2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Group B

Group B of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup was one of eight groups that formed the opening round of the tournament with the matches played from 20 to 31 July 2023.^[1] The group consisted of hosts Australia, the Republic of Ireland, Nigeria and Canada. The top two teams, Australia and Nigeria, advanced to the round of 16.^[2]

Canada became the first reigning Olympic champions to be eliminated in the subsequent Women's World Cup group stage. A win against Canada ensured Australia avoided a first group stage elimination since 2003, and following the elimination of fellow hosts New Zealand, assured every Women's World Cup up to 2023 had a host country participating in the knockouts. Nigeria progressed to the knockout stage for only the third time in their ninth Women's World Cup.

Teams

Draw position	Team	Pot	Confederation	Method of qualification	Date of qualification	Finals appearance	Last appearance	Previous best performance	FIFA Rankings
									October 2022[nb 1]	June 2023
B1	Australia	1	AFC	Hosts	25 June 2020	8th	2019	Quarter-finals (2007, 2011, 2015)	13	10
B2	Republic of Ireland	3	UEFA	UEFA play-offs second-best ranked winners	11 October 2022	1st	—	Debut	24	22
B3	Nigeria	4	CAF	2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations fourth place	14 July 2022	9th	2019	Quarter-finals (1999)	45	40
B4	Canada	2	CONCACAF	2022 CONCACAF W Championship runners-up	8 July 2022	8th	2019	Fourth place (2003)	7	7

Notes

1. The rankings of October 2022 were used for seeding for the final draw.

Standings

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Australia (H)	3	2	0	1	7	3	+4	6	Advance to knockout stage
2	Nigeria	3	1	2	0	3	2	+1	5
3	Canada	3	1	1	1	2	5	−3	4
4	Republic of Ireland	3	0	1	2	1	3	−2	1

Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts

In the round of 16:

• The winners of Group B, Australia, advanced to play the runners-up of Group D, Denmark.
• The runners-up of Group B, Nigeria, advanced to play the winners of Group D, England.

Matches

All times listed are local.

Australia vs Republic of Ireland

The match was originally scheduled to take place at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney. However, FIFA confirmed in late January 2023 that the match would be moved to Stadium Australia, Sydney, due to significant interest in tickets.^[3]

20 July 2023 (2023-07-20)

20:00 UTC+10

Australia	1–0	Republic of Ireland
Catley 52' (pen.)	Report

Stadium Australia, Sydney

Attendance: 75,784

Referee: Edina Alves Batista (Brazil)

Australia

Republic of Ireland

GK 18 Mackenzie Arnold RB 21 Ellie Carpenter CB 15 Clare Hunt CB 14 Alanna Kennedy LB 7 Steph Catley (c) RM 16 Hayley Raso CM 19 Katrina Gorry CM 23 Kyra Cooney-Cross LM 5 Cortnee Vine  75' CF 9 Caitlin Foord CF 11 Mary Fowler  84' Substitutions: MF 10 Emily van Egmond  75' DF 4 Clare Polkinghorne  84' Manager: Tony Gustavsson

GK 1 Courtney Brosnan CB 5 Niamh Fahey CB 4 Louise Quinn CB 6 Megan Connolly RM 14 Heather Payne CM 10 Denise O'Sullivan  42' CM 8 Ruesha Littlejohn LM 11 Katie McCabe (c) RF 17 Sinead Farrelly  63' CF 18 Kyra Carusa  87' LF 20 Marissa Sheva  63' Substitutions: MF 15 Lucy Quinn  63' FW 19 Abbie Larkin  63' DF 22 Isibeal Atkinson  87' Manager: Vera Pauw

Player of the Match: Steph Catley (Australia)[4] Assistant referees: Neuza Back (Brazil) Leila Moreira da Cruz (Brazil) Fourth official: María Carvajal (Chile) Video assistant referee: Daiane Muniz dos Santos (Brazil) Assistant video assistant referee: Juan Soto (Venezuela) Offside video assistant referee: Mariana de Almeida (Argentina)

Nigeria vs Canada

21 July 2023 (2023-07-21)

12:30 UTC+10

Nigeria	0–0	Canada
	Report

Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne

Attendance: 21,410

Referee: Lina Lehtovaara (Finland)

Nigeria

Canada

GK 16 Chiamaka Nnadozie (c) RB 22 Michelle Alozie CB 14 Oluwatosin Demehin  54' CB 2 Ashleigh Plumptre LB 3 Osinachi Ohale CM 10 Christy Ucheibe CM 13 Deborah Abiodun  90+8' RW 6 Ifeoma Onumonu  85' AM 7 Toni Payne LW 17 Francisca Ordega  73' CF 8 Asisat Oshoala  90+1' Substitutions: FW 12 Uchenna Kanu  73' FW 21 Esther Okoronkwo  85' MF 19 Jennifer Echegini  90+1' Manager: Randy Waldrum

