The 2023 Women’s World Cup will take place in New Zealand and Australia, the first time we will have two host nations for this wonderful event. From July 20 until the Final on August 20, football fans across the world will be treated to a spectacle that has never disappointed in the past.
In 2019, the USWNT reigned supreme again for the fourth time, defeating the Netherlands rather convincingly in the Final. Will they three-peat as winners in 2023? Or will another great team rise above them to capture the coveted trophy?
Before the tournament begins next month, let’s rank the top 10 most likely teams to win the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
11. Canada
Canada have a TON of experience, and nobody should be sleeping on them as World Cup title contenders. And when it comes to experience, nobody can quite measure up to striker Christine Sinclair, who is still going strong at the age of 40 and has even changed her game to become even more of a playmaker to help the young players around her.
Sinclair will have plenty of attacking talent to play off of. Arsenal-bound Benfica forward Cloé Lacasse is one of the most underrated and consistent all-around forwards in world football. The 22-year-old Jordyn Huitema is a monster off the ball and looks one step away from becoming a true superstar.
Defensively, Canada may actually be at their strongest, with Vanessa Gilles standing out as one of the world’s best center backs, while Ashley Lawrence is one of the world’s best fullbacks.
And in the midfield, who can forget about Juventus standout Julia Grosso? She isn’t just one of the best young midfielders in the world but one of the best, period. Grosso could be the game-changer for Canada, but looking at the rest of the midfield, it may be a tall order for her to lead Canada to winning it all this year.
10. Netherlands
The Netherlands were the runners-up at the last World Cup, but they are in a tough spot this year. Superstar striker Vivianne Miedema, the most prolific goal-scorer in the country’s history (and in the FA WSL’s), will miss the tournament with a torn ACL she suffered in the middle of the Champions League campaign.
While the Dutch side has so much talent outside of Miedema, the same can be said for all the other teams in this year’s tournament. As good as this midfield is – and keep an eye on young defensive midfielder Damaris Egurrola as the best of this star-studded bunch – the attack may have a hard time scoring goals without Miedema.
9. Japan
Japan are one of the traditional powers of the Women’s World Cup, as they are one of only four countries to have ever won the tournament. They also came second to the USWNT in 2015.
But it feels like Japan just don’t have the star power to win it all this year. Like the Netherlands sans Miedema, Japan don’t seem to have the attacking firepower on paper that clubs like the USWNT, France, and England do.
Japan are usually good for a breakout star or two, and they always play with a strong level of cohesion as a team. With Roma duo Saki Kumagai and Moeka Minami anchoring the defense in front of Ayaka Yamashita, Japan won’t be easy to score against.
8. Sweden
Sweden came in third place at the last World Cup, making a “podium” finish for the fourth time in their history. They tend to be a great tournament team, always causing trouble, most infamously to some of the great USWNT squads. Sweden just have that tenacity about them, buoyed by the tireless work rate of versatile star attacker Kosovare Asllani.
This year, Sweden have a strong squad that should not be written off and can cause any team in this tournament trouble, but they may lack that killer edge in front of goal. Defensively, Arsenal-bound PSG star Amanda Ilestedt is one to watch alongside Bayern-bound Chelsea star Magdalena Eriksson (one of the captains), but this unit still doesn’t seem as strong as the one we saw in 2019.
While Sweden is more of a “sleeper” team than outright favorite this year, they, like Japan, have a way of exceeding expectations by playing wonderfully as a team.
7. Brazil
Brazil have some of the most exciting players in the entire tournament. Marta will be ready for her sixth tournament as the greatest player of all time, but the real superstars for Brazil may be two NWSL standouts in Kerolin and Debinha.
An MVP-caliber player for years in the United States, Debinha should be no stranger to most fans of women’s football, though there are still likely quite a few who do not understand how effective and electric the goal-scoring playmaker is. Kerolin, meanwhile, has been even better to start the 2023 season as one of the quiet breakout stars of 2022, already scoring 8 goals in 12 matches for the North Carolina Courage.
Elsewhere, Brazil have another one of the young breakout stars of the current NWSL season in Marta’s Orlando Pride teammate Adriana. Versatile forward Andressa is coming off a decisive season for Serie A champions Roma while Barcelona’s 24-year-old Geyse is as talented as anyone in this stacked attack.
The problem is that Brazil have serious questions in defense, maybe even moreso than in previous tournaments. This does not feel like a complete, balanced squad. They should still have a legitimate shot at winning the World Cup, but they are not one of the true top five favorites.
6. Norway
Missing from Norway, as we saw at the European Championships last season, is consistency, because on paper, they have as much talent as any team in this tournament.
Wingers Guro Reiten and Caroline Graham Hansen are very different players, but they are two of the absolute best on the planet. Reiten’s chance creation and set pieces can change the entire complexion of a match in a mere instant. Meanwhile, CGH, as we saw at the last World Cup and in this past season’s Champions League, is the definition of an electrifying game-changer. Her dribbling skills can turn a game on its head.
Norway even have a Ballon d’Or winner between them in Ada Hegerberg at striker. She returns to the squad for the World Cup after bravely sitting out the last one due to sexist and inequitable from the federation.
