Considered by many to be the Group of Death at the 2023 Women's World Cup, Group B has been one of the most interesting of the tournament, with co-hosts Australia pitted against reigning Olympic gold medalists Canada, World Cup debutants Republic of Ireland, and a strong African side in Nigeria.
Australia, backed by capacity crowds at all of their games and on a hot run of form, eventually progressed after defeating Canada 4-0 on the final match day as they showcased their quality when it mattered most.
Canada themselves disappointed as they became the first Olympic champions to be knocked out of the group stage of the Women's World Cup. Nigeria pounced on their poor form to finish runners-up in Group B as a result.
Meanwhile, Republic of Ireland finished bottom of their group but managed a 0-0 draw with Nigeria to pick up their first ever World Cup point.
MORE: Australia final 23-player World Cup squad
Group B standings and schedule
Women's World Cup Group B table & fixtures
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Australia (Q) | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | +4 |
| 2. Nigeria (Q) | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | +1 |
| 3. Canada | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | -4 |
| 4. Rep. of Ireland (E) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 |
*(E) - Eliminated from the World Cup
The four teams selected are playing a round-robin format with each nation facing the other three. Group standings are based on points from those three group-stage matches — three points for a win, one for a draw, none for a loss.
The top two teams from each group based on total points advance to the single-game knockouts. If teams are tied on points, overall goal difference is the first tiebreaker followed by overall goals scored. If teams are also tied in those categories another set of tiebreakers is applied.
Group B match schedule
| Date | Match | Time (AEST) | Time (ET) | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, July 20 | Australia 1-0 Rep. of Ireland | Highlights | Sydney (AUS) | |
| Fri, July 21 | Nigeria 0-0 Canada | HIghlights | Melbourne (AUS) | |
| Wed, July 26 | Canada 2-1 Rep. of Ireland | Highlights | Perth (AUS) | |
| Thu, July 27 | Australia 2-3 Nigeria | Highlights | Brisbane (AUS) | |
| Mon, July 31 | Canada 0-4 Australia | - | 6 a.m. | Melbourne (AUS) |
| Mon, July 31 | Rep. of Ireland 0-0 Nigeria | - | 6 a.m. | Brisbane (AUS) |
Who will win Group B?
Heading into the final matchday, it's Nigeria who are the surprise favorites given they sit atop the group on goal difference ahead of Canada.
Australia topping Group B is considered the least likely scenario, according to the betting market.
| Australia | Canada | Republic of Ireland | Nigeria | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM (USA) | +300 | +220 | — | -125 |
| Sports Interaction (Canada) | 3.91 | 3.01 | — | 1.88 |
| SkyBet (UK) | 11/4 | 2/1 | — | 1/1 |
| Dafabet (India) | — | — | — | — |
| Unibet (Australia) | 3.75 | 3.10 | — | 1.91 |
Odds updated as of July 31
Who will qualify from Group B
Nigeria and Canada are seen as the favourites to advance, though Australia have a chance to flip the script in front of their home fans on the final day.
A victory against Canada would see Australia leap past the Canadians and potentially even win the group depending on what Nigeria can do against a plucky Irish side that has nothing to play for but pride.
| Australia | Canada | Republic of Ireland | Nigeria | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM (USA) | -120 | -165 | — | -5000 |
| Sports Interaction (Canada) | 1.80 | 1.50 | — | 1.14 |
| SkyBet (UK) | 1/1 | 4/7 | — | 1/16 |
| Dafabet (India) | — | — | — | — |
| Unibet (Australia) | 1.80 | 1.50 | — | 1.13 |
Odds updated as of July 31
Potential path to final for Group B teams
The teams that progress from Group B will then face either the winners or runners-up of Group D, a group that features Euro 2022 champions England, Denmark, Haiti and China.
England are heavily backed to finish top of the group despite injury issues, with China and Denmark predicted to fight it out for the second qualifying spot.
Women's World Cup Round of 16
| Date | Match | Time (AEST) | Time (ET) | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Aug. 5 | 1A vs. 2C | 15:00 | 01:00 | Auckland (NZL) |
| Sat, Aug. 5 | 1C vs. 2A | 18:00 | 04:00 | Wellington (NZL) |
| Sun, Aug. 6 | 1E vs. 2G | 12:00 | 22:00 (Aug. 5) | Sydney (AUS) |
| Sun, Aug. 6 | 1G vs. 2E | 19:00 | 05:00 | Melbourne (AUS) |
| Mon, Aug. 7 | 1D vs. 2B | 17:30 | 03:30 | Brisbane (AUS) |
| Mon, Aug. 7 | 1B vs. 2D | 20:30 | 06:30 | Sydney (AUS) |
| Tue, Aug. 8 | 1H vs. 2F | 18:00 | 04:00 | Melbourne (AUS) |
| Tue, Aug. 8 | 1F vs. 2H | 20:30 | 07:00 | Adelaide (AUS) |
Women's World Cup Quarterfinals
| Date | Match | Time (AEST) | Time (ET) | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Aug. 11 | QF1: 1A/2C vs. 1E/2G | 11:00 | 21:00 (Aug. 10) | Wellington (NZL) |
| Fri, Aug. 11 | QF2: 1C/2A vs. 1G/2E | 17:30 | 03:30 | Auckland (NZL) |
| Sat, Aug. 12 | QF3: 1B/2D vs. 1F/2H | 17:00 | 03:00 | Brisbane (AUS) |
| Sat, Aug. 12 | QF4: 1D/2B vs. 1H/2F | 20:30 | 06:30 | Sydney (AUS) |
Women's World Cup Semifinals
| Date | Match | Time (AEST) | Time (ET) | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Aug. 15 | QF1 vs. QF2 | 18:00 | 04:00 | Auckland (NZL) |
| Wed, Aug. 16 | QF3 vs. QF4 | 20:00 | 06:00 | Sydney (AUS) |
Women's World Cup 3rd Place
| Date | Match | Time (AEST) | Time (ET) | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Aug. 19 | Semifinal losers | 18:00 | 04:00 | Brisbane (AUS) |
Women's World Cup Final
| Date | Match | Time (AEST) | Time (ET) | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Aug. 20 | Semifinal winners | 20:00 | 06:00 | Sydney (AUS) |