The 2023 Women’s World Cup will be the first 32-team event of its kind, and qualifying for a trip to Australia and New Zealand next summer is unique all over the world. In only one region, Europe, there’s a dedicated qualifying tournament solely for the competition, where 11 nations will directly punch their tickets.
In Asia and Africa, their regional cup competitions—Asian Cup and Cup of Nations—double as qualifying, with finishers of a certain tier also booking their World Cup trips. In Concacaf and South America, the new W Championship and Copa América Femenina, respectively, double as World Cup and Olympic qualifying, while in Oceania, qualifying beyond co-host New Zealand is limited to one tournament, the OFC Women’s Nations Cup, whose winner is only guaranteed a place in a new 10-team intercontinental playoff.
That tournament, used as a test event for New Zealand in February 2023, will offer a last chance for three more nations to fill out the biggest Women’s World Cup field ever and fully set the course for next summer. The draw for the ninth Women’s World Cup will be held Oct. 22, so, just like on the men’s side this year, the pots will contain placeholders for the three successful playoff teams, and all eight groups will officially be filled a few months later.
