2023 Women’s World Cup draw summary: groups, teams, dates, opening game, USWNT opponents

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So, the draw for the 2023 Women's World Cup is complete, and we now know that the opening game of the tournament will be a clash between co-hosts New Zealand and 1995 world champions Norway, at Auckland's Eden Park on 20 July.

The Football Ferns' fellow hosts, Australia, will get their campaign underway against tournament debutants the Republic of Ireland, while World Cup holders the USWNT kick their tournament off against Vietnam, who are also making their first finals appearance.

A reminder that the final three spots at the World Cup will be decided in the inter-confederation playoffs in February. Those playoffs will be split into three mini-knockout tournaments dubbed Group A, Group B and Group C.

Portugal, Cameroon and Thailand are in Group A; Chile, Senegal and Haiti are in Group B; and Chinese Taipei, Paraguay, Papua New Guinea and Panama are in Group C. One country from each section will qualify.

That's all from me - thanks for joining!

2023 World Cup draw in full

Here's the full Women's World Cup draw:

Group A: New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Switzerland
Group B: Australia, Ireland, Nigeria, Canada
Group C: Spain, Costa Rica, Zambia, Japan
Group D: England, playoff Group B winner, China, Denmark
Group E: USWNT, Netherlands, Vietnam, playoff Group A winner
Group F: France, Jamaica, Brazil, playoff Group C winner
Group G: Sweden, South Africa, Italy, Argentina
Group H: Germany, Morocco, Colombia, South Korea

Groups E, G and H completed - draw done!

The winners of Group A of the inter-confederation playoffs - Portugal, Cameroon or Thailand - go into Group E, before South Africa are drawn into Group G. Finally, Morocco head into Group H. The Moroccans are another country appearing at their first finals.

Apologies for this rushed final post - Pot 4 proved slightly harder to keep up with!

Group B playoff winner in Group D

The winners of playoffs Group B - Chile, Senegal or Haiti - will go into Group D with England, Denmark and China.

Nigeria in Group B, Zambia in Group C

Nigeria are drawn into Group B with Australia, Ireland and Canada, before debutants Zambia are placed in Group C with Spain, Costa Rica and Japan.

One playoff winner into Group F

Next out is the unconfirmed qualifier from inter-confederation playoff Group C (one of Chinese Taipei, Paraguay. Papua New Guinea or Panama). Due to numerous confederation clashes, this placeholder goes into Group F. 

Group F's completed line-up: France, Brazil, Jamaica, playoff Group C winner

Philippines in Group A

The Philippines, who are another of the teams making their World Cup debut, are drawn into Group A.

The group will therefore be: New Zealand, Norway, Philippines and Switzerland.

What the groups look like after Pot 3

So, we're now three pots in, and these are the groups thus far:

Group A: New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland
Group B: Australia, Canada, Ireland
Group C: Spain, Japan, Costa Rica
Group D: England, China, Denmark
Group E: USWNT, Netherlands, Vietnam
Group F: France, Brazil, Jamaica
Group G: Sweden, Italy, Argentina
Group H: Germany, South Korea, Colombia

All that's left now is the final pot, in which we have: Morocco, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, Zambia, inter-confederation playoff Group A winners, inter-confederation playoff Group B winners, inter-confederation playoff Group C winners

Argentina in Group G, Colomba in Group H

Argentina are drawn in Group G with Sweden and Italy, while Colombia go into Group H with Germany and South Korea.

Vietnam in Group E

And it's Vietnam who get that spot in Group E, with the US and the Netherlands. The Vietnamese are placed in position 2, so their first ever World Cup finals match will be against the Americans.

Jamaica in Group F

Out come Jamaica now, and again there's a confederation clash. With the US already in Group E, the Jamaicans are placed in Group F with France and Brazil.

Denmark in Group D

Denmark are drawn in Group D with England and China.

Ireland placed in Group B

The Republic of Ireland are pulled out of the pot, and there are no restrictions on which group the Irish can go into, so they take the spot in Group B that originally went to Costa Rica.

