On Saturday, the draw was conducted for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup next summer in New Zealand and Australia, and the Canada Women’s National Team was given a favorable draw.
Canada Women’s National Team Gets Favorable World Cup Draw
Group B is SET #FIFAWWC @CANWNT will take on co-hosts Australia, the Republic of Ireland and Nigeria in the group phase of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Australia/New Zealand™ 💪#WeCAN pic.twitter.com/fVl7DJO6Vw
— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) October 22, 2022
Canada was placed in Group B with cohosts Australia, the Republic of Ireland, and Nigeria, and Beverly Priestman gave her thoughts on the draw.
“I think I am excited Priestman said, we play one of the home nations and I think the experience of playing both those teams is positive and it could be worse, I think overall no easy games and I think there will be an incredible atmosphere.”
The Canada Women’s National Team Opponents
Canada most recently played against Australia a few months back in Australia beating them twice while also facing Nigeria this year securing a win and a draw against Nigeria. Ireland is at the World Cup for the first time but Preistman said not to underestimate them as they are very well coached.
They will certainly be favorites to top the group and crossover into playing group D where they could potentially face England who is fresh off winning the Euro Cup this past summer. This is the first time the Women’s World Cup will have 32 competing nations.
Priestman was able to break down Nigeria once again and was very clear that the team they beat in Vancouver won’t be the same team they play.
“I think Nigeria is a very difficult team to play and they are not easy to play against and the most difficult team out of pot 4 and we won’t be underestimating them but the experience is invaluable and you learn something every game but it will be exciting that we know our path and we are going to go for it.”
Canada is scheduled to play all three games in Australia. They will also be in Australia for the majority of the tournament with two of the three group-stage games in Melbourne and one on the other side of the country in Perth which will make for a hectic travel day.
They will open up against Nigeria on Friday, July 21 at the Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne before heading to Perth to face Ireland five days later on Wednesday, July 26. Their last game will be heading back to Melbourne. In that game, they will wrap up the group stage against Australia on Monday, July 31. The CanWNT qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup after defeating Panama in the group stage of the 2022 Concacaf W Championship.
