Women's World Cup 2023: 50 players to watch in Australia & New Zealand

Since declaring for Morocco in 2021, England-born Rosella Ayane has become a prolific presence on the international scene. The Spurs forward, who qualifies to play for the African nation through her father, netted just a minute into her debut and has continued to be a prolific outlet for a nation that she helped finish as runners-up in the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Able to play as a centre-forward or out wide, Ayane will be one of Morocco’s key players this summer as they look to make the knockout rounds in their first ever Women’s World Cup.

During the Copa de la Reina final in late May, Estefania Banini was the absolute star of the show. She and Atletico Madrid trailed city rivals Real by two goals as the clock ticked down, before Banini teed up Lucia Moral to half the deficit with two minutes to go. Then, in the sixth minute of stoppage-time, she fired a free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards. Atletico won the trophy on penalties.

The 32-year-old wasn't called up for nearly three years by Argentina after speaking up about poor working conditions for the women's national team. Fortunately for both parties, though, she has since returned and will be crucial if her country are to make it out of the group stages this summer.

When Arsenal were hit with an injury crisis this past season, particularly in their attack, big responsibility fell on Stina Blackstenius to score the goals. Despite having her critics at times, the Swedish striker assumed the role well, netting some huge ones.

As Arsenal ended a four-year trophy drought by lifting the Continental Cup, it was Blackstenius who bagged the winner in their semi-final win and the game-changing equaliser in the final. In Europe, she scored the goal that sent the Gunners to a first Champions League semi-final in 10 years – and then in both legs in the last four, too.

Blackstenius has proved she can carry that burden for her country, too, scoring five times as Sweden collected the silver medal at the 2021 Summer Olympics.

Arguably the front-runner for this year's Ballon d'Or, Aitana Bonmati was massive for Barcelona as they won the Super Cup, the league and the Women's Champions League this past season. Indeed, no player was directly involved in more goals in the latter competition than the diminutive midfielder, whose box-to-box qualities were on show at an incredibly high level across the board.

Bonmati seemed likely to be a notable absentee from this summer’s World Cup as one of the 15 Spain internationals who had withdrawn from selection until improvements were made within the federation. Fortunately for La Roja, though, she is one of three from that list who returned in June.

One of the most exciting teenage talents on the planet, Linda Caicedo has held that status for several years now for some people. It was back in 2020 when she was first included on the NXGN list, recognised as one of the top young players in the world when she was still just 15 years old and lighting up Colombia.

Fast-forward three years and she’s since led her country to a Copa America final, named Player of the Tournament and the MVP of the final, and signed for Real Madrid. At 18 years old, Caicedo is already a talismanic figure for her country, her excellent attacking qualities – particularly her dribbling and finishing – complemented by an impressive work ethic.

After suffering an ACL injury in the 2022 Women's Champions League final, Ellie Carpenter returned to action nine months later for Lyon and ended a year-long wait to represent her country again back in April.

The energetic full-back is a key player for Australia, with her marauding runs and strong crossing ability rounded out by good speed to track opposing wingers and well-timed tackling. She’s versatile, too, able to play as a right-back, wing-back or as part of a back three. Still just 23 years old, Carpenter will be heading to her sixth major tournament this summer and will hope to make it a good one on home turf.

One of the best players in the women’s game, Debinha lives up to those Brazilian stereotypes in a very positive way, bringing flair, skill and so much attacking quality to the table. A two-time NWSL champion in the United States with the North Carolina Courage, the 31-year-old joined the Kansas City Current during the off-season and is among the leading goalscorers in the league this season.

She’ll come into this World Cup in good form, then, and hopefully, finally, get some long overdue recognition in the individual awards that will follow.

One of two promising young Nigerian defenders developing well at French talent factory Reims, alongside teenage team-mate Rofiat Imuran, Oluwatosin Demehin has composure that belies her years.