GK 1 Kailen Sheridan RB 10 Ashley Lawrence  74' CB 3 Kadeisha Buchanan CB 14 Vanessa Gilles LB 8 Jayde Riviere  71' CM 5 Quinn CM 7 Julia Grosso  82' RW 9 Jordyn Huitema AM 12 Christine Sinclair (c)  71' LW 6 Deanne Rose  46' CF 19 Adriana Leon  64' Substitutions: FW 20 Cloé Lacasse  46' FW 11 Evelyne Viens  90+9'  64' DF 2 Allysha Chapman  71' MF 13 Sophie Schmidt  71' FW 15 Nichelle Prince  82' Manager: Bev Priestman

Player of the Match: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria) Assistant referees: Chrysoula Kourompylia (Greece) Karolin Kaivoja (Estonia) Fourth official: Iuliana Demetrescu (Romania) Video assistant referee: Pol van Boekel (Netherlands) Assistant video assistant referee: Abdulla Al-Marri (Qatar) Offside video assistant referee: Katrin Rafalski (Germany)

Canada vs Republic of Ireland

26 July 2023 (2023-07-26)

20:00 UTC+8

Canada	2–1	Republic of Ireland
Connolly 45+5' (o.g.) Leon 53'	Report	McCabe 4'

Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth

Attendance: 17,065

Referee: Laura Fortunato (Argentina)

Canada

Republic of Ireland

GK 1 Kailen Sheridan RB 8 Jayde Riviere  90+4' CB 3 Kadeisha Buchanan  36'  46' CB 14 Vanessa Gilles  61' LB 10 Ashley Lawrence DM 5 Quinn CM 17 Jessie Fleming (c) CM 7 Julia Grosso  46' RF 9 Jordyn Huitema CF 11 Evelyne Viens  46' LF 19 Adriana Leon  59' Substitutions: DF 4 Shelina Zadorsky  46' FW 12 Christine Sinclair  46' MF 13 Sophie Schmidt  46' FW 20 Cloé Lacasse  59' DF 2 Allysha Chapman  90+4' Manager: Bev Priestman

GK 1 Courtney Brosnan CB 5 Niamh Fahey CB 4 Louise Quinn CB 6 Megan Connolly RM 13 Áine O'Gorman  59' CM 10 Denise O'Sullivan CM 8 Ruesha Littlejohn  65' LM 11 Katie McCabe (c)  90+8' RF 15 Lucy Quinn  46' CF 18 Kyra Carusa  65' LF 17 Sinead Farrelly  65' Substitutions: FW 19 Abbie Larkin  46' FW 20 Marissa Sheva  59' DF 22 Isibeal Atkinson  65' MF 12 Lily Agg  65' FW 9 Amber Barrett  65' Manager: Vera Pauw

Player of the Match: Katie McCabe (Republic of Ireland) Assistant referees: Mariana de Almeida (Argentina) Daiana Milone (Argentina) Fourth official: Akhona Makalima (South Africa) Video assistant referee: Alejandro Hernández Hernández (Spain) Assistant video assistant referee: Juan Martínez Munuera (Spain) Offside video assistant referee: Neuza Back (Brazil)

Australia vs Nigeria

27 July 2023 (2023-07-27)

20:00 UTC+10

Australia	2–3	Nigeria
Van Egmond 45+1' Kennedy 90+10'	Report	Kanu 45+6' Ohale 65' Oshoala 72'

Lang Park, Brisbane

Attendance: 49,156

Referee: Esther Staubli (Switzerland)

Australia

Nigeria

GK 18 Mackenzie Arnold RB 21 Ellie Carpenter CB 15 Clare Hunt CB 14 Alanna Kennedy LB 7 Steph Catley (c) DM 10 Emily van Egmond CM 23 Kyra Cooney-Cross CM 19 Katrina Gorry RF 5 Cortnee Vine  82' CF 9 Caitlin Foord  45+3' LF 16 Hayley Raso  85' Substitutions: DF 4 Clare Polkinghorne  82' MF 8 Alex Chidiac  85' Manager: Tony Gustavsson

GK 16 Chiamaka Nnadozie (c) RB 22 Michelle Alozie  21' CB 3 Osinachi Ohale CB 14 Oluwatosin Demehin LB 2 Ashleigh Plumptre  77' DM 18 Halimatu Ayinde  76' CM 7 Toni Payne  90' CM 10 Christy Ucheibe RF 6 Ifeoma Onumonu  63' CF 12 Uchenna Kanu  63' LF 15 Rasheedat Ajibade Substitutions: FW 8 Asisat Oshoala  73'  63' FW 21 Esther Okoronkwo  63' MF 19 Jennifer Echegini  76' DF 4 Glory Ogbonna  77' DF 5 Onome Ebi  90' Manager: Randy Waldrum

Player of the Match: Osinachi Ohale (Nigeria) Assistant referees: Katrin Rafalski (Germany) Susanne Küng (Switzerland) Fourth official: Lina Lehtovaara (Finland) Video assistant referee: Marco Fritz (Germany) Assistant video assistant referee: Pol van Boekel (Netherlands) Offside video assistant referee: Ella De Vries (Belgium)

Canada vs Australia

31 July 2023 (2023-07-31)

20:00 UTC+10

Canada	0–4	Australia
	Report	Raso 9', 39' Fowler 58' Catley 90+4' (pen.)

Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne

Attendance: 27,706

Referee: Stéphanie Frappart (France)

Canada

Australia

GK 1 Kailen Sheridan RB 8 Jayde Riviere  46' CB 3 Kadeisha Buchanan CB 14 Vanessa Gilles LB 10 Ashley Lawrence DM 5 Quinn  77' CM 7 Julia Grosso  46' CM 17 Jessie Fleming RF 19 Adriana Leon  64' CF 12 Christine Sinclair (c)  46' LF 9 Jordyn Huitema  46' Substitutions: DF 2 Allysha Chapman  46' FW 6 Deanne Rose  46' MF 13 Sophie Schmidt  46' FW 20 Cloé Lacasse  46' FW 11 Evelyne Viens  64' MF 23 Olivia Smith  77' Manager: Bev Priestman

GK 18 Mackenzie Arnold  81' RB 21 Ellie Carpenter CB 15 Clare Hunt CB 14 Alanna Kennedy LB 7 Steph Catley (c) RM 16 Hayley Raso  75' CM 19 Katrina Gorry  90+6' CM 23 Kyra Cooney-Cross LM 10 Emily van Egmond  68'  84' CF 11 Mary Fowler CF 9 Caitlin Foord Substitutions: FW 5 Cortnee Vine  75' DF 4 Clare Polkinghorne  84' DF 22 Charlotte Grant  90+6' Manager: Tony Gustavsson  45+5'

Player of the Match: Hayley Raso (Australia) Assistant referees: Manuela Nicolosi (France) Elodie Coppola (France) Fourth official: Tess Olofsson (Sweden) Video assistant referee: Pol van Boekel (Netherlands) Assistant video assistant referee: Marco Fritz (Germany) Offside video assistant referee: Ella De Vries (Belgium)

Republic of Ireland vs Nigeria

31 July 2023 (2023-07-31)

20:00 UTC+10

Republic of Ireland	0–0	Nigeria
	Report

Lang Park, Brisbane

Attendance: 24,884

Referee: Katia García (Mexico)

Republic of Ireland

Nigeria

GK 1 Courtney Brosnan CB 5 Niamh Fahey  90+5' CB 4 Louise Quinn CB 6 Megan Connolly RM 14 Heather Payne  83' CM 12 Lily Agg  83' CM 8 Ruesha Littlejohn LM 11 Katie McCabe (c)  68' RF 10 Denise O'Sullivan CF 18 Kyra Carusa LF 17 Sinead Farrelly Substitutions: FW 20 Marissa Sheva  83' FW 19 Abbie Larkin  83' DF 7 Diane Caldwell  90+5' Manager: Vera Pauw

GK 16 Chiamaka Nnadozie (c) RB 22 Michelle Alozie CB 3 Osinachi Ohale CB 14 Oluwatosin Demehin  83' LB 2 Ashleigh Plumptre CM 10 Christy Ucheibe CM 18 Halimatu Ayinde RW 15 Rasheedat Ajibade AM 7 Toni Payne LW 12 Uchenna Kanu  67' CF 8 Asisat Oshoala  67' Substitutions: FW 11 Gift Monday  67' FW 6 Ifeoma Onumonu  67' DF 5 Onome Ebi  83' Manager: Randy Waldrum

Player of the Match: Courtney Brosnan (Republic of Ireland) Assistant referees: Karen Diaz Medina (Mexico) Enedina Caudillo (Mexico) Fourth official: Lina Lehtovaara (Finland) Video assistant referee: Massimiliano Irrati (Italy) Assistant video assistant referee: Salomé di Iorio (Argentina) Offside video assistant referee: Lucie Ratajová (Czech Republic)

Discipline

Fair play points would have been used as tiebreakers in the group should the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows:^[2]

• first yellow card: minus 1 point;
• indirect red card (second yellow card): minus 3 points;
• direct red card: minus 4 points;
• yellow card and direct red card: minus 5 points;

Only one of the above deductions was applied to a player in a single match.

Team	Match 1				Match 2				Match 3				Points
Australia					1				2				–3
Republic of Ireland	1				1				1				–3
Canada	2				2								–4
Nigeria	1		1		2								–7

See also

• Australia at the FIFA Women's World Cup
• Canada at the FIFA Women's World Cup
• Republic of Ireland at the FIFA Women's World Cup
• Nigeria at the FIFA Women's World Cup