Anticipating the grand final of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, The Game reviews the Road to the Final in a visual recap.
The Road to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final
The 2023 edition has catalyzed women’s football even further and served as a grand stage to showcase the rapid development of women’s football in recent years. Hundreds of thousands of attendees have gathered at the venues throughout wintry Australia and New Zealand to root for their national teams or simply follow the spectacle live.
Moreover, the universal language of football has once again fostered a sense of belonging to a global, unified community and created lasting connections to the women’s national teams, who have written marvelous stories at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Game recollects the tales of the tournament in this visual storyline about one of the most important events in women’s sports history.
The Group Stage
From upsets to wonder stories, the group stage delivered drama as expected. The early shock exits of women’s football giants Germany and Brazil once again highlighted the unforgiving nature of World Cup group stages, which demands the teams to perform in every game to advance.
The Reggae Girlz from Jamaica completed a sensational run in Group F. A goalless draw against Brazil on the last match day earned them their first Round of 16 participation and sealed Brazil’s shock exit. Considering that the team had to create a GoFundMe to cover the costs of the trip because of the lack of support from the JFF, this was an even bigger achievement.
Photo 1: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire / George Hitchens | Photo 2: IMAGO / Sports Press Photo / Daniela Porcelli | Photo 3: IMAGO / Eibner / Memmler
Linda Caicedo’s (COL) curling wonder goal in the Group H match against Germany, Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia.
Photo 1: IMAGO / AAP / Mark Evans | Photo 2: IMAGO / Action Plus | Photo 3: IMAGO / Xinhua / Hu Jingchen
The Round Of 16
The Quarterfinals
The Semifinals
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final
After the tragic knockout of Australia’s Matildas in the semifinal match against England, the Lionesses advance to their second major final after winning the UEFA Euros in 2021. They will face a determined and highly-talented side from Spain, who beat Sweden in the first semifinal and will play their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup Final.
Both teams were highly regarded as the favorites before the tournament started, with both squads being stacked with world class players from the top leagues in Europe. The Stadium Australia in Sydney will be the host venue for one of the most important games in women’s football history and expects and attendance of more than 70,000.