The 21-year-old was excellent her for country at last year's Under-20 Women's World Cup, helping Nigeria to top their group ahead of France, South Korea and Canada, conceding just once in three group games.

It was at that tournament that she caught Reims’ eye, and Demehin’s exposure to a top league like the one in France has helped to accelerate her development, all while she has become a regular starter for the senior national team.

It’s hard to overstate what a fantastic individual campaign Kadidiatou Diani has just had. Named Player of the Year at the awards ceremony that followed the completion of the French season, she picked up the league's Golden Boot and ranked third for assists - despite playing her final game of the year in March due to a collarbone injury.

There was concern that Diani wouldn’t be at this summer’s World Cup after she was one of the players to withdraw from selection until improvements were made within the federation. Fortunately, things have changed and the Paris Saint-Germain star will be one of France’s most important players as they look to win a first major tournament.

After spending the first few years of her international career as a back-up goalkeeper, Andile Dlamini has become South Africa's first-choice shot-stopper in recent times and has certainly justified the upgrade of her role.

After winning the CAF Champions League with her club, Mamelodi Sundowns, in 2021, the 30-year-old starred at the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations as she helped South Africa win a first-ever title. She conceded just three times in six games, was named the tournament's Best Goalkeeper and to its Best XI as a result.

Dlamini's reflexes will be important at this World Cup if South Africa are to emerge from a group that contains Sweden, Italy and Argentina.

Another super exciting young player on this list, Melchie Dumornay was crowned the 2022 NXGN winner, recognised as the most talented teenager on the planet. After signing for Reims after her 18th birthday, the Haiti international has taken France by storm, winning the league’s Best Young Player award earlier this year after signing a contract with eight-time European champions Lyon.

Dumornay can play a variety of roles in midfield or lead the line, with her able to create and score goals with her wonderfully well-rounded game. Indeed, it was her brace against Chile in the final game of World Cup qualifying that secured Haiti's place at the Women's World Cup for the very first time. Despite her age, she is her country’s talisman.

It was just days before Isabella Flanigan’s 18th birthday that she won her 25th senior cap for the Philippines, the forward having quickly made an impact on the international stage. She’s one of several teenagers in a very young team, one which beat Thailand in the final to win the AFF Women's Championship last year, and her pace and trickery is certain to be a problem for the defenders in Group A.

A good finisher who has the ability to use both feet, it's a big year for Flanigan. After representing the Philippines at its first ever World Cup, she’ll start college at West Virginia University. Boasting a soccer programme that has helped produce huge talents such as Canada duo Kadeisha Buchanan and Ashley Lawrence, it’s sure to be another big experience for her.

It’s incredible that Grace Geyoro is still just 26 years old. The midfielder was only 17 when she debuted for Paris Saint-Germain and hadn’t even celebrated her 20th birthday by the time she won her first cap for France. In the years since, she has developed into a truly world-class footballer and a leader, wearing the captain’s armband for her club as she guided it to a first-ever league title on the women’s side in 2021.

Geyoro is capable of playing at centre-back as well, but it’s in the middle of the park where she truly excels, controlling the tempo of a game while also posing a threat with her dangerous long-distance shots. It's no wonder Chelsea have been chasing her signature for the past year.

One of the leading stars of this Italy team, Cristiana Girelli brings plenty of experience and quality as a centre forward. With 73 goals in her 96 Serie A appearances for Juventus, she’s a proven goalscorer and has shown she can do it at the highest level, too, having netted 14 goals in her 21 Champions League games over the last two seasons.

For Italy, only Carolina Morace and Elisabetta Vignotto have scored more goals than Girelli, who netted a hat-trick at the 2019 World Cup that saw the Azzurre announce themselves on the biggest stage.

Roma just had an historic season, winning both Serie A and the Supercoppa Italiana for the first time, while also progressing to the quarter-finals on their Women’s Champions League debut. Manuela Giugliano was a key part of it all.

