FIFA World Cup, the groups

Australia and New Zealand won the right to host the ninth edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup following a vote in 2020.

It is the first time that multiple countries have hosted the tournament and the first time it's been held in the Southern Hemisphere.

The 2023 tournament has broken the record for tickets sold with almost 1.5 million expected to watch games across Australia and New Zealand.

Around 100,000 combined fans will attend the event's opening-day matches, when New Zealand play 1995 winners Norway at Eden Park and Australia face the Republic of Ireland at Stadium Australia.

The 32 teams are divided into eight groups of four.

The top two from each group will qualify for the round of 16 with knockout games to be played from then.

Group A (world ranking)

New Zealand (26)

Norway (12)

Philippines (46)

Switzerland (20)

Norway are favourites to top the group, the highest ranked team in the group has played at all eight World Cups winning in 1995 and beaten in the final of the inaugural event in 1991. The two-time European champions have declined since then but still managed to reach the quarter-finals at the last tournament. Switzerland are a team on the rise and will be expecting to progress from the group. New Zealand has struggled to score goals in recent matches, but with a big crowd behind them a couple of draws and a win over The Philippines would put them in contention for the next round. The Philippines will play in their first World Cup, having made the Asian Cup semi-finals last year.

Group A matches: (NZ time)

20 July 7pm New Zealand v Norway, Eden Park, Auckland

21 July 5pm Philippines v Switzerland, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

25 July 5:30pm New Zealand v Philippines, Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington

8pm Switzerland v Norway, Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

30 July 7pm Switzerland v New Zealand, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

7pm Norway v Philippines, Eden Park, Auckland

Group B

Australia (10)

Republic of Ireland (22)

Nigeria (40)

Canada (7)

Canada are the Olympic champions and enter this tournament as one of the teams to watch with captain and striker Christine Sinclair their greatest ever player with more than 300 caps and five World Cups under her belt. With star striker Sam Kerr up front, the Matilda's will be planning a top finish at the tournament they're co-hosting. Their best results were quarter-finals appearances in 2007, 2011 and 2015. Australia beat England 2-0 in April and with regular games against the top sides they'll go into the tournament in good form. Republic of Ireland and Nigeria will both be out to cause a couple of upsets.

Group B matches:

July 20 10pm Australia vs. Rep. of Ireland, Sydney

July 21 2:30pm Nigeria vs. Canada, Melbourne

July 26 10pm Canada vs. Rep. of Ireland, Perth

July 27 10pm Australia vs. Nigeria, Brisbane

July 31 10pm Canada vs. Australia, Melbourne

10pm Rep. of Ireland vs. Nigeria, Brisbane

Group C

Spain (6)

Costa Rica (36)

Zambia (77)

Japan (11)

Spain are an improving side and are led by Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas of Barcelona, who's coming back from an ACL injury that forced her out of the 2022 Euro campaign where they reached the quarter-finals. Japan are the other side expected to qualify from the group after winning the tournament in 2011 and finishing runners-up in 2015. Costa Rica are making their second appearance at the final, having failed to get out of group play in 2015, while Zambia are making their debut.

Group C matches

July 21 7:30pm Spain vs. Costa Rica, Wellington

July 22 7pm Zambia vs Japan, Hamilton

July 26 7:30 Spain vs. Zambia, Auckland

July 26 5pm Japan vs. Costa Rica, Dunedin

July 31 7pm Japan vs Spain, Wellington

7pm Costa Rica vs. Zambia, Hamilton

Group D

England (4)

Haiti (53)

Denmark (13)

China (14)

The Lionesses were the inform team of 2022, going unbeaten and winning Euro 2022. That form has continued this year although they have suffered injuries to key players Beth Mead, Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby, who have been ruled out of the tournament. England are still contenders and won't have any problems moving out of the group. China and Denmark will be battling for the second spot... China are Asian Cup champions, while Denmark are returning to the finals for the first time sine 1995.

