Christine Sinclair is still going strong at age 40, but this is her sixth and likely last World Cup, so she has one final chance at helping Canada win its first World Cup title. Despite taking gold at the 2020 Olympics, the Canadians are still fighting for respect, so they’re entering this World Cup with a bit of a chip on their shoulders and a point to prove — not to themselves, but to those who felt they simply caught lightning in a bottle in Tokyo.
As co-hosts and a top-10 team in the world, Australia has to be considered the favourite to join Canada as the two nations to advance to the knockout round from Group B. Nigeria is back at the World Cup for a ninth time and is looking to win its first knockout game. The Republic of Ireland will be making its World Cup debut this summer.
GROUP B SCHEDULE
July 20: Australia vs. Republic of Ireland (6 a.m. ET)
July 20: Nigeria vs. Canada (10:30 p.m. ET)
July 26: Canada vs. Republic of Ireland (8 a.m. ET)
July 27: Australia vs. Nigeria (6 a.m. ET)
July 31: Canada vs. Australia (6 a.m. ET)
July 31: Republic of Ireland vs. Nigeria (6 a.m. ET)
THE TEAMS
AUSTRALIA
FIFA world ranking: 10
Odds to win the World Cup: +1,145 (via Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: -200 (via Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: 7
Best showing: Quarterfinals (2007, 2011 and 2015)
2019 World Cup: Round of 16 (2-1-1)
Manager: Tony Gustavsson
Probable formation: 4-4-2
Probable starting XI: Mackenzie Arnold (West Ham United) — Charlotte Grant (Vittsjö GIK), Clare Polkinghorne (Vittsjö GIK), Clare Hunt (Western Sydney Wanderers), Ellie Carpenter (Lyon) — Tameka Yallop (Brann), Katrina Gorry (Brisbane Roar), Kyra Cooney-Cross (Hammarby IF), Hayley Raso (Real Madrid) — Sam Kerr (Chelsea), Mary Fowler (Manchester City).
THE BIG QUESTION: Will manager Tony Gustavsson’s decision to include forward Kyah Simon (Tottenham) and Alanna Kennedy (Manchester City) in his World Cup roster pay off after both veterans endured lengthy injury layoffs?
THE PULSE: Australia has enough quality in its squad and the benefit of the hometown crowds that they could go on a deep run at the World Cup. While far from a one-woman team, captain Sam Kerr is unquestionably the Matildas’ most dangerous threat and best player — she is Australia’s all-time top scorer with 63 goals in 120 appearances.
What will be interesting to see is if the Australians can put their record of under-achievement behind them, as the Matildas have won just a single knockout game in their seven World Cup appearances. Much is expected of them at this tournament on home soil, so the pressure will be on them to finally break out at the World Cup.
THE X-FACTOR: Home-field advantage is important at the Women’s World Cup — the host nation has never failed to get out of the group stage in all nine tournaments dating back to the first one in 1991.
The Matildas are hugely popular in their home country and have drawn big crowds for their home games over the years, and that support is only going to be amplified at the World Cup. Their opponents are going to have to deal with some intimidating crowds.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
FIFA world ranking: 22
Odds to win the World Cup: +17,100 (via Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: +1,614 (via Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: 0
Manager: Vera Pauw
Probable formation: 5-4-1
Probable starting XI: Courtney Brosnan (Everton) — Heather Payne (Florida State), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Niamh Fahey (Birmingham City), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Katie McCabe (Arsenal) — Sinead Farrelly (Gotham FC), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Ruesha Littlejohn (Aston Villa), Marissa Sheva (Washington Spirit) — Kyra Carusa (London City Lionesses).
THE BIG QUESTION: Will the Irish be able to hold their nerve in their World Cup debut and be competitive in a group with Olympic champions Canada, co-hosts Australia and tournament regulars Nigeria?
THE PULSE: Ireland did well just to qualify for the World Cup, booking its spot by defeating Scotland in Glasgow last fall in the playoffs to claim one of the final berths on offer in UEFA. The team’s success is largely based upon its five-woman back line, anchored by Louise Quinn and Niamh Fahey. Goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan was also vital to the team’s World Cup qualifying campaign.
Still, this is an Irish team that is short on star power and international experience at the highest level — the country has never even qualified for the European Championship. With that in mind, and taking into consideration they’re facing three nations with plenty of World Cup experience, it’s difficult to envision Ireland getting out of the group.
THE X-FACTOR: Captain Katie McCabe, a 27-year-old midfielder with Arsenal, is Ireland’s player to watch. McCabe offers her team a great deal of versatility as she can play in a number of different positions.