Formerly a more attacking midfielder, the 25-year-old has now assumed a more deep-lying role and it allows her to dictate play while still picking out those defence-splitting passes. An incredibly intelligent footballer, Giugliano stood out at the last World Cup despite still being so young and inexperienced. She’s developed a lot since then and will be even better this time around.

After more than four months out injured, Caroline Graham Hansen made an incredible return to action in March when she scored a 20-minute hat-trick in Barcelona’s win over Villarreal. It set the tone for her end to the season.

The winger scored seven goals in her last eight games of the campaign, including decisive strikes in both legs of the Champions League semi-final clash with Chelsea. She popped up with an assist in a thrilling final, too, as the Catalans went on to lift the trophy.

Norway had a dismal Euros last summer, eliminated in the group stage - losing 8-0 to England in the process. But the World Cup draw has been much kinder, and a player of Graham Hansen’s quality could have a lot of fun in a group containing New Zealand, Switzerland and the Philippines.

No one scored more goals in qualifying for last year's Asian Cup than Vietnam forward Pham Hai Yen, who has a truly excellent record at international level.

“My targets for this campaign are simple,” she told FIFA ahead of that tournament. “Try to help my team win games in order to qualify for the Women's World Cup for the first time.” She didn’t score, but she certainly played her part as Vietnam achieved the latter, playing all six matches as they decisively beat Thailand and Chinese Taipei to secure a ticket.

The Asian nation will certainly need Pham to have her shooting boots on this summer if they are to upset the odds, though, with the 28-year-old to be the key danger woman for the defences of the United States, the Netherlands and Portugal to keep an eye on.

If Denmark are to have a good tournament, the performances of Pernille Harder will be crucial. The Bayern Munich star, who has returned to Germany this summer after leaving Chelsea, shone as her country reached the final of Euro 2017. Last year, they didn’t fare so well, eliminated in the group of death at Euro 2022 – albeit, with a young team.

Harder will again be the leader of this group of promising stars in Australia and New Zealand, looking to showcase her world-class attacking qualities while also utilising her experience to help Denmark make up for a 16-year absence from this tournament.

Where we will see Yui Hasegawa play for Japan this summer is unclear – it could be deeper in the midfield, further forward or in a wider role. What is certain, though, is that she will sprinkle magic on any game when she gets the chance.

Technically superb and with a great eye for a pass, the 26-year-old goes into the World Cup off the back of an impressive first season with Manchester City, where she had to adapt to a new position in the middle of the park.

Hasegawa’s intelligence will be crucial as a talented Japan team tries to navigate a potentially tricky group, while her experience will help the promising young stars around her like Aoba Fujino, one of the inaugural NXGN Nine and a teenager who could be one of her midfield partners.

A player who needs no introduction, Sam Kerr is the poster girl for this summer’s tournament as she looks to showcase her world-class qualities in front of a home crowd.

The Chelsea star comes into the World Cup off the back of a season that wasn’t her most prolific but might have been her most important for her club, with her so often popping up in the biggest moments to score title-winning goals while the Blues were hit by big injuries. She's just as important for Australia, too, scoring and assisting in the shock win over England in April. The Matildas are hitting form at the perfect time and Kerr is a big part of that.

Racheal Kundananji grabbed all the headlines on the final weekend of the 2022-23 Liga F season as her brace led Madrid CFF to a shock win over champions Barcelona, one which snapped the Catalans’ 65-game unbeaten streak in the competition and denied them an invincible season.

It took the Zambian’s total for the campaign up to 25 in 29 games, second only to Levante’s Alba Redondo. Her numbers for her country are equally impressive, the forward averaging more than a goal every other game so far.

Zambia have a lot of exciting attacking talent at their disposal, including another Madrid CFF star in Grace Chanda, but none are in better form at a higher level right now than Kundananji.

Among the best full-backs in the world for some time now, Ashley Lawrence hit world-class status by refining her game in a way to ensure perfect balance. At both ends of the pitch, she is excellent.

