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Women’s World Cup 2023: Power ranking the 11 true contenders – AOL
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The narrative of newfound parity has been a Women’s World Cup staple for as long as many around soccer can remember. It bubbles up every four years to manufacture intrigue. Experts tell casual fans that “the world is catching up,” that investment in the women’s game is paying dividends, that the gap between haves and have nots is narrowing. And for most of the 21st century, it’s been wrong.
Or, rather, it’s been incomplete and deceptive. Yes, the sleeping giants of international women’s soccer have been waking up and improving. But so have the traditional powers — most notably the United States — at an arguably even steeper rate.
So no, the gap between the U.S. and Central American minnows hasn’t shrunk. Germany, nowadays, is no less likely to pummel Latvia or Bulgaria. Brazil still bosses South America. None of that has changed.
What’s changed, though, in the very recent past, is the depth of the top tier — of the true Women’s World Cup contenders.
There are 11 of them in 2023, 11 teams that could realistically travel to Australia and New Zealand this month and return with a trophy (or, in Australia’s case, celebrate on home soil) in late August. They hail from five different continents, and speak eight different languages, and comprise the most unpredictable Women’s World Cup field ever.
What makes this ninth edition so enticing is that not a single one of the 11 has separated itself from the pack. The reigning World Cup champ and reigning European champ have both been rattled by injuries. Two of Europe’s other immensely talented teams have been rocked by coach-created chaos. The reigning Olympic gold medalists, meanwhile, have been fighting with their soccer federation, which is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.
So the door is open. A first-time winner could step through it. Below, we’ll rank the contenders from most to least likely champion — but this exercise, in 2023 more so than ever before, is admittedly a crapshoot.
(Numbers in parentheses are a team’s FIFA ranking and its BetMGM title odds.)
1. United States (FIFA: 1 | +225)
We’ll go with the U.S. at No. 1 almost by default, just like betting markets and the general public have. But that’s not to say this team is in a good place relative to past iterations. It’s a shell of its 2017-2021 self, with more injuries and holes than young stars emerging to fill them. We explained all that and more in our all-encompassing USWNT World Cup preview.
2. Spain (FIFA: 6 | +600)
Spain would occupy the top spot in these rankings if not for two hindrances:
A) Its best player, Alexia Putellas, the back-to-back Ballon d’Or winner, is still working her way back from a torn ACL last summer.
B) Its coach, Jorge Vilda, is unqualified, overmatched and seemingly resented by many key players — so resented that 15 of them resigned from national team duty last fall. (The players never publicly called for Vilda’s ouster, but cited the environment he’d created and working conditions that had harmed their health.)
Only three of those players will be at the World Cup. Some, including Mapi Leon and Patri Guijarro, will skip it by choice. Others have been replaced, at Vilda’s retribution-tinged discretion.
Despite all of that, Spain probably has the most talented squad of the 32. It has the core of the Barcelona team that currently rules women’s club soccer. It has begun to produce an endless stream of players whose technical and tactical capacities far exceed most of their American peers.
But its major tournament history is underwhelming at best. It could win the World Cup, but just as easily could crumble.
3. England (FIFA: 4 | +400)
Twelve months ago, all signs pointed to England entering this World Cup as the favorite. The Lionesses stormed to their first major trophy at Euro 2022, and took down (or even demolished) other European giants in the process.
What we all probably underestimated, though, was how forceful and influential the wave of support that swept up the entire nation truly was. England rode it to victory. In recent friendlies, on the other hand, a wounded team has come back down to Earth. Without winger Beth Mead and playmaker Fran Kirby, among others, the Lionesses have lacked bite in warmups against Portugal and Australia. They’ll travel to Oceania having scored just once in their last 270 minutes — which isn’t cause for alarm, but is cause for concern.
4. France (FIFA: 5 | +900)
France’s golden generation had its golden opportunity in 2019 on home soil, and succumbed to Megan Rapinoe and the vaunted U.S.
