New Zealand
New Zealand’s World Cup record so far reads 15 games played, won none, but a warm-up win over Vietnam has boosted morale. Read the team guide here.
Ali Riley
Strengths
Key players such as CJ Bott and Ria Percival have timed their recovery perfectly; the tactical acumen of veteran defender Ali Riley and home advantage.
Weaknesses
An inability to score goals that may require taking a chance on relative newcomers such as Gabi Rennie and Milly Clegg.
Norway
Having crashed out of the Euros at the group stage last summer this group is keen to show what they really can do. Read the team guide here.
Ada Hegerberg
Strengths
The forward line is one of the best in the tournament with Ada Hegerberg, Caroline Graham Hansen and Guro Reiten all contributing goals and assists.
Weaknesses
Do not always display the defensive stability required to beat the top teams while seeing off weaker sides have also been a problem in the past year.
Philippines
Will be pleased to be in a group without a traditional heavyweight but may still struggle to get any further. Read the team guide here.
Sarina Bolden
Strengths
The coach, Alen Stajcic, has moulded the Filipinas into a tight unit, with defensive solidarity and the team unity the keys to success.
Weaknesses
They tend to struggle against teams who are quick in transition as the back four is vulnerable to speed. Hali Long and Angie Beard will have to be at their best.
Switzerland
At their second World Cup, Switzerland will be hoping to make it out of the group again, just as they did in 2015. Read the team guide here.
Lia Wälti
Strengths
This squad has several players at top clubs in Europe and the mix between experience and youth is just right. What’s more: the team spirit is really good.
Weaknesses
As coach Inka Grings says, they have a 'damn dangerous' dependence on key players Lia Wälti, Ramona Bachmann and Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic.
Australia
Fired by a golden generation of players who are hitting form at the right time, they are hoping to better their previous best of a quarter-finals appearance. Read the team guide here.
Sam Kerr
Strengths
Coach Tony Gustavsson has an experienced squad with strength in depth across the board, and in Sam Kerr they have a world-beating striker. Home advantage too.
Weaknesses
Several big names are returning from injury while certain defensive frailties have not been fully ironed out. And can they cope with the weight of expectation?
Canada
The reigning Olympic champions are keen to win more silverware before the team enter a period of transition into a new era. Read the team guide here.
Christine Sinclair
Strengths
One of the best defensive teams in the world, they won that Olympic gold on the back of resistance on the ground, a strong aerial presence and solid goalkeeping.
Weaknesses
The lingering question for a while has been where the goals are going to come from. They will have to take advantage of the opportunities they create.
Nigeria
Arrive at the World Cup having lost their Africa Cup of Nations crown and with the coach, Randy Waldrum, at war with the FA. Read the team guide here.
Asisat Oshoala
Strengths
There is a huge goal threat in the team with Barcelona’s Asisat Oshoala being backed up by Atlético Madrid’s Rasheedat Ajibade and Saint-Étienne’s Esther Okoronkwo.
Weaknesses
Oshoala has so much gravitas in the team that when she plays her teammates can try too hard to play her in early, often breaking up the passing rhythm.
Republic of Ireland
World Cup first-timers, this is a journey in to the unknown and in a tough group to boot. Read the team guide here.
Katie McCabe
Strengths
Vera Pauw’s safety-first approach - wing-backs, three central defenders and two midfielders often dropping deep - means the side can be hard to break down.
Weaknesses
They struggle for goals against quality opposition and failed to score any in friendlies against China, USA (twice) and France in the buildup.
Costa Rica
Playing at their second World Cup with a generation of players considered the country’s best so far. Read the team guide here.
Raquel Rodríguez
Strengths
The coach, Amelia Valverde, puts World Cup qualification down to the discipline, respect, loyalty and hard work of her players. ‘They push me to improve,’ she says.
Weaknesses
Valverde took a risk by leaving out the all-time hero Shirley Cruz from her squad and pre-tournament results have been patchy.
Japan
Twelve years on from their triumph in 2011, Japan have a squad of players who have already enjoyed World Cup wins at Under-17 and U-20 level. Read the team guide here.
Yui Hasegawa
Strengths
Yui Hasegawa’s inventive play is a real weapon for Japan in midfield and the team is highly cohesive and full of youthful energy.
Weaknesses
This is a very inexperienced squad, not least because Mana Iwabuchi was left out. They will be heavily reliant on Saki Kumagai for leadership.
Spain
Spain have never reached the quarter-finals of a Women’s World Cup yet a last-eight finish is the least that is expected of them in Australia and New Zealand. Read the team guide here.
Alexia Putellas
Strengths
Spain are now a team with self-belief and experience at this level, especially the Barcelona contigent who just won the Champions League.