Group D matches:

July 22 9:30pm England vs. Haiti, Brisbane

July 22 10pm Denmark vs. China, Perth

July 28 8:30pm England vs Denmark, Sydney

July 28 10:30pm China vs Haiti, Adelaide

Aug. 1 10:30pm China vs. England, Adelaide

10:30pm Haiti vs. Denmark, Perth

Group E

United States (1)

Vietnam (32)

Netherlands (9)

Portugal (21)

The United States will be favourites to win their third successive title. The majority of their players compete in the National Women's Soccer League with many of them having more than a hundred caps. The interesting game in the group is the top ranked Americans against the Netherlands, a repeat of the 2019 Wold Cup final which the USA won 2-0. Since then the Dutch were quarter-finalists at Euro 2022 and remain a force in Europe. Portugal are making their World Cup debut but will have good memories of playing down-under beating New Zealand 5-0 earlier this year before winning the World Cup inter-continental play-off in Hamilton. Vietnam are making their World Cup finals debut.

Group E matches

July 22 1pm USA v Vietnam, Auckland

July 23 7:30pm Netherlands v Portugal, Dunedin

July 27 1pm USA v Netherlands, Wellington

July 27 7:30pm Portugal v Vietnam, Hamilton

Aug 1 7pm Portugal v USA, Auckland

7pm Vietnam v Netherlands, Dunedin

Group F

France (5)

Jamaica (43)

Brazil (8)

Panama (52)

France has gone through some turmoil in recent times with the sacking of coach Corrine Diacre after a player revolt with Hervē Renard, who led Saudi Arabia to an upset win over Argentina at last year's men's World Cup, taking over. Their best result was fourth in 2011 and they'll be aiming for a place in the semi-finals. Brazil will test all the top teams and have an experienced striker in 37 year old Marta, who will be playing her sixth World Cup. They arrive here as South American champions. Jamaica lost all three games at their only other World Cup appearance in 2019, but are on the improve under captain Khadija Shaw who topped the scoring for her English club Manchester City last season. Panama are making their debut at the tournament.

Group F matches:

July 23 10pm France v Jamaica, Sydney

July 24 10:30pm Brazil v Panama, Adelaide

July 29 10pm France v Brazil, Brisbane

July 29 8:30pm Panama v Jamaica, Perth

Aug 2 10pm Panama v France, Sydney

10pm Jamaica v Brazil, Melbourne

Group G

Sweden (3)

South Africa (54)

Italy (16)

Argentina (28)

Sweden have been a force in the women's game for many years, they were World Cup runners-up in 2003 and European champions in 1984. Sweden has climbed to number three in the world rankings on the back of successive runners-up at the last two Olympics and finishing fourth at last year's European Championship.

They're clear group favourites from Italy, who topped their qualifying group, while Argentina are yet to win a game in three appearances at the finals, while South Africa are playing their second tournament and arrive here as African champions.

Group G matches:

July 23 5pm Sweden v South Africa, Wellington

July 24 6pm Italy v Argentina, Auckland

July 28 12pm Argentina v South Africa, Dunedin

July 29 7:30pm Sweden v Italy, Wellington

Aug 2 7pm Argentina v Sweden, Hamilton

7pm South Africa v Italy, Wellington

Group H

Germany (2)

Morocco (72)

Colombia (25)

South Korea (17)

After finishing runners-up at the 2022 European Championship, Germany have a largely unchanged side for the World Cup where they hope to make amends for their early exit four years ago when they were beaten in the quarter-finals. The Germans have a number of influential players including captain Alexandra Popp and midfielder Lena Oberdorf. The draw will be interesting as Germany, two-time champions in 2003 and 2007, have lost to the eventual winners on five occasions.

Asian Cup runners-up South Korea and Copa America runners-up Colombia will battle for the other qualifying spot from the group.

Group H matches:

July 24 8:30pm Germany v Morocco, Melbourne

July 25 2pm Colombia v South Korea, Sydney

July 30 9:30pm Germany v Colombia, Sydney

July 30 4pm South Korea v Morocco, Adelaide

Aug 3 8pm Morocco v Colombia, Perth

10pm South Korea v Germany, 10pm