Four years later, Les Bleues are not quite as talented. They’re also half a world away. But, on the plus side, they parted with head coach Corinne Diacre — after prominent players, including Wendie Renard, resigned to force a change.
To replace Diacre, the French Football Federation — which, in general, has been a bungling, misogynistic mess lately — hired Hervé Renard (no relation to Wendie), who instantly became one of this World Cup’s biggest wild cards. He has no experience in women’s soccer, but a strong record in the men’s international game. If he can just be uncontroversial and competent, France has a shot.
5. Germany (FIFA: 2 | +600)
Germany is European soccer’s Old Reliable. Save for a few forgivable Olympic qualification failures, it has entered every major tournament since the World Cup’s inception as a legitimate contender. Over the past decade, however, it has been usurped by the women’s game’s shiny new objects. And 2023 looks primed to continue that trend.
The Germans have a diverse range of talent. They have a legendary coach. But they have nothing, no single attribute, that stands tall above this field of foes. They recently lost to Brazil and drew with Sweden. Their B-team’s 2-1 win over lowly Vietnam last month was uninspiring. They have few glaring flaws, but haven’t provided much reason for firm optimism either.
6. Australia (FIFA: 10 | +1000)
Australia isn’t the sixth-best team at this World Cup. On paper, its roster is worse now than in 2019. But can’t you feel it? That giddy excitement, that stirring hope, that powerful wave that swept up England last summer and changed the sport (and the world) for good
It’s coming Down Under this summer. It already sold out the opener at 82,500-seat Stadium Australia, according to organizers. And the Matildas, as the Aussie women’s national team is known, are already riding it. They beat England in April and Spain in February. They have Sam Kerr, a transcendent star. If no traditional power seizes this tournament, well, why can’t the co-hosts?
7. Brazil (FIFA: 8 | +2800)
Not too long ago, Brazil’s women’s national team — chronically underfunded and disregarded by the male powers that be — appeared to be sliding back from the contending pack. But over the past 12 months, propelled by a blend of youth and experience, by NWSL stars and European-based ones, it has rallied. In April, on enemy turf, it beat Germany and drew England. It went toe-to-toe with the U.S. at the SheBelieves Cup in February. It has an experienced coach in Pia Sundhage, and strong vibes entering Marta’s last dance.
8. Canada (FIFA: 7 | +4000)
Canada’s long odds are puzzling. This team will look very similar to the one that toppled the U.S. and claimed Olympic gold 24 months ago. It doesn’t have the top-end talent of England or Spain; and it doesn’t have the funding or infrastructure it would like. But the players, as a unit, are cohesive and hardened. Their biggest roadblock — and perhaps a reason for the long odds — might be an extremely difficult Group B. They’ll have to work to get past both Nigeria and Ireland.
9. Sweden (FIFA: 3 | +1800)
The Olympic silver medalists have largely stumbled through the two years since. A Euro 2022 semifinal appearance was misleading — it came via a forgiving quarterfinal draw, then ended with a 4-0 smackdown from England. More recently, Sweden’s last five games have gone like this: 4-0 loss to Australia, 4-1 win over China, 0-0 draw with Germany, 1-0 loss to Denmark, 3-3 draw with Norway. Inauspicious.
10. Netherlands (FIFA: 9 | +2500)
The Dutch suddenly have pedigree. But, with Vivianne Miedema struck down by an ACL injury, they lack star power.
11. Japan (FIFA: 11 | +2800)
An incredibly difficult team to assess. Japan, in many ways, looked miles better than the U.S. when the two sides met this past winter in Nashville. But the U.S. had Mal Swanson. Most other contenders also have game-breaking forwards. Japan simply does not.
