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Women’s World Cup Guide: How to watch, schedule and betting favorites

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PHOTO FILE – Team USA celebrates after winning the Women’s World Cup soccer final against the Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Sunday, July 7, 2019. The United States will be playing for an unprecedented three-peat at the Women’s World Cup this summer. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)

The United States will be playing for an unprecedented three-peat at this year’s Women’s World Cup. It won’t be easy for the No. 1 team in the world.

Co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, the quadrennial tournament for international soccer’s most coveted trophy kicks off July 20 and features an expanded field of 32 teams, up from 24. There are 64 matches during the tournament.

That means more competition for the two-time defending World Cup champion U.S., which won the 2015 event in Canada and the 2019 tournament in France. The Americans have won four titles overall, most of any nation.

Asked whether he would accept anything less than lifting the World Cup trophy, U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski was incredulous.

“Absolutely not,” he said. “There’s only one thing in mind going to this tournament. Our goal is to win the World Cup. There’s no question about it.”

WHAT’S THE WORLD CUP SCHEDULE AND WHERE IS IT LOCATED?
The 32 teams are divided into eight groups of four teams each. Each team plays a three-game, round-robin group stage, running from July 20 to Aug. 3.

The top finishers advance to the round of 16 from Aug. 5-8. The quarterfinals are set for Aug. 11-12 and the two semifinal matches will be played Aug. 15-16. A third-place game is set for Aug. 19 in Brisbane ahead of the final in Sydney.

The final will air at 6 a.m. ET on Aug. 20 in the United States.

The broadcast schedule is complicated by the time difference. The United States is playing in Group E with Vietnam, the Netherlands and Portugal. The opening match is against Vietnam on July 22 in Auckland, which, because of the time difference, will air in the U.S. on July 21 at 9 p.m. ET.

A rematch of the 2019 final against the Netherlands is set for July 27 in Wellington, airing at 9 p.m. ET on July 26 in the U.S. The last group game against Portugal is set for Aug. 1, airing at 3 a.m. ET that same day.

HOW TO WATCH THE FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
Fox holds the English-language media rights in the United States for the Women’s World Cup. Telemundo holds the Spanish-language rights.

Fox will broadcast a record 29 matches over the air on its main network and the rest of the games will be aired on FS1. All matches will be streamed on the Fox app.

FIFA struck a collective deal with the European Broadcasting Union in mid-June, ending a standoff with a broadcasters in five major European television markets. The deal guarantees the games will air in France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Britain.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
There are two distinct groups of players to watch at this World Cup: Veteran superstars and talented youngsters.

Canada’s Christine Sinclair leads a group of veterans that includes Brazil’s Marta, Australia’s Sam Kerr, France’s Wendie Renard and American Alex Morgan.

Sinclair, who is 40 and likely playing in her final World Cup, is international soccer’s all-time leading scorer, among women or men, with 190 career goals.

Young stars include 22-year-old U.S. forward Sophia Smith, 21-year-old Jody Brown of Jamaica and 19-year-old Melchie Dumornay of Haiti.

Smith doubled up last year as both the U.S. Soccer Player of the Year and the National Women’s Soccer League’s Most Valuable Player.

TEAMS TO WATCH
The United States is ranked No. 1 in the world in the latest FIFA rankings. The Americans are a strong team despite recent injuries, but their dominance in international play will be challenged at this World Cup.

Germany, ranked No. 2, won back-to-back World Cups in 2003 and 2007. Third-ranked Sweden knocked the United States out of the 2016 Olympics in the quarterfinals. Seventh-ranked Canada won the gold medal at the Tokyo Games.

Considered a contender, England has been hit by a series of injuries to top players including Beth Mead, Fran Kirby and captain Leah Williamson. All three will miss the World Cup. France switched coaches in March after some players threatened to skip the tournament.

Australia can’t be counted out as co-hosts. The Matildas will be boosted by Kerr, one of the world’s best players.

BETTING GUIDE
The United States is a +240 favorite to win the World Cup, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. England is next at +380, followed by Spain at +650.

There’s also a big group of teams the oddsmakers say have little chance of lifting the trophy, including Jamaica, Vietnam, Argentina, Zambia, Nigeria, Costa Rica, Morocco, Philippines, South Africa, Haiti and Panama. All are at +43,000.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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Co-host New Zealand’s squad includes 10 players who’ll be making their Women’s World Cup debut

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FILE – New Zealand’s Jitka Klimkova gestures during an international friendly soccer match against South Korea at Goyang stadium in Goyang, South Korea, on Nov. 30, 2021. Women’s World Cup co-host New Zealand has announced a squad including 10 players who will be playing at the global tournament for the first time. The team was unveiled Friday, June 30, 2023, after head coach Klimkova trimmed the squad from 33 to 23 following a seven-week training camp, the longest in the New Zealand team’s history.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

by STEVE McMORRAN AP Sports Writer

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Women’s World Cup co-host New Zealand has announced a squad including 10 players who will be playing at the global tournament for the first time.

