GROUP A
NORWAY
The Grasshoppers are looking to bounce back from a humbling Euro 2022 in England, which ended in the group stage after a devastating 8-0 defeat to the hosts.
Hege Riise (right), the Norway legend and one-time Lionesses head coach, is now at the helm. After picking up form at the end of last year, however, it’s been a difficult 2023 so far, losing to both Sweden and Denmark.
As Norway’s most-capped player with 188 appearances, and one of only three players to win the World Cup, Euros and an Olympic gold medal, she has the pedigree to pick her team up off the collective floor. For the talent at their disposal, especially in attack, Norway have disappointed for a while now, failing to reach the last four in any major tournament since they made it to the final of Euro 2013.
Talismanic Lyon striker Ada Hegerberg is still returning to her best after lengthy injury lay-offs, but lessening the burden on her are stellar wingers in Caroline Graham Hansen and Guro Reiten, of Barcelona and Chelsea respectively. Arsenal’s Frida Maanum is also impressing of late, while exciting youngsters include Manchester City’s Julie Blakstad and Brighton’s Elisabeth Terland, both 21. And, if Hegerberg doesn’t fire, then Emilie Haavi has been enjoying a career resurgence at Roma, performing consistently well for the new Serie A champions. In short, Norway have no excuses for a repeat of last summer.
A young backline leaves Riise still looking to find defensive balance without square pegs in round holes, which cost them last summer. But, with a kind draw and plenty of firepower, this tournament offers Norway a prime chance to get things back on track.
WORLD CUP RECORD Norway went all the way in 1995 and lifted the trophy, with Riise one of their standout players. Most recently, in 2019, they made it to the quarter-finals but bowed out after a 3-0 defeat to England.
NEW ZEALAND
Things don’t look too promising for the co-hosts, heading into the biggest summer the women’s team has ever had. Even with former USA Under-20s coach Jitka Klimkova in charge, New Zealand have gone 10 games without a win and lost seven of their last eight, including 5-0 to Portugal, who only qualified themselves via the play-offs.
Still, the draw does offer some hope of progression. They’ll be relying on a passionate home crowd, as well as the experience and quality of Ali Riley and Hannah Wilkinson (above left).
WORLD CUP RECORD In five attempts, the Football Ferns have yet to win at the World Cup – drawing three games and losing 12 – and they scored just a solitary goal four years ago in France.
PHILIPPINES
The Asian archipelago is one of eight nations making their World Cup debut in 2023, and they are among the most intriguing teams at this tournament.
Under former Australia head coach Alen Stajcic (left), they have plunged all of their resources into the team from the top down, recruiting players who qualify for the Philippines from far and wide, largely in the American college system. Only this season have they created under-20 and under-17 teams.
For now, those youth sides are also coached by Stajcic and his assistant, Nahuel Arrarte. The focus is on the first team, thanks to Filipino businessman Jefferson Cheng, the team manager sponsoring and funding the outfit.
WORLD CUP RECORD This is their first, qualifying as Asian Cup semi-finalists.
SWITZERLAND
The Swiss have reached the last two European Championships, only to exit in the group stage of both. Germany legend Inka Grings now leads La Nati but they are winless in their five games since qualifying for the World Cup via a