The Canadian has been showcasing that on the world stage for some time now, having made her full international debut before she was even in college. Through her time with the West Virginia Mountaineers and Paris Saint-Germain, she has just got better and better and better.

Part of the team that won the French giants their first women’s title and the Canada side that collected Olympic gold in 2021, Lawrence’s experience only adds to her strengths and qualities. No wonder Chelsea moved quickly to sign her ahead of the tournament.

One of very few South Korea players currently plying their trade abroad, Lee Geum-min has come on leaps and bounds since moving to England back in 2019. At first, things didn't go so well for the forward, with her struggling to make inroads at Manchester City despite some eye-catching cameos. However, a loan move to Brighton soon turned into a permanent deal and Lee has excelled on the south coast.

She has a gorgeous first touch, a wonderful eye for a pass and an ability to just make things happen when she gets on the ball. Although usually deployed further forward for her club, Lee is often found in a more creative midfield position for her country, and she certainly makes things tick in there.

No one performed better for Arsenal this past season than Frida Maanum, the midfielder excelling after pushing her way into the team at the start of the campaign. A sublime match-winner against Leicester late in the run-in and a rocket of a strike against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League were stand-out moments for a player who so often showed her ability to grab a game by the scruff of the neck, just when the Gunners needed someone to do so.

Maanum has also enjoyed some bright moments this past year for Norway, including a brace in a six-goal thriller with Sweden and a strike to hold England to a draw in November. Her defensive attributes will key, too, though if they are to do well this summer.

There is a lot that can be said about Katie McCabe’s footballing abilities. She’s versatile, able to play excellently as a left-back, wing-back or on either side of a front three. She has an absolutely wicked left foot, which is used brilliantly to deliver crosses, strike from distance and over dead-ball situations. One cannot fault her work ethic and desire to graft for her team, either.

But another huge strength of McCabe’s is her leadership. When Arsenal were hit by injuries this past season to captain Kim Little and vice-skipper Leah Williamson, it was the Irishwoman who was entrusted with the responsibility of the armband.

For her country, given her experience at the very highest level, she is an even bigger leader, and those qualities, as well as her talent, will be crucial at Ireland’s first Women’s World Cup.

One of the most recognisable names in the women’s game, Alex Morgan is showing no signs of slowing up at 34 years old. Last year, the striker won the NWSL’s Golden Boot for the very first time as she fired the San Diego Wave to the play-offs, making it the first expansion team in the league’s history to reach the post-season.

Morgan, who won the Silver Boot in France in 2019, has started the new campaign in similarly impressive form and therefore goes into her fourth Women’s World Cup with great rhythm as she prepares to be one of her team’s leaders in a bid for a third successive title.

Portugal’s brightest young talent and one of the most exciting in Europe right now, Francisca 'Kika' Nazareth has been catching the eye for quite a while.

The 20-year-old made her Benfica four years ago and, just two years later, became the first female footballer signed up by super-agent Jorge Mendes, such was her talent. That is often shown in a flashy way, with plenty of flicks and tricks, but that’s not to say she doesn’t have end product. Kika is a nightmare for defenders with her footwork, whether she is cutting inside from the wing or operating in a central role.

At the Euros last summer, there was arguably no more impressive performer than Lena Oberdorf, who excelled for Germany in a deep-lying midfield role. Still only 20 years old at the time, her battling qualities in the centre of the park were instrumental as Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s side came so close to lifting the trophy – only to lose to England in extra-time in the final.

Fast-forward to the 2023 Women’s World Cup and Oberdorf is a year wiser and a year better. She’s just won another cup with Wolfsburg and played in her first Champions League final. Expect her to shine yet again, with Germany one of the absolute favourites for this title.

Nigeria have a plethora of exciting attacking players, such as U.S.-based stars Uchenna Kanu and Ifeoma Onumonu, and Atletico Madrid's Rasheedat Ajibade. But Barcelona striker Oshoala is their biggest and brightest star.