Weaknesses
With an average age of 25.2 years, Spain have one of the youngest squads at the World Cup, Jorge Vilda having gambled on inexperienced players.
Zambia
After strong showings at last year’s Wafcon and the Cosafa Women’s Championship the team have hopes of reaching the knockout stage. Read the team guide here.
Barbra Banda
Strengths
There is firepower up front in Racheal Kundananji and Barbra Banda and they recently stunned Euro finalists Germany 3-2 in a friendly.
Weaknesses
The defence can buckle without key players as a 10 conceded goals in two games against South Korea showed in the spring.
China
Have never been eliminated at the group stage in the six World Cups they have played at and, as the reigning Asian champions, they will look to maintain that record. Read the team guide here.
Wang Shuang
Strengths
The players have complete trust in the coach, Shui Qingxia, and as representing the Steel Roses carries a significance that transcends football itself in China, the players are highly motivated.
Weaknesses
Most players lack the experience of playing against high-calibre international opposition and warm-up games were limited to two friendlies against Russia.
Denmark
Back at a World Cup for the first time since 2007, a Pernille Harder-led Denmark hope to reach the knockout stage – and perhaps go quite a bit further. Read the team guide here.
Pernille Harder
Strengths
A great mix of youth and experience, Denmark have skilful players such as Kathrine Møller Kühl and Josefine Hasbo in midfield, wingers that will scare any defence and Harder up front.
Weaknesses
Despite having lots of firepower, Denmark have struggled to score in 2023 – and they struggle against a high-quality press.
England
High on confidence after winning Euro 2022 Sarina Wiegman’s team will want to conquer the world in Australia/New Zealand. Read the team guide here.
Keira Walsh
Strengths
A well-drilled team with one of the best midfielders in the world, Keira Walsh, running the show and, in Lauren James, a developing game-changer.
Weaknesses
The injuries, of course. Three key players from the Euro 2022 triumph – Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Fran Kirby – are all missing.
Haiti
Defied expectations by beating Chile 2-1 in the inter-confederation playoff to emulate the men’s side from 1974 in reaching the World Cup. Read the team guide here.
Melchie Dumornay
Strengths
‘We go on the attack, taking on defenders one-on-one, running hard,’ says the coach Nicolas Delépine. ‘We bet on our attack because it is very strong.’
Weaknesses
An over-reliance on young star forward Melchie Dumornay as well as an inability to withstand sustained periods of pressure in defence.
Netherlands
Having reached the World Cup final in 2019 they flopped at least year’s Euros, but seem reinvigorated under Andries Jonker. Read the team guide here.
Jill Roord
Strengths
The young wing-backs Esmee Brugts and Victoria Pelova, together with the new attacking duo Lieke Martens and Lineth Beerensteyn, has given the team new impetus.
Weaknesses
Vivianne Miedema is missing and by introducing an extra defender Jonker’s team may struggle to create chances against top teams.
Portugal
The team will enter their first World Cup on a high after a marathon qualifying campaign, which ended in added-on time in the final play-off. Read the team guide here.
Jéssica Silva
Strengths
This team has been playing together for a long time, fostering a good team spirit down the years, and have the individual quality to surprise teams.
Weaknesses
Portugal have only arrived on the international scene in the past five years and still lack big-tournament experience. And the group is tough.
USA
Can the US make history and win a third World Cup in a row? That’s the aim but the team is in transition. Read the team guide here.
Sophia Smith
Strengths
They have a good mix of experience in the old wise heads of Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan and youthful energy in Sophia Smith and Alyssa Thompson among others.
Weaknesses
Injuries to Mallory Swanson, Catarina Macario and Becky Sauerbrunn may have too much of an impact for them to go all the way.
Vietnam
Have won the South East Asia Games four times in a row and are climbing in the world rankings. Read the team guide here.
Huynh Nhu
Strengths
The team like to play on the counterattack with a pair of fast wingers (Tuyet Dung and Thanh Nha) and an agile striker in Huynh Nhu.
Weaknesses
The squad quality is not quite there yet to compete at this level. ‘But we can learn from the other teams,’ says the coach, Mai Duc Chung.
Brazil
Won last year’s Copa América unbeaten and want to go further than the Last-16 elimations of 2015 and 2019.. Read the team guide here.
Marta
Strengths
Pia Sundhage has overseen a regeneration with youngsters such as Geyse and Aline Gomes being backed up by the experience of veterans Marta, Debinha and Rafaelle.
Weaknesses
The goalkeeping position with Lorena out injured and they have lost a lot of tournament experience since 2019.
