could beat the USWNT Emma HrubyJul 11, 2023
World Cup scouting report: How Portugal could beat the USWNT Emma Hruby July 12, 2023
World Cup scouting report: How the Netherlands could beat the USWNT Emma HrubyJul 10, 2023
Trinity Rodman: ‘Everyone expects success’ from USWNT at World Cup Emma HrubyJul 11, 2023
USWNT World Cup player preview: Get to know Ashley Sanchez
For Naomi Girma, big USWNT debut fulfills lifelong dream Emma HrubyJuly 12, 2023
USWNT World Cup player preview: Get to know Savannah DeMelo Emma Hruby July 12, 2023
How Emily Fox became one of the USWNT’s most reliable players Claire Watkins July 12, 2023
Megan Rapinoe: ‘I’m feeling all the feels’ heading into final World Cup Emma Hruby July 12, 2023
Alex Morgan: USWNT never discusses potential World Cup three-peat Emma Hruby July 12, 2023
GM Kate Markgraf is laying the groundwork for the USWNT to win the World Cup Jeff Carlisle ESPNFC
How Trinity Rodman made her name her own
How Alex Morgan has grown from soccer’s ‘it girl’ to an American hero chasing history
The community and carpools that propelled USWNT’s Naomi Girma to the World Cup
How the USWNT past and present blazed a trail for mothers in sports
MLS
- Miami to sign Alba, still trying for Suárez deal
Messi’s Miami Move Reveals MLS’ Progress, Problems and Prospects
‘La PresentaSÍon’: Inter Miami CF unveils Lionel Messi
Sergio Busquets joins Lionel Messi at Inter Miami
Lionel Messi Officially Signs With Inter Miami, Picks a Jersey Number
What is Leagues Cup? Explaining MLS vs. Liga MX World Cup-style tournament
Lionel Messi ‘won’t find it easy’ in MLS – Rooney
US Men & Gold Cup
How is USMNT set for new World Cup cycle? Kyle Bonagura
Did any USMNT player truly make a big splash in Gold Cup exit?
Christian Pulisic says AC Milan interest made leaving Chelsea ‘an easy decision’
Transfer Talk: USMNT’s Musah nears AC Milan move from Valencia Adam Lewis
Gimenez the hero as Mexico down Panama 1-0 to lift 9th Gold Cup
Mexico blanks Panama in gritty Gold Cup final at sold-out SoFi Stadium
Dramatic late goal gives Mexico another Gold Cup title
Indy 11
Indy in the Semi’s Cue the Smoke
Reffing
Why will the match official be talking during World Cup games? VAR decisions explained
American refs could elevate U.S. Soccer’s standing during the Women’s World Cup A record number of U.S. referees, including one mother of three, are on track to call games
How referees will announce VAR calls at Women’s World Cup Dale Johnson
Mike Dean joins Sky’s Soccer Saturday in move into punditry
Become a Licensed High School Ref
Become a Licensed Ref with Indiana Soccer – must be over 13
Goalkeeping
Former Rutgers goalkeeper Casey Murphy cites New Jersey roots ahead of FIFA Women’s World Cup
Ochoa was Legendary for Mexico in Final
Goalie Wars won by Charlotte FC’s Isaaac Walker
Isaac Walker unleashes cannon-like arm to win MLS All-Star Goalie Wars
First Round GK War Martino vs Walker
Distance on Goal Kicks Training
Martin scores in stoppage time to send Indy to USL W League Final Sat @ 2 pm at the Mike
WESTFIELD, Ind. (Friday, July 14, 2023) – A stoppage time goal from former Carmel High star Alia Martin proved to be the match winner as Indy Eleven earned a 3-2 win over San Francisco Glens SC, giving the Girls in Blue their first trip to the USL W League National Final. The USL W League Valley Division Champion Indy Eleven traded goals with the Nor Cal Division Champion Glens, but it was a goal in the 91st-minute form Martin that sealed the victory. The Girls in Blue got on the board first as Addie Chester picked up her fourth goal of the 2023 season. Maddy Williams found herself alone coming down the right side of the field and sent a cross into a crowded 18. Ella Rogers struck first, having her shot blocked, and Chester picked up the rebound to secure the early lead for the home side. Just before half, the Glens picked up the equalizer with a 40th-minute set piece goal from Nadia Gomes. The Eleven’s second go-ahead tally came via an assist from Indy’s leading goal scorer Indy native Sam Dewey, who picked up her first helper of the season on a through ball to Williams. The goal was Williams’ eighth of the season and came from a play that started with a Katie Soderstrom interception in San Francisco’s half.
Again San Francisco was able to even the score, this time it was Gomes assisting Caryn Penn on a strike from outside the 18 in the 64th minute. One more lead change would be all it took to send the Girls in Blue to the USL W League Final as center back Martin was pushed forward into the attack in stoppage time. Williams inserted herself into the play once again down the right flank and sent a ball in to Maisie Whitsett. Whitsett’s header back across the goal found Martin, who lifted a header of her own over the outstretched arms of the Glens’ goalkeeper. The goal was Martin’s first of the season and Whitsett’s third assist. Indy Eleven will host NC Courage U23 in the National Final as part of an Indy Eleven doubleheader on Saturday, July 22. NC Courage defeated Eagle FC, 4-1. The women will play at 2 p.m. ET with the men to follow at 7 p.m. against Tampa Bay. One ticket will get fans into both match-ups at Carroll Stadium.
Complete USL W Bracket & Info
USL W League – National Semifinal
Indy Eleven 3:2 San Francisco Glens SC
Friday, July 14, 2023 – 7:00 PM Grand Park Sports Complex – Westfield, Ind.
Indy Eleven: 8W-1L-1D (3-0-0) San Francisco Glens SC: 10W-1L-1D (2-1-0)
Scoring Summary
IND – Addie Chester 14’
SFG – Nadia Gomes 40’
IND – Maddy Williams (Sam Dewey) 50’
SFG – Camryn Penn (Nadia Gomes) 64’
IND – Alia Martin (Maisie Whitsett) 90+1’
Indy Eleven lineup: Nona Reason, Grace Bahr, Alia Martin, Annika Creel, Jenna Chatterton (Lizzie Sexton 80’), Sam Dewey (Maisie Whitsett 72’), Greta Krazula (Rafferty Kugler 80’), Ella Rogers, Maddy Williams (Susie Soderstrom 90+2’), Addie Chester, Katie Soderstrom
Pulisic joins AC Milan: How will the U.S. star fit at San Siro?
- Tor-Kristian Karlsen Jul 13, 2023, 01:56 PM ET
- Christian Pulisic‘s time at Chelsea is over. On Thursday July 13, AC Milan confirmed the arrival of the 24-year-old United States international. The former Borussia Dortmund prodigy shone brightly in his early days at Stamford Bridge, but the past two seasons have been beset by injuries and inconsistency — both in Pulisic’s form, and in what was asked of him, playing all over the pitch for four different managers in 2022-23 alone. So, what can he expect in San Siro? Former AS Monaco sporting director Tor-Kristian Karlsen answers that question and many more regarding Pulisic’s move to one of the most storied clubs in Europe.
Why Milan? Was there a better option?
Having struggled with recurring injuries and finding it hard to assert himself when given a rare run of games, Pulisic’s somewhat negative career trend meant that the next step was always going be backward or sideways (as much as AC Milan are still one of most followed clubs in the world). The American might face stronger competition for his preferred spot at Milan than at other clubs that apparently made concrete offers, but it’s unlikely that Lyon — one of those reportedly involved — would be able to offer similar financial conditions (estimated wages at €4 million net a year, according to reports in Italy). The allure of UEFA Champions League football, which was not on offer at the French club, was also likely to have been a decisive factor.While Napoli are favourites to retain their Scudetto, Milan are among the chasing pack. The Rossoneri lost influential midfielder Sandro Tonali to Newcastle United, but the squad is undergoing a steady rebuild, with former Chelsea teammate Ruben Loftus-Cheek already presented and further new arrivals set to join; Pulisic’s USMNT colleague Yunus Musah is another possible recruit. Where will he play?
On the surface, joining Milan could look an odd choice considering their star player, Rafael Leao — who recently extended his contract and doesn’t appear to be going anywhere — thrives on the left-hand side of the attack and looks nailed on to start in the position Pulisic most favours. With the tremendously gifted Portugal international not likely to be shifted around in attack, Milan presumably see Pulisic in a No. 10 role behind the front man — either as a direct replacement for returning Real Madrid loanee Brahim Diaz or to provide more certainty than the mercurial Charles De Ketelaere. Another possibility might see Pulisic fielded as a right winger; here he would undoubtedly provide more quality on the ball than any their current alternatives. Moreover, head coach Stefano Pioli is known to tweak his formation; although he favours a 4-2-3-1, he can switch to a back three, too, which can allow for less rigid attacking patterns.
