• In July and August, Australia and New Zealand will host the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. 

• Among the teams taking part will be England, Ireland and Australia.

• More than one million tickets have been sold.

• The opening match between Ireland and Australia will take place in Sydney on July 20.* 

• Ireland will also face Canada in Perth and Nigeria in Brisbane.

• England will play against Haiti in Brisbane. They will face Denmark in Sydney and China in Adelaide.

Get ready, Australia and New Zealand! The highly anticipated FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 is coming to town.* 

From July 20th to August 20th, New Zealand and Australia will be the first countries to co-host a FIFA Women’s World Cup. This will also be the first time that the tournament will be hosted across two confederations (AFC and OFC). 64 matches will be played in 10 iconic venues, across two countries over the course of 32 days.

This World Cup is on track to become the most attended standalone women’s sporting event in history, with more than one million tickets now sold.

Sydney is set to come alive during the tournament, hosting 11 matches across two venues. A central destination throughout the tournament, Sydney will host Australia’s opening match between the Matildas and Republic of Ireland, kicking off on July 20th. Sydney will also witness the world champions crowned when the final takes place at Stadium Australia on August 20th.

England face an uphill battle at the competition, despite having won the UEFA EURO 2022 competition. England captain Leah Williamson, who led England to success at EURO 22 and plays for Arsenal, will miss the World Cup after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Her absence from the World Cup will represent a significant blow for Lionesses head coach Sarina Wiegman, who recently revealed star forward Beth Mead will require a “a miracle” to be ready for Australia and New Zealand 2023. 

Mead is also currently rehabilitating from an ACL injury, which she sustained in November. Also, Chelsea midfielder Fran Kirby will also miss out through injury. 

England coach Sarina Wiegman has has named a squad of 23 players, with Maya Le Tissier, Jess Park and Emily Ramsey all on standby.

A total of six players will be travelling to their maiden tournament with the Lionesses, including Chelsea stars Lauren James and Niamh Charles.

England will face Haiti at Lang Park, Brisbane, on July 22nd.

Then, England take on Denmark at Sydney Football Stadium on July 28th. Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide is the venue for England v China on August 1st.

Ireland’s women’s national team will be based in Brisbane for the duration of their stay at the World Cup.

The squad will stay at the Emporium Hotel in Fortitude Valley and use Goodwin Park for training once they land in Brisbane in early July, ahead of the tournament kicking off.

Ireland’s first game in Group B, against the co-hosts Australia, will be played in the Stadium Australia in Sydney on July 20th. 

They then travel to Perth to meet Canada on July 26th in the Perth Rectangular Stadium, and then take on Nigeria in Lang Park in Brisbane on July 31st.

Ireland team manager Vera Pauw said: “We are delighted that our team base camp will be in Brisbane, because it was actually our first choice and will help with our preparation for our games in the World Cup.”

Australia and New Zealand 2023 is not just Republic of Ireland’s first FIFA Women’s World Cup, but the team’s maiden major tournament.

Yet, despite never having made it to a European or global finals before now, the Irish have been edging steadily closer during a decade of sustained improvement. Of the eight debutantes heading Down Under, only Portugal are ranked more highly than Vera Pauw’s side, whose recent scalps include Australia and Scotland.

Australia’s Matildas will also be based out of the Brisbane for the tournament. 

Having faced off against Ireland in the opening game in Sydney, Australia will then meet Nigeria on Thursday, July 27th in Brisbane and complete the group phase against Canada on Monday, July 31st at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium. 

Matildas head coach Tony Gustavsson said: “If you look at a bracket, and you look at the tournament, there are no easy games in this tournament. It’s all about knowing who you’re facing and preparing in the best way possible.”

Speaking about the opening game against Ireland, he added: “Right now, it’s all about the opening game. We want to start the tournament as well as possible.”

This global sporting event will showcase the immense talent of female athletes from around the world. 

Australia and New Zealand will come alive with the energy and excitement that only a World Cup can bring. Fans will have the chance to witness thrilling matches and cheer on their favorite players as they compete against other nations. The atmosphere will be electric as the teams and their supporters create an unforgettable experience that celebrates the power of football to unite communities.

Beyond the on-field action, the Women’s World Cup fosters cultural exchange and friendship. It’s an opportunity for locals to embrace the teams, learn about their footballing traditions, and celebrate the shared love for the game. The tournament creates a sense of camaraderie and leaves a lasting legacy of inspiration, encouraging young girls to dream big and pursue their passion for football.

 So, mark your calendars and get ready to be part of history. 

 Click on the official site to get your tickets. 

*Published 1 July 2023 in Anglo&Celtic magazine.