France
Have reached at least the quarter-finals in each of the last three tournaments. The last four is a stated goal. Read the team guide here.
Wendie Renard
Strengths
Veteran know-how in spades through Eugénie Le Sommer and Wendie Renard. In goal, Pauline Peyraud-Magnin is an underrated presence.
Weaknesses
Absences of Delphine Cascarino and Marie-Antoinette Katoto hurt the attacking threat. Griedge Mbock and Amandine Henry will also be missed.
Jamaica
Have made huge strides since appearing at their first World Cup four years ago. Read the team guide here.
Khadija Shaw
Strengths
There is speed aplenty in this group of players and up front they have one of the best finishers in the business in Khadija Shaw.
Weaknesses
Lorne Donaldson has worked hard to improve a leaky defence but, as the 5-0 defeat against the US last year showed, they struggle against the top teams.
Panama
Having narrowly missed out on France 2019 they took the hard route to the finals, beating Paraguay in the intercontinental play-off final. Read the team guide here.
Riley Tanner
Strengths
The nucleus of the team has been together for some time now and coach Ignacio Quintana says they will arrive as prepared as humanly possible for some big tests.
Weaknesses
Huge underdogs in a difficult group with the recent 7-0 defeat against Spain an indication of their standing in world football at the moment.
Argentina
This will be the Albiceleste’s fourth World Cup but they have yet to get out of their group, two draws in 2019 their best result. Read the team guide here.
Yamila Rodríguez
Strengths
They have a strong and intelligent midfield who are capable of dictating games and supplying the forwards, who can worry any defence, with killer balls.
Weaknesses
The defending can be suspect, especially against teams who play vertical balls behind the back four, and the forward line needs to be more clinical.
Italy
With potential starters such as Sara Gama and Valentina Bergamaschi left out of the squad it will be really difficult to repeat the 2019 quarter-finals. Read the team guide here.
Cristiana Girelli
Strengths
Leaders such as Cristiana Girelli, Barbara Bonansea and Manuela Giugliano are now experienced at the top level and this is a tactically astute, defensively strong unit.
Weaknesses
Italy do not score a lot and the 2019 magic seem to have disappeared in the last couple of years. Hierarchies are not defined and does Milena Bertolini know what her preferred starting XI is?
South Africa
Confidence is high after winning the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time last year. Read the team guide here.
Linda Motlhalo
Strengths
South Africa will look to hit opponents on the counter with midfielders Linda Motlhalo and Refiloe Jane adept at unleashing a speedy forward line with precise passes.
Weaknesses
They are relatively inexperienced on the international stage and the centre-back pairing of Bambanani Mbane and Noko Matlou are not as quick as they used to be.
Sweden
Finished third in France 2019 and could repeat that if lessons from last year’s Euros have been learned. Read the team guide here.
Fridolina Rolfö
Strengths
Peter Gerhardsson has a versatile team where the collective will always be the key to success. The defence is one of the best in the tournament.
Weaknesses
Have had problems with the passes in the final third - and therefore creating chances – recently. And will Caroline Seger be able to play?
Colombia
Waltzed into the World Cup by stringing together five straight wins in the Copa América held on home soil. Read the team guide here.
Daniela Montoya
Strengths
An exciting tiki-taka style of football, they have a real star in Real Madrid’s Linda Caicedo, one of the most promising players on the planet
Weaknesses
Colombia are often pleasing on the eye but can be profligate in front of goal and their decision-making in crucial moments is often questionable
Germany
Judging by last year’s Euros they should be one of the favourites but form has been patchy. Read the team guide here.
Alexandra Popp
Strengths
If Marina Hegering is fit the defence is top class and there is a real luxury problem up front with so many quality players available.
Weaknesses
There are injury worries in defence and they sometimes struggle to create chances despite dominating possession.
Morocco
On a real high after reaching the Wafcon final for the first team and qualifying for their first World Cup. Read the team guide here.
Ghizlaine Chebbak
Strengths
The coach, Reynald Pedros, is a magnificent asset for this team. On the pitch, Fatima Tagnaout’s talent and captain Ghizlane Chebbak’s leadership are big plusses.
Weaknesses
The lack of experience at the top level is the main problem while the attack will have to be less profligate if they want to progress.
South Korea
Reached the 2022 Asian Cup final and coach Colin Bell says they have improved since then. Read the team guide here.
Ji So Yun
Strengths
The key phrase for Bell is 'high intensity', which they have worked on since his appointment in 2019, and there are enough skilful players to open up opponent’s defences.
Weaknesses
Only a few players have experienced playing abroad and they are relying heavily – perhaps too heavily – on the former Chelsea midfielder Ji So-yun.