The 28-year-old goes into the tournament fresh off the back of winning her second Women's Champions League title, scoring five goals in nine games to help the Catalans along the way. In the league, which Barca also won, Oshoala netted 21 times, her intelligent movement a huge reason for those numbers.

She’s in some form, then, as she prepares for her third Women’s World Cup, having scored in both of her previous appearances at the tournament.

Last year, Alex Popp went into the Euros having had a season ravaged by injury, restricted to just nine league appearances and two goals as a result. Yet, she thrived in England, finishing second in the race to be the tournament's top goalscorer after netting six times in five games.

This year, she will go into the Women’s World Cup having just scored 24 goals in all competitions, goals which won her the Frauen-Bundesliga’s Golden Boot, helped Wolfsburg win the DFB Pokal and sent the She-Wolves to the Champions League final. All signs point to the 32-year-old having another blockbuster summer.

Winner of the last two Ballons d’Or, Alexia Putellas suffered a devastating ACL injury on the eve of Euro 2022. She’ll be desperate to make up for lost time at this summer’s Women’s World Cup, then.

The Barcelona midfielder returned to action in late April and, after speculation around whether or not she would make herself available for selection, she will pull on her country’s colours again in Australia and New Zealand. It’s a huge boost for La Roja and, whatever happens, it will be a joy to see Putellas playing on the world stage after how cruelly she was ruled out of last summer’s tournament.

There’s a reason why Arsenal fans were so gutted when the news came through that Rafaelle would be leaving the club this summer, reportedly set to join the Orlando Pride in the NWSL after the World Cup.

Captain of the Brazil team that won last summer’s Copa America, the centre-back has been excellent since she arrived in England last January, forming an excellent partnership with Leah Williamson. Her ability on the ball is fantastic, with her capable of reading play brilliantly when her team is on the back foot, too. Rafaelle is a huge player for her country and will be vital if they are to enjoy a successful summer.

Guro Reiten is an assist machine. No one provided more in the Women's Super League this past season than the Chelsea forward, who was key to the Blues fourth league title in a row. It wasn’t just her eye for a pass that proved important for her club, though. The 28-year-old scored some big – and brilliant – goals along the way, including a stunner against Lyon in the Champions League with her weaker foot.

Reiten is one of several star attackers that Norway has and she should certainly make her mark on this Women’s World Cup with her country having landed in a favourable group.

This will be Ali Riley’s fifth Women’s World Cup but, with her the captain of one of the host countries, it will certainly be the most special. At 35 years old, it could well be her last, too, and what a note to end on if it is.

The defender brings so much experience to this New Zealand side, having played in the United States, Sweden, England and Germany throughout a career that has brought her 11 major honours.

It’s in the U.S. that Riley currently plays her club football, for Angel City, and as well as her top ability as a full-back, it’s her leadership and guidance that team-mates so often praise. That will be crucial if the Football Ferns are to get out of the group stage at a World Cup for the first time. The draw has never given them a better chance.

The NWSL's Rookie of the Year in 2016, Raquel Rodriguez has since gone on to become a key member of one of the best teams in the league. It was with Sky Blue that she started but, after four impressive seasons, the Costa Rica international was traded to the Portland Thorns, racking up four major trophies in the time since.

It’s no mean feat to establish yourself in a team like the Thorns, one that is littered with top international talent, but that Rodriguez has done so is a testament to the excellent ability she has. That’s even more important to her country, with most of her Costa Rica team-mates still plying their trade at home. Rodriguez brings top level quality and experience to the side as well as plenty of goals, averaging more than one every other game since her debut in 2008.

One of the brightest young talents on the planet, Trinity Rodman has taken the game by storm since she became the youngest player ever to be drafted in NWSL history back in 2021. The records have continued to tumble in the past two years, the forward also becoming the youngest player to record an assist in the NWSL play-offs when she helped the Washington Spirit win an unprecedented Championship - its first ever - later that year.

