The 2023 Women’s World Cup begins on Thursday and teams are getting ready to kick off the action.
These daily files will give you the latest reporting from around the 2023 World Cup as well as betting lines, what to watch for information and best reads. Check in with ESPN throughout the tournament as we bring you the latest from Australia and New Zealand.
Today’s edition: one more sleep until the opening game! What’s the mood like in the host nations? Here’s what you might have missed from Wednesday, and what you need to know about Thursday’s opening matches.
VIBE CHECK: First impressions from ESPN writers
Infantino’s PR-heavy assembly can’t dampen New Zealand’s World Cup spirit
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Speaking on the eve of the 2023 World Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino and secretary general, Fatma Samoura addressed some of the assembled media in Auckland. The president ruined all of our running jokes when he opened, “For those wanting to hear how I feel today…” before stating he was tired from the travel having only landed in New Zealand a couple of hours before.
The press conference was standard fare, yet every time he was asked a question, his answer consistently managed to be a positive one about investment from FIFA and the growth of the sport. Even when player welfare was brought up and the potential for a Club World Cup, the president opted to talk about the fiscal side of the game with Samoura intoning to talk about the importance of support from the home fans — saying so against the backdrop of poorly reported ticket sales across Aotearoa.
As well as dropping a nugget about not being able to ensure the bonus funds they’ve laid out of players will actually reach the individuals and not get clogged up and diverted elsewhere, the conference leaned on the PR side of things rather than delivering satisfactory answers to questions asked. We were reminded that ticket sales far surpassed those of 2019 without the caveat that an expanded tournament means 12 more games and then there was the recap of how the prize pool has expanded over the last two tournament cycles.
A typical start to a FIFA tournament, then.
– World Cup news, features, previews, and more
– USWNT camp report: Why the players are switching off social media
– Stream FC Daily and Futbol Americas on ESPN+
Beyond that, after over 30 hours of travel, it’s glaringly clear that there are some big differences between landing in a 2023 host city from those in France in 2019. Other than a few posters around outside Reims train station, there was little in the way of fanfare four years ago. Auckland is a stark contrast, the branding all over the international arrivals part of the terminal building, with “BEYOND GREATNESS” popping out at you everywhere you look.
Dan Thomas is joined by Craig Burley, Shaka Hislop and others to bring you the latest highlights and debate the biggest storylines. Stream on ESPN+ (U.S. only).
Destiny for the Matildas is just around the corner
SYDNEY, Australia — It’s been 1,118 days since FIFA president Infantino uttered the misleading sentence confirming Australia and New Zealand as the World Cup hosts.
At times, the journey to this point felt like a slog, for fans off the field and for the players on it. But soon Australia will wake up to a sunny winter’s morning, grab their coffees, don their scarves, and make their way down to Stadium Australia to watch the Matildas play a World Cup opener at home. Pubs and lounge rooms across the country will be packed, filled with giddy nervousness.
The Matildas will walk out under the floodlights, face their adoring nation, and play a game of football that will capture the attention of the nation in a way not felt since the Socceroos’ return to the World Cup stage in 2006. 75,000 fans, a determined debutant in Ireland, and a date with destiny await these Matildas. — Marissa Lordanic
MATCH PREVIEWS
Group A: New Zealand vs. Norway – (Eden Park, Auckland; 7 p.m. local / 3 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. BST)
Odds: New Zealand +950, Draw +420, Norway -380
In five previous World Cups, New Zealand have never won a game: it’s an easy stat to remember, and it’s one the players surely can’t forget as embark as tournament co-hosts. Once again, they will have three chances to claim that illusive W, yet with all eyes on Auckland for the first game of this summer’s (winter’s) tournament, Norway are set to be the Ferns’ sternest test.
Norway themselves will be looking at progression from the group and finally turning a corner after a decade of disappointment and mediocrity, despite boasting some of the finest players in the world. There is no reason the Football Girls should have any trouble picking up three wins even if their primary tactic is to get the ball to generational talents, Caroline Graham Hansen and Ada Hegerberg.
Playing their first tournament under Hege Riise, the world-class attacker who came before Hegerberg and Graham Hansen, the first match is likely to set the tone and give an indication to whether or not this team has finally, finally metamorphosised into a group that knows what they’re doing.>[?
