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Women’s World Cup 2023: 5 favorites to win it all down under

By Caden Charpentier

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 06: Chloe Kelly and Leah Williamson of England celebrate victory after the Women´s Finalissima 2023 match between England and Brazil at Wembley Stadium on April 06, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 06: Chloe Kelly and Leah Williamson of England celebrate victory after the Women´s Finalissima 2023 match between England and Brazil at Wembley Stadium on April 06, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images) /
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ST LOUIS, MO – APRIL 11: Alana Cook #15 of the United States celebrates her goal during a game between the Republic of Ireland and the USWNT at CITYPARK on April 11, 2023 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Brad Smith/USSF/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO – APRIL 11: Alana Cook #15 of the United States celebrates her goal during a game between the Republic of Ireland and the USWNT at CITYPARK on April 11, 2023 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Brad Smith/USSF/Getty Images) /

1. United States

Manager: Vlatko Andonovski

FIFA World Ranking: No. 1

History makers. That is what the USWNT has been with the 1999 World Cup acting as the launchpad. Since then, the United States national team has done nothing but pave the way for the continued growth of women’s football and women’s sports around the world.

Winning just one World Cup is difficult, but three successive is unheard of. Teams like the Brazilian men’s national team in the late 1950s, and early 1960s attempted, but a third straight world championship was not in the cards. Captained by the composed Becky Sauerbrunn, and led by young superstar Sophia Smith in the front line, this United States team has everything it needs to continue its world dominance.

On any given day, Vlatko Andonovski’s squad can be beaten. England, Spain, and Germany showed that.  With all the gears turning the right way, there is little a nation can do. The injuries of Mallory Swanson, and Catarina Macario are brutal blows, but no team is more capable of taking on adversity like that than the two-time defending world champions.

World Cup prediction: United States over England 

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