2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Group A

Group A of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup was one of eight groups that formed the opening round of the tournament with the matches played from 20 to 30 July 2023.[1] The group consisted of hosts New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines and Switzerland. The top two teams, Switzerland and Norway, advanced to the round of 16.[2]

New Zealand became the first FIFA Women's World Cup host country to be eliminated in the group stage; it was also the sixth consecutive exit in which New Zealand had failed to advance past the first round. While this was the fifth time Norway finished second in a Women's World Cup group, this was Switzerland's first experience of topping a group in the tournament's history.

Teams

Draw position Team Pot Confederation Method of
qualification
Date of
qualification
Finals
appearance
Last
appearance
Previous best
performance
FIFA Rankings
October 2022[nb 1] June 2023
A1  New Zealand 1 OFC Hosts 25 June 2020 6th 2019 Group stage (1991, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019) 22 26
A2  Norway 2 UEFA UEFA Group F winners 2 September 2022 9th 2019 Winners (1995) 12 12
A3  Philippines 4 AFC 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup semi-finalists 30 January 2022 1st Debut 53 46
A4  Switzerland 3 UEFA UEFA play-off best ranked winners 11 October 2022 2nd 2015 Round of 16 (2015) 21 20

Notes

  1. ^ The rankings of October 2022 were used for seeding for the final draw.

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Switzerland 3 1 2 0 2 0 +2 5 Advance to knockout stage
2  Norway 3 1 1 1 6 1 +5 4
3  New Zealand (H) 3 1 1 1 1 1 0 4
4  Philippines 3 1 0 2 1 8 −7 3
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts

In the round of 16:

  • The winners of Group A, Switzerland, advanced to play the runners-up of Group C, Spain.
  • The runners-up of Group A, Norway, advanced to play the winners of Group C, Japan.

Matches

All times listed are local, NZST (UTC+12).

New Zealand vs Norway

New Zealand 1–0 Norway
Wilkinson 48' Report
Attendance: 42,137
New Zealand
Norway
GK 21 Victoria Esson
RB 4 CJ Bott
CB 13 Rebekah Stott  70'
CB 14 Katie Bowen
LB 7 Ali Riley (c)
DM 2 Ria Percival
CM 12 Betsy Hassett
CM 6 Malia Steinmetz
RF 20 Indiah-Paige Riley
CF 17 Hannah Wilkinson  86'
LF 16 Jacqui Hand  90+4'
Substitutions:
DF 3 Claudia Bunge  70'
FW 15 Paige Satchell  86'
FW 9 Gabi Rennie  90+4'
Manager:
Jitka Klimková
GK 23 Aurora Mikalsen
RB 13 Thea Bjelde  90+3'
CB 6 Maren Mjelde (c)
CB 16 Mathilde Harviken
LB 4 Tuva Hansen
DM 18 Frida Maanum  74'
CM 7 Ingrid Syrstad Engen
CM 11 Guro Reiten
RF 10 Caroline Graham Hansen
CF 14 Ada Hegerberg
LF 17 Julie Blakstad  56'
Substitutions:
FW 20 Emilie Haavi  85'  56'
MF 8 Vilde Bøe Risa  74'
DF 2 Anja Sønstevold  90+3'
Manager:
Hege Riise

Player of the Match:
Hannah Wilkinson (New Zealand)[3]

Assistant referees:
Makoto Bozono (Japan)
Naomi Teshirogi (Japan)
Fourth official:
Ivana Martinčić (Croatia)
Video assistant referee:
Tatiana Guzmán (Nicaragua)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Carol Anne Chenard (Canada)
Offside video assistant referee:
Chantal Boudreau (Canada)

Philippines vs Switzerland

Philippines 0–2 Switzerland
Report
Attendance: 13,711
Referee: Vincentia Amedome (Togo)
Philippines
Switzerland
GK 1 Olivia McDaniel
CB 5 Hali Long (c)
CB 3 Jessika Cowart
CB 13 Angela Beard
RWB 17 Alicia Barker
LWB 16 Sofia Harrison  38'
CM 21 Katrina Guillou
CM 4 Jaclyn Sawicki
CM 8 Sara Eggesvik  70'
CF 20 Quinley Quezada  70'
CF 7 Sarina Bolden  81'
Substitutions:
FW 9 Isabella Flanigan  70'
FW 14 Meryll Serrano  70'
FW 10 Chandler McDaniel  81'
Manager:
Alen Stajcic
GK 1 Gaëlle Thalmann
RB 19 Eseosa Aigbogun
CB 15 Luana Bühler
CB 2 Julia Stierli
LB 5 Noelle Maritz  83'
DM 13 Lia Wälti (c)  75'
CM 17 Seraina Piubel  90'
CM 11 Coumba Sow
AM 6 Géraldine Reuteler  90'
CF 9 Ana Maria Crnogorčević
CF 10 Ramona Bachmann  8'  70'
Substitutions:
FW 23 Alisha Lehmann  70'
MF 16 Sandrine Mauron  75'
FW 22 Meriame Terchoun  90'
DF 8 Nadine Riesen  90'
Manager:
Inka Grings

