The last edition of the Women’s World Cup, which took place in France in 2019, had crowned the American team world champion. This year, the French team hopes to take its revenge during the 9th edition of the Football World Cup in Oceania (New Zealand and Australia).
► Dates to remember
The competition will see 32 teams compete, from Thursday July 20 to Sunday August 20. During one month, 64 matches will be played.
Host New Zealand will face Norway in the opening match in Auckland on July 20. The group stages will last until Thursday 3 August. The quarter-finals will take place on Friday August 11 and Saturday August 12.
Then will come the time for the semi-finals, on Tuesday August 15 and Wednesday August 16, then that of the final on Sunday August 20 at the Sydney stadium (Australia).
The French team will first face Jamaica on Sunday July 23 at noon (French time). Les Bleues will then face the Brazilian team on Saturday July 29 at noon as well. To watch Les Bleues face Panama, you will have to turn on the television on Wednesday August 2 at 12 p.m. during the last match of the group stage.
► The composition of the hens
During this 9th edition, 32 national teams will compete to try to win the Cup, a first. In 2019, Fifa decided to expand the number of teams for “promote the development of women’s football”. Before, only 24 teams were selected.
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:FranceJamaica, Brazil, Panama.
Group G: Sweden, South Africa, Italy, Argentina.
Group H: Germany, Morocco, Colombia, South Korea.
► The ambition of the French team
Arrived at their Castle Hill base camp near Sydney on Saturday July 15, the French women have been in good shape since the start of the season. Over 12 matches, Les Bleues led by their captain defender Wendie Renard, won 8 with 3 losses and 1 draw.
In the last friendly match before the World Cup, Friday July 14, they lost to Australia in Melbourne.
Under the direction of their new coach, Hervé Renard, since April, the Bleues should have no great difficulty passing the pool matches. If it is not one of the favorites, the France team then hopes to create a surprise.
Among the favorite nations of this World Cup, the American team, reigning world champion, is eagerly awaited, but also England, current European champion, or Germany, who reached the final at the Euro 2022 and second in the FIFA rankings ahead of Sweden.
► Where to follow the matches?
France Télévisions and M6 shared the broadcasting rights for World Cup matches. The public service will broadcast the last two group matches of Les Bleues (against Brazil and Panama) and half of those in direct elimination, including the final.
The private channel M6 will broadcast the other half of the matches, including the first meeting of Les Bleues (against Jamaica), but also the potential semi-final of the Tricolores.
