Luke Andrews Discusses Women’s World Cup 2023 Odds

by Luke Andrews, 13 July 2023

The 2023 Women’s World Cup is just days away, and with interest in the women’s game higher than ever, it promises to be a great spectacle. In this article, I’ll explore the latest Women’s World Cup odds, highlighting the favourites to win the tournament and giving you the lowdown on the race for the Golden Boot. In addition, I’ll share the TV schedule for the first week of games. So, join me as I anticipate a great month of footballing action.

Women’s football has come a long way from its first match, played in the 1800s in Scotland, and the first revamped World Cup tournament that was held in China in 1991. We are only days away from the ninth edition of the Women’s World Cup, which begins on 20th July and ends on 20th August and will be co-hosted in New Zealand and Australia.

For English fans, betting on the women’s World Cup could prove profitable after the Lionesses made the nation proud by winning the Euros. There is a belief that Sarina Wiegman can go one better and win the biggest prize in international football, the World Cup.

We expect the 2023 World Cup to be a record-breaking event and take the sport to a higher level in terms of performance in quality to become one of the best events in the tournament’s history.

In this article, I’ll look at the Women’s World Cup odds, analysing the teams and the players that could shine in the edition. I’ll also highlight some of the social issues facing women footballers and the fightback with campaigns such as the #METOO movement. To wrap things up, I’ll tell you how you can watch every game.

Brief History of the Revamped Women’s World Cup

Although there have been previous attempts at holding a World Cup, such as the 1970 Women’s World Cup held in Italy, the modern reboot was first held thirty-two years ago in China and won by the USA.

The previous edition was in 2019, which was hosted by France and won by the USA. The Stars and Stripes are the most successful team in the competition, with four trophies, including two successive tournaments (2016, 2019). Germany has won two consecutive titles, with Japan and Norway winning once.

The number of teams has increased from twelve since its inception, to sixteen in 1999, to twenty-four in 2015, with this edition increasing to thirty-two.

There are eight groups, each playing the round-robin tournament, each playing against each other, gaining three points for a win and one point for a draw. The best two from each group head to the knockout phase commenting from ‘the round of sixteen, quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals, losing half the number of teams in each stage till the winner is decided.

2023 Women’s World Cup – Latest Odds

The USA Women’s team have won the previous two editions of the World Cup (2015, 2019) and is in excellent form. Therefore, seeing them top the Women’s World Cup odds list (5/2) is no surprise.

Likewise, it was also predictable that England would have low Women’s World Cup winners’ odds. The Euro champs are priced at 6/1 with bet365 to win back-to-back tournaments.

CHAMPIONS 🦁🦁🦁

ENGLAND DEFEATS GERMANY 2-1 TO WIN THE WOMEN’S EURO 2022! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏆 pic.twitter.com/ejrj0vZvJD

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 31, 2022

Spain (6/1) has been consistently good in recent years and are priced at 6/1 odds for the Women’s World Cup, close to two-time World Cup winners Germany (7/1). Also among the favoured teams are France (9/1), Sweden (6/1), Australia (14/1), and fan favourites Brazil (25/1).

There is likely to be plenty of interest in how the Republic of Ireland fares in the country’s first ever Women’s World Cup. They are in a potentially tricky group alongside co-hosts Australia, Canada and Nigeria. They are rank outsiders, with their Women’s World Cup football odds set at 250/1.

2023 Women’s World Cup Odds – The Favourites

In this section, I’ll take a closer look at some of the teams that have the lowest odds for the Women’s World Cup and are likely to challenge for the ultimate prize in football.

2023 Women’s World Cup – USA

The team ranked number one in the world consistently enters each tournament as the clear favourites, boasting four titles, including two consecutive ones, which swings the World Cup winner’s odds in their favour. As the reigning World Champions and the CONCACAF champions, they aim to be the first nation to secure three consecutive trophies in both men’s and women’s categories.

🇺🇸USA remains the only nation to host and win the Women’s World Cup since its inception.

They made it happen in 1999 after defeating China on penalties in front of 90,185 fans seated at the stadium.

…11 days to go.#RachySpot #FIFAWWC #AUSNZL pic.twitter.com/rDzJgcCo6M

— 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐲𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭✨💎 (@iseoluwarachy) July 9, 2023

They share their group with the Netherlands, Vietnam, and Portugal, and have never placed lower than third in a World Cup. With many of their star players, such as Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, potentially participating in their final World Cup, they are set to launch a vigorous campaign. They aim to make history by winning three consecutive titles as they conclude their World Cup journey.

