Players have shone globally in the domestic season, but now they have the opportunity to proclaim themselves on the biggest stage.
Australia and New Zealand will see a new Women’s World Cup format, with more teams and more players involved than ever before.
These are five players you need to keep your eye on.
Sam Kerr (Australia)
Australia are hosting their first ever World Cup with Sam Kerr front and centre leading the Matildas out at a home tournament. The Australia and Chelsea striker is a household name in her homeland, being one of the most historic football players in the country.
She is a global sensation for the goals she scores and the black flips she does for her celebrations.
Kerr won her fourth consecutive Barclay’s Women’s Super League (WSL) title this season along with a third consecutive FA Cup. She finished the domestic season netting 12 goals in 21 matches for Chelsea in the WSL; while scoring five goals in 10 matches in Chelsea’s journey to the semi-finals in the UWCL.
Goalscoring is innate to the Perth native and with the home crowd eager to see the Matildas go far, Sam Kerr is ready to put a show on.
Aitana Bonmati (Spain)
Spain and FC Barcelona’s midfield magician has boosted herself throughout the domestic season in Alexia Putellas’ absence at Barcelona. Bonmati was front and centre, showing her football quality in every competition.
The 25-year-old midfielder finished with nine goals and 10 assists in 23 Liga F matches, but the spotlight came to her in the UWCL. Taking Barcelona all the way to the final, she scored five goals and assisted eight in 10 matches; no player was involved in more goals in the competition than Bonmati.
She does it all. A true all-around footballer who is at the peak of her career, showing the world that she is one of the best players there is at the moment. Her intelligence on the pitch, her aggressiveness to gain possession and begin an attack, her flare on the ball and the intensity to do it all perfectly.
Alex Popp (Germany)
Alexandra The Great has been leading Germany’s attack since 2010 and Wolfsburg’s since 2012. In the Frauen Bundesliga she finished with the Golden Boot with a tally of 16 goals and five assists in 21 matches. In the UWCL she also shone, scoring in the UWCL final against Barcelona.
She was set to finish the 2022 Women’s Euro with the Golden Boot, but she was injured shortly before the final at Wembley against England. This tournament can be her redemption — could she get Germany’s winning goal to win their third World Cup?
Guro Reiten (Norway)
Need an assist? Guro Reiten is the one. She provided the most assists (11) this WSL season with Chelsea while also scoring nine goals. Reiten is an overall powerhouse on the wing. In the UWCL she scored a brilliant goal with her weak foot against no more and no less than UWCL powerhouse Lyon.
Playing alongside Ada Hegerberg, Carolina Graham Hansen and Frida Maanum in Norway’s attack, Reiten's strengths could prove crucial for Norway’s advancement in the tournament after a disappointing 2022 Euro campaign.
Alex Morgan (USA)
A name that needs no introduction. The USA striker has been on fire in recent NWSL form scoring five goals and assisting four in 10 matches. Coming into this World Cup as one of the USA captains, her confidence and poise on the pitch can easily influence her team to go on and win their fifth overall and third consecutive World Cup.