The Canadian women’s national team found out its opponents for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup on Saturday, as the draw was conducted in Auckland, New Zealand.
Canada have been drawn into Group B, along with the co-hosts Australia, World Cup debutants Republic of Ireland, and Nigeria.
Your #FIFAWWC 2023 Group B!#BeyondGreatness pic.twitter.com/dQJPLcjNFl
— #FIFAWWC Draw (@FIFAWWC) October 22, 2022
The reigning Olympic champions Canada, currently ranked seventh in the world, were in Pot B, marginally behind Spain for the final spot in Pot A. Australia were in Pot A as co-hosts of the tournament, and are ranked 13th in the world. Twenty-fourth ranked Republic of Ireland will be making their first ever appearance at a major international tournament, and 45th-ranked Nigeria return to the Finals after getting past the group stage for the first time in 20 years last time out.
The competition will take place in Australia and New Zealand, beginning on July 20, 2023 at Eden Park in Auckland with a match between New Zealand and Norway, and ending exactly a month later on Aug. 20, 2023 at Stadium Australia for the final in Sydney.
All of Canada’s group stage matches will be in Australia, beginning with Nigeria on 21 July at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium. Next, they’ll head west to take on the Republic of Ireland at Perth Rectangular Stadium, before making the flight back across the country to close out the group stage with the Australians back in Melbourne.
Canada have played both Australia and Nigeria in the past few months, with Canada beating Nigeria 2-0 in Vancouver during the Olympic gold medal Celebration Tour back in April, as well as a 2-2 draw a few days later in Langford. They played Australia twice in September, once in Brisbane and once in Sydney, winning the matches 1-0 and 2-1, respectively, thanks to a trio of goals from Adriana Leon.
The full groups for next summer’s tournament are below.
The stage is set! ?
Who will claim the #FIFAWWC? ?#BeyondGreatness pic.twitter.com/aaf9lt8zFf— #FIFAWWC Draw (@FIFAWWC) October 22, 2022