Women’s World Cup 2023 Favourites, Groups And Football Spread Betting

All eyes turn to Auckland this week as the FIFA Women’s World Cup gets underway in the City of Sails for an electrifying four weeks of football. Co-hosts New Zealand opens up the campaign with a tough game against a venerable Norway - while the Three Lions play two days later against world-ranked 53 Haiti.

The Lionesses captured the imagination of the entire country last year as they achieved the unthinkable after winning Euro 2022 against a formidable German outfit. The England women will have to be at their very best to open up Group D with a bang in the hope of replicating their 2022 Euro success once more.

Group A - New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Switzerland

Manager Jitka Klimková’s New Zealand will be delighted with their group this year. With Olympic champions Canada, World Cup runners-up Netherlands and 2011 World Cup winners Japan in Pot 1 - there was a chance their Pot 1 placement as a home nation could be redundant. Instead, Norway, even though former world champions, were recently thumped 8-0 by England in the group stages at Euro 2022, Switzerland, a team ranked one place above them and debutants Philippines. We price New Zealand at a whopping 9/1 to beat Norway in the curtain raiser.

Group B - Australia, Republic of Ireland, Nigeria, Canada

While New Zealand has been viewed as receiving an easier group in the draw, partners Australia have not. The Matildas look a forlorn figure of late and Canada could easily pip them to the top spot in the group, setting up a tricky tie with the winners of group D, which most likely will be England. Nigeria and the Republic of Ireland will be no pushovers in Group B. Australia emerge as the favourites in their opener against the Republic of Ireland at 7/20.

Group C - Spain, Costa Rica, Zambia, Japan

Spain and Japan will be looking to turn the screw on both Zambia and Costa Rica in Group C. Spain’s position is precarious, with many of the senior players in a dispute over the federation and coach, Jorge Vilda, but their replacements showed that they can tussle with the best in the business, with a jaw-dropping victory over an injury-plagued USA in a recent friendly. Costa Rica and Zambia, making their second and first appearance respectively, are both unlikely to trouble the two giants in this group. Spain is priced at 1/50 to vanquish Costa Rica in their first game in Group C.

Group D - England, China, Denmark, Haiti

The England women have been gifted an easier draw with China, Denmark and Playoff winners Haiti all unlikely to negate their journey into the last 16. The Lionesses also have avoided the energy-sapping cross-country trip to Perth the other two sides have to make to their opener. The challenge for the Euro 2022 winners comes in the last 16 as Australia and Canada potentially lie in wait. England is the clear favourite of Group D and comes in as a 1/50 to notch 3 points up against Haiti.

Group E - United States, Vietnam, Netherlands, Portugal

A rematch of the 2019 final between the USA and the Netherlands is an exciting prospect. The Americans will be hoping to secure the top spot in the group to swerve a last-16 tie with likely Group E winners Sweden. Meanwhile, the Netherlands will be looking to get the better of the USA on the big stage to avoid a showdown with the Swedes. Playoff winner Portugal cements their place in the group and will be looking to disturb the equilibrium of the top two seeds. The USA is priced at an overwhelming 1/200 against Vietnam in their first test in Group E.

Group F - France, Jamaica, Brazil, Panama

France secured a very favourable draw this year and the potential to go deep into the tournament. The issue with the French is the off-field drama, with manager, Corinne Diacre, having a dispute with Eugénie Le Sommer and Amandine Henry. But despite this toxicity in their camp, the French had a successful Euro campaign. Superstar Marie-Antoinette Katoto is still on the operating table and desperate to get fit in time. Brazil are mising midfield lynchpin Formiga for only the second time in the competition’s history. Jamaica make their second appearance and 52-seeded Panama will have a skip in their step after prevailing through the playoffs. France arrives as the heavy favourites against Jamaica at 1/33 to win.

Group G - Argentina, Italy, South Africa, Sweden

Sweden will be the on-paper favourites to win Group G with a plethora of pedigree. Italy will be desperate to banish the memory of their Euro campaign last year - where they finished bottom of Group D behind France, Belgium and Iceland with one point and only scoring two goals. Should the Italians bounce back and finish second in the group then the winner of Group E, likely to be the USA or the Netherlands, awaits. Sweden are priced at 1/10 to beat South Africa in their opener.

Group H - Germany, Morocco, Colombia, South Korea

Germany occupies the top spot in Group H as the clear favourite while South Korea will be their biggest obstacle. The Euro runners-up impressed at Wembley and are ranked third behind the USA and Sweden. Secure victory and the most likely match-up in the last 16 is a showdown with France. Morocco are making their World Cup debut this year, while Columbia fell short of qualifying in 2019 having reached the last 16 in 2015.

Who Are The Favourites This Year?

The United States come in as the favourites this year in the outright index market at 52-56 and will be desperate to leave an indelible mark as the first nation ever, men and women, to win 3 World Cups in a row. The Lionesses come into the frame as the second favourites at 44-48.

Wagering On Total Goal Minutes, Total Goal Markets

Total Goal Minutes is a prediction on the total minutes of each goal scored in a match. Let’s say the total spread for the market is 116-125 and you backed the sell market price of 116, and the goal times were 7 and 35 minutes - then the result would be 42. This means you would win 74 times your original stake, based on the following calculation, 116 - 42 (settle value) = 74 (make-up).

You are by no means confined to picking a result in a match, sometimes you might think there will be an abundance of goals and this is where the Total Goals Markets comes in. If France plays Panama and you think there will be a plethora of goals, then you might see the price of 2.9-3.1 goals for the game. If you buy at 3.1 for £20 and the game finishes 4-2, then you’d see a profit of £58 as the total would be 6 goals (6-3.1 = 2.9 and then multiply it by your stake £20 x 2.9 = £58.