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There’s no denying that the popularity of women’s soccer has grown over the years. The game takes another step forward, with the 2023 World Cup tournament expanding from 24 to 32 teams this year. Fans all around the world are gearing up for this year’s tournament, with Group Stage play set to begin Thursday, July 20.
Australia and New Zealand will co-host this year, with games slated to be played in both countries over the next month and change. Following group play, and the knockout rounds, a champion will be crowned on Aug. 20 at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
There’s a wide variety of ways to wager on the tournament, but we will focus on group winners in this article. With the expansion to 32 teams, just like the men’s tournament, there are now eight groups of four who will battle it out in a round-robin format in hopes of advancing to the knockout round. We’ll be taking a look at each group, and providing our picks to win each group, even though two teams from each group will advance.
Should there be a tie in the individual group standings, the first tiebreaker will be goal differential. If the two teams are level in that statistic, the team who has scored more goals in group play would be deemed the winner of the group. There are additional tiebreakers if a winner still hasn’t been decided, but we won’t go down that rabbit hole.
Instead, we’ll get right to the analysis and picks.
2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Group Winners: Odds, Picks & Predictions
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Group A
Norway (-280) is the prohibitive favorite to win the group. The Norwegians are currently ranked as the 12th best team in the world according to the FIFA Women’s World Rankings. The 1995 world champions are led by strikers Caroline Graham Hansen and Ada Hegerberg, along with the legendary Maren Mjelde as their stalwart defender. Switzerland (+490) and Tournament co-host New Zealand (+550) figure to give Norway a little competition, but the favorites are far and away the best bet here.
The Pick: Norway (-280)
Group B
The other co-host nation, Australia (-185), is the favorite in this group. The 10th-ranked Matildas, as they’re affectionately known and will have plenty of support from the fans. Still, will it be enough to capture the top spot in a group that has Canada (+200) in it? This group may come down to how those two squads fare against the other two teams, Ireland and Nigeria. The reigning Olympic champion Canadian women are led by their captain Christine Buchanan and have the depth and experience to emerge as the group winner.
The Pick: Canada (+200)
Group C
In what might be one of the more competitive groups of the tournament, Spain (-340) is the favorite to win the group, with Japan (+290) the next most likely to advance in the top spot. The world’s sixth-ranked Spanish squad will get a huge lift with the return of midfielder Alexia Putellas who recently returned from a year-long absence due to knee surgery. Zambia (+4900) and Costa Rica (+10000) round out the group, and despite the long odds, both have a chance to advance.
The Pick: Japan (+290)
Group D
Currently ranked as the fourth-best team in the world, England (-850) is a heavy favorite to finish at the top of the group. Keeper Mary Earps is the primary reason. The UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 Best Keeper posted 14 clean sheets in 22 appearances for Manchester United last season. If anyone will challenge the English for the top spot, Denmark (+850) figures to have the best shot, while China and Haiti will need monumental efforts in group play to advance.
The Pick: England (-850)
Group E
The two-time defending champion United States (-310) are the favorites to win the group, but their matchup with the Netherlands (+260) could decide the group. American Megan Rapinoe will be making her fourth and final appearance for the national team before officially retiring from the sport and handing off the torch to fellow striker Alex Morgan as the leader of the squad. Portugal and Vietnam don’t figure to challenge for the top spot in the group.
The Pick: United States (-310)
Group F
This group will come down to France (-170) and Brazil (+160). The French side was dealt a huge blow with the news that elite midfielder Amandine Henry will miss the tournament due to a calf injury. That development opens the door for Debhina and her Brazilian teammates to take hold of the group. Jamaica and Panama round out the group but should not be in contention to take the top spot.
The Pick: Brazil (+160)
Group G
If you’ve got the bankroll to back a big number, this group may be where you want to turn your attention. Sweden (-370) is behind only the U.S. and Germany in the world rankings, and their toughest challenge in the group could come in the form of 16th-ranked Italy. Argentina and South Africa are the other two squads in this group. While the Argentinians are the reigning champions on the men’s side, there’s no equivalent to Lionel Messi on their women’s squad.
The Pick: Sweden (-370)
Group H
Can Colombia (+1700) or South Korea (+1900) find a way to win this group? It’s highly unlikely. In what may be the least-competitive group of the tournament, Germany (-1000) is a monster favorite. Captain Alexandra Popp leads a talented group, ranked second in the world, that can sleepwalk through group play. Even if they actually fall asleep on the pitch, they still might win it anyway.
The Pick: Germany (-1000)
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