EDITOR’S PICKS
- Did any USMNT player truly make a big splash in Gold Cup exit?6dKyle Bonagura
- Messi’s MLS ride nears takeoff, and Miami readies for a new sports icon6dLuis Miguel Echegaray
- The FC 100 for 2023: Haaland, Mbappe lead our list of best men’s soccer players14dESPN
Which Milan player will benefit most from his arrival?
If he’s fielded in a No. 10 role, ironically Leao should benefit from Pulisic’s vision, combination game and ability to pick a pass behind the defensive line. Olivier Giroud, ostensibly the first-choice centre-forward and another of Pulisic’s former Chelsea teammates, would also welcome the American’s playmaking skills. Furthermore, there’s no reason Pulisic — courtesy of his excellent strike on the ball — shouldn’t be able to take his goal-scoring tally into double figures in a well-functioning Milan side.
Per ESPN Stats and Information Group, it could be a problem if Pulisic is played in wide positions given that Leao is dominant on the left flank.
Yet that’s also where Pulisic has often played in recent years for Chelsea:
Which Milan player will be hurt most from his arrival?
De Ketelaere. The young Belgium international failed to make his mark in Serie A following his high-profile €35.5m move from Club Brugge last summer, providing a meagre return of a single assist from 32 Serie A appearances. While Milan won’t give up on the tall, rangy attacking midfielder just yet, Pulisic represents more of a proven, consistent quantity.
Can Pulisic turn Milan into Serie A contenders again?
If Milan play their hand impeccably in the summer transfer market, they should at the very least shorten the 20-point gap to Napoli. Since winning the Scudetto in the spring, the Naples outfit have faced their own challenges — most importantly having to replace their successful head coach, Luciano Spalletti, with Rudi Garcia — and might still lose highly rated centre-forward Victor Osimhen before the end of the transfer period. With Juventus going through a rebuild and AS Roma, Lazio and Inter Milan lacking the resources to act with any extravagance in the transfer market, there’s very little between the big clubs, at least on paper. Will Chelsea miss him at all? Given Pulisic’s bright start at Stamford Bridge — adding such freshness in his 2019-20 debut season — he does leave the club with a sense of unfinished business and some lingering questions of what could have been. That said, at the rate Chelsea are signing new players and with the relentless battle for attacking slots, it does seem wise for both parties to go their separate ways. There’s no doubt, however, that an in-form, injury-free Pulisic could justify an important role at Chelsea. Having dropped down the pecking order, though, he’s better off rebooting his career elsewhere.
Pulisic’s output and outlook
Information courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information Group
Pulisic is coming off a disappointing season with Chelsea in which he scored one goal and had two assists in 30 games in all competitions: these were his lowest single-season totals in four seasons with Chelsea.
Christian Pulisic By Season (All Comps)
| SEASON | GAMES | GOALS | ASSISTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 34 | 11 | 7 |
| 2020-21 | 43 | 6 | 4 |
| 2021-22 | 38 | 8 | 4 |
| 2022-23 | 30 | 1 | 2 |
Christian Pulisic has dealt with a lot of turnover at the manager position in his four seasons with the club. Nevertheless, his minutes and production have all been declining.
Christian Pulisic By Season (Premier League)
| SEASON | MIN. | XG/90 MIN. | G+A/90 MIN. | ATT. 3RD TAKE ON PCT. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 1,726 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 49% |
| 2020-21 | 1,736 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 35% |
| 2021-22 | 1,286 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 32% |
| 2022-23 | 813 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 16% |
Other facts:
– Pulisic would join Sergiño Dest (2022-23) and Oguchi Onyewu (2009-11) as U.S. internationals to have played for AC Milan, although Onyewu never made a Serie A appearance for the club. Pulisic’s teammate with the national team Yunus Musah has also been linked with a move to the Italian club.
– AC Milan is owned by American Gerry Cardinale, founder and managing partner of RedBird Capital Partners. He is a board member of RedBird FC, a European football and analytics platform which controls Toulouse FC in France. Despite the fact he is American, Pulisic has a Croatian passport, which means he does not take up a non-EU spot on the roster. Clubs in Serie A can only register one non-EU player without restrictions, two if one of the current non-EU players on the squad leaves. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who is English, is non-EU.
Welcome to Full Time: Everything you need to know ahead of the Women’s World Cup
By Emily Olsen, Meg Linehan, and Steph Yang 7h ago
Start every morning of the 2023 World Cup with Full Time passed directly to your inbox. Sign up here.
The Athletic crew battled long flights, sprinted through short layovers and has had lots of fun with time zone calculations. All this to say, we’ve made it to the future and it looks bright. I’m Emily Olsen, here with Meg Linehan and Steph Yang — welcome to Full Time!
Down Under Download
Meet our team
The U.S. women’s national team has settled into camp in Auckland, New Zealand.
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“We are pretty much fully acclimated,” USWNT midfielder Kristie Mewis told the media Monday. “We are in a good mental and physical spot. The time difference was huge but we’ve done it a million times.”
We here at The Athletic have done it a bit less. All the same, we are excited to share our team on the ground and around the world:
- All about the USWNT? You can follow Meg Linehan, Steph Yang, Jeff Rueter and Kim McCauley every step of the way
- For England, it’s mainly Charlotte Harpur, Chloe Morgan, Katie Whyatt, Jacob Whitehead and Michael Cox
- For Spain, it’s Laia Cervelló Herrero
We are also excited to introduce our guest columnists: USWNT midfielder Sam Mewis, former Tottenham defender Jenna Schillaci, Wrexham’s Paul Mullin, Arsenal and Netherlands forward Vivianne Miedema and former Liverpool, Everton and Brighton player Fern Whelan.
Here’s a taste of preview content the team has put together:
- The Radar: 50 players to know
Group guides: Who’s in the group of death?
All 32 World Cup home kits rated
The story behind the U.S.’s celeb-packed intro video
Celebrities may not be just like us, but they do know that when you get an opportunity to announce a member of the U.S.’s World Cup team, you say yes.
The USWNT’s roster was revealed in style with the likes of Megan Thee Stallion, Blake Lively, John Cena and many more in a video released by U.S. Soccer. So how did they do it? Well, they called in a talent agency led by Mary-Hollis Beighley.“I think the names speak for themselves in the sense that these kinds of high-profile stars don’t do anything that they don’t want to do,” Beighley pointed out. “Everybody really was jumping at the opportunity to do it.”
But how did they decide which celebrities would introduce which players? Steph has the full story.
Meg, meanwhile, has mixed feelings about another recent video…
Meg’s Corner
Sophia Smith’s killer smile
Nike’s World Cup campaigns have long been appointment viewing, and this year is somehow both no different, and very different. The company has done something I’ve not seen them, or anyone really, do across an entire campaign — feature the players’ individual personalities on and off the field and get it right. (That old school Mia Hamm and Michael Jordan spot of one-upmanship is great but not really about Mia.)
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Sophia Smith’s video is stellar — specific and weird and so, so good. As I wrote in The Radar, don’t be surprised if Smith shows out at the 2023 World Cup — she’s an elite finisher who can kill you with a smile and a shrug. And well… just watch.
Another top-class video in the series is Megan Rapinoe’s. The 2019 Ballon d’Or winner doesn’t actually feature in-person, rather she’s depicted as a motorcycle-riding, pink-haired superhero in the style of your favorite ‘80’s cartoon complete with a theme song that will get stuck in your head. (Can we please talk about the cartoon Sue Bird cameo?)
And it’s not just USWNT players, Debinha’s security cam antics as she lives that Joga Bonito life while doing her shopping is perfectly saucy. Watch here. With this being Marta’s last World Cup, Debinha has officially found her own spotlight.Brazil forward @Debinha7 lives and breathes joga bonito, on and off the pitch.Not convinced?
Let’s roll that security footage.#JustDoIt #NikeFC pic.twitter.com/tBP7VLQiSw
— Nike Football (@nikefootball) July 13, 2023
One big issue, though: Nike’s U.S. website sells Brazil jerseys, but they don’t offer any customization options to put player names and numbers on the back. How can that be? Do they not like money?
World Cup Vibe Check
So what’s the vibe in USWNT camp?
Aiming for an unprecedented three-peat, surely the atmosphere within the U.S.’s training base is getting tense, right? Let’s take a look…
Photo by Brad Smith/USSF/Getty Images for USSF
OK, maybe not. Even with a lot of younger players and new faces, this is a group that seems self-assured and up to the challenge. Sometimes it helps to be a little goofy when you have an intense month ahead. (Sorry to Crystal Dunn, who got absolutely nailed by the sprinkler on her way out to training, much to the suppressed delight of her teammates watching it happen.)
