World Cup 2023 draw: USWNT to face Vietnam, Netherlands and playoff winner in New Zealand
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USWNT takes on Vietnam, the Netherlands and a play-off winner in their 2023 World Cup title defense in New Zealand… as draw leads to potential clash with England in the FINAL
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Four-time winner, the United States, will open their World Cup title defense against Vietnam in New Zealand next year, after being grouped with the Asian nation, the Netherlands and a play-off winner in Saturday’s draw in Auckland.
Vlatko Andonovski’s squad will enter the tournament as the favorites to have won the previous two, in France 2019 and Canada 2015, but they will face stiff competition from the likes of England, having recently lost to them in a friendly on Saturday. Wembley.
The draw has placed the USWNT and England on opposite sides of the draw, meaning there could be a blockbuster showdown between the two sides in the final.
The US will be pulled from the pot during Saturday’s World Cup draw in Auckland, New Zealand
USWNT manager Vlatko Andonovski poses for a photo ahead of the 2023 World Cup draw
European champions England will face a play-off winner, Denmark and China in Group D, while the 2003 and 2007 World Cup winners Germany will face Morocco, Colombia and South Korea in Group H in the tournament from July 20 to August 20 next year .
New Zealand kicks off the first World Cup to be held in the Southern Hemisphere against former champions Norway in Auckland on July 20, and also takes on the Philippines and Switzerland in Group A.
Their co-host Australia kicks off their campaign on the same day at the Sydney Football Stadium against Ireland before playing in Group B against Nigeria and Olympic champions Canada.
Sweden, ranked second in the world, will face South Africa, Italy and Argentina in Group G, while fifth ranked France will face Jamaica, Brazil and a play-off winner in Group F, and Spain will face Costa Rica, Zambia and 2011 Japan winners in Group C.
The USWNT are current World Cup holders, but lost in a recent friendly against England
FIFA president Gianni Infantino was also present at the draw in New Zealand this weekend
The USA, champions of the last two editions of the tournament, will play all their Group E matches in New Zealand, against Vietnam in Auckland on July 22, before a rematch of the 2019 final against the Netherlands in Wellington, five days later.
England will be based in Australia for the opening round of the expanded 32-team tournament, which starts on July 22 against a play-off winner in Brisbane.
The 10-team inter-confederation playoffs to determine the final three spots in the tournament will take place in New Zealand from February 18-23 next year.