The ninth FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 kicks off. Australia and New Zealand host 32 nations competing in the biggest international soccer showcase. The contest has only had four champions to date: USA, Germany, Japan and Norway. Spain dreams of joining that select club.
Jorge Vilda's team will debut in the World Cup at the Wellington Regional Stadium on the 21st against Costa Rica. For their second game against Zambia, the team will travel to Auckland, almost 600 kilometers away, to the Eden Park stadium. They will close the group stage with a duel against the Japan team.
Spain will seek to surprise with these 23 players: Misa Rodríguez, Enith Salón, Cata Coll; Irene Paredes, Laia Codina, Ona Batlle, Olga Carmona, Ivana Andrés, Rocío Gálvez, Oihane Hernández; Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmatí, María Pérez, Claudia Zornoza, Teresa Abelleira, Irene Guerrero, Jenni Hermoso; Esther González, Athenea del Castillo, Alba Redondo, Salma Paralluelo, Mariona Caldentey and Eva Navarro.
The national team, led by Alexia Putellas, wants to get past the round of 16 for the first time in its history. In their last participation in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, Jorge Vilda's team fell in this phase against the US team.
This World Cup will be marked by the farewell of Megan Rapinoe, one of the great soccer stars, who will retire after the tournament: "I have been able to have an incredible career and this sport has taken me all over the world and has allowed me to meet many incredible people."
Double world champion with the USA (2015 and 2019) and gold medalist at the 2012 London Olympics, Rapinoe will also hang up her boots with the OL Reign team after this season of the NWSL, which is the professional women's soccer league in that country.
The organization has revealed few details of the opening ceremony, where the two organizing countries will be honored. In addition, BENEE and Mallrat will take the stage to perform Do It Again, the official song of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023, live. Afterwards, two matches at the same time: New Zealand against Norway; and Australia versus Ireland.
The FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 kicks off this Thursday, July 20, simultaneously in Auckland (New Zealand), and Sydney (Australia). After the official opening ceremony, in which the two organizing teams will be honored, from 9:00 am the New Zealand team will face Norway, while the Australians will face Ireland. The meetings can be seen on RTVE.
