European champion England faces Denmark in a crucial Group D clash at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Both teams won their first matches and are looking to secure a place in the knockout stages today.
Teams are competing in the opening group stage. Thirty-two squads will play at 10 venues across Australia and New Zealand, with the field gradually narrowing until the Aug. 20 final. The USWNT is going for an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup title.
China returns to action later Friday. The Steel Roses were once a women's soccer superpower
From CNN's Simone McCarthy, Andrew McNicol, and Candice Zhu in Hong Kong
With a tied score and two minutes left to play after a stunning second-half comeback, China’s women’s soccer team finally scored the goal that had eluded them for 16 years.
That winning goal, which earned the team their first AFC Asian Cup since 2006, reverberated across the country. Fans who’d long been left hungry for glory from a men’s or women’s national team scrawled exuberant posts on social media, and at least one prominent sportscaster admitting to crying tears of joy.
Eighteen months later, that win also landed China at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where the team and its coach Shui Qingxia have a chance to show that was just the opening shot in their rise to reclaim its place as a dominant force in the women’s sport.
“We will fight game by game,” vowed head coach Shui, who is a veteran of the golden era of Chinese women’s soccer — a period that saw the team take silver in the 1996 Olympics and lose the 1999 World Cup by a single penalty kick against longtime rivals the United States.
Much has changed in the women’s sport since that time. The rapid development of women’s soccer programs across Europe and the Americas has fielded a new generation of powerful teams-to-beat. And China is now fighting from behind.
The team, known as the Steel Roses for their perseverance, has already lost what was considered a key match against Denmark on Saturday in Australia.
They will face off against World Cup debutantes Haiti on Friday. Even if they take that match, they will need to get past world No. 4-ranked England to advance from the group stage.
Here's the starting lineups for England vs Denmark
From CNN staff
England’s starting XI:
Goalkeeper: Earps
Defense: Bronze, Greenwood, Bright (captain)
Midfield: Walsh, Stanway, Daly, Toone
Forwards: James, Kelly, Russo
Denmark’s starting XI:
Goalkeeper: Christensen
Defense: Ballisager, Sevecke, Boye, Veje, Thomsen
Midfield: Hasbo, Holmgaard, Kuhl
Forwards: Harder (captain), Madsen
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Denmark left it late to secure their exciting opening day victory
From CNN's Issy Ronald
China's Zhang Linyan vies for the ball with Denmark's Pernille Harder during their match on July 22, 2023.
Gary Day/AP
Denmark defeated China 1-0 in their opening Group D match.
The Danes took the lead in thrilling fashion in the last minute of regulation time when substitute Amalie Vangsgaard — having been on the pitch less than five minutes — headed home from a Pernille Harder corner.
There was still time for some more late drama in the six minutes of added time as China almost equalized, but the ball bobbled off the woodwork and was scrambled clear.
The goal wouldn’t have counted however, with multiple Chinese players offside.
The last minutes changed the complexion of a game that had been destined to end in a scoreless draw, as both teams struggled to find an incisive edge.
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England manager Sarina Wiegman on the secrets of the team's success
From CNN's Amanda Davies and Ben Church
England manager Sarina Wiegman during a press conference at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, on July 21, 2023.
Dan Peled/Reuters
After triumphing at the Women’s Euros in 2022, England is one of the favorites to win the Women’s World Cup this year.
The team is brimming with world-class players, such as Barcelona’s Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh, and possesses one of the most diligent international coaches in the game.
Since Sarina Wiegman took charge of the Lionesses in September 2021, the squad has transformed into something of a juggernaut.
England have lost only once during her reign — a friendly against Australia in April.
It’s an astonishing record that also includes winning Euro 2022, but in an interview with CNN Sport’s Amanda Davies, Wiegman was cautious of the high expectations surrounding her team heading into this year’s World Cup.
“It’s very unpredictable and yes, of course, we’re one of the favorites because we’re the European champions,” the 53-year-old said ahead of the tournament, adding that life changed for the players after the memorable victory at Wembley Stadium in London. “We have done really well over the last year, but I think it’s very, very hard. “I think there are many, many contenders and I think we are one of them. We’re just trying to be at our best level, and yes, we have a dream. “Of course, we don’t go there just to play a tournament. We go there, of course, to win it just like the other countries. And we’ll see what happens. We take it game by game.”
Argentina rally from 2 down to tie with South Africa
From CNN's Homero DeLaFuente
South Africa's Bambanani Mbane in action with Argentina's Mariana Larroquette during their match on July 27, 2023.
Molly Darlington/Reuters
Argentina scored two second half goals to settle for a 2-2 draw against South Africa in the Group G match Friday morning at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand.