The rest
12. Denmark (FIFA: 13 | +6600)
13. Norway (FIFA: 12 | +5000)
14. Ireland (FIFA: 22 | +10000)
15. Italy (FIFA: 16 | +8000)
16. China (FIFA: 14 | +20000)
17. Portugal (FIFA: 21 | +10000)
18. Colombia (FIFA: 25 | +12500)
19. Jamaica (FIFA: 43 | +30000)
20. Switzerland (FIFA: 20 | +20000)
21. South Korea (FIFA: 17 | +12500)
22. New Zealand (FIFA: 26 | +12500)
23. Nigeria (FIFA: 40 | +25000)
24. Argentina (FIFA: 28 | +20000)
25. Haiti (FIFA: 53 | +30000)
26. South Africa (FIFA: 54 | +30000)
27. Zambia (FIFA: 77 | +50000)
28. Vietnam (FIFA: 32 | +75000)
29. Costa Rica (FIFA: 36 | +40000)
30. Philippines (FIFA: 46 | +75000)
31. Panama (FIFA: 52 | +50000)
32. Morocco (FIFA: 72 | +30000)
Jake Paul and Tommy Fury get heated in their faceoff and push each other in the ring. (1:28)
After the multiple disappointments of fights failing to materialize last year, 2023 is already shaping up to be an improvement for boxing, with some exciting matchups on the horizon. Some fights have been officially announced. Others are very close to being finalized.
But what are the top fights in the months ahead? From Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury to Ryan Garcia vs. Gervonta Davis and the first heavyweight fight for the undisputed championship in the four-belt era, ESPN marks your calendar for dates not to be missed.
A clash between the best two heavyweights in the world, and perhaps the best heavyweight world champions since the Klitschko brothers (Wladimir and Vitali) reigned, is likely to be the biggest fight of 2023. Boxing suffered from fights not getting made last year, but this one — dare we say it — seems likely to get made and will determine the legacies of both these skilled and clever boxers.
Both have achieved so much in their careers, but what they do on April 29 will be what they are remembered for most. This fight is the first to have all major four heavyweight belts on the line and will create boxing’s first undisputed world champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999 (three-belt era).
Usyk’s slick movement and quick hands could unsettle Fury, but Fury’s long jab and heavier punches (if he can land them) could leave Usyk flat out like Deontay Wilder.
It was a pleasant surprise to see this fight get made given the obstacles — rival promoters and broadcasters, egos and unbeaten records — and it could be the start of a series of megafights at lightweight.
As well as popularity — they have nearly 13 million followers on Instagram between them — these two American rivals are supremely talented. Davis has skills, power (he has stopped 26 of his 28 opponents) and tactical intelligence, while Garcia has lightning-fast hands with a six-inch height advantage.
Devin Haney holds all the belts, but this matchup is almost as important as Haney-Vasiliy Lomachenko. When the fight was announced, Garcia perfectly summarized this encounter: “Boxing needs this fight right now. It’s time for us to get back to what made this sport so great for the fans: Glamourous fights in places like Las Vegas, grudge match storylines, and most importantly — the best fighting the best.”
Be sure to find time to watch the Taylor vs. Serrano rematch.
Taylor, who lives and trains in Connecticut, has yet to box in her home nation since turning professional more than six years ago. When she steps out at a yet-to-be-confirmed venue in Dublin that night, the roof will lift (presuming the fight doesn’t occur at an outdoor venue like Croke Park). Taylor’s decision over Serrano last year lived up to expectations of it being the biggest fight in the history of women’s professional boxing. Who wouldn’t want a rematch?
Anthony Joshua doesn’t hide his emotions while discussing his split-decision loss to Oleksandr Usyk.
Haney, the undisputed lightweight champion, believes he is the man of the moment, the younger champion looking to make this his era.
Lomachenko, 34, was winning Olympic gold medals when Haney was nine years old and is definitely in the last throes of his career. It’s yet to be seen whether Haney can come close to showing the dazzling technique and skills Lomachenko has in lighting up boxing, winning world titles from featherweight up to lightweight.
