Australia and New Zealand are playing host to the biggest FIFA Women’s World Cup in history, kicking off with the group stage.
For the first time the women’s world championship for national teams will feature eight groups of four teams each with only the top two advancing to the Round of 16.
It will take more than just one or two big moments to see any of the minnows string together enough results to reach the knockout stage, but there still are upsets to be found in the first phase of play.
The Sporting News brings you an overview (with odds) of each group, as well as predictions for every single table.
MORE: See the complete group stage schedule
Women’s World Cup group predictions, picks 2023
Group A
| Norway (Win/Qualify) |
Switzerland (Win/Qualify) |
New Zealand (Win/Qualify) |
Philippines (Win/Qualify) |
|
| BetMGM (USA) |
-350 / -2000 | +450 / -275 | +500 / +100 | +25000 / +8000 |
| Unibet (Australia) |
1.30 / 1.03 | 6.25 / 1.65 | 7.00 / 1.85 | 101.0 / 21.00 |
| SkyBet (UK) |
2/7, 1/20 | 9/2, 8/13 | 13/2, 1/1 | 250/1, 33/1 |
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New Zealand could not have asked for a better draw on home soil for this Women’s World Cup.
Group favourite Norway hasn’t played since April, when they were held by Sweden and beaten by Spain, proving they are not one of the best teams in the world.
Switzerland, ranked 20th in the world, are also on upset alert against the co-hosts. The Swiss barely qualified for the World Cup in the first place, beating Wales in their playoff on a 118th-minute winner, and they’ve not won a single match since then across six fixtures.
New Zealand have not exactly looked dangerous in their own 2023 results, but playing on home soil on the big stage could help get them over the hump against beatable opponents. Running up the score on debutants Philippines could be of critical importance in case goal differential comes into play.
Group A prediction:
- Norway-Q
- New Zealand-Q
- Switzerland-X
- Philippines-X
Group B
| Australia (Win/Qualify) |
Canada (Win/Qualify) |
Rep. of Ireland (Win/Qualify) |
Nigeria (Win/Qualify) |
|
| BetMGM (USA) |
-200 / -1200 | +175 / -500 | +1600 / +300 | +3300 / +550 |
| Unibet (Australia) |
1.50 / 1.10 | 3.00 / 1.20 | 18.00 / 4.00 | 36.00 / 6.00 |
| SkyBet (UK) |
8/13, 1/9 | 13/8, 1/4 | 11/1, 11/4 | 28/1, 6/1 |
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While New Zealand will be reveling in their excellent draw, fellow co-hosts Australia were dealt a really tough assignment. They get the defending Olympic champions Canada, debutants Ireland ranked 22nd in the world, and the best African team in Nigeria.
It’s a strong group top-to-bottom, but with no true title contenders to wrangle with, the Matildas should have enough quality to progress to the knockout stage with little difficulty, even if they are beaten by one of the challengers.
While it’s a tough group for Australia, it’s also tough for everyone else, and things could get dicey for Canada as well, who have regressed since their Olympic title.
There could be upsets in this group, but it’s hard to tell exactly from where, as the challengers aren’t quite in their stage of development yet where knockout stage dreams are realized, so the prediction reflects mostly chalk.
Group B prediction:
- Australia-Q
- Canada-Q
- Nigeria-X
- Rep. of Ireland-X
Group C
| Spain (Win/Qualify) |
Japan (Win/Qualify) |
Zambia (Win/Qualify) |
Costa Rica (Win/Qualify) |
|
| BetMGM (USA) |
-650 / -25000 | +350 / -1400 | +5000 / +500 | +25000 / +2000 |
| Unibet (Australia) |
1.12 / 1.01 | 6.00 / 1.03 | 81.00 / 7.00 | 101.0 / 21.00 |
| SkyBet (UK) |
2/7, 1/50 | 5/2, 1/10 | 33/1, 5/1 | 200/1, 25/1 |
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This is the absolute perfect group construction for us to find out what Spain is made of.
After disappointing in the 2022 Euros without Alexia Putellas and Jennifer Hermoso, Spain have a lot to prove, and they’ll be tested some here, but could still advance without their best stuff, which is exactly the kind of group they’d have hoped for.
Spain also get the luxury of building towards their eventual meeting with Japan, which is slated to be their final group match and will likely decide the overall group winner.
While it’s still hard to fully trust Spain at the highest level until they prove it, they’re in sensational form heading into the World Cup, having pummeled China, Panama, Denmark, and Vietnam by a combined 21-0 in their last four fixtures before the tournament.
Zambia will be a chic pick after their upset of Germany in a World Cup tuneup match, and they drew with Switzerland prior to that, but the African nation concedes far too many goals to be trusted — they gave up 10 across two friendlies with South Korea in April, and conceded five combined to Germany and Switzerland.
