The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is right around the corner and KEEPUP is here to provide a lowdown on everything you need to know ahead of the showpiece tournament kicking off in July.
We are only weeks away from the commencement of the highly anticipated 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
For the first time in the tournament’s history, 32 nations will compete for the Women’s World Cup over a month long tourney in Australia and New Zealand.
With the action set to kick-off on July 20, KEEPUP provides an ultimate guide to everything you need to know ahead of the ninth iteration of the competition.
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Tickets
Authorised tickets for the FIFA Women’s World Cup can be purchased via the FIFA ticketing portal. Fans must make a FIFA ticketing account before purchasing.
Extra tickets were made available on June 6.
Squads
Each of the 32 nations have to provide FIFA with a private preliminary squad between 35 to 55 players, before cutting it to a final 23 for the tournament by July 9. Three of those players must be goalkeepers.
Final squad players can be replaced by someone from the preliminary squad, due to serious injury or illness up to 24 hours before kick-off of the team’s first group game.
Here’s every confirmed World Cup squad so far.
How to watch?
Every game will be broadcasted live on Optus Sport, while 15 matches – including the opening match, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final – will be broadcast live and free on the Seven Network.
Group stage
Group A: New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Switzerland
Co-hosts New Zealand have been drawn against 1995 champions Norway – who they will face in the tournament’s opening game in Auckland – Philippines and Switzerland in an incredibly competitive Group A.
Despite no wins in their last 10 games, the Football Ferns would give themselves every chance to progress given they will be backed by a strong home crowd for each of their three games.
Switzerland were one of the three European sides to qualify via the play-offs as they return to the tournament for only the second time, while Norway – who are the favourites to top the group and are spearheaded by superstar Ada Hegerberg – will hope to put their Euro 2022 disappointment behind them and return to the knockout stage for the third consecutive occasion.
Meanwhile, the Philippines are appearing in their first ever World Cup under the tutelage of former Matildas boss Alen Stajcic and showed plenty of promise at the 2022 Asian Cup where they made it all the way through to the semi-finals.
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FIXTURES
New Zealand v Norway
Date: Thursday, July 20
Time: 5 PM (AEST), 7 PM (local)
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Broadcast: Seven and Optus Sport
Philippines v Switzerland
Date: Friday, July 21
Time: 3 PM (AEST), 5 PM (local)
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Broadcast: Optus Sport
New Zealand v Philippines
Date: Tuesday, July 25
Time: 3:30 PM (AEST), 5:30 PM (local)
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Switzerland v Norway
Date: Tuesday, July 25
Time: 6 PM (AEST), 8 PM (local)
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Norway v Philippines
Date: Sunday, July 30
Time: 5 PM (AEST), 7 PM (local)
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Switzerland v New Zealand
Date: Sunday, July 30
Time: 5 PM (AEST), 7 PM (local)
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Group B: Australia, Canada, Nigeria, Republic of Ireland
Fellow co-hosts Australia have also been drawn into a difficult group to begin the FIFA Women’s World Cup against Olympic Gold Medallists Canada, 11-time African champions Nigeria and tournament debutants Republic of Ireland.
The Matildas come into the tournament in solid form, having won the Cup of Nations on home-soil in February – which included a win over Spain – and seen off European champions England in this year alone.
However, despite having home-field advantage, the job won’t be easy against three difficult sides.
Canada are Australia’s biggest threat, having knocked them off twice last year and boast the likes of Adriana Leon, Christine Sinclair and Ashley Lawrence, to name a few, but have never quite been able to translate their star power into success at World Cup.
Nigeria made it out of the group for the second time in the nation’s history in 2019 and will be spearheaded by arguably the greatest women’s footballer in African history – Asisat Oshoala – who has been in red hot form for Spanish giants Barcelona.
Meanwhile, Ireland are hoping to cause a major stir in their first ever World Cup, having qualified via the play-offs and their midfield which includes stars Katie McCabe and Denise O’Sullivan is talented as any in Group B.
And if recent history is anything to go by, their hard to break down mentality can also cause plenty of headaches for opposition sides.
The draw, however, hasn’t been kind to Canada and Ireland who have to travel out west to Perth between two games on the eastern seaboard.