She’s also capable of scoring spectacular goals — her strike for Arsenal vs. Manchester City on April 2 was awarded the Women’s Super League’s goal of the season.
NIGERIA
FIFA world ranking: 40
Odds to win the World Cup: +48,300 (via Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: +3,345 (via Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: 8
Best showing: Quarterfinals (1999)
2019 World Cup: Round of 16 (1-0-3)
Manager: Randy Waldrum
Probable formation: 4-2-3-1
Probable starting XI: Yewande Balogun (Saint-Étienne) — Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash), Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alavés), Oluwatosin Demehin (Reims), Rofiat Imuran (Reims) — Christy Ucheibe (Benfica), Jennifer Echegini (Florida State University) – Rasheedat Ajibade (Atlético Madrid), Toni Payne (Sevilla), Esther Okoronkwo (Saint-Étienne) — Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona).
THE BIG QUESTION: Will the ongoing pay dispute between the players and the Nigerian FA — and the fact coach Randy Waldrum could be fired before the tournament over his public support of his players — completely derail Nigeria’s World Cup campaign?
THE PULSE: One can’t overstate how much chaos is going on within the Nigeria team at the moment. The players have threatened to boycott their opening game of the World Cup in response to the Nigerian FA not paying them their match bonuses. If Waldrum gets axed before the tournament, which is a distinct possibility, that’ll thrust the team into further disorder.
Even if everything gets settled, the Super Falcons enter this World Cup without their traditional swagger after bowing out in the semifinals of last year’s African Cup of Nations, a tournament it had won 11 of the previous 13 times.
THE X-FACTOR: FC Barcelona forward Asisat Oshoala is a goal-scoring machine. The 28-year-old has 83 goals in 89 appearances for the Spanish outfit since 2019 and is four-time winner of the African Women’s Player of the Year award — she was also nominated for Ballon d’Or last year. When Nigeria needs a goal or a bit of inspiration, it often turns to the talismanic Oshoala.
CANADA
FIFA world ranking: 7
Odds to win the World Cup: +3,086 (via Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: +198 (via Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: 7
Best showing: Semifinals (2003)
2019 World Cup: Round of 16 (2-0-2)
Manager: Bev Priestman
Probable formation: 4-3-3
Probable starting XI: Kailen Sheridan (San Diego Wave) — Ashlee Lawrence (Paris Saint-Germain), Vanessa Gilles (Lyon), Kadeisha Buchanan (Chelsea), Allysha Chapman (Houston Dash) — Jessie Fleming (Chelsea), Julia Grosso (Juventus), Quinn (OL Reign) — Adriana Leon (Manchester United), Christine Sinclair (Portland Thorns), Jordyn Huitema (OL Reign).
THE BIG QUESTION: How much will the losses of three players due to injury — forward Janine Beckie, midfielder Desiree Scott, and defender Jade Rose — and the fact that forwards Nichelle Prince and Deanne Rose only recently returned from torn Achilles adversely affect Canada’s chances of going on a deep run?
THE PULSE: The foundation of Canada’s success at the Tokyo Olympics was built upon its defence, anchored by centre backs Kadeisha Buchanan and Vanessa Gilles, and supported by fullback Ashley Lawrence. That quartet remains intact for the World Cup, and they’ll be playing in front of Kailen Sheridan, regarded among the best goalkeepers in the women’s game. So, opponents will have a tough time breaking down Canada.
However, questions linger about this team’s scoring prowess. Christine Sinclair isn’t the same goal-scoring threat that she used to be, and nobody has stepped up to become the team’s definite, go-to striker. Plus, veteran Janine Beckie, Canada’s fourth all-time top scorer with 36 goals, will miss the World Cup after tearing her ACL in March.
What will also be interesting to see is if the women’s team’s longstanding dispute with Canada Soccer over pay equity will affect their performances on the pitch like it did during February’s SheBelieves Cup tournament. The Canadian women have been negotiating a new contract with Canada Soccer for more than a year. A short-term deal is expected to be agreed upon by both sides for the World Cup, but the larger labour issues remain. Will the Olympic champions be able to push that to the side and squarely focus on matters on the pitch?
THE X-FACTOR: Christine Sinclair gets most of the attention on this Canadian team, and while she still has a role to play, she’s not the side’s most important player. Midfielder Jessie Fleming, 25, has stepped up in a big way ever since turning pro with Chelsea in 2020 — the London, Ont., native put off her professional career until she completed her degree at UCLA. With a deft touch on the ball, her reading of the game and an ability to pick out teammates with perfect passes, Fleming has emerged from Sinclair’s shadow to become Canada’s main reference point. She’s also become one of the team’s most important leaders and will likely succeed Sinclair as captain when she retires.
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