A look at the Upcoming 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

^{by Jenna Weyforth}
From Europe and South America to New Zealand and Australia, two Kansas City Current players touch down for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with hopes of bringing home the world’s biggest prize—a win that would be the first for their respective countries.

No stranger to high-pressure competitions, Debinha for Brazil and Stine Ballisager Pedersen for Denmark, have been integral to the success of their national teams that have now qualified for the group stages of the tournament.

Debinha, a notoriously skilled ball-handler and scorer, has been named to ESPN’s Best Player list for the 2023 FIFA World Cup. The attacking midfielder made her national team debut in 2011 but has made several appearances with Brazil since the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

Clocking in at 11th on the ranking, Debinha’s versatility and creativity are major assets for the Brazilian team, who have come up just short of winning the Cup in past years. Pitted against France, Panama and Jamaica in Group F, Debinha is joined by eight NWSL competitors on the Brazilian national team.

Debinha’s presence has also been impactful for the Kansas City Current, who signed the Brazilian native as a free agent during the offseason.

The team’s top goal scorer quickly became essential to the Current offense. With 36 shots, 9 goals and an assist so far in the season, her attacking prowess is just one of the skills that landed her on the NWSL’s Best XI twice this season, a member of the March/April and June lists.

Kansas City’s most recent addition is Stine Ballisager Pedersen. Signed in early July, the defender from Denmark has not yet suited up with Kansas City, but her successful club career with Vålerenga in the Norwegian Toppserien league speaks to her expertise and talent in the game.

Leading Denmark’s resurgence into World Cup play, Ballisager’s impact on the team has aided them to their first FIFA World Cup appearance since 2007. A staple of the Danish National team since 2012, the skilled defender has played in 43 games and scored three goals with the squad.

Challenging China, Haiti and England in the group stage, Ballisager’s work on the back line for Denmark will be fundamental to the squad’s success.

Ties to Kansas City are also strong with U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Vlatko Andonovski, who has dedicated much of his career to local teams.

Originally coming to the U.S. in 2000 to play indoor soccer with the Wichita Wings, he joined the Kansas City Comets in 2001. After his playing career he joined the Comets coaching staff, leading the team to the 2014 Major Indoor Soccer League Championship. In 2013 he took over the newly formed FC Kansas City NWSL team and was selected as NWSL Coach of the Year. Doing double duty with the Comets and FC Kansas City, he coached the Blues to back-to-back NWSL titles in 2014 and 2015.

Under Andonovski’s reign since 2019, the U.S. women's national team has earned a strong 82% win percentage with a record of 50-5-6. Coaching in his first World Cup, Andonovski looks to further the U.S. legacy and guide the team to its third straight and fourth overall World Cup Championship.

Hosted by two countries for the first time in the tournament’s history, the 2023 Women’s FIFA World Cup will kick off on July 20 with an expanded group of 32 teams. With matches spread out through New Zealand and Australia, the month-long tournament will conclude with the finals scheduled for August 20.

Catch the Group Stage Games:
Debinha/Brazil

• Brazil vs Panama: July 24 at 6 a.m. on FS1, Telemundo
• France vs Brazil: July 29 at 5 a.m. on Fox, Telemundo
• Jamaica vs Brazil: August 2 at 5 a.m. on FS1, Telemundo

Ballisager/Denmark

• Denmark vs China: July 22 at 7 a.m. on Fox, Fox 5, Universo
• England vs Denmark: July 28 at 3:30 a.m. on FS1, Telemundo
• Haiti vs Denmark: August 1 at 6 a.m. on FS1, Telemundo

Andonovski/United States

• United States vs Vietnam: July 21 at 8 p.m. on Fox, Fox 5, Telemundo, Universo
• United States vs Netherlands: July 26 at 8 p.m. on Fox, Telemundo, Universo
• Portugal vs United States: August 1 at 2 a.m. on Fox, Telemundo