FIFA Women's World Cup groups 2023: Teams, final standings, and how they were formed

Patrick Brischetto

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FIFA Women's World Cup groups 2023: Teams, final standings, and how they were formed image

The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup was the first to feature 32 teams, divided into eight groups to start the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

Only the top two teams advanced from each group after round-robin play concluded, meaning the field was halved, with 16 teams going home and the other half advancing to the Round of 16.

The majority of the favourites progressed, while the likes of co-hosts New Zealand suffered an embarrassing early exit, as did Germany — the second-best team in the world — Olympic champions Canada and heavyweights Brazil.

The Sporting News has all the information on how the eight groups played out as Spain went on to defeat England 1-0 in the final.

MORE: Women's World Cup Golden Boot final rankings

2023 Women's World Cup Groups

Here's a quick snapshot of the composition of each of the World Cup groups.

Group B was considered the Group of Death at the start, and it produced a surprise with No. 7-ranked Canada unable to make it past the group stage. 

Group ANew ZealandNorwayPhilippinesSwitzerland
Group BAustraliaCanadaNigeriaRep. of Ireland
Group CSpainCosta RicaZambiaJapan
Group DEnglandHaitiDenmarkChina
Group EUSAVietnamNetherlandsPortugal
Group FFranceJamaicaBrazilPanama
Group GSwedenSouth AfricaItalyArgentina
Group HGermanyMoroccoColombiaSouth Korea

MORE: Host cities and stadiums for 2023 Women's World Cup

How Women's World Cup groups were formed

To determine the makeup of the Women's World Cup groups, a draw took place on October 22, 2022 in Auckland New Zealand.

The 32 teams were divided into four pots based on their most recent FIFA Women's World Ranking, meaning Pot 1 had the teams ranked No. 1-6 plus the two host nations, and Pot 2 featured the next best-ranked teams, and so on.

Since the intercontinental playoffs that decided the final three qualifiers had not been played at the time of the draw, those three spots were automatically placed in Pot 4.

MORE: How the Women's World Cup Draw unfolded

Women's World Cup standings, schedule

The Women's World Cup began on July 20 with both co-hosts in action to open the group stage. The final was held exactly a month later on August 20 in Sydney.

Women's World Cup Group A table

TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD
1. Switzerland-Q5310220+2
2. Norway-Q4311161+5
3. New Zealand-E43111110
4. Philippines-E3312018-7
  • Q = Qualified to Round of 16
  • E = Eliminated from World Cup

Group A match results

DateMatchHighlightsCity
Thu, July 20New Zealand 1-0 NorwayHighlightsAuckland (NZL)
Fri, July 21Philippines 0-2 SwitzerlandHighlightsDunedin (NZL)
Tue, July 25New Zealand 0-1 PhilippinesHighlightsWellington (NZL)
Tue, July 25Switzerland 0-0 NorwayHighlightsHamilton (NZL)
Sun, July 30Switzerland 0-0 New ZealandHighlights Dunedin (NZL)
Sun, July 30Norway 6-0 PhilippinesHighlightsAuckland (NZL)

Women's World Cup Group B table

TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD
1. Australia-Q6321073+4
2. Nigeria-Q5310232+1
3. Canada-E4311124-2
4. Rep. of Ireland-E1302113-2
  • Q = Qualified to Round of 16
  • E = Eliminated from World Cup

Group B match results

DateMatch City
Thu, July 20Australia 1-0 Rep. of IrelandHighlightsSydney (AUS)
Fri, July 21Nigeria 0-0 CanadaHighlightsMelbourne (AUS)
Wed, July 26Canada 2-1 Rep. of IrelandHighlightsPerth (AUS)
Thu, July 27Australia 2-3 NigeriaHighlightsBrisbane (AUS)
Mon, July 31Canada 0-4 AustraliaHighlightsMelbourne (AUS)
Mon, July 31Rep. of Ireland 0-0 NigeriaHighlightsBrisbane (AUS)

Women's World Cup Group C table

 TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD
1.Japan-Q93300110+11
2.Spain-Q6321084+4
3.Zambia-E33120311-8
4.Costa Rica-E0303018-7
  • Q = Qualified to Round of 16
  • E = Eliminated from World Cup

Group C match results

DateMatch City
Fri, July 21Spain 3-0 Costa RicaHighlightsWellington (NZL) 
Sat, July 22Zambia 0-5 JapanHighlightsHamilton (NZL)
Wed, July 26Spain 5-0 ZambiaHighlightsAuckland (NZL)
Wed, July 26Japan 2-0 Costa RicaHighlightsDunedin (NZL)
Mon, July 31Japan 4-0 SpainHighlightsWellington (NZL)
Mon, July 31Costa Rica 1-3 ZambiaHighlightsHamilton (NZL)

Women's World Cup Group D table 

TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD
1. England-Q9330081+7
2. Denmark-Q6321031+2
3. China-E3312027-5
4. Haiti-E0303004-4
  • Q = Qualified to Round of 16
  • E = Eliminated from World Cup

Group D match results

DateMatch City
Sat, July 22England 1-0 HaitiHighlightsBrisbane (AUS)
Sat, July 22Denmark 1-0 ChinaHighlightsPerth (AUS)
Fri, July 28England 1-0 DenmarkHighlightsSydney (AUS)
Fri, July 28China 1-0 HaitiHighlightsAdelaide (AUS)
Tue, Aug. 1China 1-6 EnglandHighlightsAdelaide (AUS)
Tue, Aug. 1Haiti 0-2 DenmarkHighlightsPerth (AUS)