With both nations looking for a maiden victory at the Women’s World Cup, it was South Africa’s Linda Motlhalo who opened the scoring in the 30th minute, on a pass from Thembi Kgatlana.
Kgatlana doubled Banyana Banyana’s lead in the 66th minute, striking home a pass from Jermaine Seoposenwe.
Argentina responded with back-to-back goals in a span of five minutes in the second half. Sophia Braun scored the first in the 74th minute on a magnificent half-volley from outside the box.
The Argentines then drew the match level in the 79th minute on a goal by Romina Núñez, who buried a glancing header on a cross by Yamila Rodriguez.
Both teams will next play on August 2, with Argentina taking on one of the tournament favorites, Sweden. South Africa, who tallied the nation’s first-ever point in the Women’s World Cup, will play against Italy.
South Africa could be without captain Refiloe Jane for their next match, as she was stretchered off after going up for a header and landing awkwardly on her left ankle.
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What are the Women's World Cup armbands and why were they created?
From CNN's Matt Foster
A combination mock-up picture shows the armbands that FIFA says team captains will be permitted to wear during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, in this undated handout image released on June 30, 2023.
FIFA/Handout/Reuters
As Ali Riley and her New Zealand team claimed a surprise victory over Norway in the opening match of the 2023 Women’s World Cup on Thursday, the Football Ferns captain could be seen sporting a white and blue armband emblazoned with the words “Unite for Inclusion.”
In contrast, Steph Catley — who captained Australia in the absence of regular skipper Sam Kerr, who was injured — was wearing a similarly colored armband that said, “Unite for Indigenous Peoples” as the Matildas battled to a 1-0 win over Ireland in Sydney.
Those expressions represent two of the eight options that captains at the showpiece event can choose from after armbands became an unlikely talking point at the men’s event in 2022.
The eight different armbands each carry a “specific message” according to FIFA, falling under the governing body’s “Football Unites the World” campaign and in partnership with various United Nations’ agencies and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Unite for Inclusion – in partnership with UN Human Rights
Unite for Indigenous Peoples – in partnership with UN Human Rights
Unite for Gender Equality – in partnership with UN Women
Unite for Peace – in partnership with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
Unite for Education for All – in partnership with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Unite for Zero Hunger – in partnership with the UN World Food Programme
Unite for Ending Violence Against Women – in partnership with UN Women
Football is Joy, Peace, Love, Hope & Passion – in partnership with the WHO
Chants of “U-S-A, U-S-A!” reverberating around the Wellington Regional Stadium as the team faced the Netherlands in their second match of the tournament soon dissipated after the Dutch took an early lead.
Midfielder Jill Roord put the Netherlands on the board in the 17th minute, finding the back of the net past USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.
It was the first time the USWNT trailed in a Women’s World Cup match since 2011 in the quarterfinal against Brazil. Prior to Thursday, the US had gone 17 straight matches without trailing — the longest streak by any team in the tournament’s history.
The Netherlands, meanwhile, was hungry for revenge after their 2-0 loss to the US in the 2019 World Cup.
Despite trailing at the half, the USWNT outshot the Netherlands 9-2 in the first half – and all their scoring chances finally came to fruition in the 62nd minute.
US captain Lindsey Horan scored the equalizer with a thumping header from a corner kick, prompting ecstatic celebrations in the stands.
Female soccer players earn 25 cents to the dollar of men at World Cup, CNN analysis finds
From CNN's Issy Ronald, Antonio Jarne and Krystina Shveda
The FIFA Women's World Cup trophy is seen during its unveiling event at Summit at One Vanderbilt in New York City on April 14, 2023.
Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images
Soccer players at the 2023 Women’s World Cup will on average earn just 25 cents for every dollar earned by men at their World Cup last year, a new CNN analysis found.
Still, that is an improvement: last time, in 2019, it was less than 8 cents per dollar, according to data provided by world governing body FIFA and global players’ union FIFPRO.
The gender pay gap is very much alive and kicking at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
FIFA announced in June that, for the first time, about $49 million of the record $110 million Women’s World Cup prize money would go directly to individual players — at least $30,000 each for participating and $270,000 to each player on the winning squad.
The rest of the pot is going to be split between participating federations who will decide what share of this money to allocate to teams and players — if any at all. In addition to prize money, FIFA committed to paying $42 million to the federations and players’ clubs for Women’s World Cup preparations.
When asked for comment, soccer’s world governing body referred CNN to what FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in March when the organization announced details of the prize money on offer at this year’s tournament.
Nigeria stuns co-hosts Australia to deliver major shock
From CNN's Hilary Whiteman in Brisbane, Australia
Uchenna Kanu, right, of Nigeria celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's first goal during their match against Australia on July 27, 2023.
Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Nigeria stunned co-hosts Australia at the Women’s World Cup on Thursday, earning a famous 3-2 victory.
Emily van Egmond sent the home fans into delirium just before the interval, tapping home a sweeping move to give Australia the lead.
With the stadium bouncing as the Australia fans celebrated, Uchenna Kanu delivered the first sucker punch to dampen the mood at the Brisbane Stadium, somehow managing to scramble home a scuffed cross to score Nigeria’s first goal of the 2023 tournament.
In the second half, a close-range header from Osinachi Ohale and Asisat Oshoala’s finish from a tight angle extended Nigeria’s lead — making Oshoala the first African player to score at three Women’s World Cups.
And although Alanna Kennedy scored in the 10th minute of added time to give Australia late hope, Nigeria held on for a memorable victory to send the Super Falcons top of Group B.
With a tied score and two minutes left to play after a stunning second-half comeback, China’s women’s soccer team finally scored the goal that had eluded them for 16 years.
That winning goal, which earned the team their first AFC Asian Cup since 2006, reverberated across the country. Fans who’d long been left hungry for glory from a men’s or women’s national team scrawled exuberant posts on social media, and at least one prominent sportscaster admitting to crying tears of joy.
Eighteen months later, that win also landed China at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where the team and its coach Shui Qingxia have a chance to show that was just the opening shot in their rise to reclaim its place as a dominant force in the women’s sport.
“We will fight game by game,” vowed head coach Shui, who is a veteran of the golden era of Chinese women’s soccer — a period that saw the team take silver in the 1996 Olympics and lose the 1999 World Cup by a single penalty kick against longtime rivals the United States.
Much has changed in the women’s sport since that time. The rapid development of women’s soccer programs across Europe and the Americas has fielded a new generation of powerful teams-to-beat. And China is now fighting from behind.
The team, known as the Steel Roses for their perseverance, has already lost what was considered a key match against Denmark on Saturday in Australia.
They will face off against World Cup debutantes Haiti on Friday. Even if they take that match, they will need to get past world No. 4-ranked England to advance from the group stage.
China's Zhang Linyan vies for the ball with Denmark's Pernille Harder during their match on July 22, 2023.
Gary Day/AP
Denmark defeated China 1-0 in their opening Group D match.
The Danes took the lead in thrilling fashion in the last minute of regulation time when substitute Amalie Vangsgaard — having been on the pitch less than five minutes — headed home from a Pernille Harder corner.
There was still time for some more late drama in the six minutes of added time as China almost equalized, but the ball bobbled off the woodwork and was scrambled clear.
The goal wouldn’t have counted however, with multiple Chinese players offside.
The last minutes changed the complexion of a game that had been destined to end in a scoreless draw, as both teams struggled to find an incisive edge.
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England manager Sarina Wiegman during a press conference at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, on July 21, 2023.
Dan Peled/Reuters
After triumphing at the Women’s Euros in 2022, England is one of the favorites to win the Women’s World Cup this year.
The team is brimming with world-class players, such as Barcelona’s Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh, and possesses one of the most diligent international coaches in the game.
Since Sarina Wiegman took charge of the Lionesses in September 2021, the squad has transformed into something of a juggernaut.
England have lost only once during her reign — a friendly against Australia in April.
It’s an astonishing record that also includes winning Euro 2022, but in an interview with CNN Sport’s Amanda Davies, Wiegman was cautious of the high expectations surrounding her team heading into this year’s World Cup.
“It’s very unpredictable and yes, of course, we’re one of the favorites because we’re the European champions,” the 53-year-old said ahead of the tournament, adding that life changed for the players after the memorable victory at Wembley Stadium in London. “We have done really well over the last year, but I think it’s very, very hard. “I think there are many, many contenders and I think we are one of them. We’re just trying to be at our best level, and yes, we have a dream. “Of course, we don’t go there just to play a tournament. We go there, of course, to win it just like the other countries. And we’ll see what happens. We take it game by game.”
South Africa's Bambanani Mbane in action with Argentina's Mariana Larroquette during their match on July 27, 2023.
Molly Darlington/Reuters
Argentina scored two second half goals to settle for a 2-2 draw against South Africa in the Group G match Friday morning at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand.
With both nations looking for a maiden victory at the Women’s World Cup, it was South Africa’s Linda Motlhalo who opened the scoring in the 30th minute, on a pass from Thembi Kgatlana.
Kgatlana doubled Banyana Banyana’s lead in the 66th minute, striking home a pass from Jermaine Seoposenwe.
Argentina responded with back-to-back goals in a span of five minutes in the second half. Sophia Braun scored the first in the 74th minute on a magnificent half-volley from outside the box.
