The 2023 World Cup is here and, once again, the U.S. is favored to win it all. Should the Americans prove oddsmakers right, it’ll be their fifth World Cup victory overall since the women’s tournament began in 1991, and third in a row.
And there’s good reason to believe that the Americans can pull off a three-peat. While some stars like Tobin Heath and Carli Lloyd are not with the squad, it is still an extremely roster, featuring seasoned veterans like Megan Rapinoe, in-their-prime players like Crystal Dunn and rising newcomers like Ashley Sanchez. Even without some key players, the U.S. has – on paper – one of the best teams in Australia and New Zealand.
But there’s no guarantee that the USWNT just breezes through this tournament. Especially once the Americans get out of the group stage, challenges could arise. The Americans have shown that they aren’t bulletproof – just last fall, they lost three games in a row, to England, Spain and Germany. And in February, they escaped with one-goal victories over Japan and Brazil.
The rest of the world has started to invest more in women’s soccer, and some countries are catching up with the talent that the USWNT has.
Here’s a handful of teams that could upset the Americans in the knockout stage.
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Australia
The host nation is armed with one of the world’s top goal-scorers, Sam Kerr. USWNT players who have played in the NWSL are all too familiar with her, as they watched Kerr win the league’s Golden Boot in 2017 and 2018. More recently, she’s been tearing up the Super League in Europe, helping lead Chelsea to four straight crowns.
But, as evidenced by their 1-0 tournament-opening win over Ireland, the Matildas are more than Kerr. She missed the game with a calf injury she suffered in training. With Kerr out, Steph Catley provided the game-winning goal, Alanna Kennedy played stout defense, and Hayley Raso and Caitlin Foord pushed the attack.
To challenge the U.S., the Matildas will need Kerr healthy. And if she is, Australia just might have the offensive firepower necessary to neutralize the Americans.
STEPH CATLEY SCORES AUSTRALIA'S FIRST GOAL AT THE 2023 FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/1dHVKgxpWd
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 20, 2023
England
The Lionesses just beat the Americans 2-1 last October in London, with Lauren Hemp and Georgia Stanway providing goals.
England is fourth in the latest FIFA World Rankings and has a roster that might be just as star-studded as the USWNT. It features one of the best outside backs in the world in Lucy Bronze, perhaps the most in-form forward on the planet in Rachel Daly, and other players who have proven to be reliable generators of offense like Alessia Russo, Keira Walsh, Lauren Hemp, Chloe Kelly, Ella Toone and Lauren James. Mary Earps – named FIFA’s Best Women’s Goalkeeper in 2022 – isn’t too shabby either. Across seven matches so far in 2023, England has three wins, three draws and a loss, and has outscored opponents 13-5.
How to impress David Beckham? Score a screamer! What a goal by Lucy Bronze ☄️#FIFAWWC #SkySportNZ ⚽ pic.twitter.com/AjFU0cdaGV
— Sky Sport NZ (@skysportnz) July 15, 2023
Spain
La Roja just handed the USWNT a 2-0 defeat last fall, with Laia Codina and Esther González netting scores as the Americans suffered their first shutout defeat since losing in the Olympics semifinals to Canada in 2021.
Spain impressed right away in its World Cup opener this year too, defeating Costa Rica 3-0. Spain, ranked sixth in the world, has the talent on both ends of the pitch to hang with the U.S.
THEY CAN'T STOP SCORING!
ESTHER GONZÁLEZ PUTS SPAIN UP 3-0 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/4rC85Whid1
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 21, 2023
Germany
Another team that topped the Americans last fall, Germany is ranked second in the world and has the fourth-best odds to win this World Cup. It’s won two World Cups and won the Olympics in 2016.
This German team is powered by Alexandra Popp, a legitimate candidate to win this tournament’s Golden Boot award. They’re also armed with talented midfielders in Lena Oberdorf and Lina Magull.
Germany isn’t in its best form entering the World Cup – having lost 3-2 to Zambia in a pre-tournament tune-up – but the squad has a chance to build some momentum in the group stage.
WHAT. A. STRIKE. 🔥
Lena Oberdorf's strike during Wolfsburg's 7-1 demolition of Cologne might just be the best goal we've seen all year. 👏😍 pic.twitter.com/BDwPl5aMme
— DW Sports (@dw_sports) May 10, 2023
Sweden
Sweden can absolutely win this whole thing. The Blue and Yellow are ranked third in the world behind the U.S. and Germany, and have a talented roster featuring Everton defender Nathalie Bjorn, San Diego Wave forward Sofia Jakobsson, and Barcelona forward Fridolina Rolfo.
The squad has performed well in big-time tournaments under coach Peter Gerhardsson too, placing third in the 2019 World Cup and second at the Olympics in 2021.
Sweden lost 3-0 to the U.S. at the Olympics, but also played the Americans to a 1-1 draw in a 2021 friendly.
What a comeback!
2-0 down at HT, Barcelona now lead 3-2 against Wolfsburg in the #UWCLfinal
Fridolina Rolfo with the finish ⚽
📽️ @DAZNFootball pic.twitter.com/4e0NqWhcjb
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) June 3, 2023