Group C predictions:
- Spain-Q
- Japan-Q
- Zambia-X
- Costa Rica-X
Group D
| England (Win/Qualify) |
Denmark (Win/Qualify) |
China (Win/Qualify) |
Haiti (Win/Qualify) |
|
| BetMGM (USA) |
-3000 / -20000 | +800 / -400 | +3300 / +225 | +10000 / +1800 |
| Unibet (Australia) |
1.04 / 1.01 | 12.00 / 1.30 | 41.00 / 2.75 | 101.0 / 21.00 |
| SkyBet (UK) |
1/10, 1/100 | 6/1, 1/3 | 20/1, 9/4 | 250/1, 25/1 |
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China have always held aspirations of reaching the upper echelon of the women’s football world, but just haven’t been able to do so, and they’ve been slapped with a brutal draw here, likely to be left behind due to the presence of two very high-quality European sides.
England have maybe the best attacking squad in the entire competition, and while Denmark can’t boast the same title aspirations, the return of Pernille Harder from injury gives a huge boost to what is already a quality squad.
China have been beaten handily by Sweden and Spain in 2023, showing that they still have work to do to be competitive with the best in the world. They won’t stack up here.
Group D predictions:
- England-Q
- Denmark-Q
- China-X
- Haiti-X
Group E
| USA (Win/Qualify) |
Netherlands (Win/Qualify) |
Portugal (Win/Qualify) |
Vietnam (Win/Qualify) |
|
| BetMGM (USA) |
-400 / -10000 | +250 / -1000 | +2800 / +350 | +35000 / +10000 |
| Unibet (Australia) |
1.30 / 1.01 | 3.50 / 1.03 | 51.00 / 6.50 | 101.0 / 21.00 |
| SkyBet (UK) |
1/4, 1/66 | 3/1, 1/6 | 20/1, 11/4 | 500/1, 200/1 |
The United States should win this group, but it will be a good litmus test for how well they’re prepared to take on the top sides in this competition, as it’ll be a tough go for the tournament favourites.
The Netherlands are a quality side with the talent to reach the semifinals, but Portugal will also push the top teams, and if they spring an upset it could throw the group off balance.
Indeed, Portugal clawed back from an early 2-0 deficit against this Dutch team at the 2022 Euros, only to be downed 3-2 by a Danielle Van de Donk winner, and they’ve been beaten just once in 10 matches since the Euros concluded. That head-to-head matchup will probably decide Group E’s second qualifier, unless one of them spring an upset against the USA.
Group E prediction:
- USA-Q
- Netherlands-Q
- Portugal-X
- Vietnam-X
Group F
| France (Win/Qualify) |
Brazil (Win/Qualify) |
Jamaica (Win/Qualify) |
Panama (Win/Qualify) |
|
| BetMGM (USA) |
-200 / -20000 | +140 / -3000 | +3300 / +750 | +15000 / +2500 |
| Unibet (Australia) |
1.50 / 1.03 | 2.55 / 1.05 | 81.00 / 6.00 | 101.0 / 21.00 |
| SkyBet (UK) |
1/2, 1/50 | 6/4, 1/16 | 33/1, 6/1 | 250/1, 33/1 |
Marta’s last dance will be a fun one, and Brazil should make it through to the knockout stage, but it would also be really fun to see Bunny Shaw carry Jamaica to a shock qualifying spot.
Sadly, Jamaica have no defensive cohesion to speak of, and while Shaw may put on a show, it will almost surely be in a losing effort. It isn’t likely that there will be any major upsets in this group, and the final standings will be chalk.
Group F prediction:
- France-Q
- Brazil-Q
- Jamaica-X
- Panama-X
Group G
| Sweden (Win/Qualify) |
Italy (Win/Qualify) |
Argentina (Win/Qualify) |
South Africa (Win/Qualify) |
|
| BetMGM (USA) |
-550 / -5000 | +400 / -450 | +1600 / +350 | +5000 / +800 |
| Unibet (Australia) |
1.15 / 1.02 | 7.00 / 1.20 | 18.00 / 3.75 | 81.00 / 12.00 |
| SkyBet (UK) |
2/9, 1/25 | 4/1, 4/11 | 16/1, 11/4 | 40/1, 6/1 |
Sweden should cruise through this group, but second place is wide open. In fact, the race for the second knockout round berth in Group G might be the most fun battle of the entire group stage, as it features three decent-but-not-great teams who could each beat the other on any given day.
Italy are expected to go through, by a solid margin, but it won’t be easy and they’ve played just two fixtures this whole calendar year. Argentina, meanwhile, are unbeaten through their six matches this calendar year, including a 4-0 win in their final tune-up friendly against Peru.