Player of the Match:
Ramona Bachmann (Switzerland)

Assistant referees:
Carine Atezambong Fomo (Cameroon)
Fanta Kone (Mali)
Fourth official:
Myriam Marcotte (Canada)
Video assistant referee:
Drew Fischer (Canada)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Adil Zourak (Morocco)
Offside video assistant referee:
Kathryn Nesbitt (United States)

New Zealand vs Philippines

This was only the second ever win for a Southeast Asian country (excluding Australia which geographically is not in Southeast Asia) at a senior World Cup (male or female) and the first since Thailand beat Ivory Coast in the 2015 Women's World Cup.

New Zealand 0–1 Philippines
Report Bolden 24'
New Zealand
Philippines
GK 21 Victoria Esson
RB 4 CJ Bott
CB 13 Rebekah Stott
CB 14 Katie Bowen
LB 7 Ali Riley
RM 20 Indiah-Paige Riley  46'
CM 6 Malia Steinmetz
CM 2 Ria Percival (c)  83'
LM 12 Betsy Hassett  46'
CF 16 Jacqui Hand
CF 17 Hannah Wilkinson  42'
Substitutions:
MF 11 Olivia Chance  46'
MF 10 Annalie Longo  46'
FW 18 Grace Jale  83'
Manager:
Jitka Klimková
GK 1 Olivia McDaniel
CB 5 Hali Long (c)
CB 3 Jessika Cowart  83'
CB 13 Angela Beard  49'
RWB 17 Alicia Barker  70'
LWB 16 Sofia Harrison
CM 21 Katrina Guillou
CM 4 Jaclyn Sawicki
CM 8 Sara Eggesvik  63'
CF 20 Quinley Quezada  70'
CF 7 Sarina Bolden  83'
Substitutions:
FW 9 Isabella Flanigan  63'
DF 19 Dominique Randle  70'
MF 6 Tahnai Annis  70'
MF 12 Ryley Bugay  83'
FW 15 Carleigh Frilles  83'
Manager:
Alen Stajcic

Player of the Match:
Olivia McDaniel (Philippines)

Assistant referees:
Karen Díaz Medina (Mexico)
Enedina Caudillo (Mexico)
Fourth official:
Kim Yu-jeong (South Korea)
Video assistant referee:
Abdulla Al-Marri (Qatar)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Adil Zourak (Morocco)
Offside video assistant referee:
Fatiha Jermoumi (Morocco)

Switzerland vs Norway

Switzerland 0–0 Norway
Report
Attendance: 10,769
Switzerland
Norway
GK 1 Gaëlle Thalmann
RB 19 Eseosa Aigbogun
CB 8 Nadine Riesen
CB 2 Julia Stierli
LB 5 Noelle Maritz
DM 13 Lia Wälti (c)
CM 11 Coumba Sow
CM 6 Géraldine Reuteler  78'
RF 17 Seraina Piubel  88'
CF 10 Ramona Bachmann  90+3'
LF 9 Ana Maria Crnogorčević
Substitutions:
MF 16 Sandrine Mauron  78'
FW 22 Meriame Terchoun  88'
MF 14 Marion Rey  90+3'
Manager:
Inka Grings
GK 23 Aurora Mikalsen
RB 13 Thea Bjelde  88'
CB 6 Maren Mjelde (c)
CB 16 Mathilde Harviken
LB 4 Tuva Hansen  73'
DM 8 Vilde Bøe Risa  88'
CM 18 Frida Maanum
CM 11 Guro Reiten
RF 15 Amalie Eikeland  57'
CF 22 Sophie Román Haug  73'
LF 20 Emilie Haavi
Substitutions:
MF 10 Caroline Graham Hansen  57'
DF 2 Anja Sønstevold  73'
FW 9 Karina Sævik  73'
DF 19 Marit Bratberg Lund  88'
MF 7 Ingrid Syrstad Engen  88'
Manager:
Hege Riise

Player of the Match:
Gaëlle Thalmann (Switzerland)

Assistant referees:
Manuela Nicolosi (France)
Élodie Coppola (France)
Fourth official:
Anahí Fernández (Uruguay)
Video assistant referee:
Pol van Boekel (Netherlands)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Marco Fritz (Germany)
Offside video assistant referee:
Ella De Vries (Belgium)

