Ultimate guide: Everything you need to know about 2023 FIFA World Cup, Matildas’ chances

The women’s FIFA World Cup is here and the Matildas have the chance to make history on home soil. Here’s everything you need to know.

2 min read

August 9, 2023 - 5:55PM

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It’s finally here, the 2023 FIFA women’s World Cup is upon us.

Australia’s Matildas are in red-hot form and after defeating France in their warm-up game, hopes are high the Aussies make a deep run into the knockout stages and even lift the trophy.

Here’s everything you need to know about the biggest sporting event on Australian soil since the Sydney Olympics.

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Can the Matildas win the World Cup?

The Matildas’ best result at a World Cup is a quarterfinal exit. Anything short of that would have been considered a disappointment on home soil.

The Matildas will hold hopes of reaching the semi-finals and beyond, and while it would be a mammoth effort, Sam Kerr could well be lifting the World Cup this month.

Who are the hosts?

Australia and New Zealand are joint hosts of the 2023 FIFA World Cup.

Fun fact: New Zealand’s women’s team has never won a game at a World Cup (0-15), breaking that streak in their opening group game against Norway in Group A.

Where are the games being played?

In Australia, games are being played in Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney.

In New Zealand, games will be held in Dunedin, Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington.

Will Sam Kerr get a Cathy Freeman moment? Photo by Maddie Meyer - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

Can the Matildas go all the way? Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

When does the World Cup start?

New Zealand kicked things off against Norway on Thursday 20 July at 5pm AEST.

The Matildas took on Ireland on the same day at Sydney’s Accor Stadium at 8pm AEST. A sell out crowd of more than 75,000 watched the Aussies prevail 1-0.

When is the World Cup final?

The World Cup final will be held on Sunday August 20 at Sydney’s Stadium Australia, also known as Accor Stadium.

Who’s the favourite to win?

This World Cup appears to be fairly open, even by World Cup standards where upsets are commonplace.

The USA have won the last two World Cups and could have made it a hat-trick, before they were eliminated by Sweden in the round of 16. European champions England, Spain, France and Sweden are still in the running.

Australia was considered a dark horse in a wide field of contenders, but somehow managed a calf injury to Sam Kerr to reach the quarter-finals so far.

Full list of groups

Group A: New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Switzerland

Group B: Australia, Ireland, Nigeria, Canada

Group C: Spain, Costa Rica, Zambia, Japan

Group D: England, Haiti, Denmark, China

Group E: United States, Vietnam, Netherlands, Portugal

Group F: France, Jamaica, Brazil, Panama

Group G: Germany Morocco, Colombia, South Korea