Pull out your lucky jersey and start setting your alarms now. The World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is now only a month away.
The U.S. women are seeking a record third consecutive title, and fifth overall, when the tournament begins July 20. No team, men’s or women’s, has won three in a row. A fifth title would put the USWNT behind only Brazil’s men, who have won six.
The Americans go into the World Cup ranked No. 1 in the world, a spot they’ve held for more than six years, and have lost just five games since they hoisted the trophy in France four years ago.
That doesn’t mean they’re assured of another title, however. The international game has grown tremendously, reflected in the World Cup’s expanded field, and the competition has never been tougher. The USWNT is also undergoing a generational shift, with more than half the roster playing in their first major international tournament, and have been hit with some devastating injuries.
But the World Cup is still the USWNT’s to lose, something they don’t do very often.
Here’s everything you need to know about the World Cup:
When, where is 2023 World Cup?
The World Cup begins July 20, with the final Aug. 20. This is the first women’s tournament being played in two countries – Japan and South Korea co-hosted the men’s World Cup in 2002 – and it will take place at 10 stadiums in nine cities across Australia and New Zealand. Two stadiums in Sydney will have games, including the final at Stadium Australia, site of the Opening and Closing ceremonies for the 2000 Olympics.
The U.S. women will spend most of their time in New Zealand, playing their first and last group-stage games in Auckland and the second in Wellington. They could have a knockout-round game in each of those cities, too, should they keep advancing.
New Zealand is 16 hours ahead of the East Coast and Australia is 14, and the USWNT’s games are either early afternoon or at night. Which means you should plan to stay up late or get up early to watch the USWNT.
World Cup format
The tournament was expanded to 32 teams this year, the third time it’s increased in size. The women’s World Cup began in 1991 with 12 teams, grew to 16 squads in 1999 and had its most recent increase, to 24 teams, in 2015.
The men’s tournament has had 32 teams since 1998, though it’s going to 48 teams in 2026.
The World Cup begins with group play, with the 32 teams divided into eight, four-team groups. Between July 20 to Aug. 3, each squad will play the other three teams in its group one time, with three points awarded for a win and one for a draw. The top two teams in each group advance to the knockout rounds, and there are tiebreakers — including goal differential, goals scored and head-to-head record — should two teams finish with the same number of points.
The knockout round is exactly what the name implies: Win or go home. If the score is tied after regulation, there is 30 minutes of overtime, split into two 15-minute halves with a 10-minute halftime. If the score remains tied after that, it goes to penalty kicks.
The World Cup final has gone to penalties twice, with the USWNT involved in both games. They lost to Japan in 2011 and beat China in 1999, prompting one of the most iconic celebrations in sport after Brandi Chastain converted what would be the game-winner.
World Cup prize money
The champions are getting a raise.
FIFA announced this month that it is increasing the prize pool to $152 million, with the champions getting a total of $10.5 million. That’s still not men’s tournament money – Argentina got $42 million for winning last year’s World Cup in Qatar – but it’s getting closer. Four years ago, the USWNT got $4 million, and that was double what they’d gotten in 2015.
FIFA also guaranteed that every player in the tournament will get at least $30,000. The individual bonuses go up the deeper in the tournament a team goes, with the 23 players on the World Cup champions getting $270,000 each.
With the global salary for a women’s player still just around $14,000, this is not an insignificant commitment by FIFA.
“The amounts allocated under this unprecedented new distribution model will have a real and meaningful impact on the lives and careers of these players,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said.
But FIFA is trusting the federations will ensure that money gets to the players. Given the fights numerous teams, men’s and women’s, have had with their federations to get money that’s owed them, FIFA needs to stay on top of this.
Who will win 2023 World Cup?
The USWNT suffered a huge loss when captain and backline stalwart Becky Sauerbrunn announced Friday night that she’ll miss the World Cup because of a foot injury. This after Mallory Swanson, the team’s leading scorer this year with seven goals in five games, tore her patellar tendon in April. The Americans are also missing Catarina Macario and Samantha Mewis.
But the U.S. women have depth like no other team. Plus, with the exception of maybe Germany, most of the main contenders have woes of their own.
European champion England will be without captain Leah Williamson, Fran Kirby and Beth Mead, the player of the tournament at last year’s Euros. France will miss Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Delphine Cascarino. Spain and Canada are embroiled in disputes with their federations, and there’s no telling what kind of toll that will take on the players.
The USWNT did win the 2019 World Cup four months after suing U.S. Soccer for equal pay.
But, again, there aren’t many teams like the USWNT.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on Twitter @nrarmour.
