Matildas to face Republic of Eire, Nigeria and Canada as 2023 Girls’s World Cup draw is introduced
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Matildas’ first three opponents at subsequent yr’s FIFA Girls’s World Cup have been confirmed, with co-hosts the Republic of Eire, Nigeria and Olympic gold medalists Canada within the group stage from July twentieth.
On the official draw performed in Auckland on Saturday, which featured legends of the sport akin to Matildas first crew Julie Dolan, US legend Carli Lloyd and Arsenal champion Ian Wright, 29 of 32 nations have discovered which nation they may face in 270 instances of the day, with co-hosts New Zealand drawing with Norway, Switzerland and the Philippines.
The ultimate three groups to finish 32 groups will enter a play-off event in Auckland in February, with the winners of the three teams assigned to pre-determined slots.
The US world champions are in Group E, the place they may meet Vietnam, the Netherlands finalists in 2019 and the winners of Group B of the play-offs in February, whereas the European champions have simply been topped. England will face Denmark, China and the winner of the play-off of Group A in Group D.
As a consequence of Australia’s place in Group 1 because the host nation, they may keep away from the top-ranked nations of the event – the US, Sweden, UK, Germany, France and Spain – till not less than. particularly the knockout spherical.
Matildas will enter a gaggle that’s comparatively acquainted to their opponents. They final confronted Nigeria on the 2015 Girls’s World Cup, with the crew successful 2-0 within the group stage, whereas they’ve additionally performed the Republic of Eire and Canada prior to now 18 months, regardless of dropping all three video games.
The draw not solely confirms who the Matildas will play within the group stage and who may face them within the knockout phases, but in addition clarifies the place every of their matches will likely be performed – and two potential paths. are ready for them. relying on the outcomes.
All of Australia’s matches will happen within the East Sea, with their three group stage matches being held in Sydney (vs Republic of Eire on 20 July), Brisbane (vs Nigeria on July 20), 27 July) and Melbourne (match in opposition to Canada on 31 July).
In the event that they end first in Group B, Matildas will face the runners-up of Group D – be it Denmark or China – in Sydney in a spherical of 16 knockout on August 7.
In the event that they win that, they may fly again to Brisbane for the quarter-finals on 12 August. In the event that they get by way of that spherical, which no Australian crew has ever carried out, they may return to Sydney for the following spherical. remaining matches.
Their journey is barely modified in the event that they end second of their group. As a substitute of enjoying their Spherical of 16 tie in Sydney, they may journey to Brisbane for that must-win in opposition to Group D winners – doubtlessly England – on 7 August.
In the event that they win, they may play the quarter-finals in Sydney on August 12 and keep there for the remainder of the event.
“With the pre-release of tickets [recently]”I do know Matildas followers throughout Australia and certainly, around the globe will stay up for mapping out potential situations and paths for Matildas,” mentioned Soccer Australia chief government James Johnson. final week.
“Over the previous two years, we have adopted a deliberate technique to play as many groups within the prime 10 and expose our crew to as many various enjoying kinds as potential.
“We nonetheless have some worldwide home windows accessible to us and are engaged on some high-profile matches to be introduced within the close to future.
“After a profitable worldwide season the place we beat present African champions South Africa 4-1 and received by a margin of 3-1 over Denmark, we’re assured that our Matildas could have a a robust efficiency.”
Single-match tickets will go on sale to the general public from November 1, with the ultimate sale opening subsequent April.
Australia’s subsequent worldwide window is in three weeks’ time, the place they may meet silver medalist Sweden on the Tokyo Olympics on November 12 in Melbourne earlier than dealing with Thailand on November 15 at Central Coast.
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