2023 Women's World Cup Group A Preview: It's Anyone's Game as a Star Returns

Norway welcomes back its Ada Hegerberg and New Zealand plays host to a group that could be up for grabs.

The group that opens the festivities might well be its least predictable. As one of four nations to win a Women’s World Cup, Norway would be the logical favorite, but a shocking group-stage exit at Euro 2022—thanks in part to an 8–0 loss to eventual champion England—throws that status in doubt. Fortunately, Norway is led by six-time Champions League winner Ada Hegerberg, who is back on the World Cup stage after missing the ’19 event during a five-year absence from the national team. The winner of the inaugural Ballon d’Or Féminin in ’18 withdrew from the team in ’17 after calling out the Norwegian Football Federation’s lack of support for women’s soccer. She returned in time for last summer’s Euro debacle, where she assisted on Norway’s only goal of the tournament.

Hegerberg returned to the national team on April 7, 2022, and scored a hat trick in her first game back.  :: Geir Olsen/IMAGO

New Zealand will get plenty of attention as cohost of the Southern Hemisphere’s first Women’s World Cup, but the Football Ferns have won just once in its last 11 matches (including 4–0 and 5–0 home losses to the U.S. in January). Switzerland barely missed out on winning its UEFA qualifying group, but the team booked its ticket with a dramatic, 121st-minute goal in extra time of the qualifying playoff against Wales last October and plans to play aggressively to get to the knockout stage. Meanwhile, the Philippines will be making its World Cup debut as the lowest-ranked Asian nation.

• Women’s World Cup Schedule: Group list, streaming information.

Projected Group Finish

1. Norway
2. Switzerland
3. New Zealand
4. Philippines

Breakout Star

Coumba Sow, Switzerland

The Servette FC midfielder led Switzerland’s qualifying group with nine goals, including first-half hat tricks against Lithuania and Moldova. At Euro 2022, Sow opened things up for the Swiss, scoring just 90 seconds into the first game, against Portugal. After four years with Paris FC, the Zurich native transferred to the Swiss Women’s Super League in January to get more playing time ahead of the World Cup.

Sow scored the game-tying goal in Switzerland's 3–3 draw against Zambia on June 30.  :: Manuel Stefan/IMAGO

Wild Card

New Zealand and the Philippines will have a chance to make history, as both are seeking their first win in a World Cup game (men’s or women’s). The Football Ferns have the advantage of playing in front of a home crowd.

Game of the Group

New Zealand vs. Norway, July 20

There will be plenty of fanfare at Eden Park when the tournament opens as the cohosts look to steal a point from the group’s top-ranked team.