Which two teams will reach the final – and who will win?
There are several really strong contenders, including England, but key players missing through injury make them less of a force. Australia will be galvanised by the home support and with a prolific goalscorer like Sam Kerr up top they could meet the USA, who I expect to top Group E, in the final, despite the reigning champions being a side in transition. Anita Asante
Australia v USA and I am backing the holders to have too much once again, so USA to win. Karen Carney
USA and England – the US always find a way while England have the experience of winning a major tournament under their belts. Both are suffering from injuries but have the strength in depth that’s needed. USA to win though. Sophie Downey
England and Spain to meet in the final. England to win. Jonas Eidevall
Spain v Brazil. This would qualify as some level of surprise on each side of the draw and Brazil would need to navigate their way past a host of European giants to get there. Talent is ample for both teams. In Spain’s case, they have to overcome dysfunction at the federation level and in Brazil’s case they finally have the necessary support around them. After decades of what-ifs, Brazil get the job done in Marta’s final World Cup. Jeff Kassouf
Australia to beat the USA in the final. Home advantage can be a double-edged sword if there is still a sceptical public to be convinced. But this Australian squad have already won the battle for hearts and minds at home and go into the tournament with a sizzling momentum. Jonathan Liew
Australia will face either Spain or the USA in the final. The Matildas will win, on penalties. Kieran Pender
I just can’t miss an opportunity to back the Matildas to go all the way on home soil. And for them to beat the world No 1 USA in the final would be the most glorious of triumphs. Joey Peters
Four-time champions USA and co-hosts Australia. The new kids on the block will win it. Why? Sam Kerr. Suzanne Wrack
Who will win the Golden Boot?
One of the best things about this tournament is the volume of exciting attacking players. Many of us would probably put money on Sam Kerr but USA’s Sophia Smith also has the potential to have an incredible breakthrough tournament so I wouldn’t count her out either. But it would be fun to see Zambia’s Racheal Kundananji show why she was one of the top scorers in the main European leagues with Madrid CFF. AA
Sam Kerr. Her record for club and country speaks for itself. KC
Sam Kerr – the Australian captain is on home soil and made for the biggest moments. Her movement and ability to find a goal when it matters most is second to none. SD
Sophia Smith, USA. JE
Debinha. Brazil’s run will require brilliance from the player now serving as the focal point. Kerolin should carry that scoring load as well, but Debinha will thrive at this World Cup in her prime. She’ll win the award by racking up some goals in the group stage before adding some important strikes in the knockout rounds to carry her team to the final. JK
Alex Morgan is the betting favourite but also a rotation risk. No such qualms over Sam Kerr. JL
Sam Kerr. Who else? KP
Given her prolific scoring record for club and country, it is little surprise that I’m backing Sam Kerr. If the Matildas are to go deep at this tournament, Australia’s captain will score a bucketful of goals. JP
It will probably be someone like Sophia Smith or Alex Morgan putting half a dozen past Vietnam, or Alex Popp against Colombia, South Korea and Morocco. SW
Who will be the surprise team of the tournament?
Brazil or Norway. Brazil have looked solid defensively in their warm-up games and have very talented young stars such as Geyse and Kerolin mixed with the experience of Debinha and of course Marta. As for Norway they have Ada Hegerberg, Caroline Graham Hansen and Guro Reiten leading the line with in-form attacking midfielder Frida Maanum supporting in behind them. All they need is that chemistry to click. AA
Australia. They are a good side, aided by home advantage. KC
Zambia. Their performances at Tokyo 2020 showed that they have firepower, particularly in the form of their captain Barbra Banda, and their ability on the counterattack is eye-catching. In pre-tournament friendlies, they appear to have added some defensive solidity to their play and a win against Germany will have boosted their confidence. SD
Spain. JE
Haiti. Most casual fans will look at Haiti’s world ranking (53) in a group with the European and Asian champions and be dismissive but this is a team that gave the USA some trouble early in qualifying and has built towards this moment over the past decade. Serious allegations surround the Haiti programme off the field. On the field, this is a talented team that is better than the rest of the world realises. JK
Italy are unbeaten since crashing out of last year’s Euros and with an intriguing mixture of youth and experience could prove an unknown quantity. JL
With eight nations making their World Cup debut, there are plenty of opportunities for surprises. I expected at least a couple of debutants to progress beyond the group stage. Zambia are a contender, inspired by their recent win over Germany and led from the front by the fearless Barbra Banda. But my money is on the Philippines – coached by canny ex-Matildas boss Alen Stajcic and drawn in an evenly-matched Group A. KP
Canada are the reigning Olympic champions and were impressive on their tour to Australia late last year, but have just once before got beyond the quarter-finals at a World Cup – in 2003, when they finished fourth. JP
Australia. They offer so much more than Kerr now, they are a team primed and ready for this tournament. For a more left-field choice, Zambia. SW
Who will be breakthrough player of the tournament?
