Tournament Overview
The summer calendar for global football remains a pivotal stage for the sport, even as shifts in the calendar occur. In 2023, the Women’s World Cup returned to a July–August window, taking place across Australia and New Zealand. The event runs from July 20, when the host nations kick off the tournament, through August 20, culminating in the grand final. The opening match is scheduled for 09:00 on the first day, with New Zealand clashing against Norway, one of the traditional title contenders. A few hours later, at 12:00, Australia meets Ireland.
The following day, July 21, marks Spain’s debut. The Spaniards face Costa Rica at 9:30 in the morning, while earlier fixtures feature Nigeria against Canada at 16:00 and the Philippines against Switzerland at 19:00. By July 26, Spain is set to play Zambia at 9:30. The group stage wraps up its initial round on July 31 with Spain meeting Japan at 9:00, a matchup many consider one of the toughest in the group. This schedule highlights the blend of early favorites and rising teams that define the event.
Tournament Format
The tournament opens with 32 teams divided into eight groups of four. Each group sees teams playing three matches, facing every other team once. The group phase spans from July 20 to August 3. The groups are laid out as follows:
Group A encompasses New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, and Switzerland.
Group B includes Australia, Canada, Nigeria, and Ireland.
Group C features Spain, Costa Rica, Japan, and Zambia.
Group D brings together China, Denmark, England, and Haiti.
Group E consists of the Netherlands, Portugal, the United States, and Vietnam.
Group F contains Brazil, France, Jamaica, and Panama.
Group G pairs Argentina, Italy, South Africa, and Sweden.
Group H brings Colombia, Germany, South Korea, and Morocco together.
Following the completion of the group stage, teams enjoy a brief rest before resuming with the knockout rounds. The round of 16 features two matches daily across August 5–8, and the quarterfinals are scheduled for August 11 and 12. The schedule then accelerates toward the latter stages, with the semifinals planned for August 15–16 and the grand final on August 20. If momentum holds, the host nation Australia’s continent-spanning event will crown a new world champion in this installment of the competition, drawing fans from Canada, the United States, and beyond. [Citation: FIFA World Cup 2023]