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FIXTURES
Australia v Republic of Ireland
Date: Thursday, July 20
Time: 8 PM (AEST)
Venue: Stadium Australia, Sydney
Broadcast: Seven and Optus Sport
Nigeria v Canada
Date: Friday, July 21
Time: 12:30 PM (AEST)
Venue: Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Canada v Republic of Ireland
Date: Wednesday, July 26
Time: 10 PM (AEST), 8 PM (local)
Venue: Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth
Broadcast: Seven and Optus Sport
Australia v Nigeria
Date: Thursday, July 27
Time: 8 PM (AEST)
Venue: Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane
Broadcast: Seven and Optus Sport
Republic of Ireland v Nigeria
Date: Monday, July 31
Time: 8 PM (AEST)
Venue: Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Canada v Australia
Date: Monday, July 31
Time: 8 PM (AEST)
Venue: Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne
Broadcast: Seven and Optus Sport
Group C: Costa Rica, Japan, Spain, Zambia
Group C sees women’s football heavyweights Spain and Japan come up against Costa Rica and another debutant in Zambia.
The former two go into the group as overwhelming favourites to progress, despite Spain’s preparation being overshadowed by a dispute between senior players with the federation and coach Jorge Vilda.
Japan, who won the tournament in 2011 and were runners-up in 2015, are also anticipating another deep run with both the winner and second-place sides facing teams from Group A in the Round of 16.
Costa Rica are in their second appearance at the World Cup and famously drew with Spain in their maiden tournament back in 2015, where they fell just short of a spot in the Round of 16.
Meanwhile, Zambia – who are the first men’s or women’s squad from an African landlocked nation to qualify for a senior World Cup – are hoping to cause a major boil over.
Eyes will be on star striker Barbara Banda at the tournament, having dominated in Tokyo by becoming the first women’s player to score back-to-back hat-tricks at Olympics.
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FIXTURES
Spain v Costa Rica
Date: Friday, July 21
Time: 5:30 PM (AEST), 7:30 PM (local)
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Zambia v Japan
Date: Saturday, July 22
Time: 5 PM (AEST), 7 PM (local)
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Japan v Costa Rica
Date: Wednesday, July 26
Time: 3 PM (AEST), 5 PM (local)
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Spain v Zambia
Date: Wednesday, July 26
Time: 5:30 PM (AEST), 7:30 PM (local)
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Costa Rica v Zambia
Date: Monday, July 31
Time: 5 PM (AEST), 7 PM (local)
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Japan v Spain
Date: Monday, July 31
Time: 5 PM (AEST), 7 PM (local)
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Group D: China, Denmark, England, Haiti
European champions England go into Group D as strong favourites to progress as the highest-ranked side.
Denmark, China and Haiti stand in the Lionesses’ way – who will be without injured duo Leah Williamson and Beth Mead due to injury – but their strength in depth should be enough for Sarina Wiegman’s side to still top the group.
However, should they finish top, Australia or Canada potentially wait in the Round of 16 – setting up a blockbuster first knockout-phase matchup.
China and Denmark are expected to tussle for second spot in the group, with the opening game in Perth shaping up as crucial for either side. The Steel Roses have made it out of the group stage in each of their seven appearances and are fresh off being crowned Asian champions last year.
Despite deep runs in European Championships, Denmark have never quite been able to translate that form onto the world stage and are in fact – competing in their first World Cup since 2007. Star striker Pernille Harder looms as a key piece to their hopes of progressing.
Meanwhile, Haiti come in with nothing to lose in their first ever appearance at a World Cup, having defeated Chile in an enthralling intercontinental play-off.
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FIXTURES
England v Haiti
Date: Saturday, July 22
Time: 7:30 PM (AEST)
Venue: Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Denmark v China
Date: Saturday, July 22
Time: 10 PM (AEST), 8 PM (local)
Venue: Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth
Broadcast: Optus Sport
England v Denmark
Date: Friday, July 28
Time: 6:30 PM (AEST)
Venue: Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Broadcast: Optus Sport
China v Haiti
Date: Friday, July 28
Time: 9 PM (AEST), 8:30 PM (local)
Venue: Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Haiti v Denmark
Date: Tuesday, August 1
Time: 9 PM (AEST), 7 PM (local)
Venue: Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth
Broadcast: Optus Sport
China v England
Date: Tuesday, August 1
Time: 9 PM (AEST), 8:30 PM (local)
Venue: Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Broadcast: Seven and Optus Sport
Group E: Netherlands, Portugal, United States, Vietnam
Group E is headlined by an impending rematch of the 2019 final as the USA and Netherlands are set to lock horns in Wellington.
Both sides are expected to advance from the group, with the US chasing a third consecutive World Cup crown, something that no side has ever been able to do – men’s or women’s. The USA, however, will be without Becky Sauerbrunn due to injury.