The focus will be on Norway’s attack but the vibe will be about the sold-out stadium and just how far home support could lift the Ferns. — Sophie Lawson
2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup team-by-team preview
ESPN previews each of the World Cup’s 32 teams in the tournament with everything you need to know about the sides, split into the groups they will be in.
Ranking every team’s kits at the 2023 Women’s World Cup
England fans aren’t the only ones who will be dancing to 90s classic “Freed From Desire” when their national team scores a goal at the World Cup.
Best players at 2023 Women’s World Cup: Morgan, Marta, more
Instead of all the best players in the world hailing from a few top teams, the sport is more competitive than it’s ever been, and that’s apparent in the 2023 edition of ESPN FC’s World Cup Rank.
YOUR BEST BETS (odds via Caesars Sportsbook)
The United States has won the last two women’s World Cups and is the betting favorite to win an unprecedented third in a row this year. But the gap between the U.S. women and the competition has narrowed and the odds reflect a more competitive field than in the most recent World Cups.
Caesars Sportsbook has the U.S. at +225 to win the Cup, followed by England (+450), Spain (+500) and Germany (+750). France is +1,000, with Australia next at +1,200. Sweden is +2,000 and the Netherlands are +2,200. The U.S. was an even-money favorite to win the 2019 World Cup.
The U.S., which has won four World Cups overall, is unsurprisingly attracting overwhelming support from bettors at American sportsbooks. FanDuel reported Tuesday that the U.S. had attracted 82% of the money wagered on its odds to win the Cup. England is second with only 5% of the overall money wagered.
U.S. striker Alex Morgan is the favorite to win the Golden Boot award, given to the player with the most goals in the tournament. Morgan is +550, followed by teammate Sophia Smith at +800. — David Purdum
NEWS OF THE DAY
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on the eve of the Women’s World Cup that although FIFA has for the first time started earmarking prize money payments to be paid to players, FIFA will still distribute money to federations rather than oversee direct payments to players. The world governing body of soccer announced in June that every player competing in the tournament would be paid at least $30,000 by FIFA, and “we are guaranteeing prize money for players.” But Infantino said Wednesday ensuring such payments go directly to players isn’t feasible. Rather, prize money will still be paid to federations, but now FIFA is asking a portion of that money to go to players. Read
United States women’s national soccer team forward Sophia Smith said that everything she and defender Naomi Girma will do at this World Cup will be in memory of former Stanford teammate Katie Meyer. Meyer, who along with Smith and Girma was part of Stanford University’s national-championship-winning soccer team in 2019, died by suicide in March 2022. Meyer’s parents, Steve and Gina, are attempting to get colleges to adopt a policy called “Katie’s Save” in which students can opt for a trusted adult “designated advocate” to receive notice and provide support when they need it the most. Read
Cathy Freeman has surprised the Matildas in camp to give some key advice on how to handle the pressure in their own bid to make history at the Women’s World Cup. Many players, including captain Sam Kerr and Indigenous stars Kyah Simon and Lydia Williams, have cited Australian athletics legend Freeman’s incredible gold medal 400m run at the 2000 Sydney Olympics as a defining moment of their childhoods. Last Wednesday, while preparing to play France in Melbourne, players entered what they thought was a tactics meeting with coach Tony Gustavsson — only to be stunned when Freeman appeared in the room. Read
WHAT TO WATCH
Group A: New Zealand vs. Norway – (Eden Park, Auckland; 7 p.m. local / 3 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. BST)
Group B: Australia vs. Republic of Ireland – (Sydney Football Stadium; 8 p.m. local / 6 a.m. ET / 11 a.m. BST)
Group B: Nigeria vs. Canada – (Melbourne Rectangular; 12.30 p.m. local / 10.30 p.m. ET [Thursday] / 3.30 a.m. BST)
WHAT ELSE CAUGHT OUR EYE
2:14
Explained: How VAR will work at the Women’s World Cup
Dale Johnson explains the process that will see referees announce why they have overturned a decision in the stadium.
VAR at the Women’s World Cup may look and feel very different as FIFA trials a new method of keeping the fans informed about decisions. Here’s how it will work.
Until this year, fans had to rely on messages put on the big screen in the stadium, or the commentator on television working out what the referee had decided.
FIFA has embarked on a yearlong trial of referees announcing the outcome when the VAR has sent them to the monitor.
After watching the replay, the referee will make the TV sign and then say how play will restart, and any possible sanctions such as a red card. This will be heard by the fans in the stadium and those watching on TV.
