The reigning FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, the United States, will kick off its title defense tonight against Vietnam at 9 p.m. on Fox. The Stars and Stripes’ odds to win are heavily juiced versus the Golden Star Women Warriors (-40000).
Don’t let that line fool you, though, Vlatko Andonovski’s side will face some stiff competition in the 2023 Women’s World Cup from Australia and New Zealand. Vietnam is widely considered to be the worst opponent that the United States will face in Group E play and perhaps the entire tournament.
While the Americans are favored to top their group (-400 at Caesars Sportsbook), the Netherlands (+275) provides some stiff competition, as it proved in the 2019 World Cup. Portugal can make some noise too, although oddsmakers are giving Francisco Neto’s side long 40/1 odds to win Group E.
It should come as no surprise when you take all of those lines into consideration that oddsmakers believe the U.S. will easily qualify for the knockout stages. The Americans are -15000 to finish in either of Group E’s top two places. Many consider this to be a bare minimum requirement for the four-time winners.
Sportsbooks are so confident that the Stars and Stripes will make it far in this tournament — despite being without a number of key individuals — that you cannot find a plus sign next to their name until you start betting on the final. The U.S. is -225 to reach the semifinals and +110 to reach the final. Andonovski’s squad tops Caesars’ odds boards in both of those categories.
Finally, the Americans (+220) are considered a slight favorite to win the tournament outright, as well. They are joined by Spain (+450), England (+500), Germany (+700) and Australia (+900) as the only teams with better than 10/1 odds to win the tournament after just a few games have concluded.
The U.S. doesn’t just top team betting categories either. Alex Morgan (+450) and Sophia Smith (+600) have the best chance to win the tournament’s Golden Boot award, according to oddsmakers.
Suffice it to say that sportsbooks and supporters alike see this iteration of the USWNT as a team that has some big shoes to fill. The Americans are favored in nearly every category offered to sports bettors during the Women’s World Cup before they even take the pitch in Australia for their first match.