Ireland, who will be making their World Cup finals debut, are drawn in position 2 - so they are Australia's opposition in the co-hosts' opening match.

Costa Rica in Group C

Costa Rica are initially drawn into Group B, but because of a confederation clash with Canada, they are moved into Group C, alongside Spain and Japan.

Switzerland in Group A

Switzerland are the first Pot 3 team to be picked out of the hat. They join New Zealand and Norway in Group A.

World Cup draw after Pot 2

Here's what the World Cup draw now looks like:

Group A: New Zealand, Norway
Group B: Australia, Canada
Group C: Spain, Japan
Group D: England, China
Group E: USWNT, Netherlands
Group F: France, Brazil
Group G: Sweden, Italy
Group H: Germany, South Korea

And on we go to Pot 3, which features: Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Jamaica, Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, Vietnam.

Italy in Group G, South Korea in Group H

Italy are now drawn in Group G with Sweden, before Pot 2 is complete when South Korea are placed in Group H with Germany.

Brazil drawn into Group F

2007 finalists Brazil now come out of the hat. They join France in Group F.

China in Group D, Dutch in Group E

China are out next, so the two-time world champions will be in Group D with England.

It's the USWNT's group next - and it's the Netherlands who go into Group E with the Stars and Stripes! Tasty. A repeat of the 2019 final.

Canada into Group B, Japan into Group C

Canada are drawn in Group B with Australia, while Japan are placed in Group C with Spain.

Opening game confirmed!

Norway are the first Pot 2 team to be drawn; they go into Group A with New Zealand. The Scandinavians are then placed into position 2 in the group - which means they will be New Zealand's opponents in the 2023 World Cup's opening game!

How things stand so far

Here's what the groups look like with all the Pot 1 teams out of the hat.

Group A: New Zealand
Group B: Australia
Group C: Spain
Group D: England
Group E: USWNT
Group F: France
Group G: Sweden
Group H: Germany

Now for Pot 2, which features Brazil, Canada, China, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway and South Korea.

Sweden in Group G, Germany in Group H

2003 runners-up Sweden are drawn into Group G, and two-time World Cup winners Germany are the final Pot 1 team to come out of the hat. They are placed in Group H.

USWNT, France out next

The USWNT are the next team to emerge from the pot, with the four-time world champions going into Group E. After the Stars and Stripes, France are drawn into Group F.

Spain into Group C, England into Group D

Spain and Euro 2022 winners England are the next two top seeds out of the hat. La Roja will be in Group C, and England will be in Group D.

New Zealand and Australia confirmed in Groups A, B

We already know that co-hosts New Zealand and Australia are to be drawn into Groups A and B, respectively. The draw begins with confirmation of this. As is the case with every top seed, they are each drawn into position 1 in their group.

The pots: a reminder

Let's have a quick recap of the four pots:

Pot 1: Australia (hosts), New Zealand (hosts), England, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, United States

Pot 2: Brazil, Canada, China, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, South Korea

Pot 3: Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Jamaica, Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, Vietnam

Pot 4: Morocco, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, Zambia, playoff Group A winners, playoff Group B winners, playoff Group C winners

Draw about to begin!

It's almost time to get the draw underway. Before we do, there's a video explaining the draw procedure.

A reminder that the eight four-team groups will be made up of one team from each of the four pots. The pots are mostly decided by teams' FIFA world ranking - but, as hosts, Australia and New Zealand have been given an automatic spot in Pot 1.

It's also worth noting once more that placeholders for the three unconfirmed playoff qualifiers will be in Pot 4.

And just to reiterate that the draw will look to prevent teams from the same confederation being placed in the same group. However, given the large number of teams from Europe in the hat, the limit on European nations in each group will be two.

Lalas: "You come for America, you better not miss"

Next, Davies engages in a spot of banter with Lalas about whether or not the USWNT, who won the World Cup in 2015 and 2019, can make it three in a row. "You come for America, you better not miss," Lalas quips. "Can you smell that? No, it's not my cologne; it's the smell of a 'threepeat'." 