Fun Time World Cup Trivia
Test your knowledge
The World Cup is exciting, stressful, and heartbreaking. But also fun. And what’s more fun than trivia?
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Today’s question: With the expansion to 32 teams, which eight teams will be making their FIFA Women’s World Cup debuts in Australia and New Zealand?
Check back tomorrow for the answer!
Full Time First Looks
Part of the Qatar World Cup’s legacy was decided in a Zurich courtroom, six months after the tournament’s conclusion. So what lessons can the 2023 Women’s World Cup learn from Qatar?
The tournament hasn’t even begun yet and Australia is already drawing record crowds (for a warm-up match!). Steph Yang was there.
Canada’s Julia Grosso could be a key player for them in this tournament
Nigeria is involved in a three-way power struggle days before the Women’s World Cup
Christen Press shared some heartbreaking news: She’ll need another surgery. Her post is well worth reading.c(Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Women’s World Cup 2023: United States team guide
Meg Linehan Jul 18, 2023
The United States are really good at winning the Women’s World Cup, having done so in half of the eight played so far — in 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019 — and never finishing lower than third, which they have done three times (they were runners-up in the other one). The 1999 tournament on home soil was a formative event in the U.S., making stars out of players such as Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain. In the most recent edition, the USWNT made headlines for big scorelines and for suing their own football federation in pursuit of equal pay. No team — men’s or women’s — has won three World Cups in a row, and that’s the exact sort of challenge this group loves to embrace.
A guide to Group E at the Women’s World Cup: The start of USWNT’s toughest challenge yet?
Manager
Vlatko Andonovski took over as head coach in late 2019 after many successful years coaching in the NWSL, the top U.S. club competition. Managing the number one-ranked national team in the world means massive expectations, and Andonovski stumbled during his first major tournament (the Tokyo Olympics two years ago, where the USWNT won bronze after losing to eventual gold medallists Canada in the semi-finals). Can he silence the doubters by getting it right this summer?
Formation
Line-up graphics will show you a 4-3-3, but on the field it can look more like a 4-4-1-1 or 4-2-3-1, with Alex Morgan up top. Always expect overlapping runs on the wings.
Three key players
If the Americans do end up winning it all again this summer, they’ll thank the young guns such as forward Sophia Smith and center-back Naomi Girma. Smith has been on an outrageous run of form with NWSL champions Portland Thorns, and Andonovski expects her to be a key figure in this forward line. Girma, voted both rookie of the year and defender of the year last season in the NWSL, has a chance to show she can lead this team defensively at the age of 23.
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Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was viewed as the weak link by opponents at the previous World Cup in France four years ago but came up with crucial saves at crucial moments. The team will need a repeat in Australia and New Zealand.
Notable absences
Becky Sauerbrunn, Mallory Swanson, Catarina Macario, Christen Press and Sam Mewis are only the start of the list of players who missed out on the final roster or even consideration entirely.
Strength
The USWNT will have to rely on the two major strengths that have always distinguished their team: depth and mentality. Even with all the injuries, the talent is still there.
Question mark
What exactly is happening in the midfield? It’s an evergreen question, complicated by concerns over Rose Lavelle’s fitness levels after nursing a knee injury for the past few months. The ideal midfield combo is Julie Ertz, Lindsey Horan and Lavelle. Trouble is, of the three only Horan might be ready for a starting role initially this summer.
Rose Lavelle breaks down her most famous goal, dribble, and some back-heel assists
Wildcard
In a completely different direction from most teams going to this World Cup, the U.S. wildcard is a veteran player and a famous one at that: Megan Rapinoe. Though she’s 38 now and has announced that she will retire at the end of the NWSL season, Rapinoe knows how to close out games.
A decade of Megan Rapinoe shows how far women’s soccer has come
Qualification/recent form
Qualification came easily, but expect lots of talk about last fall’s three-game losing streak against England, Spain and Germany, devoid of the context of the NWSL abuse scandal surrounding those matches.
Group difficulty
Trickier than first expected, especially after their opening opponents Vietnam were only narrowly beaten 2-1 by Germany in late June. The big must-win is against 2019 World Cup finalists the Netherlands in Wellington, a game likely to decide who advances as the group winner and therefore earns a theoretically ‘easier’ game in the round of 16. Andonovski might rotate for game two against Portugal, but the U.S. can’t take that one for granted either.
Travel schedule
New Zealand will see quite a bit of the Americans, with their group matches bouncing between Auckland and Wellington, and their ideal run through the final bringing them back to those cities in the knockout phase. It’s definitely one of the easier travel schedules in the tournament.
To win the World Cup, they will need…
…a little bit of everything — and a comprehensive team performance. We thought France 2019 was their biggest challenge yet, but that has nothing on being crowned world champions for a third consecutive time.
Did you know?
Midfielder Savannah DeMelo, 25, was the first uncapped player to make the USWNT World Cup roster since Shannon Boxx in 2003 — and only the third overall. DeMelo could make her full international debut at this World Cup, having come on as a substitute to play 27 minutes in the 2-0 win over Wales on 9 July.
Possible starting XI
(Top photos: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
Meg Linehan is a senior writer for The Athletic who covers the U.S. women’s national team, the National Women’s Soccer League and more. She also hosts the weekly podcast “Full Time with Meg Linehan.” Follow Meg on Twitter @itsmeglinehan
8 teams that could stop USWNT from three-peating at 2023 World Cup
Updated Jul. 18, 2023 8:33 p.m. ET
Doug McIntyre
It speaks to the exploding growth of women’s soccer around the world that this list is as long as it is.
At the last Women’s World Cup in France in 2019, maybe five teams had a realistic shot at stopping the United States from repeating as champions. And while the top-ranked USWNT heads into the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand as the clear favorite to win another title (and become the first men’s or women’s team to three-peat in the process) the Americans can expect significantly more resistance than ever at this edition of the tournament, the first to include 32 nations.Here are some of the countries that could prevent the U.S. from making history this summer.
USA vs. The World: What will it take to stop the USWNT at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup?
Even without injured star striker Vivianne Miedema, the Dutch have more than enough firepower to make a deep run with former UEFA player of the year Lieke Martens spearheading the attack. There’s no doubt the Oranje will be motivated: they’d love nothing more than to pay the U.S. back for beating them in the 2019 final — a chance they’ll get on July 26 in Wellington, New Zealand (9 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app).
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The USWNT and Netherlands will meet in both sides’ second Group E game. Favorites often slip up in group play; at the men’s World Cup last year, Argentina dropped its opener to Saudi Arabia before going on to win it all. But a Dutch upset Down Under could dent the Americans title hopes in several ways, as it would almost certainly relegate them to a second-place group finish and a likely matchup against No. 3-ranked Sweden (more on the Swedes below) in the round of 16.
2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Netherlands team preview with Alexi Lalas
Even if they don’t meet until the quarters or semis, the U.S. will probably eventually have to go through Sweden — a foe that has given them nightmares repeatedly on the global stage. The Swedes tied the U.S. at the 2015 World Cup, then famously knocked the Americans out of the 2016 Olympics. The most recent meeting came in 2021 at the Summer Games in Tokyo, when the Blue and Yellow embarrassed the USWNT 3-0 in the group phase. Stocked with players employed by some of Europe’s biggest clubs, Sweden doesn’t fear the U.S. The underdog role suits them well, and they’ll look to play spoiler again.
The hardest match for the USWNT at the 2019 World Cup in France wasn’t the finale. It wasn’t the extra time win over England in the semis or even that unforgettable quarterfinal triumph over the hosts in Paris at a jam-packed Parc des Princes. No, the trickiest game came in the round of 16 against Spain, which on a scorching day in Reims outplayed the Americans for long stretches of the match before Megan Rapinoe won it with a 75th minute penalty kick. The message was sent, though. La Roja was a team on the come-up. Four years later Spain is a legit contender, which they proved last October when a squad missing injured Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas and more than a dozen other regulars mired in a dispute with the Spanish Football Federation beat the U.S. 2-0 in a friendly. With the Spaniards on the same side of the knockout bracket and Putellas and most of the others back on the roster, they’d relish another opportunity to prevent the Americans from even reaching the final.
2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Spain team preview with Alexi Lalas
While that epic 2019 encounter between Les Bleus and Stars and Stripes was worthy of the World Cup final, the schedule-makers didn’t see it that way. Not so this year, as the only way France and the U.S. can face off is in the Aug. 20 championship match at Stadium Australia in Sydney. Led by its towering center back and captain, Wendie Renard, France isn’t quite as potent as it was then. It won’t have home field advantage this time. But Les Bleus have a standout coach in recently hired manager Hervé Renard (no relation) and a deep, talented and experienced roster that is capable of winning a one-off match against anyone.
