2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off in Australia and New Zealand

Women’s World Cup co-hosts New Zealand and Australia start their World Cup campaigns tonight against Norway and Ireland. 

Australia and New Zealand were awarded hosting rights to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2020. After three long years of waiting, the tournament is finally here.

New Zealand and Australia will play Norway and Ireland tonight to kick off a month straight of women’s soccer. 

New Zealand vs. Norway to kick off tournament 

While the 2023 Women’s World Cup is a shared tournament between Australia and New Zealand, all eyes will be on the Kiwis to start the tournament as they face off against Norway today at 19:00 in Auckland’s Eden Park stadium.

Most betting sites have the Lady Ferns as big underdogs against Norway. Bet365 currently gives New Zealand odds of 8.50 to come out on top over the Gresshoppene of Norway. Similarly, Unibet gives New Zealand just 9.50 odds of winning tonight’s encounter.  

Despite the odds, today’s game is a good opportunity for the co-hosts to prove the doubters wrong and start strong in this tournament. However, this  will be a very difficult thing for New Zealand to do. 

New Zealand has won just one of their last 12 matches and has not beaten a European side since March 2020 when they vanquished Belgium in a penalty shootout at the Algarve Cup. 

Norway will be a particularly tricky team for the Lady Ferns to overcome tonight. The Norwegians are led by superstars Ada Hegerberg and Caroline Graham Hansen. 

Norway is also coming into this tournament with something to prove following a disastrous Euros performance where they were beaten by England 8-0 and  failed to get out of the group. 

Australia among the favourites 

Unlike New Zealand, the betting industry actually gives Australia a pretty good chance of doing well at this tournament. 

Australia starts their World Cup campaign today at 20:00 against Ireland at Sydney’s Stadium Australia. Bet365 gives Australia 1.30 odds to get past The Girls in Green tonight. Unibet views Australia as an equally big favourite and gives them the same 1.30 odds.

Looking past the first match, most betting agencies have the Matildas among the top five most likely teams to win it all. Some Australian betting sites even have them among the top three. Bet365 and Unibet give Australia 11,00 odds of winning it all. 

Are the bookies right to favour Australia? We think so. The Matildas are coached by Tony Gustavsson, who has World Cup winning experience as a part of the 2019 USWNT coaching staff. Australia also has star players like Chelsea’s Sam Kerr, who is likely to be one of the best players at this year’s tournament.

The Matildas will face stiff competition via the likes of the USWNT, England, and Germany, who are all considered to be bigger favourites than Australia. The US remains the top choice for the bookies though with 3.50 and 3.60 odds at Bet365 and Unibet, respectively. 

Where to watch the Women’s World Cup

All 64 Women’s World Cup games are available to be live-streamed in Australia and New Zealand. 

In Australia, an Optus Sport subscription will give you access to every game all tournament long. However, this subscription is not free and will cost you $24.99 a month. Some existing Optus customers may be able to get the additional World Cup coverage for  $6.99 a month. 

Alternatively, Australians can watch 15 World Cup games, including all Australia games, for free via Channel 7. 

Things are a little simpler in New Zealand as all 64 Women’s World Cup games will be broadcast live and on-demand via Sky Sport and streaming on Sky Sport Now. 26 matches will be broadcast for free on Sky. 

Australia and New Zealand’s Women’s World Cup adventure starts tonight. Both teams have greatly different expectations put upon them. Whatever happens, tonight’s events will kick off a month of soccer that is sure to captivate both nations.