Games start this week!

US group schedule:

Friday, July 21
USA vs. Vietnam, 9 p.m. ET -- Eden Park, Auckland

Wednesday, July 26
USA vs. Netherlands, 9 p.m. ET -- Wellington Stadium, Wellington

Tuesday, Aug. 1
USA vs. Portugal, 3 a.m. ET -- Eden Park, Auckland

As far as I can tell, all of the US games are on big Fox, Telemundo and Peacock.

Let's try to keep this thread focused on the games and events taking place. Tangential discussions of politics can go somewhere else.

I'm not going to make game threads for any group matches and I'm not going to post daily match schedules. Others are always welcome to do so though!

You can find a good match schedule and scoreboard here: https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/2023-fifa-womens-world-cup/scores

New Zealand has the opener Thursday at 3 am ET and then Australia has their first match just after that at 6 am ET. Both on Fox.

Was surprised today to see the USWNT are pretty strong favorites to win it again this year. Even with our injuries and turnover of roster, still very large favorites. England would have possibly taken that position as favorite from us, but they have been in a bit of a slump and are dealing with a lot of injuries of their own. Could be a wide open tournament:

2023 FIFA Women's World Cup odds

United States +225
England +375
Germany +650
Spain +700
France +800
Australia +1200
Sweden +1400
Netherlands +1800
Canada +2500
Brazil +2500
Japan +3000
Norway +6500
Denmark +8000
South Korea +10000
Portugal +10000
Italy +15000
New Zealand +15000
China +15000
Haiti +15000
Colombia +15000
Ireland +20000
Zambia +25000
Switzerland +25000
Argentina +30000
South Africa +50000
Costa Rica +50000
Jamaica +50000
Nigeria +75000
Morocco +75000
Vietnam +100000
Panama +100000
Philippines +100000

Quote:

---

England would have possibly taken that position as favorite from us, but they have been in a bit of a slump and are dealing with a lot of injuries of their own. Could be a wide open tournament:

---

The two biggest contenders have had significant injuries as well and I think the odds favor US is due to US depth is still superior.

France: Katoto, Cascarino, Henry
England: Mead, Williamson, Kirby, Houghton,


Missing Stars at WWC

2am game! Weeeeee

Finally my being in the ETZ pays off!

Predictions?

I say Quarters and anything beyond is exceeding expectations.

I'll guess lose to Spain in the semi-finals.

Should be a fairly competitive group stage. The Netherlands and Portugal are decent.

themissinglink said:

---

I'll guess lose to Spain in the semi-finals.

Should be a fairly competitive group stage. The Netherlands and Portugal are decent.

---

Nice and easy warm up game with Vietnam. I guess we still owe them a beat down from about 60 years ago.

NZ and Aussie both win their openers 1-0.

woohoo

has there ever been a major tournament like this with less excitement?

jeffk said:

---

I think having the men's WC just 7 months ago helped bury this tourney.

And not to be rude, but I think we've pretty well covered that some posters dislike some of the player's politics. Let's keep this thread focused on the games and results and things that are actually happening now during the tournament. If someone wants to start a "player politics thread" go for it.

---

My comment wasn't about a poster, but the US in general. Those posters are reflective of society. But you're right, carry on.

Thanks for starting this thread. I was pondering how much the loss to New Zealand hurts Norway's chances to advance, but NZ looks like the best team Norway will face in Group A. Norway is too talented to drop another match, right?

jeffk said:

---

I think having the men's WC just 7 months ago helped bury this tourney.

And not to be rude, but I think we've pretty well covered that some posters dislike some of the player's politics. Let's keep this thread focused on the games and results and things that are actually happening now during the tournament. If someone wants to start a "player politics thread" go for it.

---

I think the men's WC and also putting the largest fan base with games in the middle of the night probably didn't help. Combine with putting it in a location that 99.9% of the people on earth will never see or travel to...

This Nigeria team is hard to watch. They are just giving Canada opportunities on golden platter!

Pitch looks amazing.

Rudyjax said:

---

Pitch looks amazing.

---

Looks like turf

akm91 said:

---

Rudyjax said:

---

Pitch looks amazing.

---

Looks like turf

---

Can they play on turf? You might be right. That's not good.

Looks better than the turf in Seattle or Atlanta.

Canucks draw a penalty

What a save!

This is really bad soccer.

boogieman said:

---

What a save!

---

Great save, but it was about a yard left of the keeper.
A good penalty kick cannot be saved.

Rudyjax said:

---

akm91 said:

---

Rudyjax said:

---

Pitch looks amazing.

---

Looks like turf

---

Can they play on turf? You might be right. That's not good.

Looks better than the turf in Seattle or Atlanta.

---

It's real. After the mess in Canada in 2015 and all the plastic surfaces FIFA mandated grass for all WC venues.

Mathguy64 said:

---

Rudyjax said:

---

akm91 said:

---

Rudyjax said:

---

Pitch looks amazing.

---

Looks like turf

---

Can they play on turf? You might be right. That's not good.

Looks better than the turf in Seattle or Atlanta.

---

It's real. After the mess in Canada in 2015 and all the plastic surfaces FIFA mandated grass for all WC venues.

---

Yeah. That's what I thought.

Not a piece of grass has come up which is really surprising.

A number of Canadians are playing with very long artificial nails. I hate it when players wear them. Just one more thing you have to watch for.

That's a red. Oof.

Canada did not look good in that game. That was a rough game. A ton of very physical challenges.

Canada is actually both very lucky that Nigeria didn't score on several occasions- particularly the one very wide open goal, and at the same time very unlucky. Missing a PK.

US B team almost with the lead over the Swiss