2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Preview: Group A

The Striker is previewing all eight 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup groups in advance of the tournament's July 20 opener. 

Here's Group A, featuring co-host New Zealand and a Norway team which is likely to win the group. 

New Zealand

FIFA Ranking 

(as of June 9, 2023)

26

Odds 

+20000

2023 record

1-6-1

Women’s World Cup history

The hosts are embarking on their fifth consecutive World Cup, sixth all-time. A reputable record for a country with a population less than the state of Minnesota. However, the Football Ferns have never made it out of the group stage. 

Worse than that, they’ve never actually won a single match at a World Cup. Getting a win on home turf in 2023 would be massive for a nation that has traditionally struggled for goals but had some success limiting the damage at the back. 

It feels a bit cliche, but this home tournament will almost certainly be about the legacy it leaves behind in New Zealand rather than the results on the pitch. 

Player to watch

In early 2021, Rebekah Stott was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. The Brighton & Hove Albion defender moved back to Melbourne for her recovery and by July of that year she announced that the cancer was in remission and her target to play in her home World Cup was back on. 

Stott has played in the NWSL, WSL, the Toppserien and A-League. She brings plenty of experience on and off the pitch. As a center back, she’s good in the air and can patiently wait to survey the danger before committing herself to a challenge. The 30-year-old will be kept busy in the backline but is a key part of New Zealand’s defensive stand. 

Norway

FIFA Ranking 

(as of June 9, 2023)

12

Odds 

+5000

2023 record

1-2-2

Women’s World Cup history

Norway has qualified for every single edition of the women’s World Cup. Along with China and the USA, the 1991 Runners-Up and 1995 Winners were one of the first great powerhouses of international women’s soccer. During the 1990s, Norway were unaffectionately known as those ‘Viking bitches’ by the U.S. women’s national team. 

One of the stars of that 1990s squad, Hege Riise, who also holds the record for the most appearances ever for Norway, is now the head coach of the national team and will be looking to bring her experience of winning to a nation that has underperformed for the best part of a decade. The federation parted ways with former head coach Martin Sjögren, who first took charge in 2016, following an embarrassing 8-0 defeat to England in last year’s UEFA Euros. 

Player to watch

There are a lot of star players on this Norway team, many of whom play for some of the biggest clubs in the world. But due to her sensational 2022-23 season, Chelsea FC’s Guro Reiten might just be the pick of the bunch right now. 

With nine goals and 11 assists in 21 matches, Reiten was a sleeper pick for WSL player of the season. She won a league and FA Cup double with Chelsea as well as reached the Champions League semi finals, where she scored the equalizer in the second leg away to FC Barcelona. The winger is known for her mesmeric crossing ability. She has a gift for making the ball soar through the air. 

Philippines

FIFA Ranking 

(as of June 9, 2023)

46

Odds 

+75000

2023 record

5-4-0

Women’s World Cup history

We have a debutant! Beyond the two host nations, the country with the most hype surrounding their incoming tournament might well be the Philippines. Head coach Alen Stajcic was the head coach of the Australian women’s national team between 2014 and 2019, and brought through a very talented group of young players during that time Down Under.

Stajcic took over the reins of the Philippines in 2021 and hasn’t looked back since. In 2022, the Filipinas made a splash in their region when they journeyed all the way to the semifinal of the Asia Cup. About 90% of the squad were born in the United States and tapping into the Filipina heritage of young Americans has been a huge part of this squad. 

This is a fast riser in world soccer. No team moved up more places (53) in the FIFA Rankings between 2021 and 2022 than the Philippines. The excitement surrounding this team cannot be underestimated. They are a bright, hungry team ready to blaze a trail. 

To learn more about this team, Philippines soccer, and what it’s like being a Filipina-American, I recommend checking out Megan Reyes’ personal storytelling soccer podcast ‘Between Two Worlds.'

Player to watch

Jessika Cowart is a midfielder who currently plays for IFK Kalmar in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan, having played her college years at the University of Washington in Seattle. She also played one season with the highly regarded WPSL club California Storm who are based in Davis. 

The American-Philippina scored her first goal for her country, a towering header from a corner, against Thailand last year in the AESAN Cup. Shielding the defense, and being brave in both boxes, is what Cowart will be tasked with. 

Switzerland

FIFA Ranking 

(as of June 9, 2023)

20

Odds 

+25000

2023 record

0-1-5

Women’s World Cup history

2023 will be just the second time ever that the Swiss have participated in a World Cup. Their only other tournament, the 2015 edition in Canada, saw them emphatically thrash Ecuador 10-1 and qualify for the Round of 16. There, the hosts narrowly beat the Swiss 1-0 to end an overall successful excursion for “La Nati.”

Switzerland had a disappointing EURO 2022 last summer, drawing one match and losing the other two in the group stages. That also included throwing away an early 2-0 lead against Portugal, and then clinging on for a draw as the Southern Europeans stormed back. 

Things have been up and down since. The Swiss bounced back and were solid in World Cup qualifying, eventually taking care of a much-fancied Wales side in the playoff last October. But the road to this tournament has been filled with false starts. The central Europeans hosted Zambia and Morocco two weeks ago for some friendly matches in Switzerland. Those tilts finished 3-3 and 0-0 respectively. 

Player to watch

A nasty-looking ankle injury, suffered against Everton last May, curtailed the end of Lia Walti’s 2022-23 season. But the Arsenal midfielder is expected to be fit and firing again for the World Cup, and has been included in Inka Grings’ squad. 

That being said, Walti was an unused substitute in the recent friendlies against Zambia and Morocco. So it’s hard to know just how much usage this elite ball-winner will get.

Should she be ready to play 60 or 90 minutes, then she is the most important player on this roster to make the Swiss function. Against Norway, she’ll scan and ball hawk. dropping into half spaces and winning back possession. When facing New Zealand and the Philippines, Walti will be expected to pick up the ball from the backline and start attacks. 

Who is most likely to advance from the group? 

This group is Norway’s to lose. As a host, New Zealand was given a number one seed for the World Cup draw. That means this group is missing a more established top-ranked nation. Thus, Group A is a little more open than most.

Even though the Scandinavians have underperformed at recent tournaments, they should still top the group. Of course, sometimes it’s not that easy. But the second spot could be one of the most captivating in the World Cup. I think we could see the Philippines cause a huge story by getting out of the group. They are the most in-form of the other teams in this group. While Switzerland has a better squad, taking the game to New Zealand and the Philippines may not come naturally to them. 

Match schedule

• New Zealand vs. Norway, Thursday, July 20, 3 a.m. ET (Eden Park, Auckland) 
• Philippines vs. Switzerland, Friday, July 21, 1 a.m. ET (Dunedin Stadium, Dunedin)
• New Zealand vs. Philippines, Tuesday, July 25, 1:30 a.m. ET (Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington)
• Switzerland vs. Norway, Tuesday, July 25, 4 a.m. ET (Waikato Stadium, Hamilton)
• Norway vs. Philippines, Sunday, July 30, 3 a.m. ET (Eden Park, Auckland)
• Switzerland vs. New Zealand, Sunday, July 30, 3 a.m. ET (Dunedin Stadium, Dunedin)