"Fighting talk from Alexei Lalas!" Davies replies.

Out come the draw assistants...

Lloyd and Davies introduce the draw assistants: former New Zealand international Maia Jackman; Australian swimmer Cate Campbell; Brazilian men's World Cup winner Gilberto Silva; Kiwi snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synott, former Australia player Julie Dolan, ex-England striker Ian Wright; former Cameroon player Geremi; and ex-USMNT international Alexi Lalas.

"It's something every pioneering Matilda has dreamed of," Dolan says, when asked about the prospect of Australia co-hosting the Women's World Cup for the first time.

Lloyd: "This is where the excitement begins"

Stanway and McLaughlin now hand over to CNN's Amanda Davies and two-time World Cup winner Carli Lloyd, who will be leading us through the draw itself.

"This is where the excitement begins," Lloyd says. "This is a movement; women's football is here and it's going to get bigger and better."

Ellis: World Cup will be "nothing short of spectacular"

Ellis then comes on stage holding the World Cup trophy, which her USWNT side won in France four years ago.

"[The 2023 World Cup] will be nothing short of spectacular and it will start with the play on the pitch," Ellis tells Stanway and McLaughlin. "You're going to have experienced teams and a host of new teams. This World Cup will not only be the best but most competitive in our history."

New Zealand's prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, speaks at the start of the Women's World Cup draw.

(Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

Tribute to women's football trailblazers

We now have a short video tribute to some of the women who have played a major role in the growth of women's soccer. Former USWNT head coach Jill Ellis, a two-time World Cup winner with the Stars and Stripes, is among the women we hear from.

"Put your seat belt on and enjoy the rollercoaster," Ellis says of next year's tournament.

Samoura: "This is the tournament of many firsts"

Infantino invites Fatma Samoura, FIFA's secretary-general, up on to the stage. "This is the tournament of many firsts," Samoura says. "First to be staged in the southern hemisphere. First to be contested by two great confederations. First to be held under the new expanded format of 32 teams. I am convinced it will be the most attended, the most viewed, the most beautiful, the most colourful and the most spectacular World Cup."

Infantino: "Football is joy"

Now it's FIFA chief Gianni Infantino's turn to offer a welcome address. "Football unites the world - and next year from 20 July to 20 August, we will united the world in Australia and New Zealand. We will united the world in joy, because football is joy."

"I can make you one promise to Australia and New Zealand: this World Cup will not only be the best ever; it will turn your two countries upside turn."

Event underway in Auckland

After a spot of local music and a welcome video, Stanway and McLaughlin come on to the stage at Aotea Centre to get the event underrway.

They start by introducing Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand, who offers an opening address. "We can't wait to share our world with you," Ardern says.

Next to speak is Anika Wells, Australia's minister for sport. "What a time to be alive: here at the FIFA Women's World Cup draw," Wells says. "I cannot imagine a better place on Earth to do this."

Carli Lloyd headlines draw line-up

Carli Lloyd, a two-time Women’s World Cup winner with the USWNT, headlines the famous soccer faces who will be conducting the draw in Auckland.

Lloyd will lead the “technical component” of the draw with CNN sports anchor Amanda Davies, FIFA says. 

They will be joined by Maia Jackman and Julie Dolan, who are former New Zealand and Australia players. 

The draw assistants will also include former England international Ian Wright; Gilberto Silva, a men’s World Cup winner with Brazil; and ex-USMNT player Alexei Lalas.

The hosts of the event are Sky Sports' Kirstie Stanway and Channel 7's Mel McLaughlin.

(Photo: WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

FIFA president Gianni Infantino arrives for the Women's World Cup 2023 draw at Aotea Centre.

(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

soccer

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 draw: how will it work?

Hopefully, you've found my explanation of the draw more or less intelligible.

If you haven't, may I suggest you have a read of my colleague Joe Brennan's piece on the subject.

How the draw works (ctd)

There are some caveats to the draw procedure I outlined below, though.

