Women's World Cup 2023 Preview

Magazine

The Women’s World Cup is bigger than ever, literally and figuratively. The expansion to a 32-team field—up from the dozen that played in the inaugural tournament in 1991—will bring eight first-time participants to Australia and New Zealand this summer. The women’s game has truly gone global, making this the most intriguing Women’s World Cup ever played. The U.S. has owned international soccer for more than three decades, with four World Cup stars on the national team jersey to show for it. The Americans are, indisputably, still the best team in the world. But, unlike years past, they can no longer be penciled into the semifinals. There are simply too many great players—and great teams—in the rest of the world.