With over a million tickets sold already, FIFA recently announced that the upcoming Women’s Football World Cup 2023 has already broken records and is set to become the largest event in women’s sporting history. All eyes are on the Southern Hemisphere this summer as Australia and New Zealand co-host this spectacular event. 

Who are the Lionesses? 

The Lionesses are a team of senior football players selected by manager Sarina Wiegman to represent England in international tournaments. In 2022, the Lionesses demonstrated their excellence by winning the UEFA Euros International tournament, beating Germany 2-1 in a nail-biting final watched by over 350 million people around the world. This momentous victory led to the Lionesses being one of the favourites to win the upcoming World Cup. 

Who is captaining the Lionesses this summer?

Dazzling defender Millie Bright was chosen to captain the Lionesses this summer. Fellow defender Leah Williamson was the previous captain of the Lionesses up until recently when she tore her anterior cruciate ligament during a match with her domestic team, Arsenal. Unfortunately due to the long recovery period associated with her injury, Leah will not be participating in this World Cup.

Where is the Women’s Football World Cup 2023?

Australia and New Zealand are jointly hosting the Women’s World Cup 2023. To ensure that European fans can watch at home, the majority of the matches are being played in the evening to accommodate for the significant time difference. Where possible, this means that many of the matches can be watched early in the morning across Europe. As Europe makes up a large proportion of women’s football fans, financially, the organisers didn’t want to miss out on the ad revenue from millions of viewers. For any keen mathematicians, take a look at our Women’s Football World Cup Group Statistics.

World Cup Players to Watch

• Alexia Putellas: Often considered to be the best player in the world and double Ballon d’Or Feminin winner (the most prestigious award in women’s football), this Barcelona midfielder is certainly one to watch this summer. 
• Sam Kerr: Playing as a forward for both the Australian national team and for Chelsea in the Women’s Super League, Sam Kerr has a reputation for scoring dazzling goals and leading both her teams to victory in even the most adverse situations. 
• Wendie Renard: French national and captain Wendie Renard is known for being a pillar of strength for both France and her prestigious club Olympique Lyonais. Renard has already represented France at two previous World Cups and the Olympics. 
• Lucy Bronze: Since her international debut in 2017, Lucy Bronze has been a force to be reckoned with. With four UEFA Champions League victories under her belt, this England player is a great asset to the national team. 
• Megan Rapinoe: Captain of the US Women’s national team, Megan Rapinoe has led her team to countless victories against top international opponents including Spain, Canada and France.
• Aitana Bonmati: Revered for her talent as a midfielder for Barcelona FC, Aitana Bonmati is also a staple of the Spanish national team and has already received many honours throughout her professional career.
• Guro Reitan: A key player for Chelsea and her national team at home in Norway, Guro Reitan has been considered a star player since her professional debut in 2010. 
• Keira Walsh: This England player’s immense talent is reflected in her recent transfer to Barcelona FC, one of the most prestigious clubs in the world. As a defensive midfielder, Walsh is often considered the backbone of the English national team. 

This list just scratches the surface of the immense talent we’re expecting to see this summer. With other key players such as Rachel Daly, Alex Morgan and Marie-Antoinette Katoto, there are countless other bright sparks to keep our eye on this World Cup! If you’re feeling inspired, take a look at our Women’s World Cup 2023: Writing Prompts.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Women’s football has been steadily growing in popularity since the early 2000s but recent years have seen a huge boom in the number of football fans. Both domestically and abroad, recent key matches have been attracting over 80,000 spectators, with millions more watching from home. For example, Barcelona’s home clash with Wolfsburg in the momentous Camp Nou brought in 91,648 spectators. On home soil, the UEFA Euros final where England beat Germany in 2022 attracted over 87,000 spectators to Wembley. 

The huge profits women footballers are bringing in are certainly worth considering when looking at our Should Women Footballers Earn as Much as Men? Debate Topic Pack. Inspired by the achievements of their heroes, more and more girls are signing up to play football every year. We’re sure you’ll agree, the future is bright for women’s football.