2023 FIFA Women's World Cup: 5 Favourites to Win Tournament in Australia and New Zealand

2023 FIFA Women's World Cup: 5 Favourites to Win Tournament in Australia and New Zealand

Chukwu Ikechukwu
updated at July 25, 2023 at 7:49 AM
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  • The USA has been ranked among the favourites for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
  • The 2023 edition will be the first-ever Women's World Cup tourney to feature 32 teams
  • Australia and New Zealand will be hosts of the Women's World Cup tourney this year

Australia and New Zealand are set to host the biggest FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament ever, as 32 teams are battle ready for the global showpiece starting on July 20.

It is the first time the tournament will have more than 24 teams competing for the global prize in women's football as the sport continues to grow worldwide.

FIFA, Women's World Cup, Australia, USA, Germany, Brazil
The United States are bidding to win a third consecutive FIFA Women's World Cup title this year. Photo by SOPA Images
Source: Getty Images

The United States are the reigning champions, having won the World Cup in 2015 and 2019. They will be seeking to win it for the third time in a row.

The WNT has won the tournament the most times (four), while other winners are Germany with two titles, and Japan and Norway with one title each, Wikipedia reports.

Sports Brief, in conjunction with Sportskeeda, have ranked the countries that are the favourites to win the 2023 Women's World Cup crown in Australia and New Zealand.

5. Brazil

Since the first Women's World Cup in 1991, Brazil has participated in every tournament and has produced some of the best players in the world.

If permitted to compete, the iconic Marta might take the field in her sixth tournament.

Brazil has not fared well in women's football's biggest competition, having last been to the World Cup final in 2007 before falling to Germany 2-0.

This year, however, the South Americans are ranked as one of the favourites for the but will have to shake off their habit of regularly coming up short against the traditional powerhouses.

4. Australia

The potential for the Australian squad is limitless because of its roster of elite athletes, including Sam Kerr, Ellie Carpenter, and Caitlin Foord, as well as the encouragement of their home crowd.

It might be time for the Matildas at the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2023. Their 2-0 victory over England in an international friendly in April demonstrated their capacity to shock the world's top teams.

Australia will need to effectively manage their resources in order to succeed because they have a variety of injury problems.

3. Germany

One of the teams to watch out for at the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2023 is Germany.

The European powerhouses are not as dominant in the competition as they once were, but their journey to the Euro 2022 final shows they are still a gold mine of youthful talent.

Lena Oberdorf, Lea Schuller, Alexandra Popp, and Jule Brand - among others - are anticipated to play significant roles at the tourney.

Germany will be competitive and eager to stand out in the competition. This group cannot be dismissed; therefore, it wouldn't be shocking if they led women's football to its pinnacle this summer.

2. England

Current European champions, England, are among the favourites to win the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. However, the losses of crucial players like Fran Kriby, Leah Williamson, and Beth Mead will be a significant blow for the Lionesses.

All three were stalwarts were in the starting XI that triumphed at Euro 2022 and their services will be greatly missed at the World Cup as the Lionesses push for their first World Cup trophy.

England has a very successful manager in Sarina Weigman, with the likes of Ella Toone, Chloe Kelly, Lucy Bronze, and Alessio Russo allowing the the country to dream big at the 2023 tournament.

1. The USA

The USA is the overwhelming favourite to win the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2023. If they accomplish it, they will win three consecutive World Cups, cementing their position as the most powerful team in women's football history.

There will be a new-look USWNT squad on display in Australia and New Zealand, even though they are heavily predicted to win the whole competition.

Among the players competing in their first World Cups are Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Alyssa Thompson, while the legendary Megan Rapinoe, Kelley O'Hara, and Alex Morgan will also make one last run for the title at the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2023.

World Cup opener sold out

Earlier, Sports Brief reported on co-hosts, Australia's Women's World Cup opener set to take place in front of a full house next month, according to a senior FIFA official.

Dave Beeche, chief executive of the tourney, said the Matildas' opener vs. Ireland on July 20 sold out at Sydney's Stadium Australia, which can hold around 80,000 fans.

With less than 25 days until kick off, the Women's World Cup boss said few tickets remained for New Zealand's opener at Eden Park, at a capacity of just under 40,000.

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Chukwu Ikechukwu
Chukwu Ikechukwu Godwin is a journalist with over 9 years of experience in the Nigerian media industry. He has worked both in Radio (Today FM, Rhythm FM, Wish FM) and Television (Silverbird TV) as a Sports Analyst..