Switzerland vs New Zealand

Switzerland 0–0 New Zealand
Report
Switzerland
New Zealand
GK 1 Gaëlle Thalmann
RB 19 Eseosa Aigbogun
CB 5 Noelle Maritz
CB 2 Julia Stierli
LB 8 Nadine Riesen
DM 13 Lia Wälti (c)
CM 11 Coumba Sow
CM 6 Géraldine Reuteler  71'
RF 17 Seraina Piubel  85'
CF 9 Ana Maria Crnogorčević  90+4'
LF 10 Ramona Bachmann  85'
Substitutions:
FW 23 Alisha Lehmann  71'
MF 16 Sandrine Mauron  85'
DF 18 Viola Calligaris  85'
FW 22 Meriame Terchoun  90+4'
Manager:
Inka Grings
GK 21 Victoria Esson
RB 4 CJ Bott
CB 13 Rebekah Stott  62'
CB 14 Katie Bowen
LB 7 Ali Riley (c)
RM 10 Annalie Longo  62'
CM 2 Ria Percival  71'
CM 6 Malia Steinmetz
LM 11 Olivia Chance  46'
CF 16 Jacqui Hand
CF 17 Hannah Wilkinson  82'
Substitutions:
FW 20 Indiah-Paige Riley  46'
MF 12 Betsy Hassett  62'
DF 3 Claudia Bunge  62'
FW 18 Grace Jale  71'
FW 9 Gabi Rennie  82'
Manager:
Jitka Klimková

Player of the Match:
Ana Maria Crnogorčević (Switzerland)

Assistant referees:
Brooke Mayo (United States)
Mijensa Rensch (Suriname)
Fourth official:
Iuliana Demetrescu (Romania)
Video assistant referee:
Nicolás Gallo (Colombia)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Juan Soto (Venezuela)
Offside video assistant referee:
Leslie Vásquez (Chile)

Norway vs Philippines

Norway 6–0 Philippines
Report
Attendance: 34,697
Norway
Philippines
GK 23 Aurora Mikalsen
RB 13 Thea Bjelde  68'
CB 6 Maren Mjelde (c)
CB 16 Mathilde Harviken  81'
LB 4 Tuva Hansen
DM 8 Vilde Bøe Risa  86'
CM 18 Frida Maanum  68'
CM 11 Guro Reiten
RF 22 Sophie Román Haug
CF 10 Caroline Graham Hansen  81'
LF 20 Emilie Haavi  68'
Substitutions:
MF 7 Ingrid Syrstad Engen  68'
FW 9 Karina Sævik  68'
DF 2 Anja Sønstevold  68'
FW 21 Anna Jøsendal  81'
DF 5 Guro Bergsvand  81'
Manager:
Hege Riise
GK 1 Olivia McDaniel
RB 17 Alicia Barker  57'
CB 5 Hali Long (c)
CB 3 Jessika Cowart
LB 13 Angela Beard
CM 21 Katrina Guillou  54'
CM 4 Jaclyn Sawicki  74'
CM 8 Sara Eggesvik
RF 20 Quinley Quezada  81'
CF 7 Sarina Bolden  74'
LF 9 Isabella Flanigan  57'
Substitutions:
DF 16 Sofia Harrison  67'  57'
DF 19 Dominique Randle  57'
MF 12 Ryley Bugay  74'
FW 10 Chandler McDaniel  74'
FW 14 Meryll Serrano  81'
Manager:
Alen Stajcic

Player of the Match:
Sophie Román Haug (Norway)

Assistant referees:
Chantal Boudreau (Canada)
Stephanie Yee Sing (Jamaica)
Fourth official:
Anahí Fernández (Uruguay)
Video assistant referee:
Drew Fischer (Canada)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Salomé di Iorio (Argentina)
Offside video assistant referee:
Sian Massey-Ellis (England)

Discipline

Fair play points would have been used as tiebreakers in the group had the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows:[2]

  • first yellow card: minus 1 point;
  • indirect red card (second yellow card): minus 3 points;
  • direct red card: minus 4 points;
  • yellow card and direct red card: minus 5 points;

Only one of the above deductions was applied to a player in a single match.

Team Match 1 Match 2 Match 3 Points
           
 New Zealand 1 –1
 Norway 1 1 –2
 Switzerland 2 –2
 Philippines 1 1 1 1 –7

See also

References

  1. ^ "Match schedule: FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023" (PDF). FIFA. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Regulations: FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023" (PDF). FIFA. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Wilkinson: This is the greatest day of my life". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.