Even before and certainly after England won the 2022 Euros, the Lionesses have been seen as perhaps the greatest threat to the Americans hopes of claiming a third straight title — a sentiment that was only reinforced by the USWNT’s 2-1 defeat in a friendly in London last fall. The feeling has lessened considerably since England lost three key contributors — playmaker Fran Kirby, forward Beth Mead and defender/midfelder Leah Williamson — to injures that will prevent them from participating in this World Cup. But the Lionesses still have Lucy Bronze, captain Millie Bright and most of the rest of the roster that won the country’s only trophy, men’s or women’s, in more than half a century. England’s lack of championship swagger was noticeable in 2019, but the U.S. still needed an Alyssa Naeher penalty save in extra time to eliminate England in the semis. Should they meet in the decisive match Down Under, it won’t be.
How have England, France & company caught up to USWNT?
The Norwegians aren’t the powerhouse they were when they won the 1995 World Cup or stunned the U.S. in the final of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. But 12th ranked Norway will have Ada Hegerberg, the former Ballon d’Or winner who didn’t participate at France 2019 because of an equal dispute with the county’s governing body, at this World Cup. And the supporting cast around Hegerberg is good enough that it could cause the U.S. problems if the Americans run into them in the knockout stage.
The Matildas are ranked just 10th in the world by FIFA, but don’t discount the power of playing on home soil. Australia will be serenaded in raucous stadiums packed with partisan supporters throughout the tournament — an advantage that would be most pronounced at the final in Sydney, when more than 83,000 fans are expected. And in star goalscorer Sam Kerr, the Aussies have one of the best players on the planet, a striker who can win a match by herself. Though other teams might be more talented from top to bottom, the USWNT would be forgiven for preferring any other opponent should they reach the title game. Should both the U.S. and Matildas make it that far, the Americans will be up against not just the 11 Australians on the field, but the entire country of almost 27 million.
2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Australia team preview with Alexi Lalas
It remains curious that the nation that sits right behind the No. 1 Americans in the FIFA ranking isn’t getting talked up nearly as much as the likes of England or France. Not that Germany will care.
Fronted by all-world striker Alexandra Popp, the Germans aren’t flashy. But what they lack in style they make up for in substance with a roster filled with women who are as technical, physical and experienced as any in the 32-nation field. Germany also has a point to prove after losing to England in the final of last summer’s European Championship — an event it has won more than every other country on the continent combined. Adding a third World Cup title next month in Australia would more than make up for it.
Doug McIntyre is a soccer writer for FOX Sports. Before joining FOX Sports in 2021, he was a staff writer with ESPN and Yahoo Sports and he has covered United States men’s and women’s national teams at multiple FIFA World Cups. Follow him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.
Women’s World Cup 2023: Guide to Group E – US Group
Jeff Rueter Jul 12, 2023
Group E: United States (FIFA world ranking: 1), Netherlands (9), Portugal (21), Vietnam (32)
While past tournaments have carried a “United States vs The World” vibe, the same can’t be said this time around. Yes, the four-time champions are among the favorites to return from Oceania with silverware, but a changing player pool and the continued growth of other nations will make this among the toughest challenges they have faced in recent memory.The draw gave them an instant statement match-up: a rematch of 2019’s final against the Netherlands. The Oranje had a bit of a hiccup over the past cycle, failing to defend their European Championship title from 2017 with a meek exit in last summer’s quarter-finals. Their date with the U.S. in the group stage’s second matchday is undoubtedly circled repeatedly in red ink, a chance to remind the world they should be among the favorites.Beyond the headliners, you’ll find Portugal and Vietnam each making their first Women’s World Cup appearance. It ensures that each team among the quartet has emotional investment beyond the usual highs of a World Cup qualifier — and could lead to some unforgettable matches in the tournament’s early stages.
Fixtures in full
- July 21/22: U.S. v Vietnam (21:00 ET/02:00 BST, ).
Watch on BBC in the UK, on FOX and Telemundo in the U.S. - July 23: Netherlands v Portugal (03:30 ET/08:30 BST).
Watch on BBC in the UK, on FS1 and Telemundo in the U.S. - July 26/27: U.S. v Netherlands (21:00 ET/02:00 BST).
Watch on the BBC in UK, on FOX and Telemundo in the U.S. - July 27: Portugal v Vietnam (03:30 ET/08:30 BST).
Watch on ITV in the UK, on FS1 and Universo in the U.S. - August 1: Portugal v U.S. (03:00 ET/08:00 BST).
Watch on ITV in the UK, on FOX and Telemundo in the U.S. - August 1: Vietnam v Netherlands (03:00 ET/08:00 BST).
Watch on ITV in the UK, on FS1 and Universo in the U.S.
The favourites are…
The defending champions. Even without a trio of injured world-class players (playmaker Catarina Macario, otherworldly attacker Mallory Swanson and all-around midfield stabilizer Sam Mewis), the United States remain among the deepest and most talented rosters in the tournament. Vlatko Andonovski has faced the same criticisms as his predecessor Jill Ellis (specifically, whether or not he’s getting the most out of the players he fields) but all the same: anything less than a return to the final would be a poor showing.
The standout match is likely to be…
It’s too easy to pick the rematch of the 2019 World Cup final, especially when there’s another possible grudge match to pick. The Netherlands enter at a serious disadvantage having lost Arsenal star Vivianne Miedema to an anterior cruciate ligament injury — the type of scenario which can open the door for upsets. No team is better equipped for the challenge than Portugal, who came back from a 2-0 deficit against the Dutch in last summer’s European Championship group stage, only to fall to a 3-2 defeat. Paired with the hype of Portugal’s Women’s World Cup debut, facing a continental rival in the group-stage opener could give the defending silver medalists a tough challenge from the start.
This group’s galactico is…
How does one pick with both previous World Cup finalists in the same group? Is the United States’ best (healthy) forward Sophia Smith or Alex Morgan? Will Rose Lavelle build on her breakout 2019 performance? How will co-captain Lindsey Horan fare donning the fabled No 10 shirt? Will Jill Roord steal the Dutch spotlight from team-mates Lieke Martens and Danielle van de Donk? What will Jessica Silva do as an encore from her and Portugal’s breakout at the European Championship?
Forget the galaxy analogy. There’s an entire universe worth of stars on display in Group E.
Sophia Smith is set to make her Women’s World Cup debut (Photo: Brad Smith/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
This could be a breakthrough tournament for…
While she’s a known quantity domestically after winning defender of the year in her rookie season, Naomi Girma will abruptly begin what should be a fruitful career as the nation’s top center-back in Becky Sauerbrunn’s absence. The San Diego Wave defender can do a bit of everything in the role, providing poise beyond her 23 years and holding her own against veteran attackers. A special nod to forward Alyssa Thompson, who is the first teenager to make a United States roster for a Women’s World Cup since 1995.
A story to look out for is…
While many of the first-time qualifiers feature players who line up for clubs abroad, Vietnam qualified with a roster filled with domestic league regulars. They did so with their first run to an AFC Women’s Asian Cup quarter-final, beating Thailand and Chinese Taipei in the play-off to land a coveted qualification spot. That said, don’t expect them to be the next side to fall victim to a double-digit blowout against the United States. In June Vietnam played Germany and were only beaten 2-1, despite the favorites playing on home soil. While Portugal will be the more known quantity after their European Championship showing, both tournament newcomers are up to the task.
You might not know this but…
For all of their success on the men’s side of the sport, it took Portugal until the early 2010s to truly take the women’s game seriously. Since Francisco Neto was appointed as head coach in 2014, A Selecao das Quinas have qualified for both European Championships and, now, a first World Cup. (Top photos: Getty Images, design: Eamonn Dalton)
Women’s World Cup 2023: Guide to Group B – group of death?
Jeff Rueter Jul 10, 2023
Group B: Australia (FIFA world ranking: 10), Canada (seven), Nigeria (40), Republic of Ireland (22)
Australia have plenty of reasons to be optimistic heading into a tournament they are co-hosting with New Zealand. The Matildas, as the Australian women’s team are known, have advanced to this event’s knockout phase on the past four occasions, with their round-of-16 exit in France four years ago, against Norway on penalties, ending a three-World Cup streak of last-eight appearances. Led by one of the world’s most in-form strikers in Sam Kerr, Australia will hope that abrupt end to their 2019 tournament was an aberration which can be remedied on home soil. However, just getting out of this group will not be a sure thing. For all their fortune of being able to play in their own backyard, the draw wasn’t nearly as generous. Australia got the highest-ranked teams from Pot 2 (Canada) and Pot 4 (Nigeria) while the Republic of Ireland were one of Pot 3’s higher-ranked sides. It arguably makes this the tournament’s ‘Group of Death’, as all four teams can chart a realistic course to the knockouts. Groups headed up by a host nation always provide some of the best atmospheres in a tournament’s first round and the calibre of opponent should make any of Australia’s matches appointment viewing. Of this quartet, three made it to the last 16 at the previous World Cup, while Ireland have made up for missing that tournament and the European Championship a year ago by returning to the field this time around. This is arguably the toughest group to predict at World Cup 2023, and that is a beautiful thing.
