Women's World Cup

The Womens World Cup has grown in profile over the years and proven to be an exciting spectacle on the sports calendar. Read up on everything you need to know about the women's football World Cup. Take a look at the favourites and Group G!

Previous Appearances: 8; Record: 40-6-4; Best Finish: Champion in 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019

Look out for: Alex Morgan, Sophia Smith, Crystal Dunn: 

The United States lost one of its best players, forward Mallory Swanson, to injury in an exhibition match against Ireland earlier this year. Swanson was the team's top scorer this year with seven goals. The U.S. team is a larger favourite this year than it was in 2019. The top-ranked team in the world has won all eight of its matches this year, allowing all of one goal.

Previous Appearances: 5; Record: 11-5-3; Best Finish: Third place in 2015

Look out for: Mary Earps, Millie Bright, Keira Walsh 

The Lionesses won the European Championship last year over Germany, giving England its first major women's tournament title. That victory positioned England as a favourite for this year's World Cup, but injuries and retirements have clouded the outlook.

Previous Appearances: 8; Record: 30-9-5; Best Finish: Champion in 2003 and 2007

Look out for: Alexandra Popp, Lena Oberdorf, Kathrin Hendrich 

The German national team comes into the tournament ranked No. 2 in the world. The Germans are the only team besides the United States to win more than one World Cup title. Germany won the 2016 Olympic gold medal, defeating Sweden in the final. Germany lost in extra time, 2-1, to England in the Euro 2022 final and was knocked out of the 2019 World Cup quarterfinals by Sweden. With a loss to Zambia earlier this year is somewhat concerning, could this still be a return to the top for the Germans?

Previous Appearances: 2; Record: 1-2-4; Best Finish: Round of 16 in 2019

Look out for: Alexia Putellas, Salma Paralluelo, Alba Redondo 

La Roja has had a tumultuous path to the World Cup. Alexia Putellas, the team's captain, recently returned from an ACL injury to help lead Barcelona to the Women's Champions League title. Putellas has 27 goals in 100 appearances for Spain. The team's only win in the World Cup came against South Africa in 2019, which helped move them out of the group stage.

Previous Appearances: 4; Record: 10-3-6; Best Finish: Semifinals in 2011 

Look out for: Eugenie Le Sommer, Grace Geyoro 

With 88 goals and counting, Eugenie Le Sommer is France's all-time leading scorer. Despite facing unrest that resulted in coach Corinne Diacre's dismissal in March, Les Bleues have shown strong performance this season with a 5-0-1 record in six games. Despite only surpassing the World Cup quarterfinals once in their four participations, they are making progress this year. France has never lost to Brazil, with six wins and five draws in 11 matches. It won its only match against Jamaica and has never faced Panama. 

Previous Appearances: 8; Record: 23-5-12; Best Finish: Runner-up in 2003

Look out for: Stina Blackstenius, Kosovare Asllani, Caroline Seger 

Sweden is a highly experienced team, led by team captain Caroline Seger with 233 appearances. Kosovare Asllani and Stina Blackstenius are the primary scorers for Sweden. Asllani has 44 goals in 170 international appearances, while Blackstenius has 28 goals in 88 appearances. Sweden won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, falling in the final to Canada. Against Italy, the Swedes are 3-2-1. Sweden has only played Argentina once, which resulted in a 1-0 victory in 2008. 

Look out for: Hildah Magaia, Jermaine Seoposenwe, Thembi Kgatlana 

Our pride and joy at this year's World Cup! South Africa won the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations with a 2-1 victory over Morocco. They are led by longtime coach Desiree Ellis, a former national team player who led the team to the World Cup four years ago and several Cup of Nations finals. This will be the first meeting for South Africa with Sweden, Argentina and Italy.

Previous Appearances: 3; Record: 6-5-1; Best Finish: Quarterfinals in 1991 and 2019

Look out for: Cristiana Girelli, Barbara Bonansea, Arianna Caruso 

Italy made a run to the quarterfinals at the 2019 World Cup, but Le Azzurre has since faltered. The Italian women went winless at Euro 2022 and lost two of three in the 2023 Arnold Clark Cup. Italy must strike a balance between prominent names from the 2019 World Cup run and younger talents. Arianna Caruso, 23, became the youngest woman to reach 100 appearances with Juventus and debuted with Le Azzurre immediately following the last World Cup. Italy has a 1-2-1 all-time record against Sweden. It will face South Africa and Argentina for the first time. 

Previous Appearances: 4; Record: 0-7-2; Best Finish: Group Stage in 2003, 2007 and 2019

Look out for: Estefania Banini, Vaina Correa, Yamila Rodriguez 

The appointment of German Portanova as coach in 2021 allowed for the return of Estefania Banini, who was among the players who declined call-ups under the previous coach, Carlos Borrello. Banini and Yamila Rodriguez guided their team to a third-place finish at the 2022 Copa America. Rodriguez finished as the tournament's leading scorer with six goals. Argentina's best World Cup showing was in 2019 when it held former champion Japan to a 0-0 draw and clinched a 3-3 draw against Scotland with a 94th-minute equalizer. This will be their first match against South Africa and their first time playing Italy.

Bet on the women's World Cup!