With war raging in his homeland Ukraine, Lomachenko could understandably be distracted and slowed by the passing of time and a long career. Haney sees this as an opportunity to establish himself as one of boxing’s biggest names.
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The two former super middleweight champions almost got their fight started early during a recent news conference to announce the event. The animosity will only intensify toward fight night, ensuring a healthy interest in the nontitle encounter. This clash, between the best 168-pounders not named Canelo Alvarez, will be decided by whether Plant’s slick boxing skills can defuse Benavidez’s big-punching power and volume.
Plant is in form after his stunning KO of Anthony Dirrell in October catapulted him back to the No. 3 spot in the division after losing to Alvarez in November 2021, and he will be Benavidez’s best opponent yet.
To go straight into a world junior featherweight title fight in his first outing at the new weight class is a bold move by Inoue. To do it against Fulton is even bolder.
Fulton, 28, from Philadelphia, is ESPN’s No. 1 boxer at 122 pounds. As a seasoned campaigner in the division who throws a prodigious number of punches, he represents a big risk for Inoue. Inoue became undisputed bantamweight champion in December and is chasing a world title belt in a fourth division, a feat that would surely deserve universal recognition — or confirmation — as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter.
These two featherweights are the least well-known boxers on this list, but what they lack in star appeal, they make up for in entertainment value. After being plucked from the domestic scene in their home countries, both pulled off shocking wins at an elite level and produced fireworks in recent fights.
Wood’s last-gasp, 12th-round knockout of Michael Conlan was voted ESPN’s fight of the year and KO of the year for 2022. The English boxer also produced a last round KO win to capture the WBA belt against Can Xu in July 2021. Lara stopped Josh Warrington — who was ESPN’s No. 1 featherweight — in February 2021. Lara added two early stoppage wins last year. It has all the ingredients to be an eventful fight.
Alvarez needs a dominant performance to silence critiques that he’s sliding after a brilliant career, winning world titles in four different weight classes. After losing by decision to Dmitry Bivol for the light heavyweight title last May, followed by a decision win in his trilogy fight against Gennadiy Golovkin at 168 pounds, Alvarez will return to defend his four world title belts against Ryder, the mandatory challenger who will have to pull off one of the biggest shocks in boxing history to win.
It is one of the least competitive matchups on this list, but it will be intriguing to see what sort of form Alvarez is in after surgery on his left hand and a confidence-denting defeat that has seen his position in the pound-for-pound rankings take a tumble. Details of the fight have yet to be confirmed.
This fight is about how Joshua responds to back-to-back decision losses to Usyk and the upheaval in his training arrangements. Joshua’s frank and confused outburst in the ring in the immediate aftermath of losing to Usyk for a second time only adds to the doubts around whether Joshua can regain the form that saw him reign as WBA, IBF and WBO world champion. But Franklin looks like an accommodating opponent.
Stevenson is a talented boxer, but his lack of punching power and relatively unknown opponent means his fight will not attract as much attention as his lightweight rivals Haney, Garcia and Davis. But this is a solid first step at lightweight for Stevenson, who unified world titles against good opponents at junior lightweight. A fight against the winner of Haney-Lomachenko is a good incentive for Stevenson to look good — and a KO victory would help.
Okay, so this is the bottom of the pile, but for many, this crossover event will be the No. 1 fight of 2023 to follow and tune in to based on entertaining value alone. Paul is better known than many current champions, even if he has just six professional fights, with no amateur boxing pedigree.
The YouTube star appeals to demographics that Terence Crawford, Inoue, Errol Spence Jr. and Canelo can’t reach. Tommy Fury is a reality TV star from the UK, half-brother of world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, but also a professional boxer taking the sport seriously.
The storylines behind the fight will ensure it generates good pay-per-view numbers, with many intrigued to see if Paul can continue his impressive adventure in professional boxing, during which he has silenced all criticism that he is out of his depth. But Fury will be his toughest test yet.
