The ninth edition of the Fifa Women's World Cup kicked off on July 20 with joint hosts New Zealand and Australia opening with wins.
The 32-team tournament is the biggest event in female football history.
Here is everything you need to know about the 2023 Women's World Cup.
What is it?
The Fifa Women's World Cup is an international football tournament hosted every four years and involves national teams from around the world. The 2023 edition will feature 32 teams, making it the largest tournament in women's football history, having expanded from 24 teams.
Where is it?
The 2023 tournament will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. It is the first time the Women's World Cup has had more than one host nation. It is also the first time any World Cup, female or male, has been co-hosted by two nations from different federations. Australia is part of the Asian Football Federation, while New Zealand is in the Oceania Football Confederation.
What are the dates?
The 2023 Women's World Cup will begin on July 20 with the opening match between hosts New Zealand and Norway at Eden Park, Auckland. The final will take place on August 20 and will be held at Stadium Australia in Sydney Olympic Park.
What is the format?
Given the expansion of the tournament to 32 teams, the format will be the same as the men's 32-team World Cups (until that changes in 2026 with its latest expansion). There will be eight groups comprising four teams each, with the top two teams advancing to the knockout rounds, starting with the Round of 16. In all there will be 64 matches played at the 2023 tournament.
What are the venues?
There are 10 stadiums which will host matches at the 2023 Women's World Cup, six in Australia and four in New Zealand. The stadiums in Australia are: Stadium Australia and Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Brisbane's Lang Park, the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, the Perth Rectangular Stadium, and Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide.
In New Zealand, Auckland's Eden Park, the Wellington Regional Stadium, Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium, and the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton will stage games.
Stadium Australia is by far the largest stadium at this World Cup, with a capacity of 83,500. The next biggest is Lang Park with a capacity of 52,263.
Which teams are playing?
Group A: New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Switzerland
Group B: Australia Republic of Ireland, Nigeria, Canada
Group C: Spain, Costa Rica, Zambia, Japan
Group D: England, Haiti, Denmark, China
Group E: United States, Vietnam, Netherlands, Portugal
Group F: France, Jamaica, Brazil, Panama
Group G: Sweden, South Africa, Italy, Argentina
Group H: Germany, Morocco, Colombia, South Korea
Results
July 20: New Zealand 1-0 Norway | Australia 1-0 Republic of Ireland
July 21: Nigeria 0-0 Canada | Philippines 0-2 Switzerland | Spain 3-0 Costa Rica
July 22: USA 3-0 Vietnam | Zambia 0-5 Japan | England 1-0 Haiti | Denmark 1-0 China
July 23: Sweden 2-1 South Africa | Netherlands 1-0 Portugal | France 0-0 Jamaica
July 24: Italy 1-0 Argentina | Germany 6-0 Morocco | Brazil 4-0 Panama
July 25: Colombia 2-0 South Korea | New Zealand 0-1 Philippines | Switzerland 0-0 Norway
July 26: Japan 2-0 Costa Rica | Spain 5-0 Zambia | Canada 2-1 Republic of Ireland
July 27: USA 1-1 Netherlands | Portugal 2-0 Vietnam | Australia 2-3 Nigeria
July 28: Argentina 2-2 South Africa | England 1-0 Denmark | China 1-0 Haiti
July 29: Sweden 5-0 Italy | France 2-1 Brazil | Panama 0-1 Jamaica
July 30: South Korea 0-1 Morocco | Norway 6-0 Philippines | Switzerland 0-0 New Zealand | Germany 1-2 Colombia
July 31: Japan 4-0 Spain | Costa Rica 1-3 Zambia | Republic of Ireland v Nigeria | Canada v Australia
August 1: Vietnam 0-7 Netherlands | Portugal 0-0 USA | China v England | Haiti v Denmark
August 2: Argentina 0-2 Sweden | South Africa 3-2 Italy | Panama 3-6 France | Jamaica 0-0 Brazil
August 3: Morocco 1-0 Colombia | Germany 1-1 South Korea
Last 16
August 5: Switzerland 1 Spain 5 | Japan 3 Norway 1
August 6: Netherlands 2-0 South Africa | Sweden 0(5)-0(4) USA
August 7: England 0(4)-0(2) Nigeria | Australia 2-0 Denmark
August 8: Colombia 1-0 Jamaica | France 4-0 Morocco
Quarter-finals
August 11: Spain 2-1 Netherlands | Japan 1-2 Sweden
Which teams are title contenders?
