After four long years, the 2023 World Cup is finally here, and the USWNT is looking to win their third consecutive championship. The Stars and Stripes will play Vietnam in their first tournament match on July 21 at 9:00 pm EST. This will be Vietnam’s first World Cup appearance and the USWNT’s eighth World Cup.
Viewers from the 2019 World Cup may remember the USWNT’s 13-0 statement win over Thailand in their first match of the tournament. While the match between the No. 1 ranked US and No. 32 ranked Vietnam appears to be very lopsided, I wouldn’t count on a massive blowout win this time around. The US squad features 14 players who are making their World Cup debut, meaning only nine players on the roster have played in one or more World Cups prior to this tournament. The team may need a little time to build chemistry and adapt to the big stage they’re playing on, but drawing Vietnam, the lowest-ranked opponent in their group, for the opening match is a great opportunity to build confidence for the rest of the tournament.
Final score prediction: 5-0
Players to watch
Huỳnh Như serves as the captain of the Golden Star Women Warriors. The Vietnamese forward has scored 67 goals in 103 appearances with her national team. She is the first Vietnamese woman to play professional football in Europe, scoring seven goals in 14 appearances with Länk FC Vilaverdense during her first season with the Portuguese club in 2022-23.
🏆 #𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐀𝐖𝐖𝐂 𝐎𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 🌟
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) July 15, 2023
🇻🇳 Golden Girl, Huynh Nhu#BeyondGreatness pic.twitter.com/wPaQ8KDQ9Q
Sophia Smith has gotten a lot of hype (including a really cool Nike commercial) lately, and rightfully so. She is currently the lead scorer in the NWSL this season, with ten goals and five assists so far, and she finished second in scoring last season with 15 goals. If she keeps her ridiculous scoring rate up, she could easily bring home the Golden Boot, the award for the player with the most goals.
.@sophsssmith is a joy to watch.
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 24, 2023
What an effort, what a goal! pic.twitter.com/NxV3Lmw7ph
Fans in the US can watch the World Cup on Fox Sports and Telemundo. Who are you supporting during the 2023 World Cup? Let me know in the comments below. Can’t get enough women’s soccer? Tune into Paramount+ to watch the 2023 NWSL season. Follow me on Twitter and check out Beyond Women’s Sports for more sporting news.
