Women's World Cup 2023: Groups, fixtures, results, knockout stage & road to final

The Women's World Cup 2023 Group A was full of surprises. Norway, who are regarded as one of the pre-tournament favourites to go all the way, were rocked by co-hosts New Zealand, falling to a narrow 1-0 defeat on the opening day.

After a frustrating 0-0 draw against Switzerland, they needed to win their final group game with a good margin. And boy, did they deliver! Sophie Roman Haug was on fire, bagging a well-taken hat-trick as Norway hammered the Philippines 6-0 in Auckland to leapfrog New Zealand into second on goal difference.

It was a fantastic rout to put their rocky start to the World Cup behind them, and restore some vital confidence ahead of the knockout stages.

Tournament debutants, the Philippines, finished bottom of the group despite recording a famous first World Cup win over New Zealand, who become the first hosts to exit the Women's World Cup at the group stage after being held to a draw by group winners Switzerland in their final game.

Group A table

Group A fixtures & results

Group B of the Women's World Cup shaped up to be one of the most intriguing groups of the tournament. Co-hosts Australia opened the group with a comfortable single-goal victory against World Cup debutants Republic of Ireland.

History was made when Ireland captain Katie McCabe scored her country's first-ever Women's World Cup goal. The 27-year-old Arsenal midfielder's rare 'Olimpico' goal gave Ireland a surprising lead over the reigning Olympic gold medalists Canada, but the Maple Leafs came roaring back to win the game 2-1, shattering the underdogs hopes of making it through to the knockout stages.

Regardless, there was all to play for in Group B on group stage matchday three as Nigeria booked their spot in the Round of 16 as runners-up after drawing 0-0 with the Republic of Ireland on July 31, while Australia also progressed to the knockout phase as group winners after thumping Canada 4-0 on the same day.

Group B table

Group B fixtures & results

The lop-sided Group C of the WWC 2023 has panned out as predicted.

Despite the off-field drama a few months ago, when some of their star players rebelled against coach Jorge Vilda, Spain cruised into the last 16 of the Women's World Cup with a game to spare thanks to a 3-0 win over Costa Rica and 5-0 thrashing of Zambia.

Current Ballon d'Or Feminin holder Alexia Putellas looks to be in fine form as Spain hopes to go the whole hog this time around. Funnily enough! La Roja left their training base in Palmerston North for Wellington a few days before the final group game against Japan due to boredom.

Japan have made an auspicious start as they look to emulate their historic run from 2011 when they stunned the world and won the World Cup. They equalled Spain's result against Zambia, beat Costa Rica 2-1 to secure early qualification to the next round, before topping the group with a 4-0 victory over Spain in what was essentially a dead-rubber clash. Zambia beat Costa Rica 2-1 to record their first-ever win in the World Cup finals.

Group C table

Group C fixtures & results

Despite missing key players — including captain Leah Williamson — through injury ahead of the World Cup, pre-tournament favourites England have got the job done and secured their qualification to the next round with a group game left to play.

The wins against Haiti and Denmark came by a narrow 1-0 scoreline, with Lauren James making the headlines for her winning goal against Denmark. However, Sarina Wiegman's side absolutely blew away China 6-1 in their final group game to prove their credentials.

The Lionesses are looking recreate their Euro 2022 heroics and become champions of the world for the first time, but they were recently handed a big setback as midfield star Keira Walsh picked up a serious-looking knee injury last time out. There is still hope that the Barcelona midfielder will be able to recover for the knockout stages.

Denmark also advanced for the last-16 with relative ease ultimately, edging out China for the second place, while Haiti finished rock-bottom with zero points.

Group D table

Group D fixtures & results

Group E is one of the most closely watched groups at the Women's World Cup, with USWNT, the Netherlands, and Portugal all pitted together in the same group alongside underdogs Vietnam.