Netherlands meanwhile are looking to avenge their defeat from four years ago by going one step further down under. However, the Dutch have never quite recovered from their disappointment in France and were bundled out of the Euros in the quarters by the aforementioned nation.
The job has been made all the more difficult due to the absence of star striker Vivienne Miedema, with the onus falling to Fenna Kalma – who scored a whopping 45 goals in 2022 – which was only bettered by Erling Haaland (46) and Kylian Mbappe (56).
Portugal are also a team to keep an eye on in Group E, having soared up the world rankings in the last few years and booked their place in a first ever World Cup in the process.
Vietnam, on the other hand, who are also in their maiden appearance will be looking to cause a major shock and a baptism of fire awaits against the reigning champions in Auckland in their opening group.
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FIXTURES
USA v Vietnam
Date: Saturday, July 22
Time: 11 AM (AEST), 1 PM (local)
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Netherlands v Portugal
Date: Sunday, July 23
Time: 5:30 PM (AEST), 7:30 PM (local)
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Broadcast: Optus Sport
USA v Netherlands
Date: Thursday, July 27
Time: 11 AM (AEST), 1 PM (local)
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Portugal v Vietnam
Date: Thursday, July 27
Time: 5:30 PM (AEST), 7:30 PM (local)
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Vietnam v Netherlands
Date: Tuesday, August 1
Time: 5 PM (AEST), 7 PM (local)
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Portugal v USA
Date: Tuesday, August 1
Time: 5 PM (AEST), 7 PM (local)
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Group F: Brazil, France, Jamaica, Panama
Two of the tournament favourites France and Brazil kick-start their World Cup journey in an intriguing Group F.
The French, who are now helmed by Herve Renard, go in as one of the popular picks among pundits to secure a first ever World Cup crown but will face a tough task to secure top spot against the might of Brazil.
Both sides will lock horns in the second matchday in Brisbane, which looms as one of the games of the group stage and will more than likely have an enormous say on who tops the group.
Brazil will be without gun midfielder Formiga down under, but have called upon Marta despite being under an injury cloud. The likes of Debinha and Kerolin are among the players to watch as they plot a deep run.
Jamaica are in their second appearance at the tournament and have the firepower to cause some headaches with star striker Bunny Shaw leading the line. Meanwhile, Panama are another of the tournament debutants that are hoping to cause a stir.
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FIXTURES
France v Jamaica
Date: Sunday, July 23
Time: 8 PM (AEST)
Venue: Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Brazil v Panama
Date: Monday, July 24
Time: 9 PM (AEST), 8:30 PM (local)
Venue: Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Broadcast: Optus Sport
France v Brazil
Date: Saturday, July 29
Time: 8 PM (AEST)
Venue: Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Panama v Jamaica
Date: Saturday, July 29
Time: 10:30 PM (AEST), 8:30 PM (local)
Venue: Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Jamaica v Brazil
Date: Wednesday, August 2
Time: 8 PM (AEST)
Venue: Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Panama v France
Date: Wednesday, August 2
Time: 8 PM (AEST)
Venue: Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Group G: Argentina, Italy, South Africa, Sweden
Sweden go in as the favourites to top Group G, where they will face the likes of Italy, Argentina and South Africa in New Zealand.
The Swedes come into the tournament as one of the sides tipped to go deep in the competition and with good reason given their recent performances at major tournaments that included a third place finish in 2019, silver medal in Tokyo and semi-final exit at the Euros.
Italy will be hoping to put the disappointment of Euro 2022 behind them, where they finished bottom of their group with only a single point to their name.
A clash against the USA or Netherlands looms for either of the top two sides.
Reigning African champions South Africa and Argentina are also eyeing an improvement from four years ago, where they both finished winless.
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FIXTURES
Sweden v South Africa
Date: Sunday, July 23
Time: 3 PM (AEST), 5 PM (local)
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Italy v Argentina
Date: Monday, July 24
Time: 4 PM (AEST), 6 PM (local)
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Argentina v South Africa
Date: Friday, July 28
Time: 10 AM (AEST), 12 PM (local)
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Sweden v Italy
Date: Saturday, July 29
Time: 5:30 PM (AEST), 7:30 PM (local)
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Broadcast: Optus Sport
South Africa v Italy
Date: Wednesday, August 2
Time: 5 PM (AEST), 7 PM (local)
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Argentina v Sweden
Date: Wednesday, August 2
Time: 5 PM (AEST), 7 PM (local)
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Group H: Colombia, Germany, South Korea, Morocco
Germany are the overwhelming favourite to top Group H, but it’s anyone’s guess in an impending tight race for second.
