The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is set to be the biggest edition of the quadrennial women’s competition with 32 countries set to jostle for glory in New Zealand and Australia from July 20.
Out of the 32 countries that will participate in the tournament, eight countries will be making their debut appearance in the Women’s World Cup.
The debutants are Zambia, Morocco, the Philippines, Haiti, Panama, Republic of Ireland, Portugal and Vietnam.
Afrosport previews each of the eight teams’ run to qualify for the tournament in New Zealand and Australia.
Zambia
The Copper Queens secured their first appearance in the FIFA Women’s World Cup after they finished third at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Zambia are the first landlocked country in Africa that will be playing in a senior FIFA World Cup.
Morocco
The Atlas Lionesses are the first Arab team to qualify for the Women’s World Cup after becoming the first North African country to make it into the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on home soil.
Morocco finished as runners-up in last year’s WAFCON after a 2-0 defeat to South Africa.
Philippines
The Philippines continued their steady rise under coach Alen Stajcic by securing a spot in this year’s Women’s World Cup.
They qualified for the tournament after beating Thailand to win the 2022 AFF Women’s Championship last year July.
The Filipinas are currently ranked 46th in the world – the best-ever ranking in the FIFA Women’s global ranking.
Portugal
Portugal secured their ticket to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia after winning the Inter-Confederation playoff Final for Group A.
The European country defeated the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon 2-1 in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland
The Girls in Green had an historic to qualify for the Women’s World Cup, from securing their biggest victory (11-0 win against Georgia) in November 2021 to defeating neighbours Scotland in the UEFA play-offs final in October 2022.
Ireland are 22nd in the latest FIFA Women’s ranking.
Vietnam
Regarded as the most successful women’s football team in Southeast Asia, they managed to reach the quarter-final of the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup where they were knocked out by China.
Vietnam proceeded to the Asian playoff where they bagged an automatic qualification ticket following the withdrawal of Thailand and Chinese Taipei due to coronavirus.
Haiti
The inter-confederation playoff provided Haiti a chance to qualify for their maiden Women’s World Cup. They triumphed over Senegal and Chile in New Zealand to come out on top of Group B
Panama
The Canal Girls are the second team from the Confederation of North, Central America and Carribbean Associaition Football (CONCACAF) that will be making a debut appearance in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
They could not make it beyond the group stage of the 2022 CONCACAF Women’s Championship but they managed to beat Papua New Guinea, Paraguay and Chinese Taipei in Group C of the Inter-Confederation playoffs.
