With just a few days to go until the ninth installment of the FIFA Women's World Cup, the anticipation for fans of the women's game has been growing exponentially. This upcoming tournament has already set several records even before the first match, and is sure to set many more over the next few weeks.
32 teams will be featuring in this summer's competition, but of course, while theoretically, all 32 do have a shot at the title, it's safe to say that there are a handful of teams who are miles ahead of the rest and thus are among those many pundits view have a realistic opportunity to clinch the coveted prize.
So, with that in mind, let's have a look at who some of the top teams are at the upcoming 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
*Note - teams are not ranked in any particular order*
USWNT
Titles won: 4 (1991, 1999, 2015, 2019)
Naturally, one can't talk about potential title winners without mentioning the USWNT. The Stars and Stripes have won the title four times - more than any other side - and come into this competition as the two-time reigning champions after clinching it in 2015 and 2019. While the most successful team in women's football have seen some key players, such as Carli Lloyd and Abby Wambach hang up their boots, they still do have some key veterans, namely Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe to steer the ship.
Team USA are in a pretty comfortable quartet, with only the Netherlands looking like their real challengers for top spot in Group E. Portugal could cause some problems, but the general feeling is that given that the USWNT's experience at this level - as opposed to Portugal, who are making their debut - should give them the added edge to get through their group without much fuss.
Should they win Group E, the USWNT will face whoever finishes second in Group G - a quartet comprised of Sweden, Italy, Argentina, and South Africa. With Sweden expected to win that group, it's likely the USWNT will take on the Azzurre - or possibly Argentina, if they can stage an upset. Either way, things should be pretty straightforward until they get to the quarter-finals - and that's where it could get a lot trickier.
Germany
Titles won: 2 (2003, 2007)
Germany are the second-most decorated side in FIFA Women's World Cup history, with two titles won in 2003 and 2007. Led by Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, die DFB-Frauen made it to the Women's EURO final last summer, where, despite missing star striker Alexandra Popp due to injury, they caused quite a bit for tournament hosts and eventual winners England.
With Popp back recovered and fully re-integrated into the squad, Germany are expected to cruise through a group that includes Colombia, debutants Morocco, and South Korea for company. Although they come into this competition having shockingly lost to Zambia, who are one of eight debut sides at this summer's competition, even the best teams in the world can have an off day and that loss isn't expected to have much impact on Germany's ambitions at this year's World Cup.
A final four berth should be the bare minimum for this Germany side who are clicking into gear at just the right time, but as we've seen, football is truly unpredictable. Will they be able to get their hands on their third title and deny the USWNT from completing a historic "three-peat" in the process?
England
Titles won: 0
Best-ever finish: Third place (2015)
Last summer, England made sure that it finally came home as the Lionesses roared to victory in the Women's EURO competition. That marked the first ever continental title for England women's side, and now, fresh off that historic achievement, they will hope to follow that up with success at this year's World Cup.
Although England's group stage matches shouldn't trouble them too much, with Denmark, China, and debutants Haiti as the other members of Group D, Sarina Wiegman's team have been hit hard by injuries. Skipper Leah Williamson, as well as star duo Beth Mead and Fran Kirby, have all been ruled out of the tournament, leaving huge gaps in Wiegman's preferred starting XI. So while England may have just enough to get out of their group - and possibly as winners - there are major questions as to whether this changed squad will be able to get the job done when things get tougher in the knockout rounds.
France
Titles won: 0
Best-ever finish: Fourth place (2011)
France's journey to the 2023 FIFA World Cup was marred by some serious off the pitch drama, but with that resolved and a new coach in the form of Herve Renard, Les Bleues can now turn their attention back to what really counts: football. Although they are missing two key players with both Amandine Henry and Marie-Antoinette Katoto both out with injuries, fellow star player Eugenie Le Sommer has returned to the fold after issues with prior coach Corrine Diacre. In addition, Katoto's teammate Kadidiatou Diani has more than stepped up to fill the shoes of her colleague when it comes to goalscoring, both for France and for PSG.
Les Bleues will take on Jamaica, Panama, and Brazil in Group F. Of these three teams, Brazil are the only obvious one who will pose a challenge for top spot, but should France top their quartet, it looks like they should be able to avoid any of the other real heavyweights until probably the quarter-finals or the semi's.
Sweden
Titles won: 0
Best-ever finish: Runners-up (2003)
Currently ranked third by FIFA - only behind the USWNT and Germany - Sweden are just a handful of sides to have featured at every single World Cup since its inception in 1991. The Blågult have historically performed well at World Cups, save for 2007 when they were shockingly dumped out in the group stage. Last summer saw them reach the semi-finals at the Women's EURO competition and they have won two Olympic Gold medals (2016, 2020), but unfortunately, have come up short at the Women's World Cup.
Peter Gerhardsson's team have been placed in a pretty comfortable group. With Italy, who flopped miserably at the Women's EURO, Argentina, who have shown signs of improvement, but have still struggled on the bigger stage, and South Africa for company in Group G, the Blågult are expected to top their quartet without much fuss. However, their opponent in the round of 16 will be either the Netherlands or the USWNT, who just so happen to be the two teams who contested the 2019 Women's World Cup final.
The general feeling is that this could be Sweden's chance to finally clinch the coveted title that has eluded them over the decades. Will they be able to seize their chance or will they falter once again?