The Argentines then drew the match level in the 79th minute on a goal by Romina Núñez, who buried a glancing header on a cross by Yamila Rodriguez.
Both teams will next play on August 2, with Argentina taking on one of the tournament favorites, Sweden. South Africa, who tallied the nation’s first-ever point in the Women’s World Cup, will play against Italy.
South Africa could be without captain Refiloe Jane for their next match, as she was stretchered off after going up for a header and landing awkwardly on her left ankle.
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A combination mock-up picture shows the armbands that FIFA says team captains will be permitted to wear during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, in this undated handout image released on June 30, 2023.
FIFA/Handout/Reuters
As Ali Riley and her New Zealand team claimed a surprise victory over Norway in the opening match of the 2023 Women’s World Cup on Thursday, the Football Ferns captain could be seen sporting a white and blue armband emblazoned with the words “Unite for Inclusion.”
In contrast, Steph Catley — who captained Australia in the absence of regular skipper Sam Kerr, who was injured — was wearing a similarly colored armband that said, “Unite for Indigenous Peoples” as the Matildas battled to a 1-0 win over Ireland in Sydney.
Those expressions represent two of the eight options that captains at the showpiece event can choose from after armbands became an unlikely talking point at the men’s event in 2022.
The eight different armbands each carry a “specific message” according to FIFA, falling under the governing body’s “Football Unites the World” campaign and in partnership with various United Nations’ agencies and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Unite for Inclusion – in partnership with UN Human Rights
Unite for Indigenous Peoples – in partnership with UN Human Rights
Unite for Gender Equality – in partnership with UN Women
Unite for Peace – in partnership with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
Unite for Education for All – in partnership with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Unite for Zero Hunger – in partnership with the UN World Food Programme
Unite for Ending Violence Against Women – in partnership with UN Women
Football is Joy, Peace, Love, Hope & Passion – in partnership with the WHO
Chants of “U-S-A, U-S-A!” reverberating around the Wellington Regional Stadium as the team faced the Netherlands in their second match of the tournament soon dissipated after the Dutch took an early lead.
Midfielder Jill Roord put the Netherlands on the board in the 17th minute, finding the back of the net past USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.
It was the first time the USWNT trailed in a Women’s World Cup match since 2011 in the quarterfinal against Brazil. Prior to Thursday, the US had gone 17 straight matches without trailing — the longest streak by any team in the tournament’s history.
The Netherlands, meanwhile, was hungry for revenge after their 2-0 loss to the US in the 2019 World Cup.
Despite trailing at the half, the USWNT outshot the Netherlands 9-2 in the first half – and all their scoring chances finally came to fruition in the 62nd minute.
US captain Lindsey Horan scored the equalizer with a thumping header from a corner kick, prompting ecstatic celebrations in the stands.
The FIFA Women's World Cup trophy is seen during its unveiling event at Summit at One Vanderbilt in New York City on April 14, 2023.
Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images
Soccer players at the 2023 Women’s World Cup will on average earn just 25 cents for every dollar earned by men at their World Cup last year, a new CNN analysis found.
Still, that is an improvement: last time, in 2019, it was less than 8 cents per dollar, according to data provided by world governing body FIFA and global players’ union FIFPRO.
The gender pay gap is very much alive and kicking at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
FIFA announced in June that, for the first time, about $49 million of the record $110 million Women’s World Cup prize money would go directly to individual players — at least $30,000 each for participating and $270,000 to each player on the winning squad.
The rest of the pot is going to be split between participating federations who will decide what share of this money to allocate to teams and players — if any at all. In addition to prize money, FIFA committed to paying $42 million to the federations and players’ clubs for Women’s World Cup preparations.
When asked for comment, soccer’s world governing body referred CNN to what FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in March when the organization announced details of the prize money on offer at this year’s tournament.
Uchenna Kanu, right, of Nigeria celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's first goal during their match against Australia on July 27, 2023.
Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Nigeria stunned co-hosts Australia at the Women’s World Cup on Thursday, earning a famous 3-2 victory.
Emily van Egmond sent the home fans into delirium just before the interval, tapping home a sweeping move to give Australia the lead.
With the stadium bouncing as the Australia fans celebrated, Uchenna Kanu delivered the first sucker punch to dampen the mood at the Brisbane Stadium, somehow managing to scramble home a scuffed cross to score Nigeria’s first goal of the 2023 tournament.
In the second half, a close-range header from Osinachi Ohale and Asisat Oshoala’s finish from a tight angle extended Nigeria’s lead — making Oshoala the first African player to score at three Women’s World Cups.
And although Alanna Kennedy scored in the 10th minute of added time to give Australia late hope, Nigeria held on for a memorable victory to send the Super Falcons top of Group B.
