USWNT vs. the World – World Cup 2023

By: Kirk Jackson (Updated July 24, 2023)

The goal of the USWNT is simple – win the World Cup.

They want to make history and become the first nation to win three straight World Cup trophies.

As it stands now, there are two women’s national teams that have won back-to-back World Cups. Germany was the first to accomplish this feat (2003 and 2007) and the USA matched in (2015 and 2019) respectively.

On the men’s side, Italy was the first to accomplish this back in (1934 and 1938) and followed by Brazil (1958 and 1962) have successfully defended their titles once each.

Getting off to a great start and as expected, the ladies representing the stars and stripes, made easy work of the team representing Vietnam.

Led by a mixture of seasoned veterans such as Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Julie Ertz, Lindsey Horan and the younger up-and-coming stars such as Alyssa Thompson, Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith, the USWNT looks to be quite formidable even though they are missing a few familiar pieces due to injury.

Mallory Swanson and Catarino Macario will miss the tournament due to long-term knee injuries.

The squad is led by Vlatko Andonovski, the USWNT head coach replacing Jill Ellis, who piloted the team to back-to-back World Cup titles (2015 and 2019).

Prior to taking the mantle for the USWNT, Andonovski was the FC Kansas City manager between 2013-2017.

As mentioned previously, the prominent powerhouse of Group E, the goal and expectation is to win yet again, and make it three straight.

The Playing Field:

Group A

New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Switzerland

Thursday, July 20: Auckland, New Zealand – New Zealand 1-0 Norway – 3am
Friday, July 21: Dunedin, New Zealand – Philippines 0-2 Switzerland – 1am
Tuesday, July 25: Wellington, New Zealand – New Zealand vs. Philippines – 1:30am
Tuesday, July 25: Hamilton, New Zealand – Switzerland vs. Norway – 4am
Sunday, July 30: Dunedin, New Zealand – Switzerland vs. New Zealand – 3am
Sunday, July 30: Auckland, New Zealand – Norway vs. Philippines – 3am

Table – Group A

1. Switzerland – 3 points (+2 GD)
2. New Zealand – 3 points (+1 GD)
3. Norway – 0 points (-1 GD)
4. Philippines – 0 points (-2 GD)

Group B

Australia, Republic of Ireland, Nigeria, Canada

Thursday, July 20: Sydney (Football Stadium) – Australia 1-0 Republic of Ireland – 6am
Thursday, July 20: Melbourne, Australia – Nigeria 0-0 Canada – 10:30pm
Wednesday, July 26: Perth, Australia – Canada vs. Republic of Ireland – 8am
Thursday, July 27: Brisbane, Australia – Australia vs. Nigeria – 6am
Monday, July 31: Melbourne, Australia – Canada vs. Australia – 6am
Monday, July 31: Brisbane, Australia – Republic of Ireland vs. Nigeria – 6am

Table – Group B

1. Australia – 3 points (+1 GD)
2. Canada – 1 point (0)
3. Nigeria – 1 point (0)
4. Republic of Ireland – 0 points (-1)

Group C

Spain, Costa Rica, Zambia, Japan

Friday, July 21: Wellington, New Zealand – Spain 3-0 Costa Rica – 3:30am
Saturday, July 22: Hamilton, New Zealand – Zambia vs. Japan – 3am
Wednesday, July 26: Auckland, New Zealand – Spain vs. Zambia – 3:30am
Wednesday, July 26: Dunedin, New Zealand – Japan vs. Costa Rica – 1am
Monday, July 31: Wellington, New Zealand – Japan vs. Spain – 3am
Monday, July 31: Hamilton, New Zealand – Costa Rica vs. Zambia – 3am

Group D

England, Haiti, Denmark, China

Saturday, July 22: Brisbane, Australia – England vs. Haiti – 5:30am
Saturday, July 22: Perth, Australia – Denmark vs. China – 8am
Friday, July 28: Sydney (Football Stadium) – England vs. Denmark – 4:30am
Friday, July 28: Adelaide, Australia – China vs. Haiti – 7am
Tuesday, Aug. 1: Adelaide, Australia – China vs. England – 7am
Tuesday, Aug. 1: Perth, Australia – Haiti vs. Denmark – 7am

Group E

USA, Vietnam, Netherlands, Portugal

Friday, July 21: Auckland, New Zealand – USA vs. Vietnam – 9pm
Sunday, July 23: Dunedin, New Zealand – Netherlands vs. Portugal – 3:30am
Wednesday, July 26: Wellington, New Zealand – USA vs. Netherlands – 9pm
Thursday, July 27: Hamilton, New Zealand – Portugal vs. Vietnam – 3:30am
Tuesday, Aug. 1: Auckland, New Zealand – Portugal vs. USA – 3am
Tuesday, Aug. 1: Dunedin, New Zealand – Vietnam vs. Netherlands – 3am

Group F

France, Brazil, Jamaica, Panama

Sunday, July 23: Sydney (Football Stadium) – France vs. Jamaica – 6am
Monday, July 24: Adelaide, Australia – Brazil vs. Panama – 7am
Saturday, July 29: Brisbane, Australia – France vs. Brazil – 6am
Saturday, July 29: Perth, Australia – Panama vs. Jamaica – 8:30am
Wednesday, Aug. 2: Sydney (Football Stadium) – France vs. Panama – 6am
Wednesday, Aug. 2: Melbourne, Australia – Jamaica vs. Brazil – 6am

Group G

Sweden, South Africa, Italy, Argentina

Sunday, July 23: Wellington, New Zealand – Sweden v. South Africa – 1am
Monday, July 24: Auckland, New Zealand – Italy v. Argentina – 2am
Thursday, July 27: Dunedin, New Zealand – Argentina vs. South Africa – 8pm
Saturday, July 29: Wellington, New Zealand – Sweden vs. Italy – 3:30am
Wednesday, Aug. 2: Hamilton, New Zealand – Argentina vs. Sweden – 3am
Wednesday, Aug. 2: Wellington, New Zealand – South Africa vs. Italy – 3am

Group H

Germany, Morocco, Colombia, South Korea

Monday, July 24: Melbourne, Australia – Germany vs. Morocco – 4:30am
Monday, July 24: Sydney (Football Stadium) – Colombia vs. South Korea – 10pm
Sunday, July 30: Sydney (Football Stadium) – Germany vs. Colombia – 5:30am
Sunday, July 30: Adelaide, Australia – South Korea vs. Morocco – 12:30am
Thursday, Aug. 3: Brisbane, Australia – South Korea vs. Germany – 6am
Thursday, Aug. 3: Perth, Australia – Morocco vs. Colombia – 6am

The USWNT next takes on the Netherlands, and then finishes group play against Portugal during the first week of August.