Australia
Titles won: 0
Best-ever finish: Round of 16 (2019)
Australia are serving as co-hosts of the upcoming World Cup, and that home pitch advantage could give the Matildas a slight boost. Although they've never progressed beyond the round of 16, Australia are in excellent form coming into this competition, with just one loss in their last six matches. Along the way, they've beaten England, France, and Spain, and have avoided the likes of the USWNT and other European heavyweights in a group that contains Canada, Nigeria, and debutants Ireland.
Depending on whether Australia finish top or have to settle for a runners-up berth, they could face a rematch against England in the round of 16, or instead take on Denmark, but with everything appearing to click for them at just the right time, this summer could see them achieve a new milestone and top their performance from four years ago.
Netherlands
Titles won: 0
Best-ever finish: Runners-up (2019)
Four years ago, the Netherlands recorded their best ever finish, finishing as runners-up to tournament winners USA in the final. It was an impressive achievement for the Oranje, especially as they were only making their second ever appearance in a Women's World Cup. Now under the tutelage of Andries Jonker after Mark Parsons was sacked following a poor showing at the Women's EUROs, the Netherlands will hope to make another deep run in their third World Cup competition.
However, they will have to do it without star striker Vivianne Miedema, who ruptured her ACL last year and has been ruled out for the long haul. The Netherlands will have a chance to get revenge on the USWNT, as they will face them in the group stages in what should be an interesting battle for top spot in Group E. Portugal will look to also cause some problems, but the overall consensus is that it will be the Netherlands and the USWNT who will qualify for the round of 16. The question is as to who will clinch top spot and thus receive an "easier" draw and who will have to face a tougher opponent in the round of 16 after finishing second.
Spain
Titles won: 0
Best-ever finish: Round of 16 (2019)
There has been a lot of hype about Spain, especially thanks to the brilliance of players like Alexia Putellas, but La Roja, like France, were also facing a lot of off-the-pitch issues prior to this competition. Over a dozen players decided to withdraw from selection in protest as they hoped to force the country's football federation to sack coach Jorge Vilda. It backfired, as Vilda is still in charge and will be the one to lead the team at the upcoming World Cup, meaning that many of the protesting players, including Putellas's Barcelona colleague Aitana Bonmati, had to put their issues behind them and move on.
However, two of the players who did join the protest, namely Patri Guijarro and Mapi Leon, refused to reverse their stances and thus were not included in the squad. Both are integral parts of the team's starting XI, and as such, it remains to be seen if Spain, due to infighting between the players, the coach, and the administration, will be able to fully commit to this upcoming competition. They have been placed in a favorable group, with Japan, Costa Rica, and Zambia joining them in Group C, which means a knockout round spot is on the cards - but can they go further than 2019, which saw them eliminated in the round of 16?
Brazil
Titles won: 0
Best-ever finish: Runners-up (2007)
Given the presence of players like Marta, widely regarded as one of the best female players of all time, as well as the fact that they by far are the best team in South America, it's quite surprising, then, that Brazil have not been able to translate some of that success on the bigger stage. To date, the South American giants' best result was a runners-up medal back in 2007, and Pia Sundhage's team have been somewhat inconsistent coming into this competition.
Although they put up a good fight against England in the first ever women's Finalissima competition, with the game being decided on penalties, they failed to make the grade at the recent SheBelieves Cup in February after losing to both Canada and the USWNT. Of the teams in their World Cup quartet, France naturally present the biggest challenge, but bigger concerns await Brazil in the knockout rounds should they, as expected, make it to the round of 16. If they can win their group, they will avoid Germany (at least for now) and will take on a much easier opponent in either Colombia, Korea, or Morocco - provided that, of course, they don't slip up against a Jamaica side led by Manchester City ace Khadija "Bunny" Shaw.
Canada
Titles won: 0
Best-ever finish: Fourth place (2003)
Canada come into this competition having won the last Olympic Games but have been in awful form since the start of the current year. With just one win in their last five games, there are concerns that Bev Priestman's team, who are skippered by the evergreen Christine Sinclair, just may not have what it takes to successfully navigate their way through a potentially tricky quartet. Canada will have to take on Australia, Nigeria, and Ireland in Group B. Of the three opponents, Australia look to be their toughest opponents, while Nigeria do have some players who can cause problems on a good day. However, if Canada can get a win in their group stage opener against Nigeria, which kicks off on Thursday, July 20th, they just may be able to set themselves up well to get out of their group.
It will be interesting to see if Canada can shake off their pre-tournament funk. Depending on how they do in Group B, they will face likely either England, who have been hit hard by injuries, or possibly Denmark, who are making their first appearance at a World Cup in 16 years.
Norway
Titles won: 1 (1995)
Norway didn't exactly cover themselves in glory at last summer's EURO competition, where they were humiliated 8-0 by England as the Lionesses ultimately went on to win the title. That being said, they still do have some good players, especially in attack, with players like Guro Reiten, Caroline Graham Hansen, and Ada Hegerberg all well-known names for fans of the women's game.
The team have also undergone a tactical change, with former midfielder Hege Riise taking over from Martin Sjögren, but overall Norway's form leading up to this competition hasn't been anything to write home about. Their sole wins in 2023 were against Uruguay and Portugal, and neither were convincing results, while they were beaten by Denmark and Spain (2-0, 4-2), while drawing France and Sweden (0-0, 3-3).
One saving grace, perhaps, for Norway at this summer's competition is their group. They will open their 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup campaign against New Zealand, before facing Switzerland and then debutants Philippines. It's safe to say that Norway should win their last group stage match without much fuss, but they obviously will want to get the (proverbial) ball rolling against a New Zealand side who have also been in foul form ahead of this competition.
Where can I catch the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup?
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