Women’s World Cup odds: 5/2

2023 Women’s World Cup – England

The reigning European Champions are among the top World Cup women’s favourites, hoping to conquer the world. The Lionesses have never won or competed in the final but have made two consecutive semi-final appearances in the previous two editions. They finished third place in 2015 and fourth place in 2019 and will need to move an extra step to come closer to triumph. They recently won their first European competition and thus will be highly enthusiastic to compete at this World Cup with a spring in their step.

The Lionesses are group favourites against China, Denmark, and Haiti. They, however, have a tricky side as they could meet Australia or Canada and possibly Germany or France but have the ability as they have proven to go all the way and win.

The manager Sarina Wiegman has shifted the team from a 4-3-3 formation to a 4-2-3-1 and, on some occasions, went for a back three playing the 3-4-3 formation. They have adapted to matches and competition with their resilience and dynamism, their biggest strength.

“Wiegman has been unbelievable.”

“It’s all to do with her. She is elite!”@LucyJWard_ explains what makes Sarina Wiegman so crucial for the Lionesses.

📺 Watch more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8arf4Dttpo&feature=youtu.be

🤝 With @ArnoldClark #Ad pic.twitter.com/FvMtWyZDA5

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) July 10, 2023

The England Women’s team will head to the competition without three key players; Beth Maed, the top scorer in their Euro triumph, talented attacking playmaker Fran Kirby, and captain Leah Williamson.

England’s odds of winning the Women’s Word Cup are set at 9/2, which means they are not the outright favourites but present a strong team that can challenge USA’s dominance.

Women’s World Cup odds: 9/2

2023 Women’s World Cup – Spain

The team currently ranked sixth in the world, has emerged as a global powerhouse in recent years, consistently maintaining a position within the top ten. La Rojas are undergoing significant changes under the guidance of head coach Jorge Vilda, who has extensively reshaped his team, a proven beneficial strategy. This rejuvenated and spirited team appears highly motivated and ready to perform. Recent matches have yielded impressive victories against Norway and the United States, demonstrating their growing ruthlessness as a team. They further showcased their potential by delivering a stunning 7-0 victory over Argentina, suggesting they could be the competition’s dark horses. This will be their third tournament appearance; they were eliminated in the group stage in 2015 but managed to advance to the round of sixteen in the 2019 edition.

Women’s World Cup odds: 6/1

2023 Women’s World Cup – Germany

Germany is ranked second in the FIFA Women ranking and the second most successful team at the World Cup with two trophies. They head to the tournament in impressive form, losing just two matches in 2022. They are in group H alongside Colombia, Morocco, and South Korea. Since their consecutive victories in 2003 and 2007, the best performance by Die Nationalelf was securing fourth place in the 2015 edition. They will be hoping to perform better and relive the glory days, and a victory will cement their place as the second-best team, one trophy behind the USA, who are gunning for their fifth.

Women’s World Cup odds: 7/1

2023 Women’s World Cup – Sweden

Sweden finished third in the 2019 edition, won silver in the 2021 Olympic Games, and reached the semi-finals of the Euro 2022, which shows they can perform on the bigger stage. They will head to the World Cup, hoping to go one more step and become the fifth nation to win the coveted trophy. I expect them to be perfect in the group that contains South Africa, Italy, and Argentina, as they are among the outright favourites to win the trophy.

Women’s World Cup odds: 16/1

2023 Women’s World Cup – Canada

Bev Priestman operates on survival instincts, working to his team’s strength. That is comprised of a world-class goalkeeper and several great defenders. They will work on defending their way to victory as they can rely on their defence against the best teams in the world. They won the 2021 Olympic Games beating third-placed FIFA Women’s team Sweden in the finals, showing how they can match up against the top teams.

#Olympics Women’s Football Final 🥇🥈 FT Sweden W 1 – 1 Canada W (AET) (Penalties: 2-3)

Canada W 🇨🇦 are 2021 #Olympics 🥇 medal Champions and their first ever 🥇medal in the football. while Sweden have won the 🥈, congrats to all the Winners.

1. Canada 🥇 2. Sweden 🥈 pic.twitter.com/9Y12SKlw5b

— Dekisa Sports (@Dekisa_Sports) August 6, 2021

They are comprised of the group of death alongside Nigeria, the Republic of Ireland, and Australia. Their best performance in the World Cup was a semi-final hoping to match their best performance in the competition, a fourth-place finish in 2003. The seventh FIFA-ranked team could defend their way to victory, keeping goals away and looking for just a single goal to maximise their results in a classic Jose Mourinho tactic. They may be high odds to be the Women’s World Cup winners, but they could be worth a punt in the each-way market.

