BRENTFORD, ENGLAND – APRIL 11: Sam Kerr of Australia celebrates her assist for Charlotte Grants goal during the Women’s International Friendly match between England and Australia at Gtech Community Stadium on April 11, 2023 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
The Women’s World Cup this summer is bound to be as competitive as ever The USWNT are favorites out of the gate but these teams could challenge them.
With club competitions over in Europe, the NWSL has just a few weeks left before its most talented players depart to represent their country in the Women’s World Cup. Two teams in the history of this tournament have gone back to back, but nobody has been able to string together three world championships in a row. That is what the United States will be aiming to do when they begin group play against Vietnam.
Even with the USWNT being the betting favorites, the women’s football world has worthy competitors from across the globe including ones coming off of a successful European championship. T
he margin of error in a competition like this is slim to none. One poor pass back, one turnover could mean elimination. July 20 marks the beginning of one of the most highly anticipated tournaments in World Cup history. On the back of the men’s World Cup in the fall in Qatar, this is an opportunity for some of the most talented athletes in the world to show why people should be paying attention to them.
Here are five teams that should be considered frontrunners heading into the end of July:
5 favorites to win the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup:
5. Australia
Manager: Tony Gustavsson
FIFA World Ranking: No. 10
The top-four contenders to hoist the World Cup in August seem to be pretty set. Of the teams knocking on the door, the hosts, Australia has to be at the top of the list. Spain has been going through it off the pitch while Sweden has not been impressive over the past few months. Tony Gustavsson’s team is not the most highly rated squad in this competition, but that home crowd will act as a 12th player on the pitch for them.
Sam Kerr, who is coming off another stellar season at Chelsea provides them an obvious goal-scoring threat while players like Emily van Egmond, and Steph Catley add stability in the midfield and backline. Just a few months ago, this team won the 2023 Cup of Nations for the first time since 2019. In April, they shocked England 2-0 in West London in a friendly, ending their 30-game unbeaten streak. The combination of homefield advantage, a world-class striker, and quality displays leading up to the World Cup make the Matildas contenders.
