A look at the U.S. Women’💧s National Team’s biggest competition 🎉at the World Cup:
England
FIFA rank: 4
Odds to win: +450
A final between the United States and England might be the showdown this moment of women’s soccer needs and deserves. Picture it: The USWNT, within reach of a historic three-peat, on one side. England, the ramp𝐆aging and reigning champions of Europe, on the other. Two hundred and fifty-odd years of revolutionary history in the background. Under the stewardship of head coach Sarina Wiegman, England announced itself as an in-form superpower by winning the 2022 Euros. The Lionesses enter the World Cup — and a dangerous Group D — depleted by injuries to attacking engine Fran Kirby, first-choice forward Beth Mead and captain Leah Williamson, but there’s certainly a seven-win roster here. Keira Walsh controls the game from the midfield. La🔯uren James, a 21-year-old dribbling blur, is the popular choice as the breakout star of the entire tournament.
Spain
FIFA rank: 6
Odds to win: 5/1
This is where the smart money is. Sꦯpain, the heavy favorite in Group C, looms as women’s soccer’s next great national team. With a core group borrowed from Barcelona, the most dominant club team in the world, Spain has a fluid, attack-minded setup. It starts with Alexia Putellas, who has been awarded the past two Ballons d’Or as the world’s top player and recently returned from a knee injury. Add in the wondrous Aitana Bonmati, with Irene Paredes anchoring the defense. At the 2019 World Cup, the USWNT squeaked past a not-quite-ready Spain in the Round of 16 on a late Megan Rapinoe penalty. Last O🃏ctober, Spain beat the USWNT, 2-0 … with their B-team. Why the B-team? Several of the team’s top players were absent in an attempted mutiny against coach Jorge Vilda. Now they’re (mostly) back and Vilda is still in charge. Could lingering resentments be Spain’s undoing?
Germany
FIFA rank: 2
Odds to win: 8/1
There’s pedigree and plenty of talent on the side of the 2003 and 2007 World Cup winners (Germany’s own bid for a three-peat ended in the 2011 quarterfinals). An inviting slate of Group H opponents (Morocco, Colombia, South Korea) will help get their tournament in gear. But Germany’s form since a crushing loss to England in extra time in the 2022 Euros final has been suspect. In its final tuneup friendlies, Germany barely beat Vietnam thꦏen was stunned by 77th-ranked Zambia, 3-2. Alexandra Popp, a 32-year-💎old playing in her fourth World Cup, is the primary goal-scorer. Lena Oberdorf, a 21-year-old midfield wrecking ball, is a superstar in the making.
Australia
FIFA rank: 10
Odds to win: 9/1
The host Matildas will enjoy a massive home-field advantage. They’re led by c🥂aptain and tournament poster woman Sam Kerr, who remains the world’s most dangerous striker. A major tournament trophy with underdog Australia would lift her into the sport’s pantheon. But she won’t hav⛄e to do it alone. Caitlin Foord buttresses the attack and Ellie Carpenter can create havoc from the fullback position. Mary Fowler, 19, has been touted as the team’s next big thing. Australia is 0-2-2 in its past four matches against the USWNT, and coach Tony Gustavsson was a longtime Team USA assistant.
France
FIFA rank: 5
Odds to win: 11/1
A brief list of insane things tha♔t have happened around France’s squad in the past year-plus: Kheira Hamraoui, at one point a member of the national team, was dragged from a car and bashed in the legs Nancy Kerrigan-style, and her club teammate Aminata Diallo was charged with masterminding the attack; captain Wendie Renard briefly quit the team in protest of the team’s working conditions; widely loathed coach Corinne Diacre w🌱as fired and replaced by veteran hand Herve Renard (no relation). And this is one of the tournament favorites! There’s a really good veteran team here once you get past the drama, with Renard back patrolling in defense and Kadidiatou Diani and Eugenie Le Sommer leading the forward line.
Sweden
FIFA rank: 3
Odds to win: 20/1
Don’t sleep on Sweden, a perennial contender at big tournaments with a particular recent history of tormenting the United States. See: Sweden’s penalty-kick win in the 2016 Olympics quarterfinals that prompted a Hope Solo meltdown, or a 3-0 shellacking in the Olympics opener i♋n 2021 that sent the USWNT into a tailspin. Stina Blackstenius, Fridolina Rolfö and Kosovare Asllani provide the scoring punch, and Sweden always can be counted on to be organized and disciplined defensively. Group G is theirs to lose.
Brazil
FIFA rank: 8
Odds to win: 25/1
Brazil is the sentimental favorite thanks to the presence of the legendary Marta in her sixth (and final, right?) World Cu♏p appearance. The 37-year-old GOAT, a six-time FIFA World Player of the Year and the record-holder for men or women with 17 World Cup goals, has never won the big one. Shades of Lionel Messi in last year’s Men’s World Cup, even if Marta is no longer a 90-minute dynamo. Brazil, coached by former USWNT b🧸oss Pia Sundhage, isn’t lacking for creative options: NWSL stars Debinha and Kerolin are the names to watch. Unlucky to be sharing Group F with France.
Canada
FIFA rank: 7
Odds to win: 33/1
There’s a sense that Canada, on top of the world after winning Olympic gold two years ago, might be out of steam. The USWNT had no trouble with their northern neighbors when they met at the SheBelieves Cup in February, and Canada has won only one of its last five games. Host Australia awaits in Group B. There are injury concerns up and down Canada’s lineup, and prolonged fighting with the country’s scandal-plagued federation has appeared to take a toll on the field. Can they summon one more run? Christine Sinclair, who leads all active players with 190 international goals, still has game at age 40. Center back Vanessa Gilles takes no prisoners, and Kailen Sheridan is an elite shot-stopperꦍ in net.