The United States are considered the leading contenders to win the tournament and successfully defend their title. They are the most successful team in Women's World Cup history having won four of the eight previous editions, including at France 2019 when they defeated the Netherlands 2-0 in the final.
However, the US are expected to face stiff competition from European champions England, although the Lionesses will be without three key players – Fran Kirby, Beth Mead and Leah Williamson – due to injury. Meanwhile Spain, Germany, France, Sweden, and the Netherlands have title ambitions of their own, and co-hosts Australia are being backed to have a successful tournament.
What is the prize money?
Fifa has increased the total prize pool from $80 million in 2019 to $110m in 2023, distributing prize money to both participating member associations and to players.
For teams who finish in the group stage, their allocation is $1.56m; Round of 16 teams get $1.87m; quarter-finalists will receive $2.18m; the fourth-placed team gets $2.455m; third place $2.61m; runners-up $3.015m, and the champions $4.29m.
The player allocation will be: $30,000 for each player whose teams are eliminated in the group stage; $60,000 at the Round of 16; $90,000 for the quarter-finalists; $165,000 for fourth place; $180,000 for third place; $195,000 for the runners-up; and $270,000 for the champions.
Where to watch the tournament?
The 2023 Women's World Cup will be broadcast in the UAE and throughout the Mena region on beIN Sports.
For more information about the tournament and the complete schedule, visit the Fifa Women's World Cup website.
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20WallyGPT%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2014%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESaeid%20and%20Sami%20Hejazi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20raised%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%247.1%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2020%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%20round%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
Results
5pm: Al Maha Stables – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Reem Baynounah, Fernando Jara (jockey), Mohamed Daggash (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: AF Afham, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ghallieah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout
6.30pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Yas Xmnsor, Saif Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi
7pm: The President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Adrie de Vries, Jean de Roualle
7.30pm: The President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Haqeeqy, Dane O’Neill, John Hyde.
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
More coverage from the Future Forum
The Baghdad Clock
Shahad Al Rawi, Oneworld
Avatar%20(2009)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJames%20Cameron%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESam%20Worthington%2C%20Zoe%20Saldana%2C%20Sigourney%20Weaver%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Read more about the coronavirus
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
'Ashkal'
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Youssef%20Chebbi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Fatma%20Oussaifi%20and%20Mohamed%20Houcine%20Grayaa%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
F1 2020 calendar
March 15 - Australia, Melbourne; March 22 - Bahrain, Sakhir; April 5 - Vietnam, Hanoi; April 19 - China, Shanghai; May 3 - Netherlands, Zandvoort; May 20 - Spain, Barcelona; May 24 - Monaco, Monaco; June 7 - Azerbaijan, Baku; June 14 - Canada, Montreal; June 28 - France, Le Castellet; July 5 - Austria, Spielberg; July 19 - Great Britain, Silverstone; August 2 - Hungary, Budapest; August 30 - Belgium, Spa; September 6 - Italy, Monza; September 20 - Singapore, Singapore; September 27 - Russia, Sochi; October 11 - Japan, Suzuka; October 25 - United States, Austin; November 1 - Mexico City, Mexico City; November 15 - Brazil, Sao Paulo; November 29 - Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi.
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The%20Color%20Purple
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBlitz%20Bazawule%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFantasia%20Barrino%2C%20Taraji%20P%20Henson%2C%20Danielle%20Brooks%2C%20Colman%20Domingo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
