FIFA Women’s World Cup: Top 3 Teams to Keep an Eye on

The highly anticipated 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup kicked off on July 20, featuring co-hosts, New Zealand and Australia.

The opening matches saw the Ferns facing Norway, while the Matildas took on the Republic of Ireland in thrilling group play encounters.

The expansion of the tournament this year - from 24 teams to 32 - reflects the growing popularity and importance of the women's game.

With Australia and New Zealand set to make history, Sports Brief takes a look at three fans should keep an eye on.

US Women’s National Team (USWNT)

The United States are the two-time defending champions and the only country to win four World Cup titles, going into the tournament as No. 1 on the FIFA world rankings.

Laced with football stars like Megan Rapinoe and fellow superstar, Alex Morgan, it is safe to say the USWNT are clear favourites for the tournament.

There are plenty of familiar faces on this year’s roster as the United States attempts to become the first team to win three straight World Cup titles.

Midfielder, Lindsey Horan and experienced defender, Kelly O’Hara will also be put their leadership skills to the test with the roster including 14 players who have no World Cup experience.

'The Gals' are also without their captain, Becky Sauerbrunn, who is out with a foot injury. Other notable injury absences are Mallory Swanson, Christen Press and Tobin Heath.

France

Placed at No. 5 in the latest FIFA world rankings, France are on a quest to win their first Women's World Cup title in what is their fifth appearance.

On home soil in 2019, Les Bleues defeated Brazil to set up a quarter-final meeting with the USWNT in Paris but were eventually overpowered by the eventual winners 2-1.

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Football

It was the second straight tournament France exited in the last eight. Their best finish at the World Cup remains their fourth-place finish in 2011 after a 3-1 loss to the USWNT in the semi-finals.

Now under the management of serial winner, Herve Renard, who guided Saudi Arabia’s male national team to a win over eventual champions, Argentina, in the group stages in Qatar, France will be counting on the skill and experience of Lyon defender, Wendie Renard and Paris Saint-Germain forward, Kadidiatou Diani.

Veteran forward, Eugenie Le Sommer, recently got a recall to the national team after her prolonged exile from the team. The 34-year-old Lyon forward has found the back of the net 88 times in 177 appearances for Les Bleues.

Renard is without former captain, Amandine Henry, and PSG forward, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, who sustained a knee injury in last summer’s Euros, as well as Lyon forward, Delphine Cascarino, who suffered a partially torn ACL.

Nigeria

Never far from the murky waters of controversies, the Super Falcons were recently caught in wrangles of unpaid bonuses and ill preparations.

However, the 11-time African champions are set to participate in their 9th world cup tournament, one of seven teams to do so. Their best outing at the World Cup remains their round of 8 feat in 1999.

Coming into this showing after recently faltering to both South Africa and Morocco in crunch time at the Women's AFCON, expectations for the Super Falcons are at their lowest.

The perennial ghost of owed bonuses and administrative interference hovers over the Nigerian women's team once again.

In a recent interview on the Sounding Off on Soccer podcast, coach Randy Waldrum lifted the lid on the pressure he has faced over his final squad list and criticism about the lack of preparation ahead of the World Cup.

However, the team will find solace in having a squad crammed with talent, especially on the attack. Barcelona Femeni’s Asisat Oshoala is in a purple patch ahead of the tournament and has just won the Champions League.

She has a great supporting cast, including Atletico Madrid’s Rasheedat Ajibade and Saint-Étienne’s Esther Okoronkwo.

Nigeria, Canada play to draw

The Super Falcons' goalkeeper Chimaka Nnadozie earned herself a Player of the Match award for her critical penalty save early in the tie's second half.