South Africa are a side with talent, but their pre-World Cup tune-up result was extremely worrying, as they were blasted by Botswana 5-0 at home in early July. Still, just a year ago they won the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations and reached the final of the COSAFA Women’s Cup.
Group G prediction:
- Sweden-Q
- Argentina-Q
- Italy-X
- South Africa-X
Group H
| Germany (Win/Qualify) |
Colombia (Win/Qualify) |
South Korea (Win/Qualify) |
Morocco (Win/Qualify) |
|
| BetMGM (USA) |
-2500 / -20000 | +1100 / -125 | +1400 / +100 | +10000 / +1600 |
| Unibet (Australia) |
1.05 / 1.02 | 14.00 / 1.65 | 21.00 / 1.85 | 101.0 / 21.00 |
| SkyBet (UK) |
1/12, 1/100 | 11/1, 10/11 | 12/1, 1/1 | 100/1, 10/1 |
When Germany fell to Zambia in their pre-World Cup warmup, it set off alarm bells. The final result was 3-2, but both Germany goals were scored in extra time before Zambia’s incredible late winner.
It’s unlikely that Germany fall to similar disappointments at the World Cup, especially after the gritty performances they showed just a year ago at the Euros, but it’s definitely cause for concern. Their goal scoring duo of Alexandra Popp and Lea Schuller are both in questionable form heading into the tournament, especially the latter who was electric in World Cup qualifying, but has fallen off this past season with Bayern Munich.
There is the potential for multiple slip-ups in this group, as South Korea are a very underrated side, and Colombia are highly rated despite their recent dip in results. Still, this isn’t difficult enough to push Germany off their pedestal.
Prediction:
- Germany-Q
- South Korea-Q
- Morocco-X
- Colombia-X
Potential 2023 Women’s World Cup group stage upsets
Upsets are much harder to come by in the women’s game than the men’s, given the talent disparity that still exists between some countries, but we should see a slight increase this year in the amount of surprising results.
At least, that’s what USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski thinks. Speaking just before departing for the tournament, he told reporters, “The top 10 [teams in the world] have always been there. The world that is catching up is Vietnam, Wales, Zambia, Portugal. These are the countries that are catching up. The 7-0, 8-0 games are gone.”
That’s a nice sentiment, but there’s still a long way to go for the tier of countries he mentions. In the 2019 Women’s World Cup, all six Pot 1 teams advanced to the knockout stage, with the top four all winning their group, and only two teams ranked lower than 16th in the world reached the knockouts, both progressing via a third-place table finish, which no longer exists under the new format. So where will the shocks come from in this tournament?
Germany vs South Korea
Germany are a squad with real concerns, and it’s certainly plausible to see them fall to South Korea, who will be feeling good about themselves after blasting Zambia 5-2 and 5-0 in April, only to see Zambia turn around and beat Germany in a pre-World Cup friendly.
Italy vs Argentina
Another European team with upset potential is Italy, who were winless in their Euro group last summer and were less than impressive in pre-World Cup friendlies against Colombia and Morocco. They could be bested by Argentina, who boast a creative wizard in Estefania Banini and are primed for a spot in the knockout stage.
USA vs Netherlands / USA vs Portugal
Finally, the United States are tournament favourites, as two-time defending champions, but they have one of the toughest draws of any Pot 1 side given the presence of both the Netherlands and Portugal. They should advance without a problem, but it’s plausible to see them held or beaten by one of those two teams, especially the Dutch who have a healthy Lieke Martens and a Danielle van de Donk in great form.
Potential surprise teams in Women’s World Cup?
Aside from the others listed above, notably South Korea and Argentina, there are a few other teams to look out for in the group stage.
Jamaica
If Jamaica can figure out how to defend — an area in which they have continued to struggle in the past calendar year — then their impressive attacking talent can put them over the edge. Khadija “Bunny” Shaw hasn’t played for Jamaica in 2023, but she’s coming off an insane season with Manchester City and could provide an outlet for Jamaica to win a shootout over Brazil or even maybe France if the opponents start misfiring.
Canada
While Canada don’t bear the same teeth as they did during their run to the Olympic gold medal, it’s absolutely possible to see them take Australia down a notch. The hosts are sure to be riding the home fans in the early games, but they’ll meet Canada in the final group stage match once the high wears off, and that match could have upset potential.
New Zealand
Finally, New Zealand are in a great position to send their home fans into delirium. Norway and Switzerland are tough but beatable opponents, and it’s easy to see the co-hosts snatching an upset or two. Led by defensive veteran Ali Riley, who is still performing at a high level for Angel City FC at 35 years old, New Zealand also boasts some exciting young talent, including two collegiate prospects Gabi Rennie (Arizona State) and Ava Collins (St. John’s). Look for the Ferns to make the most of a soft Group A draw.