Fixtures in full
- July 20: Australia v Republic of Ireland (11:00 BST, 06:00 ET).
Watch on ITV in the UK, on FOX and Telemundo in the U.S. - July 21 (July 20): Nigeria v Canada (03:30 BST, 22:30 ET).
Watch on BBC in the UK, on FOX and Universo in the U.S. - July 26: Canada v Republic of Ireland (13:00 BST, 08:00 ET).
Watch on the ITV in UK, on FS1 and Universo in the U.S. - July 27: Australia v Nigeria (11:00 BST, 06:00 ET).
Watch on BBC in the UK, on FS1 and Universo in the U.S. - July 31: Canada v Australia (11:00 BST, 06:00 ET).
Watch on BBC in the UK, on FOX and Telemundo in the U.S. - July 31: Republic of Ireland v Nigeria (11:00 BST, 06:00 ET).
Watch on BBC in the UK, on FS1 and Universo in the U.S.
The favourites are…
With apologies to the co-hosts, their guests from the opposite corner of the Mercator will likely set the standard for Group B. Even without star forward Janine Beckie (who suffered a torn ACL knee ligament in March), Canada have capable scorers in Adriana Leon, Jordyn Huitema and ageless wonder Christine Sinclair, who will be playing in her sixth World Cup at age 40. Midfielders Sophie Schmidt and Jessie Fleming enter with a combined 336 caps — impressive, certainly, yet only narrowly exceeding Sinclair’s mind-boggling individual tally of 323. Having won gold at the Olympics in Tokyo two years ago, they’ll have similarly high aims this summer.
The standout match is likely to be…
Is it too easy to just say “all of them”? Fine. Assuming Canada live up to the pre-tournament billing as potential semi-finalists, Australia’s path to the knockout rounds will likely require all three points from their opener against the Irish, which is just the second match of this World Cup overall. And getting a win won’t be easy: the Republic of Ireland are playing in their first major tournament and were tough opposition for Women’s World Cup holders the United States in a pair of friendlies in April, losing 2-0 and 1-0. This is the kind of match-up which screams “spoiler earns a draw” — a result which could sink Australia’s hopes of advancing.
This group’s galactico is…
Arguably the best in-box finisher in women’s football? The captain and best player of a host nation? A regular starter for a top European side? Sam Kerr won’t “break out” in this tournament by any definition, but that’s because she’s already transcended the level of fame which even the finest strikers can expect — if that wasn’t clear by her shared place on the cover of FIFA 23 with Kylian Mbappe, it was reinforced when she carried the Australian flag at King Charles III’s recent coronation.
Kerr’s ability to read space and move nimbly is second to none, and at 29 she has the veteran savvy needed to bear the responsibility of a nation at this highest level. She’s playing for both the World Cup trophy and, as less of a long shot, the Ballon d’Or.
Expect to hear a lot about Kerr for as long as Australia are still in contention.
This could be a breakthrough tournament for…
While Nigeria’s hopes of advancing past the group stage primarily rest on the shoulders of Barcelona striker Asisat Oshoala, she does have help along the forward line. Their most recent attacking player to emerge is 21-year-old Gift Monday, who came through the same club (FC Robo in Lagos) where Oshoala had half a decade beforehand.
Gift Monday (Photo: Catherine Ivill – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Monday transitioned capably to a higher level in her 2022-23 debut European season, with three goals and three assists for Spain’s Tenerife across 1,340 minutes. Already a regular starter in the Spanish top flight, a good tournament could launch her career from the bubbling-under charts all the way to the forefront of the incoming next wave of great footballers.
A story to look out for is…
For all the quality their national teams show on the field, Canada Soccer is in a mess off of it.
The women’s squad went on strike earlier this year over pay equity issues and budget cuts, while both the women and the men are in talks with the federation over new collective bargaining agreements which will determine what players are paid. In late June, federation general secretary Jason de Vos said it might need to consider filing for bankruptcy protection.
Boasting a deep roster with several veteran mainstays, time will tell how the off-field turmoil will impact the reigning Olympic champions.
You might not know this but…
The Irish roster features an undeniable redemption story.
In 2016, Sinead Farrelly retired after being injured in a car crash; three years later, she made shockwaves worldwide when she told her story of having experienced sexual coercion and harassment when playing for coach Paul Riley at the NWSL’s Portland Thorns. The former USWNT youth international made a comeback with New York’s NWSL side Gotham FC this year, earning her first Republic of Ireland cap in April at age 33 and, now, will make a long-awaited World Cup debut.Another Ireland story to follow will be the fallout from The Athletic’s investigation into accusations of misconduct against their manager Vera Pauw during her time at Houston Dash in the NWSL.Top photos: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
Women’s World Cup 2023: Guide to Group A
Jeff Rueter Jul 10, 2023
Group A: New Zealand (FIFA world ranking: 22), Norway (12), Switzerland (21), Philippines (53)
While some World Cup host nations would simply be thrilled with automatic qualification, New Zealand will undoubtedly be a bit more ambitious with their aims. They are used to competing at this level — 2023 will be their fifth consecutive appearance in the tournament and sixth overall since it began in 1991.However, New Zealand are yet to advance beyond the group stage, or even win a match, at the finals — and, if their start to 2023 is any indication, playing on home soil will need to play an outsized part in their quest for such advancement. To that end, unsurprisingly, their group games are all happening in New Zealand rather than in co-host Australia.Since losing all three matches in the previous World Cup four years ago, New Zealand have undergone an evolution.Long-time mainstay Abby Erceg retired (again, having done so once in 2017) from international football in January at age 33, although a trio of similarly veteran members (Ali Riley, Betsy Hassett and Annalie Longo, who all made their debuts between 2006 and 2008) are all involved, while Ria Percival tries to make up for over a year of lost action due to an ACL knee injury. Percival made the squad but whether she gets cleared to actually play or not, a balanced Group A may be difficult to advance from for a side who have won just once in their last 11 matches (losing eight of them).
Any group with a host nation in it is bound to be interesting. By virtue of them being the seeded team, tournaments in which a non-elite national team serve as hosts result in a more balanced and less top-heavy quartet. That is great news for Norway, whose FIFA ranking of 12th is the best of these four sides. Fortunately for New Zealand, whose ranking would have placed them near the top of Pot Three for this tournament if hosts didn’t jump the queue, their most recent win (on September 6, 2022) came over the Philippines, who are in this group and making their Women’s World Cup debut.
Switzerland complete the set and are narrow favourites to advance with Norway ahead of New Zealand, although they didn’t qualify for the World Cup in 2019 and failed to advance from their group in last summer’s European Championship.
Fixtures in full
- 20 July : New Zealand v Norway (08:00 BST, 03:00 ET).
Watch on BBC in UK, FOX and Telemundo in U.S. - 21 July: Philippines v Switzerland (06:00 BST, 01:00 ET).
Watch on ITV in UK, FS1 and Universo in U.S. - 25 July: New Zealand v Philippines (06:30 BST, 01:30 ET).
Watch on ITV in UK, FS1 and Universo in U.S. - 25 July: Switzerland v Norway (09:00 BST, 04:00 ET).
Watch on ITV in UK, FS1 and Telemundo in U.S. - 30 July: Norway v Philippines (08:00 BST, 03:00 ET).
Watch on BBC in UK, FS1 and Universo in U.S. - 30 July: Switzerland v New Zealand (08:00 BST, 03:00 ET).
Watch on BBC in UK, FOX and Telemundo in U.S.
The favourites are…
Norway, by some margin. Last summer’s Euros brought disappointment despite winning their group opener against Northern Ireland 4-1. An 8-0 thrashing by eventual champions England in match two was too much of a mental hurdle to overcome in the four days before the group finale and they were knocked out with a 1-0 loss to Austria. Their form has been up and down since, but a 2-0 win away to the Netherlands in November reminded the world that Norway have genuine quality. They managed draws with France and Sweden earlier this year as well.