Women's World Cup Group E table 

TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD
1. Netherlands-Q7320191+8
2. USA-Q5310241+3
3. Portugal-E4311121+1
4. Vietnam-E03030012-12
  • Q = Qualified to Round of 16
  • E = Eliminated from World Cup

Group E match results

DateMatch City
Sat, July 22USA 3-0 VietnamHighlightsAuckland (NZL)
Sun, July 23Netherlands 1-0 PortugalHighlightsDunedin (NZL)
Thu, July 27USA 1-1 NetherlandsHighlightsWellington (NZL)
Thu, July 27Portugal 2-0 VietnamHighlightsHamilton (NZL)
Tue, Aug. 1Portugal 0-0 USAHighlightsAuckland (NZL)
Tue, Aug. 1Vietnam 0-7 NetherlandsHighlightsDunedin (NZL)

Women's World Cup Group F table

TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD
1. France-Q7320184+4
2. Jamaica-Q5310210+1
3. Brazil4311152+3
4. Panama03030311-8
  • Q = Qualified to Round of 16
  • E = Eliminated from World Cup

Group F match results

DateMatchHighlightsCity
Sun, July 23France 0-0 JamaicaHighlightsSydney (AUS)
Mon, July 24Brazil 4-0 PanamaHighlightsAdelaide (AUS)
Sat, July 29France 2-1 BrazilHighlightsBrisbane (AUS)
Sat, July 29Panama 0-1 JamaicaHighlightsPerth (AUS)
Wed, Aug. 2Panama 3-5 FranceHighlightsSydney (AUS)
Wed, Aug. 2Jamaica 0-0 BrazilHighlights Melbourne (AUS)

Women's World Cup Group G table

TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD
1. Sweden-Q9330091+8
2. South Africa-Q43111660
3. Italy-E3310238-4
4. Argentina-E1301225-3
  • Q = Qualified to Round of 16
  • E = Eliminated from World Cup

Group G match results

DateMatchHighlights City
Sun, July 23Sweden 2-1 South AfricaHighlightsWellington (NZL)
Mon, July 24Italy 1-0 ArgentinaHighlightsAuckland (NZL)
Fri, July 28Argentina 2-2 South AfricaHighlightsDunedin (NZL)
Sat, July 29Sweden 5-0 ItalyHighlights Wellington (NZL)
Wed, Aug. 2Argentina 0-2 SwedenHighlightsHamilton (NZL)
Wed, Aug. 2South Africa 3-2 ItalyHighlightsWellington (NZL)

Women's World Cup Group H table

TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD
Colombia-Q6321042+2
Morocco-Q6321026-4
Germany-E3311183+5
South Korea-E1302114-3
  • Q = Qualified to Round of 16
  • E = Eliminated from World Cup

Group H match results

DateMatchTime
(AEST)		Time
(ET)		City
Mon, July 24Germany 6-0 MoroccoHighlights Melbourne (AUS)
Tue, July 25Colombia 2-0 South KoreaHighlights Sydney (AUS)
Sun, July 30Germany 1-2 ColombiaHighlights Sydney (AUS)
Sun, July 30South Korea 0-1 MoroccoHighlights Adelaide (AUS)
Thu, Aug. 3South Korea 1-1 GermanyHighlights  Brisbane (AUS)
Thu, Aug. 3Morocco 1-0 ColombiaHighlights Perth (AUS)

Women's World Cup Round of 16

DateMatchTime
(AEST)		Time
(ET)		City
Sat, Aug. 5Switzerland 1-5 SpainHighlights Auckland (NZL)
Sat, Aug. 5Japan 3-1 NorwayHighlights Wellington (NZL)
Sun, Aug. 6Netherlands 2-0 South AfricaHighlights Sydney (AUS)
Sun, Aug. 6Sweden 0-0 USA (5-4 on pens)Highlights Melbourne (AUS)
Mon, Aug. 7England 0-0 Nigeria (4-2 on pens)Highlights Brisbane (AUS)
Mon, Aug. 7Australia 2-0 DenmarkHighlights Sydney (AUS)
Tue, Aug. 8Colombia 1-0 JamaicaHighlights Melbourne (AUS)
Tue, Aug. 8France 4-0 MoroccoHighlights Adelaide (AUS)

Women's World Cup Quarterfinals

DateMatchHighlightsCity
Fri, Aug. 11Spain 2-1 NetherlandsHighlightsWellington (NZL)
Fri, Aug. 11Japan 1-2 SwedenHighlightsAuckland (NZL)
Sat, Aug. 12Australia 0-0 France (7-6 on pens)HighlightsBrisbane (AUS)
Sat, Aug. 12England 2-1 ColombiaHighlightsSydney (AUS)

Women's World Cup Semifinals

DateMatchTime
(AEST)		City
Tue, Aug. 15Spain 2-1 SwedenHighlightsAuckland (NZL)
Wed, Aug. 16Australia 1-3 EnglandHighlights Sydney (AUS)

Women's World Cup 3rd Place

DateMatchHighlightsCity
Sat, Aug. 19Sweden 2-0 AustraliaHighlightsBrisbane (AUS)

Women's World Cup Final

DateMatchHighlightsCity
Sun, Aug. 20Spain 1-0 EnglandHighlightsSydney (AUS)

Patrick Brischetto

Patrick is a journalist currently based in Sydney who covered the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 Women's World Cup for The Sporting News. He also holds a position at the Western Sydney Wanderers FC, and is slowly attempting to convince the world that the A-League is the greatest sporting competition.