Women’s World Cup odds: 33/1

2023 Women’s World Cup – The Players to Watch

Keira Walsh, Alexia Putellas, Christine Sinclair, Sam Kerr, Marta, and Alex Morgan are notable players who have already left an indelible imprint on the global football scene and are prepared to do so once more. Let’s explore their journeys and what we can expect from them in the upcoming World Cup.

Keira Walsh

The England and Barcelona midfielder heads to the World Cup as one of the stars, having played an integral part in his nation’s victory in the European games and his club winning the Champions League. The twenty-six-year-old has a significant impact on the team, and. Her performances have significantly affected the results because the team performs well if she plays. Walsh is tactically brilliant, with creative instincts to control the midfield dictating the match’s pace.

Alexia Putellas

The two-time Ballon d’Or champion has made a triumphant comeback from a ten-month injury, bolstering Spain’s prospects of excelling in this year’s tournament. In her first match back, the 29-year-old scored a goal just 22 minutes into the game, leading her team to a resounding 7-0 victory. After missing the Euros due to injury, she is keen to make up for lost time, knowing that her team’s success heavily relies on her performance.

Christine Sinclair

The renowned Canadian footballer boasts 190 goals and more than 300 appearances. She has competed in five World Cups, scoring in each one, and has participated in four Olympic Games, earning the title of Canada Soccer Player of the Year fourteen times during her career. Now at 40 years old and potentially facing her final tournament, she is determined to deliver her best performance while at the pinnacle of her illustrious career.

Sam Kerr

The Chelsea forward has performed brilliantly for her club since the last World Cup, helping them clinch four successive Women’s Super League titles. Known for shining in high-pressure situations, she scored the crucial winning goal in the Women’s FA Cup final against Manchester United. She is arguably one of the greatest of all time in women’s football and heads to the world cup in impressive goal-scoring form. The 29-year-old has sixty international goals and was the top scorer in the 2022 Women’s Asian Cup despite playing just four games and scoring seven goals. She scored five goals in the 2019 edition and will captain Australia hoping to lead his country to victory as he has done for his club.

Marta

With age comes wisdom, and experience often enriches performance. The seasoned Brazilian star, Marta, hopes to guide the women’s team to mirror the men’s World Cup triumph as she prepares for her sixth World Cup, aged thirty-seven. As she navigates the latter stages of a prosperous career, she holds the title of six-time FIFA World Player of the Year and maintains the record for the highest number of goals scored in the World Cup, with a total of seventeen goals.

Alex Morgan

At thirty-four years old and moving towards the end of her football career, she aspires to secure another World Cup victory, which would mark an unprecedented three consecutive wins. This achievement could be a distinctive way to conclude her career. Morgan was named the Player of the Tournament at the CONCACAF Women’s Championship, where she scored the decisive goal in the final. She has earned two hundred caps for her country, amassing a total of one hundred and twenty-one goals. A genuine contender for the tournament’s top scorer, she possesses all the necessary skills to guide her team towards winning the ninth edition of the Women’s World Cup.

The Race for the 2023 Women’s World Cup Golden Boot

Although there is plenty of interest in the Women’s World Cup winners’ odds, another market that is very popular with punters is betting on the eventual winner of the Golden Boot, the award for the top scorer at the tournament.

Megan Rapinoe, the forward for the United States women’s national soccer team, emerged as the recipient of the prestigious Golden Boot at the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup. This recognition comes after her team secured a 2-0 victory over the Netherlands in the final match. Rapinoe, 34 years old, notched a crucial penalty goal in the second half, concluding the tournament with a remarkable tally of six goals and three assists. Although her teammate, Alex Morgan, also delivered six goals and three assists throughout the tournament held in France, Rapinoe claimed the award due to her superior minutes per-goal ratio (428 to 490).

In addition to the Golden Boot, Rapinoe was honoured with the Golden Ball, which is bestowed upon the tournament’s most exceptional player.

Despite winning the award, Rapinoe is long odds to retain the title, priced at 100/1.

Alex Morgan is the top contender to net the most goals at the Women’s World Cup this summer. The American footballer matched her teammate, Megan Rapinoe, and England’s Ellen White with six goals at the 2019 tournament. This year, Morgan is set to claim the golden boot solely for herself, and considering she’s playing for the powerhouse USA team, her chances are high.

Morgan boasts an impressive record of 121 goals for her nation in over 200 appearances, and she’s known to shine when the stakes are high. Despite not being at her peak performance for San Diego Wave last season, there’s a sense that she’s been conserving her energy for this tournament, especially as it might be her swan song.