Australia, NZ in Pot 1 as co-hosts:

Firstly, while FIFA's world rankings are the chief way of deciding the make-up of the four pots, there are a couple of exceptions to this: Australia and New Zealand go into Pot 1 automatically as hosts, and placeholders for the three unconfirmed qualifiers from the inter-confederation playoffs will be positioned in Pot 4.

FIFA to minimise confederation clashes

It’s also worth noting that FIFA seeks to keep teams from the same confederation apart in the group stage, so today’s draw will look to limit every group to one country from each region.

However, because we don’t know the identity of the three qualifiers from the playoffs, FIFA says this might not be 100% possible.

Also: because so many teams from Europe will be at the World Cup - 11 or 12, depending on whether Portugal advance from the inter-confederation playoffs - the cap per group on European teams will be two.

To avoid a World Cup group with three European sides in it, the placeholder for Portugal’s inter-confederation playoff group - Group A - won't be drawn into any groups that already have had two European teams allocated to them.

Who's in which pot?

The four pots for the draw are as follows:

Pot 1: Australia (hosts), New Zealand (hosts), England, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, United States

Pot 2: Brazil, Canada, China, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, South Korea

Pot 3: Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Jamaica, Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, Vietnam

Pot 4: Morocco, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, Zambia, inter-confederation playoff Group A winners, inter-confederation playoff Group B winners, inter-confederation playoff Group C winners

How will the World Cup draw work?

Let’s start with a basic explanation, then we’ll get into some of the minutiae. 

The chief aim of today’s draw is to split the 32 countries at the World Cup into eight groups of four for the tournament's round-robin first round.

For the draw, there will be four pots containing eight teams each, with FIFA’s latest world rankings determining who goes into which pot. The higher a side's ranking, the higher they are seeded.

One team from each pot will then be drawn into each group of four.

Which nations have qualified?

The 29 teams who have already secured a spot in Australia and New Zealand next year are:

Australia (as hosts)
New Zealand (as hosts)
Argentina
Brazil
Canada
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
Denmark
England
France
Germany
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Morocco
Netherlands
Nigeria
Norway
Philippines
Republic of Ireland
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United States
Vietnam
Zambia

The qualified teams include seven countries that have reached all nine Women’s World Cups played so far: Brazil, Germany, Japan, Nigeria, Norway, Sweden and the US.

Meanwhile, five of the confirmed participants at Australia/New Zealand 2023 will be making their debuts at the finals: Morocco, Philippines, Republic of Ireland, Vietnam and Zambia.

Women's World Cup expanded for 2023

For the first time, the Women’s World Cup finals will include 32 teams in 2023. 

FIFA has now expanded the tournament on three occasions since its inception: the World Cup began with 12 teams when China hosted its inaugural edition in 1991, before the number of participants rose to 16 ahead of the 1999 World Cup in the US. The finals grew to a 24-team format in 2015, and world soccer’s governing body has now opted to add a further eight spots.

So far, 29 out of the 32 berths at the 2023 World Cup have been filled, with the final three places to be decided in the inter-confederation playoffs in February.

(Photo: Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images)

When is the 2023 Women’s World Cup?

Next year’s Women’s World Cup, which will be the ninth edition of the FIFA tournament, is scheduled to be played between July and August.

It’ll be the first time the Women’s World Cup has been jointly hosted. Across the two host countries, there’ll be 10 venues in all: Australia is to stage games at six stadiums in five cities, while New Zealand will have matches at four arenas in four cities.

The World Cup’s opening game, which will definitely involve New Zealand, is to be played at Auckland’s Eden Park on 20 July; exactly a month later, Sydney’s Stadium Australia will be the venue for the final.

Watch the draw on FIFA+

You’ll be able to follow all the developments in the draw right here, but it would be remiss of me not to also mention that FIFA has a live video of the event on the body’s streaming service, FIFA+.

More information on how to watch the draw

Women's World Cup draw: welcome

Hello! Welcome to our live coverage of the draw for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. 

Aotea Centre in Auckland is the venue for today’s draw, which gets underway in the Kiwi city in just over an hour, at 7:30pm local time (2:30am ET).