The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup has already kicked off with a blast, and the excitement is just getting started! Australia and New Zealand, the host nations, have set the stage on fire with their wins.

As the first group-stage matches unfold over the weekend, brace yourselves for two sensational clashes featuring the top favorites. The four-time champions, the United States, are all set to begin their campaign, while the reigning European Champions, England, are eager to make their mark.

Let’s delve into the thrilling matches lined up for this weekend at the Women’s World Cup.

1. United States vs Vietnam On Saturday morning/Friday night (USA time), the reigning world champions, the United States, will go head-to-head with Vietnam. The Americans, the undisputed No. 1 team in the world, will be up against the No. 32 ranked side.

In all honesty, Vietnam is nowhere near the class of the mighty USWNT. While it’s true that the Women’s World Cup expanded to 32 teams this year, it’s safe to say that the competition might be a tad watered down. Vietnam’s recent performance speaks volumes about their preparedness, as they suffered a heavy 9-0 defeat against Spain during their World Cup warm-up.

It’s clear that the USWNT should dominate this match with ease, winning by more than 3.5 goals.

Prediction: United States to secure a resounding victory with over 3.5 goals scored.

1. England vs Haiti In Group D, England is all set to face Haiti in a classic David versus Goliath showdown. Ranked as the No. 4 team in the world and fresh from their European Championship triumph last summer, England carries high expectations. However, they are grappling with some injury concerns, which might challenge their quest for a maiden World Cup title.

Haiti, on the other hand, seems to be at the tournament merely to make up the numbers. Ranked No. 53 in the world, their recent victories have mainly come against weak national teams. In their sole warm-up match, they suffered a 2-1 defeat to South Korea, who is also participating in the tournament.

While England might not be in the best form, they are still likely to outclass Haiti. The Haitians will struggle to keep up with the Lionesses, and it could be a low-scoring affair due to England’s recent goal drought.

Prediction: England to emerge victorious with over 1.5 goals scored.

1. Netherlands vs Portugal On Sunday, brace yourselves for an enthralling match as the Netherlands take on Portugal at Forsyth Barr Stadium. Both teams are in Group E, alongside the United States and Haiti, and it’s predicted that the battle for the second spot will be intense.

Portugal enters the tournament ranked at No. 21 in the world, marking their debut in the Women’s World Cup. However, their recent form hasn’t been impressive, with just one win in their last five international matches.

On the contrary, the Netherlands is coming off two impressive wins, scoring a combined total of 9-1. Their latest victory was a dominant 5-0 display against Belgium. A win against Portugal would set the Netherlands up nicely for their showdown against the USWNT in the next match, making this encounter all the more critical.

However, Portugal and the Netherlands are expected to be evenly matched, leading to a tight contest with not many goals.

Prediction: A close match ending in a draw, with under 2.5 goals scored.

Get ready for an action-packed weekend of football as the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup unfolds its drama, passion, and glory on the grand stage!