We’re 9 DAYS away from @FIFAWWC, so it’s time to meet the women who make up #TeamUSA! This is Alex Morgan⚽️ pic.twitter.com/UPvhQOypec

— FOX49 (@FOX49_ETWC) July 11, 2023

Morgan is expected to hit the ground running at the tournament when the USA face off against Vietnam in their first group match. With Vietnam sitting 32 spots below the USA in the global rankings, many are forecasting a resounding victory for Vlatko Andonovski’s team.

With Beth Mead sidelined, England Women’s team will be relying on players like Rachel Daly and Alessia Russo to bring in the goals this summer as they aim for a European Championship and World Cup double victory. Daly is anticipated to be the linchpin of the England squad at the World Cup, following an exceptional season with Aston Villa in the Women’s Super League.

The 31-year-old was the standout performer for Villa throughout the season, netting 22 goals in as many appearances. Her scoring prowess won her the golden boot in the Super League, and she’s currently in the best form of her career. Another golden boot award might be within reach if she can carry her club performance into the World Cup.

Daly and the England team will kick off their World Cup journey against Haiti, providing a prime chance for the strikers to start tallying goals from the get-go.

Sam Kerr could be an option as she has high Women’s World Cup football odds for the Golden Boot. The Australian joined Chelsea in 2020 and has been one of their most consistent players, securing two golden boot awards in her three seasons with the club. Although her return of 12 goals last season was a disappointment by her high standards, you feel playing in a major tournament in her own country will be a significant motivating factor to the 29-year-old.

“In the race for the Golden Boot, the American duo of Alex Morgan and Sophia Smith are favourites, but I’m backing Sam Kerr to top the scorers’ list. The Chelsea forward has scored 54 goals in her three years in London and will be keen to impress in her home country.” – Luke Andrews, Betting Expert – UK Market.

#METOO Movement and Boycotts

The #METOO movement is a social movement that highlights the plights of women, encouraging them to speak about vices such as rape, sexual harassment, and sexual abuse. The initial context started in 2006, but the harsh tag and radicalisation began in 2017 to draw attention to the issue’s magnitude and how fast it needs to be addressed.

The notion is derived from this view; some perpetrators are usually people in high offices and with financial capabilities meaning they are untouched by a single voice and can easily bribe or shut off a single person making an accusation.

Most of the victims don’t even know the proper channels to address their complaints, and they do; they are frustrated by the lack of seriousness taken on the case. High-profile sexual perpetrators usually have numerous victims as they feel invisible to the repercussions of their actions.

The #METOO movement, as the name suggests, means bringing together the voices of the victims against a single perpetrator to face the offender and bring justice to marginalised people collectively. When numerous people make the same accusation against one offender, they tend to take notice; thus, the movement has been a liberating voice and comforting haven for victims to bring their voices together and seek justice, especially the high-profile offenders.

There have been no high-profile boycotts by women footballers, but I expect them to make a massive stand in the reigning fight for equal pay in women’s sports. The conversation has been ongoing for a long time, and the Women’s world cup’s attention could be a convenient platform to intensify the quest.

At the dawn of the 2019 World Cup, the #METOO movement was influential in pushing for the harassment charge against Ahmad Ahmad. At the time, he was the leader of the African Soccer Confederation and became the first of the six regional governing bodies to be accused of such atrocities. The case set the standard that even the most influential people in football are not above the law, especially those who manage women and women part of the game with powerful positions leaving players and staff vulnerable to abuse and harassment.

The internal investigation fueled by the rising concern raised by the #METOO movement prompted an internal investigation into the then FIFA vice president. Ahmad had many accusations, but the one whistle-blowing case was dismissing an employee in 2017 after she refused to be romantically involved with her.

The case is a small epitome of the virus of sexual harassment and exploitation that has crept from the top, ruining progress and hurting development in women’s sports. The official, a close associate of FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, would receive the limelight as FIFA was also on the sport on how they would handle the situation.

The METOO movement has inspired women to have a voice regardless of the perpetrators. Hope Solo accused Sepp Blatter of groping her at the awards ceremony. There was also a case in Gabon where senior officials in the under-twenty women’s team sexually asualted and mistreated the players.

Hope #Solo claims to @expresso she was sexually assaulted by former #FIFA president Sepp #Blatter. #MeToo https://twitter.com/expresso/status/929086383997837313

— André Ferreira (@_andrecferreira) November 10, 2017

The main agenda of such cases and organisations is not to bring down officials in power but to highlight the behaviour and to speak to the women, especially victims, to come forward and report regardless of their status.

The Women’s World Cup Impact on the Women’s Game

The tournament has put women’s football on the map, increasing the attention and coverage of women’s sports independently from the men’s version. The decision to hold the Women’s World Cup in the odd-numbered years (2015, 2019, 2023 etc) is a stroke of genius as it means there is either a men’s or women’s major tournament (Euros or World Cup) every year.