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There’s plenty of talent beyond their headliner (more on her in a second), including Chelsea duo Maren Mjelde and Guro Reiten, Manchester City’s Julie Blakstad and Frida Maanum of Arsenal. Tricky winger Caroline Graham Hansen had a knee injury scare in April but came back swiftly to start Barcelona’s Champions League final win last month.
If they live up to expectations as the group’s frontrunners, Norway could be tough opponents in the knockouts.
The standout match is likely to be…
A potential losers-go-out affair on the group’s third matchday between Switzerland and New Zealand. As stated, the Swiss have the narrow edge in the FIFA rankings but have drawn five and lost two since securing qualification by squeezing past Wales in one of October’s three UEFA play-off finals. Although their defence and midfield are built around the Arsenal duo Noelle Maritz and Lia Walti, whether or not they advance for a second time in their two World Cups (having done so in 2015) will hinge on a steady stable of attackers. Ramona Bachmann and Ana Maria Crnogorcevic feature regularly for Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona respectively, while Fabienne Humm of FC Zurich has been a mainstay for a decade and Aston Villa’s Alisha Lehmann provides a capable pressing option from the bench.
If those two sides are neck-and-neck after two games, it could give the home faithful in Dunedin a chance to nudge their team closer to a long-awaited knockout phase appearance.
The group’s galactico
For all the other quality players listed in Norway’s section of this article, none comes close to overshadowing their star. Ada Hegerberg is among the best in any group in this year’s tournament, the first-ever Ballon d’Or Feminin winner (in 2018) and the Women’s Champions League’s record goalscorer with 59. Now 27, Hegerberg spent five years away from the national team from 2017 following a dispute with the Norwegian federation over its treatment of women’s football — two years after she first broke out with three goals at the 2015 World Cup.
Now back in the fold, her form will go a long way towards determining how far Norway get. She shook off an injury scare in an April friendly against Sweden to score two goals and add an assist in 122 league minutes of action in Lyon’s final three games of the season and should be good to go by the time Group A starts. A clinical finisher who can find space expertly, Hegerberg’s return to the World Cup stage could extend into at least the tournament’s last eight if all goes to plan.
This could be a breakout tournament for…
All eyes were on Julie Blakstad in January 2022 when she made a headline-grabbing move to Manchester City. By then, she was already a goalscoring senior international for Norway after rising up the ranks from third-division Ottestad to Toppserien sides FL Fart and Rosenberg. It turned out she needed additional development time, spending much of 2023 on loan with BK Hacken in Sweden. A left-winger for her club but often used at left-back for Norway, she proved to be a strong two-way wide defender in the 2022 European Championship. Wherever she gets her minutes in this World Cup, it will be a great chance to show her readiness for a more regular role with City.
A story to look out for
For the first time, the Philippines will participate in a Women’s World Cup, qualifying by reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 Asian Cup. It was not an entirely smooth tournament, as they were beaten 4-0 by Australia and advanced to the semis via a penalty shootout win over Chinese Taipei.
A couple of the players in their squad play for American colleges: forward Isabella Flanigan (West Virginia) and goalkeeper Kaiya Jota (Stanford), while defender Maya Alcantara (Georgetown) is one of the named reserves. Another two also play in the U.S.: defender Alicia Barker (formerly of the University of Illinois) plays for Seattle-based amateur club Pacific Northwest SC, while 16-year-old Isabella Pasion, another of the reserves, is at high school near Dallas, Texas.
You might not know this but…
Norway are one of four nations to win this tournament — alongside the United States (four times), Germany (twice) and Japan — having done so in Sweden in 1995 by a staggering aggregate scoreline of 23 goals to one across their six matches. That side’s star midfielder, Hege Riise, took over as Norway Women’s head coach following last summer’s Euros. Riise still holds the national record with 188 caps.
(Top photos: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
Women’s World Cup 2023: Guide to Group C
Florence Lloyd-HughesJul 11, 2023
Group C: Spain (FIFA world ranking: 6), Japan (11), Costa Rica (36), Zambia (77)
Group C is wide open, considering the relative inconsistency, unpredictability and chaos surrounding some of the teams in this group. Spain are the favourites, but given the continued dispute between the national federation, head coach Jorge Vilda and some key players, it’s unclear how they might fare. If Spain do struggle, it could open the door for a surprise package to charge through.
Fixtures in full
- July 21: Spain v Costa Rica (08:30 BST, 03:30 ET).
Watch on BBC in the UK, on FS1 and Telemundo in the U.S. - July 22: Zambia v Japan (08:00 BST, 03:00 ET).
Watch on BBC in the UK, on FS1 and Universo in the U.S. - July 26: Japan v Costa Rica (06:00 BST, 01:00 ET).
Watch on ITV in UK, on FS1 and Universo in the U.S. - July 26: Spain v Zambia (08:30 BST, 03:30 ET).
Watch on BBC in the UK, on FS1 and Telemundo in the U.S. - July 31: Costa Rica v Zambia (08:00 BST, 03:00 ET).
Watch on ITV in the UK, on FS1 and Universo in the U.S. - July 31: Japan v Spain (08:00 BST, 03:00 ET).
Watch on ITV in the UK, on FOX and Telemundo in the U.S.
The standout match is likely to be…
The opening fixture in this group is Spain vs Costa Rica, and it could be an exciting start to the tournament. The inexperience and rawness of Costa Rica could cause a troubled Spanish side problems and see them off to a shaky start. It has been a positive few years for Costa Rica, including a fourth-place finish at the 2022 CONCACAF Championship, but they have historically struggled against stronger opposition.
A story to look out for…
The chaos surrounding Spain. Last year, 15 players from the national-team squad sent an email to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) saying they did not want to be selected again until there were massive changes in the team’s coaching structure.
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That original list of players included some of Spain’s biggest and best names, such as Barcelona team-mates Patri Guijarro, Sandra Panos, Mapi Leon, Claudia Pina, Aitana Bonmati and Mariona Caldentey. Some of the 15 have since recommitted to the team and will be part of the World Cup squad but Leon, Guijarro and Pina all opted to miss this tournament.
Even without some of their Barcelona core, Spain have plenty of individual talent and that should be enough to get them to the round of 16 at least. But how deep they go in this tournament will depend on how they can ride through the disarray that surrounds them and work with Vilda.
Spain have never made it to the quarter-finals of a Women’s World Cup, albeit they have qualified only twice before getting to this one.
This group’s galactico is…
Alexia Putellas heads into this World Cup as a back-to-back Ballon d’Or Feminin winner and having just celebrated her second Champions League triumph in three years. She is the biggest name in women’s football and the fact she returned only in April from a 10-month absence because of an ACL injury — and is making a comeback amid an internal dispute involving her team-mates — makes this tournament even more dramatic for the Barcelona midfielder. This is not her first major tournament with Spain, having played at the past two World Cups and Euro 2017, but this time her star has reached new heights and all eyes will be on her.
This could be a breakthrough tournament for…
Maika Hamano. The 19-year-old Japan forward, who will play for Chelsea next season, has been lighting up the Swedish league with Hammarby and will be one to watch this summer. She is rated as one of the best young strikers in world football, having already starred at the Under-20 World Cup a year ago. Hamano signed off at Hammarby by helping them claim a first Swedish Cup since 1995 and has been one of the most in-form strikers in Europe. With Mana Iwabuchi not making the squad, Hamano could be the answer as Japan, World Cup winners in 2011 and finalists four years later, attempt to re-establish themselves as a force at this level.
Maika Hamano on media duty for Japan (Photo: Omar Vega/Getty Images)
You might not know this but…
This is Zambia’s first appearance in the Women’s World Cup. At 77th in FIFA’s rankings — which is the highest they’ve ever been — the Africans are undoubtedly the minnows of Group C. Their debut on the global stage came at the Olympics in Japan two years ago and, despite conceding 10 goals in losing to the Netherlands and four in a draw with China, they still left their mark on the competition. Star striker Barbra Banda’s hat-trick against the Dutch was particularly memorable. Banda, who plays her club football in China, is a potent goalscorer and a genuine threat, but Zambia’s defence is likely to struggle against the more experienced sides in the group.
(Top photos: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
Women’s World Cup 2023: Guide to Group D
Florence Lloyd-Hughes Jul 11, 2023
Group D: England (FIFA world ranking: 4), Denmark (13), China (14), Haiti (53)
This group could provide some twists and turns given some of the issues surrounding European champions England. Since securing their first major trophy last summer, the Lionesses have lost Euro 2022 Golden Boot and Golden Ball winner Beth Mead and captain Leah Williamson to anterior cruciate ligament injuries. Those injuries add to the huge gap left by Jill Scott and Ellen White, who retired after the Euros. This World Cup feels like a transition moment for Sarina Wiegman’s team.Performances have dipped in the past few games, with England’s 30-game unbeaten run under Wiegman coming to an end against Australia in April. England could end up meeting the Matildas in the round of 16, which would be a tough early challenge. There is also a quarter-final against Germany lined up on their most likely side of the draw, which would be a major test.
