It's been four years since the U.S. women's national team became just the second nation to win back-to-back Women's World Cup titles - and in Australia and New Zealand in 2023, they will be looking to become the first team to win it three times in a row in the biggest tournament to date.
FIFA has expanded the competition from 24 teams to 32 for the first time, with numerous countries making history by qualifying for their first Women's World Cup, their first senior World Cup or, in some cases, their first World Cup at any level for any gender.
Before it all kicks off though, the group stage draw must take place. So, when is it and how can you watch along? GOAL has all you need to know.
When is the Women's World Cup 2023 draw?
Date: | October 22, 2022 |
Time: | 2.30am ET / 7.30am BST |
Venue: | Aotea Centre, Auckland, New Zealand |
The World Cup draw will take place on Saturday, October 22, 2022.
It will be held in New Zealand, at the Aotea Centre in Auckland and will commence at 7.30pm local time, which will be 2.30am ET and 7.30am BST.
Among those helping to conduct the draw will be former U.S. women's national team player Carli Lloyd, who won the World Cup twice in her career.
Former New Zealand international Maia Jackman and ex-Australia star Julie Dolan will join her along with a host of big names from the men's game, including Arsenal legend Ian Wright, 2002 World Cup winner Gilberto Silva and Geremi, the former Cameroon star who played at Chelsea and Real Madrid.
Which teams are in the Women's World Cup 2023 draw?
Of the 32 countries to participate in this Women's World Cup, only 29 have qualified thus far.
The remaining three nations will be decided at the inter-confederation play-offs, scheduled to take place in New Zealand between February 18 and February 23, 2023.
Team | Association | Date qualified |
|---|---|---|
Australia | AFC | June 25, 2020 |
New Zealand | OFC | June 25, 2020 |
Japan | AFC | January 30, 2022 |
China | AFC | January 30, 2022 |
Philippines | AFC | January 30, 2022 |
Vietnam | AFC | February 6, 2022 |
Sweden | UEFA | April 12, 2022 |
Spain | UEFA | April 12, 2022 |
France | UEFA | April 12, 2022 |
Denmark | UEFA | May 2, 2022 |
United States | CONCACAF | July 7, 2022 |
Canada | CONCACAF | July 8, 2022 |
Costa Rica | CONCACAF | July 8, 2022 |
Jamaica | CONCACAF | July 11, 2022 |
Zambia | CAF | July 13, 2022 |
Morocco | CAF | July 13, 2022 |
Nigeria | CAF | July 14, 2022 |
South Africa | CAF | July 14, 2022 |
Colombia | CONMEBOL | July 25, 2022 |
Brazil | CONMEBOL | July 26, 2022 |
Argentina | CONMEBOL | July 29, 2022 |
Norway | UEFA | September 2, 2022 |
Germany | UEFA | September 3, 2022 |
England | UEFA | September 3, 2022 |
Italy | UEFA | September 6, 2022 |
Netherlands | UEFA | September 6, 2022 |
Switzerland | UEFA | October 11, 2022 |
Republic of Ireland | UEFA | October 11, 2022 |
Women's World Cup 2023 draw seeding
The four pots into which nations will be allocated for the draw were confirmed on October 13, with the release of the latest FIFA world rankings.
The three teams that will qualify through February's play-off tournament will all be in pot 4.
Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
Australia | Canada | Denmark | Nigeria |
New Zealand | Netherlands | Switzerland | Philippines |
United States | Brazil | Republic of Ireland | South Africa |
Sweden | Japan | Colombia | Morocco |
Germany | Norway | Argentina | Zambia |
England | Italy | Vietnam | TBC |
France | China | Costa Rica | TBC |
Spain | South Korea | Jamaica | TBC |
When does the Women's World Cup start 2023?
The Women's World Cup will kick off on July 20, 2023, with co-hosts New Zealand featuring in the opening match in Auckland. Later the same day, Australia will play the first game of the tournament on its shores in Sydney.
The group stages will conclude on August 3, with the knockout round to get underway just two days later. The quarter-finals will be played on August 11 and August 12 and the semi-finals on August 15 and August 16.
The third-place play-off will take place on August 19, while the final is scheduled to be played in Sydney on August 20.
How to watch the Women's World Cup 2023 group stage draw
The Women's World Cup draw will be broadcasted live on FIFA+, the association's streaming service which is free to access.