First played in 1991, the ninth edition of the Women’s World Cup will take place in Australia and New Zealand this summer.
Stadium Australia in Sydney will host the final four years after the USA defeated the Netherlands in Lyon.
This tournament is the most significant in women’s football odds. While using viewing figures and attendances as a barometer for the ‘success’ of the women’s game can be tiresome, there’s no denying each World Cup is an opportunity for the world’s best players to take centre stage.
For several weeks, Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses, the defending champion USA and 30 other teams are going to be the main focus of football media coverage.
Some who might gloss over women’s football online betting will tune in. Committed fans have 64 matches to get stuck into.
Let’s take a look back at the previous winners of the Women’s World Cup.
Women’s World Cup Records
Naturally, some of the records at the Women’s World Cup belong to the highest-paid players.
For instance, Marta is the all-time leading goal scorer with 17 to her name. The Brazilian sits three goals ahead of Abby Wambach and Birgit Prinz. Michelle Akers, who scored 10 goals in the 1991 tournament, is the only other player with more than 11 World Cup goals overall.
No player has won the Golden Boot more than once. The same goes for the Golden Ball. Hope Solo is the only goalkeeper to have multiple World Cup Golden Gloves, claiming the honour in 2011 and 2015.
Here are a few other World Cup records:
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Most Fair Play trophies – 2, France and China
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Most Player of the Match awards – 5, Marta, Carli Lloyd, Aya Miyama
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Most wins – 40, United States
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Most goals – 138, United States
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Most defeats – 19, Nigeria
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Most tournament wins by a coach – 2, Jill Ellis
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Most semi-final appearances – 8, United States
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Most semi-final appearances without being champion – 4, Sweden
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Most goals scored in a tournament – 26, United States in 2019
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Most tournaments played – 7, Formiga
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Most matches played – 30, Kristine Lilly
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Youngest player – 17 years, 236 days, Birgit Prinz
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Most goals scored in a match – 5, Michelle Akers, Alex Morgan
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Youngest goal scorer – 16 years, 107 days, Elena Danilova
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Biggest win – United States 13-0 Thailand
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Most goals in a tournament – 146 in 2015 and 2019
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Fewest goals in a tournament – 86 in 2011
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Most clean sheets – 10, Briana Scurry
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Most matches won by a coach – 16, Even Pellerud
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Highest average attendance – 37,944, United States in 1999
Most Successful Team In Women’s World Cup History
The United States are the most successful team in Women’s World Cup history. They have won four titles (1991, 1999, 2015, 2019).
Germany, who were champions in 2003 and 2007, are the only other nation to win multiple titles. Norway (1995) and Japan (2011) are the two other teams to have lifted the trophy.
The USA have reached the semi finals at every edition of the World Cup. They were knocked out at the last four in 1995, 2003 and 2007, but won the third-place playoff in all three tournaments.
Germany have made it to the semi finals or better in five of eight tournaments. Norway and Sweden are the only other nations with more than two last four appearances.
In total, 11 countries have played in a World Cup semi-final. Of that octet, England, Canada and France are the only teams to have never competed in a final.
Four of six FIFA confederations have been represented in the final. CAF and OFC are the only confederations to have not produced a finalist.
Women's World Cup Champions List
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1991 – USA
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1995 – Norway
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1999 – USA
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2003 – Germany
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2007 – Germany
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2011 – Japan
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2015 – USA
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2019 – USA
2023 Women’s World Cup Outright Odds
Looking to complete a World Cup threepeat, it is no surprise to see the USWNT as the betting favourites for the 2023 tournament.
Vlatko Andonovski’s team are priced at 9/4, only narrowly ahead of European champions England.
The group stage brings a rematch of the final from four years ago, with the Netherlands and USA matched up in Group E alongside Portugal and Vietnam.
The Dutch are not expected to repeat their heroics from 2019, however, and they are out at 25/1 to lift the trophy.
Armed with tournament experience after consecutive World Cup semi-final defeats and success at the Euros, England are second favourites at a price of 3/1.
The Lionesses have the luxury of being on the other side of the draw from the United States, and they should cruise through their group.
Spain are on England’s side of the draw, contributing to being a shorter price than Germany, who are on a collision course with the USA.
Germany have seen their dominance of European football come to an end over the last few years, but they pushed England all the way in the Euros final last summer.
Spain are hoping Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas can get fully fit for the World Cup – they have been knocked out at the last eight in the three previous tournaments.
As these odds indicate, a USA versus England final is the most likely outcome, which would rule out any officials representing either nation this summer.
Tournament football is notoriously unpredictable, but it would be brave to bet against the reigning world and European champions meeting in Sydney on 20th August.
Women's World Cup 2023 Odds With 888sport:
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USA – 9/4
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England – 3/1
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Spain – 6/1
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Germany – 7/1
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France – 9/1
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Australia – 10/1