Fixtures in full
- July 22: England v Haiti (10:30 BST, 05:30 ET).
Watch on ITV in the UK, on FOX and Telemundo in the U.S. - July 22: Denmark v China (13:00 BST, 08:00 ET).
Watch on BBC in the UK, on FOX and Universo in the U.S. - July 28: England v Denmark (09:30 BST, 04:30 ET).
Watch on the BBC in UK, on FS1 and Telemundo in the U.S. - July 28: China v Haiti (12:00 BST, 07:00 ET).
Watch on ITV in the UK, on FS1 and Universo in the U.S. - August 1: China v England (12:00 BST, 07:00 ET).
Watch on ITV in the UK, on FOX and Telemundo in the U.S. - August 1: Haiti v Denmark (12:00 BST, 07:00 ET).
Watch on ITV in the UK, on FS1 and Universo in the U.S.
The favourites are…
England, undoubtedly but given their poor form and injury issues, expectations have taken a significant dip.
The standout match is likely to be…
England take on Denmark in the second round of group games and this will definitely determine who takes top spot in this group. Or, if either of them falter in their opening match, it could be a must-win to stay alive in the tournament.
This group’s galactico is…
Pernille Harder will once again be carrying Denmark’s attacking line and this will be her first World Cup. She looked in good form when she returned from injury for Chelsea at the end of the season and she still has a game-changing aura. At Euro 2022, we saw Denmark struggle to come up with a plan B when finding Harder didn’t work, so this summer they will need to have a bit more attacking versatility. Recent friendly wins against Sweden and Japan will definitely boost confidence heading to Australia.
This could be a breakthrough tournament for….
Lauren James could have a breakout tournament if she can rediscover some of her early-season form for Chelsea. James is still young (21) and raw and at times she has been frustrating to watch for both club and country, but her talent and ability is still on another level. It is unclear how James will be used by Wiegman this summer — whether she will be expected to start and deliver or become a super sub — but she has the tools to be a star in Australia.
(Photo: Harriet Lander – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
A story to look out for is…
Haiti are making their Women’s World Cup debut and their journey to the tournament has been nothing short of remarkable.With little funding and amid national unrest and instability in their home country, Haiti’s women’s team managed to qualify for the World Cup via the play-off tournament earlier this year in New Zealand. They beat Senegal and Chile in dramatic fashion to secure a historic World Cup qualification, which midfielder Danielle Etienne hoped would bring “a breath of fresh air” to the nation.The team has not only had to battle the turmoil at home but also process the return of disgraced former Haitian Football Association president Yves Jean-Bart. He was banned for life by FIFA in 2020 after its ethics committee found him guilty of sexually abusing players. In February, the ban was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The decision was heavily criticised by Human Rights Watch and FIFPRO, the world players’ union.Melchie Dumornay will be the leading light for this team, who have defied all the odds to make it to Australia. The 19-year-old will be heading to Lyon after the tournament and her impressive performances for Reims have already put her on the map in Europe. She was key to Haiti’s World Cup qualification campaign and her heroic two goals against Chile, and backflip celebration, will be remembered for a long time.
You might not know this but…
China’s head coach is women’s football royalty. The Steel Roses are led by five-time Women’s Asian Cup winner and Olympic silver medalist Shui Qingxia. She has been in charge since 2021 and has already had success with the national team.Qingxia led them to 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup glory, their first in 16 years, after a historic victory over South Korea. She was also recently named Chinese Football Coach of the Year. China have an impressive record at the World Cup, having made it to the knockout stages at every single edition.(Top photos: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
Women’s World Cup 2023: Guide to Group 2nd group of death
Jeff Rueter Jul 12, 2023
Group F: France (FIFA world ranking: 5), Brazil (8), Jamaica (43), Panama (52)
A team with something to prove after missing expectations on home soil four years ago? Check. A nation that produces undeniable global talents but has seldom put it all together in recent tournaments? Check. A second-time qualifier led by one of the world’s top strikers? Check.
Group F is a fascinating one, for reasons both on and off the field. If Group B isn’t the consensus Group of Death choice, it’s likely due to this quartet. France will want to make amends after falling to the United States in the quarter-final four years ago in Paris. Even before that 2-1 defeat, they needed extra time to advance from the round of 16 against… Brazil, who were drawn into this group as well. The two perennial knockout qualifiers will not be able to rest on their laurels, as Jamaica will look to build on their debut in 2019 to earn a fourth game (and beyond, ideally) this time around.
Jamaica ask for crowdfunding help at Women’s World Cup
Fellow CONCACAF qualifier Panama round things out in their Women’s World Cup debut, having beaten Papua New Guinea and Paraguay in the inter-confederation play-offs. It all adds up to make for another unpredictable group — and that doesn’t even consider the off-field ramifications.
Fixtures in full
- July 23: France v Jamaica (11:00 BST, 06:00 ET).
Watch on ITV in the UK, on FOX and Telemundo in the U.S. - July 24: Brazil v Panama (12:00 BST, 07:00 ET).
Watch on ITV in the UK, on FS1 and Telemundo in the U.S. - July 29: France v Brazil (11:00 BST, 06:00 ET).
Watch on the BBC in UK, on FOX and Telemundo in the U.S. - July 29: Panama v Jamaica (13:30 BST, 08:30 ET).
Watch on ITV in the UK, on FOX and Telemundo in the U.S. - August 2: Jamaica v Brazil (11:00 BST, 06:00 ET).
Watch on ITV in the UK, on FOX and Telemundo in the U.S. - August 2: Panama v France (11:00 BST, 06:00 ET).
Watch on ITV in the UK, on FOX and Telemundo in the U.S.
This group is interesting because…
Chaos could reign supreme in Group F. While France and Brazil always go to a World Cup with expectations and Jamaica are well-positioned to make a run to the knockouts, all three teams enter after varying degrees of turmoil between the players and their federations. France saw three crucial players threaten to retire in February as captain and defensive anchor Wendie Renard issued a statement calling for “necessary changes”.
Brazil are seeing their golden generation head towards retirement and the failures in national youth development have forced players to go abroad just to meet the requisite standard. Jamaica’s players have expressed concerns over how the federation is preparing for the tournament, particularly regarding logistics and lost friendlies to prepare properly.
The favourites are…
France, but we aren’t shouting it from the rafters this time around. After their captain threatened retirement, the federation hired Herve Renard (no relation) as head coach after his work in the two most recent men’s World Cups with Morocco and Saudi Arabia. Even with Wendie Renard reinstated as captain, the veteran tournament manager will have selection headaches as Lyon forward Delphine Cascarino and Marie-Antoinette Katoto will miss the tournament due to injury. A lot of things will need to coalesce on the fly, but their level of talent remains undeniable.
The standout match is likely to be…
If Jamaica are set on a statement tournament, they could set an early tone in their opener against France. There is every reason to think Les Bleues will still be working out the kinks as the group stage kicks off, which could leave them susceptible to an upset. Even one point against the group favorites would be a massive result for the Reggae Girlz and could set them up well if all goes to plan.
This group’s galactico…
This depends on your favourite part of the game. If you like a defender who is imperious in the air in both boxes and tidy on the ball, Wendie Renard is your icon. If you like tricky technical attacking midfielders who can pull off wizardry in an instant, it’s Brazil ace Debinha. If you’re all about the goals or a great player leading an underdog, look no further than Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw. There’s a little of something for everyone in this group and we’re all thankful for it.
Khadija Shaw has excelled for Manchester City (Photo: Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images)
This could be a breakthrough tournament for…
Shaw will need help up front if the Reggae Girlz are going to pull off the upset and Jody Brown could be up for the task. The 21-year-old right-winger had a career year for the Florida State Seminoles in 2022, scoring eight goals and adding 10 assists. A capable reader of space who can calmly slot home first-time finishes, she could be a key forward for Jamaica.
A story to look out for is…
Again, the off-field narratives around the group’s three top sides are impossible to ignore. Looking back to the pitch, this will be a remarkable sixth World Cup for one of the game’s all-time greats. Marta has come back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament at the age of 37 to make Pia Sundhage’s Brazil squad. The six-time FIFA player of the year may not be starting given her age and injury recovery, but her likely send-off tournament comes after Brazil’s failure to win the World Cup in her first five attempts. Whenever Brazil play their last game of the tournament, it’s bound to be an emotional moment for a true legend of the sport.
