Just 30 days ago there were 32 nations lining up in the draw, 63 matches to play across two countries, nine cities hosting 10 stadiums and 736 players with one common dream: win the 2023 Women’s World Cup, hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Now there are just two countries and one game left to decide who wins the greatest prize in women’s football: England v Spain in the World Cup final in Sydney tonight at 8pm. The match will be played at Stadium Australia with live sites all over the nation.
How to watch the final
The Guardian has had you covered all tournament and will see it through to the end, with a live blog of the final followed by match reports, player ratings, widespread analysis from former players and expert pundits and a multiplicity of features.
The match will be played at Stadium Australia, but if you haven’t been lucky enough to snare a ticket there are live sites all over the nation. The game is also on free-to-air via Seven, where the viewing figures – and record ratings – have been nothing short of incredible.
How they line up: England v Spain
For England’s Lionesses, this is a World Cup final 10 years in the making. Victory tonight would mean “ecstasy and possibility” and a long overdue recognition in the public consciousness and, with it, the funding that deservedly should follow.
For Spain, the road to the World Cup final has been riven by division and controversy. Before the tournament even began they lost a dozen of their best players to internal revolt and off the field there were bigger, fiercer battles being waged too.
Players (and officials) to watch
England goalkeeper Mary Earps was snubbed by Nike and almost retired; now she’s lining up in a World Cup final.
Spain’s teen sensation Salma Paralluelo hit the winner that won the quarter-final over Netherlands and has taken the tournament by storm.
Senior Lioness Lucy Bronze grew up on windswept Holy Island, but her god-given talent now has her on the verge of football immortality.
Spain’s midfielder Aitana Bonmatí has broken down many barriers in her path to this game, but tonight is certainly the biggest.
On the sideline will be England manager Sarina Wiegman, the calm and calculating Dutchwoman who has masterfully piloted England’s run.
And in the middle of it all is the remarkable referee Alyssa Nichols, the youngest Black woman to earn a Fifa referee badge.
The Matildas’ waltz is over
After capturing the heart of the nation, Australia’s Matildas finished a spectacular run at the tournament last night, vanquished 0-2 by Sweden in the third-place playoff. It brings to an end one of the greatest journeys in Australia sport, one that brought football to life for multiple generations, attracted fans of all ilks and even secured some much-needed funding for women’s sport and the grassroots of the game.
After wins over Ireland and Olympic champions Canada, the Matildas finished first in their group before they moved into the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Denmark.
The Matildas qualified for Australia’s first-ever World Cup semi-final with an epic 0-0 (aet. 7-7 penalty) shootout victory over France, before going down 1-3 to England in the semi, though not before Sam Kerr scored one of the goals of the tournament.
If you want to reflect on the Matildas’ glorious journey and why they are not playing tonight, but nonetheless still bask in Australia’s history-making run …
The Matildas’ journey through the 2023 Women’s World Cup
Australia 4-0 Canada – 31 July, Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
Australia 0-0 France (aet, 7-6 on pens) – 12 August, Brisbane Stadium
Australia 1-3 England – 16 August, Stadium Australia, Sydney
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Australia 0-2 Sweden – 19 August, Brisbane Stadium
And if you’d like to reflect on 2023 World Cup as a whole, catch up via episodes of the Women’s Football Weekly podcast and support the women’s game into the future by subscribing to our twice-weekly Moving the Goalposts newsletter.
