The U.S. women’s national team learned its opponents for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, including one Top-10 squad that could present real challenges for Vlatko Andonovski’s squad.
The Americans will face Netherlands, Vietnam, and the Group A playoff winner still to be determined between Portugal, Cameroon, and Thailand. New Zealand will play host to the USWNT’s three group stage matches, which will be the first-ever matches for the Americans in the Oceanic nation.
”I’m excited about our draw because this is where the real preparation starts,” said Andonovski. “Now, it’s about getting ready for the actual opponents. Vietnam is a team we have never faced before but we know they came out of a challenging qualification process in Asia and will be incredibly energized to play their first ever match at the World Cup. The Netherlands is a team we know well so it’s two quality teams in the second match of the group stage and it’s going to be a fun, exciting game.
“And of course, we will have to wait until February to see our third and final opponent, but whoever makes it out of the playoff is going to be battle-tested and will present some unique challenges that we will need to be prepared to handle,” Andonovski said. “I know all the players and coaches are energized about our group and we’re really looking forward to getting to work to prepare for our three opponents.”
The USWNT will face World Cup debutant Vietnam in Auckland on July 22 before taking on Netherlands in Wellington on July 27. The Americans’ final group stage match is slated to take place in Auckland on Aug. 1 against either Portugal, Cameroon, or Thailand.
It will mark the first World Cup meeting between the USWNT and the Netherlands since the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final. It will be the 11th all-time meeting between the Americans and Dutch in all competitions.
The Netherlands are currently No. 8 in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings while Vietnam is No. 34. Portugal is ranked No. 23, Thailand is No. 41, and Cameroon is No. 58. Cameroon will face Thailand on Feb. 18 in Hamilton, New Zealand, with the winner advancing to face Portugal on Feb. 23.
Here are the FIFA Women’s World Cup groups:
Group A: New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Switzerland.
Group B: Australia, Ireland, Nigeria, Canada.
Group C: Spain, Costa Rica, Zambia, Japan.
Group D: England, Group B Playoff Winner, Denmark, China PR.
Group E: USWNT, Vietnam, Netherlands, Group A Playoff Winner
Group F: France, Jamaica, Brazil, Group C Playoff Winner.
Group G: Sweden, South Africa, Italy, Argentina.
Group H: Germany, Morocco, Colombia, Korea Republic.
What do you think of the draw? Do you see the Netherlands giving the Americans a run for their money in Group E?
Share your thoughts below.
If Macario is unable to play, game over. We have no alternative for her
If Portugal ends up winning that play off they’ll be a tough out. I watxhed them in the euros this summer and they have some players that can hurt you. I’m expecting the USWNT to get out of the group obviously, but there is a lot of work to be done in terms of finding out the right players to play together, tactics and reintergrating the those that have been out via injury(Morgan, Pugh, Lynn Williams, Midge Purce, Sam Mewis, Kelly O’Hara, Catarina Macario, Christian Press, Tobin Heath and Julie Ertz )and child bearing(Cryatal Dunn). That’s a lot, and presumably some of them won’t ever feature again, but there needs to be the understanding that going younger and the number of absences will take time to get back on track
Good draw for the USWNT but it means little if they can’t finish chances. Conversion % will be key imo and so far plenty of struggles there but that can change quick and will need to