Rodman’s impact on her national team has grown and grown, too, since her debut at the 2022 SheBelieves Cup. Still just 21 years old, she’s competing for a starting spot at this summer’s Women’s World Cup.

When Barcelona announced the signing of Fridolina Rolfo two years ago, many wondered where she would fit. The club didn’t need another forward, so she has ended up slotting into a left-back role which, in truth, given Barca’s dominance, makes her almost like a second winger.

It’s not limited her attacking capabilities, with the Swede so often coming up with big goals, and she’s also improved defensively. Indeed, Rolfo was one of the Catalans’ star players as they won the league, Super Cup and Champions League this past season.

For her country, the 29-year-old is more often in that front line and she is a nightmare to play against. After an excellent Olympics in 2021 and another impressive showing at the Euros last summer, you’d back her to have a wonderful World Cup, too.

Despite never playing her club football outside of her home country, Wang Shanshan is one of China's most recognisable names because of how often she has shone on the international stage. The forward has hit over a half-century of goals for her country in the past 11 years, scoring at the 2015 Women's World Cup, the 2018 Asian Cup, the delayed Olympic Games in 2021 and at the 2022 Asian Cup.

Indeed, her five goals at the latter went a long way to Wang being named the tournament's Most Valuable Player as China beat South Korea 3-2 in a dramatic final, winning the title for the first time since 2006.

Four years ago, Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw went to the Women's World Cup as a rising star in the game, having been a stand-out performer as Jamaica qualified for the tournament for the very first time. This time around, she will land in Australia and New Zealand as one of the best and most-feared strikers in world football.

Shaw goes into the tournament having just scored 31 goals in her 30 appearances for Manchester City in all competitions, so she is in some form. Jamaica will need her to have packed those shooting boots this summer, too, because they are in a tricky group with France, Brazil and Panama.

Named the NWSL's Goalkeeper of the Year for 2022, Kailen Sheridan is one of the best in the business. The 27-year-old has a perfectly well-rounded game, with her distribution excellent, her reflexes lightning and the way she commands her area impressive.

When Canada went to the 2019 Women's World Cup, Sheridan was part of the squad but didn't get onto the pitch. This time around, she appears to have established herself as her country's No.1 choice and will be thrilled to get the chance to show everyone why this summer.

Another name in China’s Women’s World Cup squad that is well-established on the international stage is that of Wang Shuang. Named the AFC Women's Footballer of the Year in 2018 and three times the Chinese Women's Footballer of the Year, the 28-year-old was another of the Steel Roses' most impressive performers at last year's Asian Cup, scoring five goals to help her country win the trophy.

Wang enjoyed a really productive spell with Paris Saint-Germain in the 2018-19 season and, last year, chose to move abroad again for just the second time in her career, making a positive impact in the NWSL with Racing Louisville since her debut last August.

One of the players who really caught the eye at last summer’s Euros was Jessica Silva, the forward showcasing plenty of flair as Portugal became one of the go-to teams to watch if you wanted goals and entertainment.

The Benfica star, who has a Champions League title to her name from a short spell with Lyon, isn’t just about tricks and flicks, though. She’s also effective in the final third and a nightmare for defenders with her intelligent movement and speed.

Silva's career has taken her to Sweden, Spain, France and the United States, while she also won her 100th senior cap in April. Her experience will be key for Portugal, too, then, as they look to spring a surprise in a group that features the two teams that played the 2019 Women’s World Cup final.

The all-time top goal-scorer in international football, this summer will be one of the last times we get to see Christine Sinclair on the world stage. She might be 40 years old now, but the forward is just as important for club and country. In 2021, she helped Canada triumph at the Olympics, beating Sweden to pick up the gold medal, and last year she was a key player as the Portland Thorns won another NWSL Championship.