Incredibly, all four sides fell just short of winning continental glory on their last attempt as well.
Germany were runners-up winning the Euros last year, falling to England in the final and go into the tournament as one of the sides tipped to be in among the sides competing in late August.
A blockbuster match-up against one of France or Brazil looms in the Round of 16 for the Germans.
After making it through to the knockout stages in 2015, Colombia are back on the world stage and are fresh off a runners-up finish at the Copa America last year too.
South Korea – who were runners-up to China at the Asian Cup last year – will be hoping to return to the knockout stage for only the second time, having only done so in four attempts previously.
Tournament debutants and the first ever Arab side to play at a Women’s World Cup, Morocco will be hoping to cause a stir and build off their impressive showing at the African Cup of Nations where they lost in the final to South Africa.
GROUP H PREVIEW: Next chapter in World Cup debutant’s revolution, Germany’s ‘problem’
FIXTURES
Germany v Morocco
Date: Monday, July 24
Time: 6:30 PM (AEST)
Venue: Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Colombia v South Korea
Date: Tuesday, July 25
Time: 12 PM (AEST)
Venue: Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Broadcast: Optus Sport
South Korea v Morocco
Date: Sunday, July 30
Time: 2:30 PM (AEST), 2 PM (local)
Venue: Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Germany v Colombia
Date: Sunday, July 30
Time: 7:30 PM (AEST)
Venue: Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Broadcast: Optus Sport
South Korea v Germany
Date: Thursday, August 3
Time: 8 PM (AEST)
Venue: Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Morocco v Colombia
Date: Thursday, August 3
Time: 8 PM (AEST), 6 PM (local)
Venue: Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Round of 16
Winner of Group A v Runners up of Group C – Match 49
Date: Saturday, August 5
Time: 3 PM (AEST), 5 PM (local)
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Winner of Group C v Runners up of Group A – Match 50
Date: Saturday, August 5
Time: 6 PM (AEST), 8 PM (local)
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Broadcast: Seven and Optus Sport
Winner of Group E v Runners up of Group G – Match 51
Date: Sunday, August 6
Time: 12 PM (AEST)
Venue: Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Winner of Group G v Runners up of Group E – Match 52
Date: Sunday, August 6
Time: 7 PM (AEST)
Venue: Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne
Broadcast: Seven and Optus Sport
Winner of Group D v Runners up of Group B – Match 53
Date: Monday, August 7
Time: 5:30 PM (AEST)
Venue:Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Winner of Group B v Runners up of Group D – Match 54
Date: Monday, August 7
Time: 8:30 PM (AEST)
Venue: Stadium Australia, Sydney
Broadcast: Seven and Optus Sport
Winner of Group H v Runners up of Group F – Match 55
Date: Tuesday, August 8
Time: 6 PM (AEST)
Venue: Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Winner of Group F v Runners up of Group H – Match 56
Date: Tuesday, August 8
Time: 9 PM (AEST), 8:30 PM (local)
Venue: Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Broadcast: Seven and Optus Sport
Quarter-finals
Winner of Match 49 v Winner of Match 51 – (Match 57)
Date: Friday, August 11
Time: 11 AM (AEST), 1 PM (local)
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Winner of Match 50 v Winner of Match 52 – (Match 58)
Date: Friday, August 11
Time: 5:30 PM (AEST), 7:30 PM (local)
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Broadcast: Seven and Optus Sport
Winner of Match 53 v Winner of Match 55 – (Match 59)
Date: Saturday, August 12
Time: 5 PM (AEST)
Venue: Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Winner of Match 55 v Winner of Match 56 – (Match 60)
Date: Saturday, August 12
Time: 8:30 PM (AEST)
Venue: Stadium Australia, Sydney
Broadcast: Seven and Optus Sport
Semi-finals
Winner of Match 57 v Winner of Match 58
Date: Tuesday, August 15
Time: 6 PM (AEST), 8 PM (local)
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Broadcast: Seven and Optus Sport
Winner of Match 59 v Winner of Match 60
Date: Wednesday, August 16
Time: 8 PM (AEST)
Venue: Stadium Australia, Sydney
Broadcast: Seven and Optus Sport
Third place play-off
Loser of Semi Final v Loser of Semi Final
Date: Saturday, August 19
Time: 6 PM (AEST)
Venue: Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane
Broadcast: Optus Sport
Final
Winner of Semi Final v Winner of Semi Final
Date: Sunday, August 20
Time: 8 PM (AEST)
Venue: Stadium Australia, Sydney
Broadcast: Seven and Optus Sport
