Wednesday marks exactly one year out from the start of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, which will be cohosted by Australia and New Zealand. It’s the first time the event will be hosted by two countries, with Australia’s matches spread across five cities and six stadiums and New Zealand’s across four cities and stadiums. The Football Ferns and Matildas (who automatically qualify as hosts and will be in different groups) will kick things off with matches on opening day next July, but plenty else remains up in the air.
This year’s field expands from 24 to 32, and with 19 teams already qualified (including the reigning world champs), there are 13 spots still up for grabs. One of those clinched berths belongs to the U.S. women’s national team, which will be going for an unprecedented three-peat and a fifth title overall.
While it will take until February to know the full field (following an intercontinental playoff for the final three berths), the tournament draw will still be held this October. That draw will provide a lot more clarity on the paths each country must take to lift the trophy, but in the meantime, there’s plenty of story lines to follow over the next 12 months that will shape how things play out down under.