You might not know this but…
Panama will make their World Cup debut this summer. Las Canaleras navigated the play-offs, beating Paraguay to become the final team to qualify for the tournament. The nascent state of their squad is driven home by a quick look at their experience levels, with no member of the squad having amassed more than 19 senior caps. Marta Cox is the star here, a regular starter for Liga MX Feminil side Pachuca. She wears the No 10 shirt. (Top photos: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
Women’s World Cup 2023: Guide to Group G
Florence Lloyd-HughesJul 13, 20235
Group G: Sweden (FIFA world ranking: 3), Italy (16), Argentina (28), South Africa (54)
There is a case to be made that this is the most open group in the tournament. Sweden are the biggest hitters and will surely qualify but the identity of the team that goes through with them is much less certain. Given the inconsistent form of Italy and the buzz around South Africa, there could be a surprise coming.
Fixtures in full
- July 23: Sweden v South Africa (06:00 BST, 01:00 ET).
Watch on BBC in the UK, on FS1 and Universo in the U.S. - July 24: Italy v Argentina (07:00 BST, 02:00 ET).
Watch on ITV in the UK, on FS1 and Telemundo in the U.S. - July 28 (July 27): Argentina v South Africa (01:00 BST, 20:00 ET).
Watch on the ITV in UK, on FS1 and Universo in the U.S. - July 29: Sweden v Italy (08:30 BST, 03:30 ET).
Watch on BBC in the UK, on FS1 and Telemundo in the U.S. - August 2: Argentina v Sweden (08:00 BST, 03:00 ET).
Watch on BBC in the UK, on FOX and Telemundo in the U.S. - August 2: South Africa v Italy (08:00 BST, 03:00 ET).
Watch on BBC in the UK, on FOX and Telemundo in the U.S.
The favourites are…
Sweden have been building towards something special for the past few major tournaments and they will no doubt be one of the favourites to win this group and the trophy.
A silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games was followed by a third-place finish at the 2019 Women’s World Cup and a heartbreaking silver at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Sweden are desperate to go one better and finally dispel the “always the bridesmaid, never the bride” reputation.
Last summer, they headed into the Euros as one of the favourites for the title but were blown away by England in the semi-final. This year, expectations will still be high but there will be a nervousness about their recent results, especially a 4-0 defeat by Australia in November and a recent 1-0 loss to Denmark.
Sweden have progressed to the last four in five of the past six major tournaments and their consistency on the biggest stage makes them a threat to most sides.
The standout match is likely to be…
Argentina-South Africa. This group could be wide open if, as might well happen, Italy struggle. That would make Argentina-South Africa in the second round of fixtures a huge opportunity for qualification from this group. Neither side have ever won a game at a World Cup but with Italy’s recent struggles at the Euros and an under-pressure head coach in Milena Bertolini, there is definitely a chance for Argentina or South Africa to pounce.
This group’s galactico is…
Fridolina Rolfo. She has had another impressive season for Barcelona and is accustomed to playing and scoring at the Women’s World Cup. The question will be whether she is playing in her more natural position higher up the field for Sweden or at full-back, where she plays at Barcelona. Under Peter Gerhardsson, Sweden have evolved into an attractive and aggressive attacking side, with Rolfo a core part of that. He has tended to use her as part of a front line but her versatility makes her an unbelievable asset for any side.
This could be a breakthrough tournament for…
South Africa forward Thembi Kgatlana. She’s been in great form for NWSL club Racing Louisville and will be key to their attack. She missed the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final through injury and will be desperate to make an impact on the big stage. She is one of few members of their squad to play outside of South Africa. Glasgow City’s Linda Motlhalo is another.
(Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)
A story to look out for is…
Desiree Ellis. The inspirational head coach is a national hero in South Africa. She had experienced defeat at WAFCON as a player and a head coach but finally led her nation to glory last year as they claimed their first African title. They had a faultless campaign, winning all six of their games. Ellis is adored by fans and her squad, with midfielder Thalea Smidt recently saying Ellis “is a force to be reckoned with”.
You might not know this but…
Italy captain Sara Gama will not be going to the World Cup. The 34-year-old defender has more than 120 caps for her country and has competed at several major tournaments but was dropped by head coach Bertolini and missed out on a spot in the squad.
In reaction to the news, Gama posted on Instagram saying she had accepted Bertolini’s decision “despite the bitterness of these difficult hours for the ways and times in which this decision was communicated to me”.
Dropping Gama is a huge call by the already under-pressure Bertolini. It remains to be seen whether that bold decision pays off. Roma full-back Elisa Bartoli is the most likely to take on captain duties in her absence.
(Top photos: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
Women’s World Cup 2023: Guide to Group H
Florence Lloyd-Hughes The Athletic Jul 13, 2023
Group H: Germany (FIFA world ranking: 2), South Korea (17), Colombia (25), Morocco (72)
The runner-up qualification position is right up for grabs in Group H, if we assume Germany will progress in top spot. Morocco were impressive in their run to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final but realistically are further behind in their development and lack the resources of a more experienced nation like South Korea. Colombia are boosted by their recent run to the 2022 Copa America Femenina final in front of home fans.
Fixtures in full
- July 24: Germany v Morocco (09:30 BST, 04:30 ET).
Watch on ITV in the UK, on FS1 and Universo in the U.S. - July 25 (July 24): Colombia v South Korea (03:00 BST, 22:00 ET).
Watch on BBC in the UK, on FS1 and Universo in the U.S. - July 30: South Korea v Morocco (05:30 BST, 00:30 ET).
Watch on BBC in the UK, on FOX and Universo in the U.S. - July 30: Germany v Colombia (10:30 BST, 05:30 ET).
Watch on ITV in the UK, on FS1 and Telemundo in the U.S. - August 3: Morocco v Colombia (11:00 BST, 06:00 ET).
Watch on BBC in the UK, on FOX and Telemundo in the U.S. - August 3: South Korea v Germany (11:00 BST, 06:00 ET).
Watch on BBC in the UK, on FOX and Telemundo in the U.S.
The favourites are…
The two-time World Cup winners, eight-time European champions and Euro 2022 runners-up are the obvious favourites to top this group. The Germans were impressive at last summer’s Euros and came very close to beating England in the final. They will be out to prove themselves and avoid a repeat of their quarter-final exit in 2019, their worst performance at a Women’s World Cup.
The standout match is likely to be…
Colombia v South Korea. Colombia could start their tournament with a bang with victory against a stale South Korea side. There is a massive opportunity for Colombia to take this tournament by surprise and why not start in their opening game? South Korea’s tournament record is average — this is their fourth Worl Cup and they have failed to get out of the group on two of their three appearances. If either Germany or South Korea falter in their group games it could open the door for Colombia to progress to the knockout phase.
This group’s galactico is…
Alexandra Popp. One of Germany’s most important players, Popp is playing in her fourth Women’s World Cup. She made her debut at the 2011 tournament, featured four years later in Canada and captained her national team in France in 2019. Popp is feared by defenders all around the world. Her size and power make her a threat from anywhere on the pitch and if it had not been for a freak injury ruling her out of the Euro 2022 final, it might have been her — not England’s Beth Mead — celebrating with a winner’s medal, the Golden Ball and Golden Boot.
‘I listen to my body a lot’: Alexandra Popp is fit and ready to lead Germany at the World Cup
This could be a breakthrough tournament for…
Linda Caicedo is one of the most talented teenagers in world football. The 18-year-old Colombian made her national team debut at just 14 years old and has not looked back since. She was key to Colombia’s run to the Copa America Femenina final, scoring two goals, and was named in the team of the tournament.Off the pitch, the Real Madrid forward has overcome some unbelievable obstacles. Two years ago, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She received treatment, made a full recovery and has battled to become one of the biggest players in South America.
(Photo: Gabriel Aponte/Getty Images)
A story to look out for is…
Ghizlane Chebbak. Following in the footsteps of her father Larbi Chebbak, who also played for Morocco, she has become one of the leading names in women’s football in Africa. The 32-year-old national team captain played a key role in her country’s run to the 2022 WAFCON final, finished top goalscorer for the tournament, was named the standout player of the group stage and was picked in the team of the tournament. She has also won Moroccan player of the year multiple times.
You might not know this but…
Morocco are the first Arab nation to qualify for a Women’s World Cup. (Top photo: Getty Images; design: Sam Richardson)
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Pioli instructs Pulisic’s former Chelsea team-mate, Fikayo Tomori (Photo: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)The feeling in Milan — seven-time winners of the 
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Shannon Boxx and Abby Wambach celebrate after a goal. (Photo by Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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USWNT’s Crystal Dunn signs a collective bargaining agreement signifying equal pay between the U.S. men’s and women’s teams. Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images.
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