United States Women’s National Team draws Netherlands, Vietnam in 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup – The Denver Post

The realization of another Women’s World Cup for the United States Women’s National Team just got a whole lot more real.

Early Saturday morning in Auckland, New Zealand, the two-time reigning champions found out its World Cup opponents next summer at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will be played in Australia and New Zealand, running from July 20-Aug. 20.

The U.S., the top seed in the newly-expanded 32-team field, was put into Group E. There were eight groups of four teams and the top two teams will advance to the knockout stage.

They also found out two of their opponents: Vietnam, the 34th-best team in the world, and the eighth-best team, the Netherlands — a rematch of the 2019 World Cup Final in France. Group E will be rounded out by a playoff winner between Thailand, Portugal or Cameroon. The final three playoff teams will play a 10-team tournament in February in New Zealand to decide the final spots.

As a result of being placed into Group E, all of the USWNT’s games will be held in New Zealand. The U.S. will open against Vietnam July 22 in Auckland, five days later will face the Dutch July 27 in Wellington, and will end the group stage Aug. 1 against the playoff Group A winner back in Auckland.

“Today’s a good day,” Golden native Lindsey Horan, told the FS1 broadcast team following the draw. “It’s exciting.”

Horan said the opening game against Vietnam “offered us a great chance to get going in the tournament.”

Five of the seven top-seeded teams will be on the other side of the bracket from the U.S., which means the U.S. in theory could have an easier path to a possible third straight World Cup final. Though, if they do advance, a possible knockout-stage game could await with perennial powers Sweden.

Fellow CONCACAF representative Canada will be in Group B, with co-hosts Australia, debutants Ireland and Nigeria.

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