Of course, Norway are so much more than this incredible attacking trident. Arsenal midfielder Frida Maanum played as well as any midfielder in the world this past season, while Chelsea defender Maren Mjelde (the captain) is one of the world’s best. If Norway can avoid making silly mistakes and play to their ruthlessness every match, they have a real shot at winning the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
5. Spain
The Spanish federation has serious issues. Not only have we seen the ugliness and incompetence of this organization over the years at addressing racism, but the RFEF has also been disgustingly misogynistic in how it has treated the Spanish women’s national team. 15 players resigned in protest of manager Jorge Vilda, who remains the manager, and the RFEF’s response was to antagonize those players. Some of those players have returned to the squad for the World Cup, but others are still holding out because of the clear mistreatment.
Even without global superstars like Mapi León (the world’s best center back), Patri Guijarro (the game-changer of the last Champions League Final), and Claudia Pina (averaged 1.31 goal contributions per 90 in Liga F), Spain have as much talent as any team in the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
The problem is that even with ridiculously talented footballers like Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí, it is hard to pick a team with such a terrible manager and federation as champions of the world when there are other tremendous teams.
4. Germany
Germany are consistently one of the best teams in the World Cup and European Championship tournaments, having reached the final of the latter competition in 2022. With the Frauen Bundesliga kicking things up and clubs like Eintracht Frankfurt growing in interest and the young talents they develop, this country is stocked with both great veteran players and up-and-coming stars.
At every level of the squad, Germany have world-class players. That includes established Bundesliga stars like Carolin Simon and Kathrin Hendrich who do not get nearly the credit they deserve for being among the very best at their positions. Meanwhile, everyone knows how Lena Oberdorf, Alexandra Popp, and Sara Däbritz are after standout international displays.
When it comes to exciting talents who can capture hearts at the World Cup, keep an eye on Lea Schüller, Lina Magull (a breakout star of the 2019 World Cup), Klara Bühl, Jule Brand, and Nicole Anyomi. The last of those names isn’t as well-known, but she is a tremendous young talent who provided 12 goal contributions for Eintracht in 2022/23.
3. France
The opposite of Sweden, France are a unit that routinely disappoint at the international level, falling apart in key matches. They did so at the last World Cup and the last European Championships. But there is reason to believe they could turn the corner, as they finally fired Corinne Diacre after the retirements of their best players – which were as a direct result of the incompetence of the federation and Diacre’s abusive management.
France have such a talented squad. From top to bottom, this squad has an argument for being the world’s best. They have one of the best goalkeepers in the world in Juventus’ Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, Wendie Renard anchoring a balanced defense alongside the no-nonsense Élise De Almeida, a midfield with an enviable collection of different profiles, and an attack spearheaded by superstar Kadidiatou Diani and the legendary Eugénie Le Sommer.
They have it all. France can create chances out wide, they can control the midfield, and they can take their chances well. The fact that they are third on this list is more of a testament to the quality of the two teams above them than anything else. This World Cup is just loaded with quality.
2. England
England won the last major international tournament, taking home the European Championships over Germany after an incredible tournament. Like the Netherlands, they will be without another Arsenal superstar who suffered a torn ACL, Beth Mead. While losing the best player of 2022 in both the European Championships and arguably at the club level is a huge blow, England can withstand that loss better than most.
Because England have unearthed so many great talents over the years. Chloe Kelly, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Katie Robinson, and Euros standout Alessia Russo are five of the very best young attacking players in the world. That England can call on all of them in the same squad is ridiculous. The technical level of these five players is outrageous in terms of their dribbling, chance creation, and finishing.
Behind this attack, England have Keira Walsh and Katie Zelem capable of controlling the midfield with prime creative influences like Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone. Mary Earps, arguably the world’s best goalkeeper of 2022, anchors a defense that may not be the strongest in the tournament but should be “good enough”.
1. USWNT
England have an incredible squad, but the defending champions of the world are still the favorites. The USWNT have won the most World Cups – and the last two – because they get the job done. There’s no doubt that the United States have the best pedigree and experience in the tournament, with players like Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe still capable of producing at the absolute highest level. Morgan, after all, was one of the best players in the NWSL last season for expansion side San Diego Wave.
Every year, the USWNT selection is met with controversy, and it’s hard to fault the manager for the picks. Because, look, it’s hard making cuts with the overwhelming amount of talent the United States has within its own league and abroad. There is a balance in the squad among players in their prime, quality veterans like Rapinoe with championship experience, and young players like Alyssa Thompson who have the talent to win the Ballon d’Or one day.
Becky Sauerbrunn’s injury hurts the USWNT’s defense and costs them one of the most important leaders of the World Cup, but with Naomi Girma and some incredible fullbacks, the defense is still one of the best in the tournament. It is, comparatively, a weakness when looking at the sheer talent they have in the midfield and attack.
Seriously, how do you stop a team that has Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman in the attack? Or the duo of Lindsey Horan and Savannah Demelo doing the work of five players in two?
USWNT fans may be worried about a possible decline, but until proven otherwise, they are always the favorites in the World Cup. Because time after time, they have found ways to elevate their game against any opponent.
Watch out for Smith as a Player of the Tournament candidate as she looks to stake her claim with the likes of Putellas and Aitana as the world’s best.