The World Cup has improved the quality of women’s football; thus, people now recognise and appreciate the input and effort these athletes have put towards the game. There have also been improved funding and increased sponsorship that increase the revenue and income of the players.

It will be logical to conclude that the Women’s World cup has been the centre stage in keeping women’s sports on the map, a move that has impacted the growth of the sport all over the world. The Women’s World Cup has also produced a boom for bookmakers as football betting is traditionally the most popular vertical at the best sports betting sites. There is plenty of interest in discovering the Women’s World Cup odds and this year’s tournament is likely to be lucrative for operators.

How Can I Watch the 2023 Women’s World Cup?

The competition is set to commence on 20th July 2023, featuring an inaugural match that pits the hosting team, New Zealand, against Norway. Later in the day, Australia will initiate their campaign against Ireland.

The decisive knockout rounds are slated to start on the 5th of August. The grand finale of the World Cup is scheduled to be held in Sydney on 20th August.

After an extended and public disagreement involving several European nations and FIFA, the TV rights have finally reached a consensus. Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, had threatened a media blackout for the most prominent football nations in Europe (UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain). However, this was circumvented when an agreement was reached in mid-June.

For spectators in the UK, every match will be accessible on both the BBC and ITV.

The BBC will provide live coverage on television and the BBC Sport website, with live audio commentary available on BBC Radio 5 Live, 5 Sports Extra, and the BBC Sounds app. ITV will offer live coverage on television and online via ITVX.

Currently, the BBC and ITV have only disclosed the schedule for the group stages. However, the BBC has confirmed that they will air both semi-finals, with the final being broadcast on both channels.

Which Channels are Showing 2023 Women’s World Cup England Games?

England’s inaugural match of the World Cup, set against Haiti in Group D, will take place on 22nd July. The match will begin at 10:30am BST and will be broadcast on ITV. On 28th July, England will face Denmark, with the game commencing at 9:30am BST. This match will be aired on the BBC.

The final group-stage match for England is slated against China on Tuesday, 1st August. This game will be broadcast on ITV and is set to start at 12pm BST.

If England advances to the round of 16, their match will be broadcast live on the BBC.

2023 Women’s World Cup First Week TV Schedule (UK)

(All kick-off times BST )

Thursday 20 July

Group A: New Zealand vs Norway (08:00, Auckland) – BBC

Group B: Australia vs Republic of Ireland (11:00, Sydney) – ITV

Friday 21 July

Group B: Nigeria vs Canada (03:30, Melbourne) – BBC

Group A: Philippines vs Switzerland (06:00, Dunedin) – ITV

Group C: Spain vs Costa Rica (08:30, Wellington) – BBC

Saturday 22 July

Group E: USA vs Vietnam (02:00, Auckland) – BBC

Group C: Zambia vs Japan (08:00 Hamilton) – BBC

Group D: England vs Haiti (10:30, Brisbane) – ITV

Group D: Denmark vs China (13:00, Perth) – BBC

Sunday 23 July

Group G: Sweden vs South Africa (06:00, Wellington) – BBC

Group E: Netherlands vs Portugal (08:30, Dunedin) – BBC

Group F: France vs Jamaica (11:00, Sydney) – ITV

Monday 24 July

Group G: Italy vs Argentina (07:00, Auckland) – ITV

Group H: Germany vs Morocco (09:30, Melbourne) – ITV

Group F: Brazil vs Panama (12:00, Adelaide) – ITV

Tuesday 25 July

Group H: Colombia vs Korea Republic (03:00, Sydney) – BBC

Group A: New Zealand vs Philippines (06:30, Dunedin) – ITV

Group A: Switzerland vs Norway (09:00, Hamilton) – ITV

Wednesday 26 July

Group C: Japan vs Costa Rica (06:00, Dunedin) – ITV

Group C: Spain vs Zambia (08:30, Auckland) – BBC

Group B: Canada vs Republic of Ireland (13:00, Perth) – ITV

Thursday 27 July

Group E: USA vs Netherlands (02:00, Wellington) – BBC

Group E: Portugal vs Vietnam (08:30, Hamilton) – ITV

Group B: Australia vs Nigeria (11:00, Brisbane) – BBC

A collective of 736 top-notch female footballers from around the globe will assemble in the southern hemisphere for the prestigious ninth iteration of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Each participant harbours the aspiration of triumphantly hoisting the renowned trophy at the grand finale, scheduled for Sunday, 20th August, at the iconic Stadium Australia in Sydney.