As the 2023 Women’s World Cup approaches, co-hosts New Zealand will hope their kind Group A draw can take them into the second round.

They are unlikely to match group favourites Norway but they are expected to rival Switzerland for second. 

Can home advantage prove to be the difference as the Football Ferns attempt to make it past the group stage for the first time?

Co-hosts look to delight home faithful

New Zealand prepare for their fifth straight Women’s World Cup appearance, but the Football Ferns have yet to win a game at the tournament. 

After suffering three defeats from three in 2019, could home advantage set them up for a run to the second round?

The tricky issue that New Zealand face is that they have been short on competitive games of late, while their warm-up friendlies have gone badly wrong. 

Their only win across their last 12 games came against Vietnam, having suffered nine defeats in that run.

With injuries also a concern, the Football Ferns will need strong home support to turn things around.

How far can group favourites Norway go?

Norway have been priced at 1/3 with LiveScore Bet to win Group A, and they will be glad to have missed out on some of the big sides in pot 1 of the draw. 

However, it is going to be a tall order for them to recreate their early success at the World Cup.

Norway finished at least fourth at four of the first five editions of the tournament, including winning the trophy in 1995. 

However, In the last three World Cups, the furthest they have gone is the quarter-finals.

Ranked 12th in the world, Norway are a rung below the very best in the world and they should worry about a potential quarter-final matchup with the United States. 

Philippines making up the numbers

The Philippines are 500/1 outsiders with LiveScore Bet to win this group and they are likely to play little part in how Group A shapes up.

This is the first time that the Philippines have made it to the Women’s World Cup, having made the last four of the Asian Cup for the first time last year.

Considering they are one of the few sides to have lost to New Zealand since the start of 2022, last place beckons for the debutants this summer. 

Switzerland looking to follow up

Switzerland are hoping to make their way out of the group in just their second Women’s World Cup appearance, having made the last 16 in 2015.

The Swiss are narrow favourites at 4/6 with LiveScore Bet to qualify ahead of New Zealand (17/20) and their attacking talent is likely to pose a threat, with the likes of Barcelona’s Ana Maria Crnogorcevic, PSG’s Ramona Bachmann and Aston Villa forward Alisha Lehmann to choose from. 

Group A best bet - Swiss to qualify

Switzerland to qualify at 4/6 with LiveScore Bet looks like the best bet in Group A, with their attacking options likely to prove too much for New Zealand.

The group is set up for those two to meet in a deciding clash in the final round of games and the Swiss forward line combined with New Zealand’s poor build-up to the tournament suggests the Swiss will edge the race for second.

Group A long shots - Ada Hegerberg top goalscorer

Do not expect either of the top two sides in Group A to last too long at this tournament. 

Norway to exit in the quarters at 9/4 and Switzerland to be eliminated in the round of 16 at 6/5 both look worth backing.

While Norway might not go too far, their group could lend itself to Ada Hegerberg racking up the goals. The Lyon forward is 4/7 to score over 2.5 goals at this tournament but she is great value as a top goalscorer outsider at 20/1.