I’ve been really impressed with Trinity Rodman. The USA striker is frighteningly quick and will cause havoc against defences. She scored two very different but equally well-executed goals in their send-off game against Wales and, at 21 years of age, the scope of her potential is very exciting. AA
Sophia Smith. A great talent with a lot of experience at international level already. KC
Sophia Smith. The 22-year-old American has been tearing it up in the NWSL over the last couple of seasons and now it is time for her to make her mark. Confident and technically adept, she has been a mainstay of Vlatko Andonovski’s side and appears at home on the global stage. SD
Salma Paralluelo (Spain). JE
Barbra Banda, Zambia. True, anyone paying attention should know the name after her performance at the Olympics, but the harsh truth is that the wider world still does not know Banda’s talent as a Zambia international and professional in the less-heralded Chinese Super League. That relative anonymity changes now. Expect Banda to score goals for a talented Zambia team that could just make it out of Group C against the odds. She will have the world’s attention after this tournament. JK
Barbra Banda destroyed Germany in a friendly in Fürth earlier this month and the 23-year-old Zambia striker has the speed and audacity to make a name for herself. JL
Salma Paralluelo. If heavyweights Spain are to go far (and following a turbulent couple of years, it could go either way), the 19-year-old will need to star. Barcelona’s dangerous winger missed the Euros through injury but the World Cup could be her breakthrough moment. KP
Katrina Gorry is playing the best football of her career post-pregnancy, and the veteran could emerge to become a dominant figure on and off the ball in Australia’s midfield. She’s likely to get on the scoresheet more than once as well. JP
I would love it to be Lauren James, so I’ll say Lauren James. She’s the most naturally technically gifted England footballer since Kelly Smith and now she’s ready to show it on the biggest of stages. SW
What are you most looking forward to?
I’m really intrigued to see if Rachel Daly can replicate her excellent form from this season at Aston Villa in the No 9 role for England, as well as Keira Walsh marshalling the midfield the same way she did so effectively at the Euros. But, I’m also looking forward to watching how the nations who have had players drop out either through injury or disputes with their management/federations, manage to adapt. AA
It will be a great event with lots of games and all the world’s eyes will be on the sport once more. What more could you want? KC
At this moment, the opener at Stadium Australia. Over 80,000 will turn out in Sydney to watch the hosts against the Republic of Ireland on their debut. The Irish are likely to be heavily supported too with a significant expat community over here. It will make for a spine-tingling atmosphere and occasion. SD
An unpredictable tournament that will be decided by small margins. JE
Parity and upsets in the first Women’s World Cup to feature 32 teams. Growing the game globally means more teams can win the tournament and more teams at the tournament can compete in any given match. That might not lead to a new winner, necessarily, but it will mean a more chaotic and entertaining group stage that will set the tone for a memorable tournament. That and seeing New Zealand’s opener in person. The energy of national pride at an opening ceremony is unlike anything else in sport. JK
Covering a World Cup without having to worry about whether the stadiums have been built with slave labour or whether my phone is being tapped by the secret police. JL
Long overdue but finally here, this will be the moment women’s football comes of age. The Women’s World Cup will be the biggest sporting event in the world this year, with the sport gaining the mass attention it deserves. As an Australian, for that to come on home soil is a real delight. I can’t wait. KP
I’m most looking forward to sharing in a celebration of the tournament with former Matildas and those that have been involved in the women’s game for a long time and who have had to battle for so long. They can enjoy this moment and be so proud of how far the game has come. JP
Finding out how Megan Rapinoe is going to use the stage of her final World Cup to impact change. SW
