Shortly after FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced the expansion of the 2023 Women’s World Cup from 24 teams to 32, concerns emerged.
Would the inclusion of eight additional countries result in a decrease in the overall quality of play?
The Women’s World Cup (WWC) is the pinnacle of women’s soccer, held every four years. Its inaugural edition in 1991 featured 12 countries. In the 1999 tournament, FIFA allowed 16 teams to participate, a number maintained for the following four editions. The 2015 WWC saw an increase to 24 countries, and this year’s tournament in Australia and New Zealand marks the debut of the expanded format, accommodating 32 teams.
Back in 2019, when Infantino announced the latest increase, he expressed enthusiasm for the positive impact it would have on global soccer. “From now on, dozens more member associations will organize their women’s football program knowing they have a realistic chance of qualifying,” he said.
At the 2023 Women’s World Cup, eight countries are making their tournament debuts: the Philippines, Ireland, Zambia, Haiti, Vietnam, Portugal, Panama, and Morocco. Six of these debutants have already played matches, but none have secured a victory or scored a goal.
So, did the skeptics’ concerns prove to be accurate? Not entirely.
In an unexpected turn of events, Haiti, ranked number 53 in the world, faced off against fourth-ranked England, the reigning European champions, on Saturday. On paper, England was the clear favorite, expected to secure an easy victory. However, Haiti’s performance proved to be anything but easy for the Lionesses. Throughout the game, Haiti frustrated England’s vaunted offense, while also creating numerous scoring opportunities of their own.
During the match, Fox Sports commentator John Strong remarked on Haiti’s determined and tenacious style of play. He questioned his fellow commentator Kyndra de St. Aubin, asking if Haiti had demonstrated that they indeed deserved their spot in the World Cup.
Kyndra de St. Aubin responded affirmatively, stating that Haiti unquestionably belonged in the tournament. She highlighted their impressive abilities and skill level on the ball, noting the composure, precision in touches, and fluid movements. According to de St. Aubin, Haiti’s performance was something they should be immensely proud of. Despite their remarkable efforts, England narrowly won the game 1-0.
Several other debutant teams have also faced tight matches at this Women’s World Cup. Ireland suffered a narrow 1-0 loss against Australia, while the Netherlands secured a close 1-0 victory over Portugal. Switzerland managed to defeat the Philippines 2-0, and Vietnam displayed solid defensive skills, allowing only three goals against the two-time defending champions and top-ranked U.S.A. This was in stark contrast to the 2019 WWC opener, where the U.S. dominated Thailand with a resounding 13-0 victory.
During the 2019 tournament, four countries had their first appearance: Chile, Jamaica, South Africa, and Scotland. Unfortunately, none of them progressed beyond the group stage. However, the experience gained proved beneficial for two of them, South Africa and Jamaica, as they successfully qualified for this year’s tournament. South Africa, despite losing all three games in the previous edition, returns as the African champions, showcasing the growth and progress of their team.
In 2015, two countries, Switzerland and Spain, made their debut in the Women’s World Cup. Remarkably, both nations are competing in this year’s tournament, with Spain now ranking sixth in the world.
As women’s soccer continues to gain momentum, FIFA president Infantino emphasizes the organization’s responsibility to expand the sport’s reach to wider global and local audiences. He recognizes that the FIFA Women’s World Cup serves as a powerful catalyst for the professionalization of women’s soccer, yet it occurs only once every four years, representing the pinnacle of a broader pyramid.
Infantino hints that future editions of the Women’s World Cup may feature even more teams, reflecting the growth and evolution of women’s soccer on the world stage.
