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World Cup

World Cup Overview

Japan World Cup contenders GFX

Watch out, England & USWNT: Japan ARE World Cup contenders

With little over a year to go until the 2027 Women's World Cup kicks-off, some of the front-runners for the trophy are obvious. Spain, the reigning champions, and England, the 2023 runners-up, who beat La Roja in the European Championship final last summer, are right up there. The United States' Olympic triumph in 2024 saw them reinstate themselves at the top of the international game while Brazil, as hosts and South American champions, will fancy their chances, too. This month's Asian Cup, though, has served as a reminder that Japan should also be considered as being right in that mix.

AnalysisJapan
Beth Mead Georgia Stanway England Women 2025

Who are the Lionesses' all-time top goalscorers?

England's Lionesses have always had great goalscorers. Even before the team was the major contender it is now, winning back-to-back European Championships under Sarina Wiegman and reaching a first Women's World Cup final, they could boast some incredible attacking talent, with Arsenal icon Kelly Smith, widely considered the Lionesses' greatest ever player, a prime example.

EnglandWomen's football
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World Cup, fixtures & results

Monday 14 August
Spain badge
Spain
ESP
2
Sweden badge
Sweden
SWE
1
FT
Tuesday 15 August
Australia badge
Australia
AUS
1
England badge
England
ENG
3
FT
Friday 18 August
Sweden badge
Sweden
SWE
2
Australia badge
Australia
AUS
0
FT
Saturday 19 August
Spain badge
Spain
ESP
1
England badge
England
ENG
0
FT
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Standings

Eastern

PosTeamPWDLFA+/-PTSForm
1Louisville City FC crestLouisville City FC4400114712
W
W
W
W
2Tampa Bay Rowdies crestTampa Bay Rowdies33007169
W
W
W
3Hartford Athletic crestHartford Athletic42207348
D
W
D
W
4Miami FC crestMiami FC42117707
W
W
D
L
5Detroit City FC crestDetroit City FC32015236
W
L
W

Western

PosTeamPWDLFA+/-PTSForm
1Orange County SC crestOrange County SC42204228
W
W
D
D
2El Paso Locomotive FC crestEl Paso Locomotive FC32107347
W
W
D
3San Antonio FC crestSan Antonio FC32103127
W
D
W
4Oakland Roots SC crestOakland Roots SC42115417
L
D
W
W
5Sacramento Republic FC crestSacramento Republic FC41214315
L
D
D
W
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Betting spotlight

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Frequently asked questions

Orlando City and Louisville City share the record for the most USL Championship titles, each winning the championship two times. Orlando City won in 2011 and 2013, while Louisville City won in 2017 and 2018.

The 2024 season of USL will see 24 teams compete for the league. When the league was founded in 2011 as USL Pro, only 12 teams contested. That number rose to 14 in 2014, 24 in 2015, 30 in 2017, 36 in 2019, and now back at 24.

Jamaican midfielder Kenardo Forbes is the player with the most appearances in USL history, having featured in 303 games.

With 105 goals (and counting) in 249 games, Jamaican forward Dane Kelly is USL's leading goalscorer of all-time.

Axel Kei, a centre-forward, holds the record as the youngest-ever player in USL Championship history. He made his debut in 2021 at the remarkable age of 13 years and 282 days.

Jamie Vardy, Gareth Bale, James Maddison, John Stones, and Darren Bent are some of the most iconic players to have played in the Championship.

Alen Marcina, Mark Briggs, Trevor James, and Noah Delgado are among the most popular coaches in USL history.

Protective Stadium, which is where Birmingham Legion FC play their home games, is the biggest stadium in the USL with a capacity of 47,000.

Fanendo Ali is the most expensive player in USL history, being bought for $1 million (allocation money) by FC Cincinnati in a trade with Portland Timbers.