The United States, who are once again favourites to win a record third straight World Cup, kicked off the proceedings with a routine 3-0 victory over Vietnam, but the team has gained negative traction for standing — but not singing — the pre-match national anthem in an act to stand against social injustice, a stance that has led to a degree of criticism back in the United States.

There was also no victor crowned in the highly-anticipated rematch of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup final between the United States and the Netherlands, but the 1-1 draw did set the stage for a dramatic last day of play, where the USA edged out Portugal to the second spot after a nail-biting goalless draw.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands eventually finished as table-toppers thanks to a 7-0 thrashing of minnows Vietnam in their final group game.

Group E table

Group E fixtures & results

Jamaica produced one of the biggest surprises of the Women's World Cup as they held France to a 0-0 draw in the group F opener.

Veterans Eugenie Le Sommer and Wendie Renard revived Les Bleues' hopes with a goal each in a 2-1 victory over Brazil, who dispatched minnows Panama 4-0 in their WWC opener.

France then played out an entertaining 5-3 with Panama in their final group game to secure a comfortable passage to the last 16. Meanwhile, the Reggae Girlz created history as they held the mighty Brazil to a 0-0 draw to book their place in the round of 16 for the first-time ever. They did it without conceding a single goal throughout their group stage campaign.

Group F table

Group F fixtures & results

Considered a serious threat to make the semifinals or even the final heading into the World Cup, Sweden have delivered on their pre-tournament hype so far. The Scandinavians qualified for the knockout rounds with a game spare, scoring eight goals without reply across their three victories.

Despite making a slow start to their World Cup campaign that saw them collect just one point from their opening two games, South Africa somehow made it through to the next round thanks to a 3-2 victory over Italy in their final group game.

Italy and Argentina finished third and fourth in Group G, respectively, with both countries putting on underwhelming overall performance.

Group G table

Group G fixtures & results

Two-time world champions Germany were overwhelming favourites to win Group H ahead of the tournament. But after the 6-0 thrashing of Morocco, they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to darkhorses Colombia, followed by a lacklustre 1-1 draw against minnows South Korea, which resulted in their underwhelming group-stage crashout.

Las Chicas Superpoderosas stunned the Germans with a 97th-minute winner in a game where 18-year-old Real Madrid forward Linda Caicedo announced herself as one of the best young talents on the planet as she scored the opener in an historic result.

Morocco defender Nouhaila Benzina became the first footballer to wear a hijab during a World Cup game as she helped the tournament debutants to beat South Korea, which was their first-ever win in WWC history.

The Atlas Lionesses then defeated Colombia 1-0 in their final group game to make it to the knockout round ahead of Germany, creating yet more history at the global stage.

Group H table

Group H fixtures & results

The last 16 of the 2023 Women's World Cup will be played between August 5 and August 8.

Fixtures and dates can be seen below.

The quarter-finals of the 2023 Women's World Cup will be played on August 11 and August 12.

The semi-finals of the 2023 Women's World Cup will be played on August 15 and August 16.

The third-place play-off will be played at Lang Park, Brisbane on August 19.

Stadium Australia in Sydney will host the 2023 Women's World Cup final on August 20.

The Golden Boot trophy for the top scorer is always a big deal at any tournament, but none more so than the World Cup - the absolute pinnacle of any player's career.

Some of women's football's deadliest goal-getters would be present in the 2023 Women's World Cup, but who will take home the illustrious Golden Boot?

With nets set to bulge on a regular basis throughout the tournament, GOAL is on hand to keep you updated with the leading goalscorers of the tournament.

In the United States, Women's World Cup games will be shown live on TV on FOX and Telemundo.

You can read more about the U.S. coverage here.

In the United Kingdom, Women's World Cup games will be divided between the BBC and ITV.

Find out more about the UK TV World Cup coverage.

A selection of 2023 Women's World Cup broadcasters can be seen below.

You can see every kit at the 2023 Women's World Cup here.

See here for the full list of 2023 Women's World Cup squads