Forward Maika Hamano (22) of Japan is pursued by defender Tarciane (3) of Brazil during a 2024 SheBelieves Cup soccer match on Tuesday at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio on April 9, 2024. (Photo credit: Barbara J. Perenic | Columbus Dispatch / USA Today Network)
With one year to go before the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off, it’s time for an early assessment of how the favorites for the competition are looking. It goes without saying that the United States will be in the mix, but given that we at The Equalizer cover them extensively as it is, we thought it best to focus on the USWNT’s main competitors.
A lot can change over the coming 12 months, but in this article we will analyze the host nation, Brazil; the reigning world champions, Spain; the reigning European champions, England; the reigning Asian champions, Japan; perennial heavyweights, Germany; and perennial contenders, France.
Brazil
The appointment of Pia Sundhage in 2019 didn’t achieve the results Brazil wanted. Sundhage brought a wealth of experience and zonal defensive organization, but a group stage exit at the 2023 World Cup marked the end of her tenure. Enter Arthur Elias, winner of multiple Brazilian league and Copa Libertadores titles with Corinthians at the club level.
Elias has revolutionized the Brazilian national team’s style of play over the past three years, introducing an intense player-marking defensive system that sets a ferocious tempo few opponents can live with. At the 2024 Olympics, Brazil took out host France before hammering Spain in the semifinals. Since then, what looked to some like a one-off has been clarified as a consistent threat. Over the past three years, Brazil beat England in England, Italy in Italy, and Australia in Australia. They thrashed Portugal 5-0 in Portugal. They beat Canada once, Japan twice, and recorded home and away wins over the USWNT. Oh, and they retained the Copa América.
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