Women’s World Cup 2023: Everything you need to know about USWNT

United States′ World Cup 2023 fixtures, betting odds and statistics

[STATISTICS]

You can read all about Vietnam, Netherlands and Portugal by clicking on their names here.

How did United States qualify?

United States qualified by winning the CONCACAF W Championship. They won all three group games, against Haiti, Jamaica and Mexico, beat Costa Rica in the semi-finals before a 1-0 victory over Canada in the final.

United States’ major tournament record

World Cup

Best World Cup result: Winners- 1991, 1999, 2015 & 2019.

CONCACAF W Championship

Best CWC result: Winners- 1991, 1993, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2018 & 2022.

Olympic Games

Best Olympics result: Gold Medalists- 1996, 2004, 2008 & 2012.

United States at World Cup 2023

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Will the United States complete the three-peat Down Under?

In 2015, they ended their 16-year wait for World Cup glory by hammering Japan 5-2 in Vancouver, before retaining the trophy for the very first time, defeating Netherlands 2-0 last time round.

So now, can the USWNT become the first team, men’s or women’s, to pick up three on the bounce?

While the Stars and Stripes are the favourites, there is concern about this team’s capabilities, for a number of reasons.

In their only inter-continental tournament since the most-recent World Cup, the U.S. disappointed at the 2021 Olympics, crashing out to Canada in the semi-finals, before salvaging bronze by beating Austria.

Many supporters remain unconvinced by manager Vlatko Andonovski, with these fears heightened last year when USA lost three successive friendlies against European heavyweights.

They were beaten 2-1 at Wembley by England, 2-0 in Pamplona by Spain and then 2-1 when Germany visited Fort Lauderdale, thereby suffering three loses on the bounce for the first time since April 1993.

So far in 2023, the U.S. boast a perfect record, seven wins out of seven, putting nine past New Zealand across two games, beating Brazil, China and Canada in SheBelieves Cup before two narrow victories over Ireland.

At the World Cup itself, the United States are likely to kick off with an emphatic win, akin to their 13-0 demolition of Thailand, when they take on debutants Vietnam at Eden Park.

After that, it’s a World Cup Final rematch with Netherlands, a side who aren’t as good as they once were, before returning to Auckland to take on another debutant Portugal.

The U.S. are likely to cruise through a group and their route to the final is favourable, with Canada, Australia, England, France, Brazil and Germany all on the other side of the bracket.

There are issues with this team, the manager, style of player, injury concerns and lack of match-practice against Europe’s best, but USA certainly have the talent to complete the three-peat.

No one should be surprise if they do.

United States team news

Captain Becky Sauerbrunn will not be adding to her 216 caps this summer due to injury, leaving the U.S. short of centre-back options.

Meanwhile, winger Mallory Swanson is also heartbreakingly out, a massive blow, tearing her left patella tendon during the friendly against Republic of Ireland in April.

Catarina Macario also missed out due to a long-term injury, but Rose Lavelle, who hasn’t played any minutes since April, has made the roster.

Ashley Hatch was surprisingly not included in the squad, leaving Alex Morgan as the only out-and-out centre-forward making the trip Down Under.

United States′ key players: Julie Ertz

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Julie Ertz is back and that is a massive boost to the United States’ hopes of glory.

She was part of the U.S. team that won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, but then didn’t play for almost two years, enabling her to give birth to her first son.

Ertz made here highly-anticipated comeback against Republic of Ireland, coming on at half time in both friendlies on 8 and 12 April.

After that, she joined Angel City FC, making seven appearances for the NWSL club, scoring against Portland Thorns in just her second club game back.

So, to say the 31 year old is lacking a bit of match practice would be a massive understatment, but her importance to this team is undeniable.

Ertz will start at the base of USA’s midfield, capable of both breaking up play and dictating the tempo of a game.

Put frankly, Andi Sullivan, who’d been deputising as the number six, just is nowhere near as good, which isn’t even a slight on her, it’s just that Ertz is one of the best, so her return elevates this team enormously.

Also, with just three centre-backs on the roster, one of whom is Emily Sonnett who’s way past her best, Vlatko Andonovski strongly hinted that Ertz is an option at centre-back.

Tis is most likely to happen in games when the U.S. are going to dominate the ball, namely their opener against Vietnam.

United States′ key players: Sophia Smith

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One of the leading candidates to be player of the entire tournament this summer is winger Sophia Smith, who is primed to burst onto the scene on a global scale.

With Mallory Swanson out injured, Trinity Rodman and Smith will be the US’ starting wingers, and very few teams can boast that sort of quality.

Smith, just 22 years old, has already scored 12 times for USA, netting twice at the CONCACAF W Championship against Jamaica, most-recently on target against both England and Germany in friendlies.

At club level, she plays for current NWSL leaders Portland Thorns, scoring 28 goals and providing ten assists since the start of last season.

The Thorns won the NWSL play-offs last year, beating Kansas City Current 2-0 at Audi Field, with Smith breaking the deadlock and named player of the match, subsequently named the league’s MVP.

Given that this’ll be her first major tournament, and she plays domestically, Smith is a bit of an unknown outside of North America, but that’ll rapidly change this summer.

United States′ key players: Alex Morgan

(Alamy Stock Photo)

At the other end of the expirence scale, centre-forward Alex Morgan is set to feature at her fourth World Cup, never failing to reach the final, winning this trophy twice already.

Only nine USWNT players have won more than Morgan’s 206 caps, while she’s also their fifth-highest goal-scorer of all-time, currently on a very impressive 121.

To date, the 33 year old has scored at three different World Cups and three different Olympic Games.

Four summers ago, she bagged five as the U.S. demolished Thailand 13-0, before heading home the winner against England in the semi-finals, doing her now infamous ‘sipping tea’ celebration afterwards.

Morgan joined San Diego Wave for their expansion season in 2022, scoring 25 goals in 36 appearances to date as they finished third in their inaugural season, currently sixth in the NWSL.

Despite her age, Morgan remains this team’s focal point in attack, and is still a lethal finisher.

With Ashley Hatch left off the roster, Morgan is the only centre-forward in this squad, the other five attackers are all wingers, she she’s a guaranteed starter and remains someone who guarantees goals.

United States′ possible starting line-up for World Cup 2023

United States′ full squad for World Cup 2023

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Group E table