The team was unveiled Friday after head coach Jitka Klimkova trimmed the squad from 33 to 23 following a seven-week training camp, the longest in the New Zealand team’s history.

“I believe we have selected a good balance of youth and experience across the squad, from the 10 players making their debuts to other members of the group who have appeared at multiple FIFA Women’s World Cups,” Klimkova said.

“With the extra motivation and excitement surrounding the event on home soil, we now need the country to get behind the team as we look to inspire our nation and deliver one of our best ever performances.”

The tournament is being co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia.

New Zealand’s Football Ferns face a massive task as they have never won a match at a World Cup or progressed beyond the group stage.

The formal roster announcement took place at Auckland’s Eden Park stadium, regarded as the home of New Zealand rugby, where the home team will play the opening match of the World Cup against Norway on July 20.

Among those present was Ian Foster, the coach of the All Blacks rugby team whose daughter Michaela was selected in the team.

The ceremony was attended by members of the first New Zealand women’s team, which was formed in 1975 and won the Asian Women’s Cup.

A member of the 1975 team, Barbara Cox, called the World Cup the “most momentous occassion in the history of football in New Zealand.”

Team captain Ali Riley missed the event because she currently is with her Angel City club in the United States. Ria Percival, who is the the team’s co-captain, will be playing in her fifth World Cup.

“It’s great to have all these former Ferns who have built this legacy here today and for us to acknowledge and recognize all of you,” Percival said.

“Without you we wouldn’t be here today.

“To the girls, I’m proud of you all. We’ve all worked hard, every one of us.”

She said the World Cup on home soil was “something huge that we all dream of.”

“We’re just proud, we’re ready to go and we want to inspire the next generation.”

The only major surprise in the squad was the omission of Glasgow City defender Meikayla Moore.

The 27-year-old Moore has played 63 times for the Football Ferns and started in all 22 of New Zealand’s matches in 2021 and 2022.

She was selected for the 2015 World Cup but didn’t play and missed out on the 2019 World Cup because of injury.

Moore is one of three players on standby in case of injuries before the World Cup begins.
Percival and Annalie Longo both have been included in the squad after overcoming long-term injuries.

FILE - Andi Sullivan of the U.S., right, competes for the ball against New Zealand's Gabi Rennie during their women's international soccer friendly game in Auckland, New Zealand, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP, File)
FILE – Andi Sullivan of the U.S., right, competes for the ball against New Zealand’s Gabi Rennie during their women’s international soccer friendly game in Auckland, New Zealand, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP, File)

Claudia Bunge, Liz Anton and Foster are among a group the 10 players picked for their first World Cup along with Malia Steinmetz, Jacqui Hand, Milly Clegg, Grace Jale, Anna Leat, Gabi Rennie, Indiah-Paige Riley.

Clegg is the youngest player in the team at 17.

One of the biggest cheers at the ceremony on Friday was for Rebekah Stott who, in March, 2021 was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma.

Stott has recorded her battle against the illness on Instagram and currently is in remission.

New Zealand will play in Group A at the World Cup with Norway, Switzerland and the Philippines.

New Zealand squad:
Goalkeepers: Victoria Esson, Anna Leat, Erin Nayler.
Defenders: Liz Anton, C.J.Bott, Katie Bowen, Claudia Bunge, Michaela Foster, Ali Riley, Rebekah Stott.
Midfielders: Olivia Chance, Daisy Cleverley, Betsy Hassett, Annalie Longo, Ria Percival, Malia Steinmetz.
Forwards: Milly Clegg, Jacqui Hand, Grace Jale, Gabi Rennie, Indiah-Paige Riley, Paige Satchell, Hannah Wilkinson.

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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Kicks 4 Kokoda Program Holds Second Tournament

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Kicks 4 Kokoda

The delivery of the second Kicks 4 Kokoda Soccer Tournament is scheduled for August 20th and 21st in Kokoda Station and Buna Village in the Oro Province.

The K4K tournament is a community health event which involves students who have been trained over eight weeks by the Skillz coaches, community health workers and Team PNG HERO Athletes.

Team PNG HERO Athletes who will be delivering the tournament are Linda Pulsan (Powerlifting), Raphaela Baki (Boxing) Dianne Vetu (Touch), Basil Joffari and Roland Bala (Soccer), Dennis Kopman (Karate), Dia Muri (Basketball) and Steven Abraham (Para Athletics).

Steven is the new addition to the team delivering the program. He is a Silver and Bronze medallist from the recently held 2022 Pacific Mini Games in the 100m Ambulant and Javelin events respectively.

Similar to the first tournament in April of this year, the soccer tournament will conclude the second phase of the Skillz Coach Training under the K4K program.

Whilst championing female engagements, inclusivity and inspiring young children to take up sports, the tournament also embodies the Olympic Values of Excellence, Respect and Friendship, through the PNG Olympic Committee’s Olympic Values Education Program, and is led by PNGOC Programs Coordinator Rutha Omenefa and Team PNG HERO athletes who are trained to deliver this program.

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