Preview - Group D: Denmark v China PR

Sat, 22 Jul, 2023

Preview - Group D: Denmark v China PR

Perth: Head coach Shui Qingxia is confident China PR will put their best foot forward against Denmark in their FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group D opener at the Perth Rectangular Stadium on Saturday.

China PR, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ India 2022 champions, come into the tie having a psychological advantage against the Danes, having won three of their previous meetings against the European side who are appearing in the World Cup for the first time since 2007.

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Group C: Spain cruise past Costa Rica

Fri, 21 Jul, 2023

Group C: Spain cruise past Costa Rica

Wellington: Spain fired a warning shot to their FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 rivals with a 3-0 defeat of Costa Rica on Friday, with superstar Alexia Putellas making a late cameo off the bench.

The Spaniards showed why they're among the favourites in a Group C tie in Wellington, rifling 46 shots against opponents who spent nearly the entire game defending.

Group A: Philippines go down fighting against Switzerland

Fri, 21 Jul, 2023

Group A: Philippines go down fighting against Switzerland

Dunedin: Philippines marked their historic FIFA Women’s World Cup debut with a creditable 2-0 defeat to Switzerland at Dunedin Stadium on Friday.

Alen Stajcic’s side put on a performance that was organised, committed and frustrated Switzerland for long spells until Ramona Bachmann’s first-half penalty gave the European side the lead. Seraina Piubel doubled the advantage on 64 minutes to see La Nati take all three points and claim an early lead at the top of Group A.

Preview - Group C: Zambia v Japan

Fri, 21 Jul, 2023

Preview - Group C: Zambia v Japan

Hamilton: Japan will tread with caution when they meet Zambia in their opening FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group C match at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on Saturday. 

The 2011 winners are determined to kick off on a high but head coach Futoshi Ikeda is fully aware of the threat debutants Zambia pose. 
 
Their 2011 triumph was followed by a runners-up finish four years later but a transitional period saw Japan eliminated by the Netherlands in the Round of 16 four years ago and the East Asian side are determined to regain their lost glories in Australia & New Zealand. 

Preview - Group E: United States v Vietnam

Fri, 21 Jul, 2023

Preview - Group E: United States v Vietnam

Auckland: Skipper Huynh Nhu has called on her teammates to remember their sacrifices ahead of their FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group E opener against the United States on Saturday.

The tie against the defending champions at Auckland's Eden Park will see Vietnam making their World Cup bow and Huynh Nhu said she hopes their appearance will spark the development of the game in the Southeast Asian nation.

Group B: Nnadozi heroics deny Canada victory

Fri, 21 Jul, 2023

Group B: Nnadozi heroics deny Canada victory

Melbourne: Christine Sinclair had a penalty saved as Olympic champions Canada were held 0-0 in their Group B opener by Nigeria, who saw Deborah Abiodun pick up the first red card of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 on Friday.

The 40-year-old skipper Sinclair is hoping to make history in Australia and New Zealand by becoming the first player to score at six World Cups.

Gustavsson applauds gritty Matildas

Sat, 22 Jul, 2023

Gustavsson applauds gritty Matildas

Sydney: Australia head coach Tony Gustavsson praised his team’s mental resilience after kicking off their FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 campaign with a narrow 1-0 win over Group B rivals the Republic of Ireland on Thursday despite the absence of captain Sam Kerr due to injury.

Chelsea striker Kerr was left out of the starting line-up for the Matildas’ tournament debut after sustaining a calf strain on Wednesday, but Steph Catley’s 52nd minute penalty was enough to earn the tournament co-hosts their first three points of the competition.

Tears, cheers and hugs as New Zealand celebrate first ever win

Fri, 21 Jul, 2023

Tears, cheers and hugs as New Zealand celebrate first ever win

Auckland: New Zealand head coach Jitka Klimkova described seeing her team claim the country's historic first FIFA World Cup win - men or women - as "an incredible feeling" on Thursday.

The Women's World Cup co-hosts defeated former champions Norway 1-0 to open the tournament in front of a near-capacity crowd at Eden Park in Auckland.

Group B: Cool Catley secures Australia victory

Thu, 20 Jul, 2023

Group B: Cool Catley secures Australia victory

Sydney: A penalty from stand-in captain Steph Catley earned Australia a winning start to their FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 campaign on Thursday as the co-hosts overcame the loss of talismanic striker Sam Kerr to hand the Republic of Ireland a 1-0 defeat at Stadium Australia.

Catley scored from the spot seven minutes into the second half for a team shorn of their most recognisable player after regular captain Kerr was ruled out due to a calf injury sustained in training on the eve of the game.

Group A: New Zealand claim historic win in opener

Thu, 20 Jul, 2023

Group A: New Zealand claim historic win in opener

Auckland: Hannah Wilkinson scored the only goal as co-hosts New Zealand recorded a historic 1-0 victory over Norway in the opening game of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 on Thursday.

It was the country's first-ever win at the World Cup and came in front of more than 42,000 in Auckland, the biggest crowd in New Zealand football history.