Gymnastics
AUBURN, Ala. – Another school year means another season of Auburn gymnastics! And as we get ready to kick off the 2024 season in January, it is time to get to know the 10 newcomers to the squad. Next up is freshman Jersie Woolsey!
Hometown: Riverton, Utah
Club: Black Diamond South Jordan
Prior to Auburn: Top 10 finisher on vault at the 2023 Level 10 Region 1 Championship … Finished third on vault at the 2021 Winter Classic … Multiple top 10 finishes in the all-around throughout her club career.
Q: Why Auburn?
A: “I chose Auburn because it felt like home the moment I stepped on campus. Everyone here is so welcoming and friendly. I couldn’t imagine going to school anywhere else.”
Q: What’s your major and why did you choose it?
A: “My major is exercise science. I chose it because I want to do physical therapy and help athletes recover.”
Q: What do you hope to do once you are done with school?
A: “Once I am done with school, I want to get a job as a physical therapist and work with athletes. I’m still undecided where I want to go, but I want to try something new.”
Q: What’s your favorite thing about your hometown, what makes it unique?
A: “My favorite thing about my hometown is the mountains. I love listening to music and going on canyon drives.”
Q: What does a typical day in your life at Auburn look like?
A: “A typical day in my life starts with me waking up, getting ready, Wellness Kitchen for breakfast or go to treatment. I then go to my classes, then back to Wellness for lunch. I have practice and after practice I do recovery and cold tub. After that I eat dinner and go to SADC for studying.”
Q: What’s your favorite event and why?
A: “My favorite event is either floor or vault. I like floor because I love to perform.”
Q: What are you most looking forward to here at Auburn?
A: “The thing I am looking forward to most is meet season. I can’t wait to compete with my teammates at Neville Arena surrounded by all the gymnastics fans.”
Q: How did you get involved in gymnastics?
A: “I was a very energetic child, so my mom decided to put me in gymnastics, and I loved it.”
Q: What is your pre-meet ritual?
A: “My pre-meet ritual is listening to music and just having fun. I don’t do anything specific.”
Q: Coming from Utah, what is the biggest culture shock you have experienced coming to Auburn?
A: “One of the biggest culture shocks I have had is the food. I have tried a lot of new things here.”
Q: What is your go-to karaoke song?
A: “My go-to karaoke song is ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ by Fergie.”
Q: What fashion trend do you hope never comes back?
A: “A fashion trend I hope never comes back are chokers.”
Q: If you were in a zombie apocalypse, what person on the team would you want with you?
A: “I would want Lila Smith with me because we are both going to fight.”
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“In human history, people have always moved. But never before has the smuggling business been so profitable, and so deadly. Human mobility is a fact of life. Migrant smuggling should not be. It can be defeated. It is a matter of political will. And we can only succeed together.”
Commission President von der Leyen
Every year, thousands of lives are lost because of migrant smuggling. To fight this deadly criminal activity, the Commission has launched the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling. This Alliance will focus on prevention, response and alternatives to irregular migration, including addressing the root causes of irregular migration and facilitating legal pathways.
The Commission is also proposing to update EU rules to prevent and fight migrant smuggling by
Fuelled by crises around the world, criminal migrant smuggling into the EU, which attracts desperate people with lies, is reaching new heights. Criminal organisations who use land, sea and air routes, typically squeeze hundreds of people onto small boats, when travelling by sea. This has resulted in a staggering 28,000 people drowning or missing in the Mediterranean Sea since 2014. The tragic loss of human life must stop.
For more information
International Conference on a Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling
New Pact on Migration and Asylum
Migrant smuggling
Factsheet on EU stepping up the fight against migrant smuggling
Press release: Commission launches a Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling and proposes a strengthened EU legal framework
Speech by President von der Leyen at the International Conference on a Global Alliance to Counter Smuggling
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