Sinclair was a promising 20-year-old when she helped Canada enjoyed their best-ever performance at the World Cup, scoring four goals in six games as they finished fourth in 2003. Can she inspire her nation to another brilliant summer in what seems certain to be her last appearance at the tournament?

One of the most in-form forwards on the planet for the past 12 months, Sophia Smith became the youngest winner of the NWSL’s Most Valuable Player award as she helped the Thorns win the Championship in October.

She finished second in the race for the Golden Boot in the process and is a front-runner to scoop that award this season, heading into her first ever World Cup in flying form. Smith is expected to be a key player for the USWNT, then, with her eye for goal one talent that is always evident, but her ability to link up with others is extremely impressive, too.

One of several England stars now plying their trade abroad, Georgia Stanway has had an excellent first season in Germany with Bayern Munich, helping the club win just its fifth league title. The midfielder's pressure penalty against Wolfsburg secured a 1-0 win that was crucial to the Bavarians getting over the line, showcasing her ability to step up in the big moments.

She did that last summer for England, too, her extra-time winner in the quarter-finals against Spain one of the goals of the tournament. Stanway has only grown in the 12 months since and is sure to be a key player for the Lionesses as they look to back up that European title with a World Cup.

Panama will be competing in their first ever FIFA competition on the women's side this summer, and Riley Tanner is one of the debutante's brightest talents. Chosen in the third round of the 2023 NWSL Draft by the Washington Spirit, she's spent the first half of this year rubbing shoulders with the likes of Trinity Rodman and Ashley Sanchez, making her club debut in the Challenge Cup in May.

The biggest moment of Tanner’s 2023 came in January, though, as she won her first cap for Panama in the Women's World Cup play-off against Papua New Guinea. The 23-year-old marked it with a goal, too, to help her country make history.

A player who always entertains, Danielle van de Donk has so many stand-out qualities. She’s skilful and has an eye for a pass as well as one for goal, but she’s also a hard worker and very tenacious. While primarily deployed as a playmaker, she can be versatile, too, and operate from either wing if needed.

With Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema missing this summer because of injury, Van de Donk’s creativity will be even more important for the Netherlands as they look to get back on track on the big stage after a poor Euros last year.

The Lyon star has over 100 caps for her country and major titles in France and England to her name, including a Champions League trophy, so will bring a lot to the table with her experience, too.

A breakout star at Euro 2022, Daphne van Domselaar was thrown into action in the first group game when Sari van Veenendaal picked up an injury only a few minutes in. From there, the 23-year-old, who had just one cap to her name before the tournament, played every game – and she was outstanding.

She’s since established herself as the Netherlands first-choice shot-stopper, her lightning reflexes and strong presence in between the sticks making her a reliable figure. Those same traits have made her a goalkeeper that a lot of top clubs have been chasing, with Aston Villa winning that race in mid-June. It’s a big summer for Van Domselaar, then, with a first move abroad and a first World Cup set to be ticked off her list.

Player of the Match in the Euro 2022 final, Keira Walsh was one of the stars as England won their first major tournament last summer. A few weeks later, she became the most-expensive women’s footballer in history as she joined Barcelona, leaving Manchester City after eight trophy-laden years. The midfielder has only improved in Catalunya, excelling for her new side after adapting to their unique style.

Walsh goes into the World Cup fresh off the back of winning her first Champions League title, with her also picking up the league trophy and the Spanish Super Cup in her maiden season abroad. Not bad.

Another of the world’s best deep-lying midfielders, Lia Walti will be an important player and leader as Switzerland look to take advantage of a kind World Cup draw to reach the knockout stages. The Arsenal star is brilliant at the simple things, able to dictate play and control the tempo of games from the middle of the park. But she can also come up with some spectacular contributions, be they wonderful goals or defence-splitting passes.

Walti had to be stretchered off with an awful looking ankle injury in mid-May but, fortunately for her and Switzerland, she’s expected to be good to go when the World Cup kicks off.