The 2023 Women’s World Cup is under way! Hosted in Australia and New Zealand, the tournament features 32 of the best footballing nations in the world seeking glory. For every match day, Canada Sports Betting will break down the matches ahead, providing the key odds and story lines you need to make a play, courtesy of our friends at bet365.
Due to the unique schedule of the tournament, we’ll be looking one day forward at a time. Today we’ll be covering July 31st‘s fixtures. These include:
- Costa Rica vs. Zambia, 3:00 a.m. ET
- Japan vs. Spain, 3:00 a.m. ET
- Canada vs. Australia, 6:00 a.m. ET
- Ireland vs. Nigeria, 6:00 a.m. ET
While you wait for the next match day, also consider checking out our main Women’s World Cup page, with all of the latest full-tournament odds, our favourite picks, guides on how to make bets for the tournament, and more!
6:00 a.m. Headliner: Canada vs. Australia
| Canada Win In Full Time | +240 |
| Australia Win in Full Time | +230 |
| Draw After Full Time | +115 |
| Over/Under | 2.5 goals (over +115, under -150) |
| Time/Date | Monday, June 31, 6:00 a.m. ET |
| TV | Broadcast: TSN Stream: TSN GO App |
This was always likely to be a decisive match for both sides in Group B, but with the way the action has played out the significance of this clash at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne, Australia has only risen.
Disappointing results against Nigeria for both sides – a 0-0 draw for Canada and a 3-2 loss for Australia – has transformed this encounter from decisive to critical. With Australia on three points to Canada and Nigeria’s four, they need to win – there is a scenario where a draw coupled with a Nigerian loss by two or more goals sees both through, but neither will be comforted by that math.
The Matildas, playing on home soil, are slight favourites, but Canada has recent history on their side, unbeaten in four matches against Australia including a pair of wins in friendlies last September, both played in Australia.
News that star striker Sam Kerr, who missed the first two matches, is ready to go will counteract any fear of not advancing out of the group at their home tournament. Kerr played provider in the only goal Australia scored in those matches last year.
This will be a tight game, both teams will be desperate to win. Both teams’ wins at the Women’s World Cup have been by one goal margins, so the Winning Margin 1 Goal odds look enticing: Canada (+400), Australia (+275).
That familiarity and the stakes at hand will lend itself to some additional physicality. Canada has already seen four yellow cards, two in each match. Australia were not booked against the Republic of Ireland and received just one in their defeat to Nigeria, but Both Teams to Receive a Card Yes (-175) looks highly likely. Both Teams to Receive 2+ Cards Yes (+275) less so, but possible. First Card Received Australia (+130) catches the eye as well, they will be desperate to get a result.
With Sam [Samantha] Kerr back in the fold, she tops the goalscorers odds (First +350, Last +350, Anytime +120) with her to score First bet boosted to +375. Caitlin Foord (+650, +650, +240) scored the Australians game-winner against the Irish from the penalty spot, while Emily van Egmond (+1200, +1200, +450) and Alanna Kennedy (+2000, +2000, +750) provided the goals in the losing effort against Nigeria.
For Canada Christine Sinclair (+600, +600, +220), despite her changing role and not starting the second game, has the shortest odds. Adriana Leon (+900, +900, +333) scored all three Canada goals in the friendlies last fall and opened her account against Ireland. The Canadian opener against the Irish was ruled an own goal, but Jordyn Huitema (+900, +900, +333) has looked dangerous throughout the two matches. Huitema To Score at Any Time is bet boosted to +350.
There are some eye-catching bet boosted Same Game Parlays on offer each way. Two for Canada: Both Teams to Score Yes, Huitema to Score Anytime, Match result Canada or Draw at +750; Match result will be Canada, Over 2 Goals, Christine Sinclair to Score Anytime at +900. For the co-hosts: Kerr to Score Anytime, Both Teams to Score Yes, Match result Australia at +700.
Canada to Win in Full Time
3:00 a.m. Match: Costa Rica vs Zambia
| Costa Rica Win In Full Time | +210 |
| Zambia Win in Full Time | +105 |
| Draw After Full Time | +275 |
| Over/Under | 2.5 goals (over -143, under +110) |
| Time/Date | Monday, June 31, 3:00 a.m. ET |
| TV | Broadcast: TSN2 Stream: TSN GO App |
Zambia are slight favourites over Costa Rica in Group C’s other match at Waikato Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand.
It’s been a tough tournament for both. Both are already eliminated from contention after lopsided losses to Spain and Japan, both will be going home after this final match.
Disappointing though that may be, it does provide the opportunity for both to come out and play with some freedom in this final match, to take something positive back from the experience.
Neither side has scored a goal in 2023. Las Ticas scored three in their debut at the 2019 edition, but will be eager to not exit empty-handed, while the Copper Queens will be eager to at least get that first Women’s World Cup goal from their debut appearance.
Both teams have shown their vulnerability at the back, so a score draw looks very possible and there is some valuable in all three possible results when combined with both teams scoring: Result/Both Teams to Score Costa Rica/Yes (+450), Zambia/Yes (+275), Draw/Yes (+350).
A Correct Score of 1-1 sits at +650 and Both Teams to Score, Yes at -163.
For Zambia Barbara Banda (First +300, Last +300, Anytime -125) has the shortest odds to score that historic goal. Racheal Kundananji (+500, +500, +140) is bet boosted to +550 to score First. For Costa Rica, Raquel Rodríguez (+550, +550, +160) and María Salas (+700, +700, +210) top the charts.
Zambia to Win in Full Time
3:00 a.m. Match: Japan vs. Spain
| Japan Win In Full Time | +210 |
| Spain Win in Full Time | -118 |
| Draw After Full Time | +275 |
| Over/Under | 725) |
| Time/Date | Monday, June 31, 3:00 a.m. ET |
| TV | Broadcast: TSN Stream: TSN GO App |
In different circumstances this Group C clash at Wellington Regional Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand has the potential to be one of the matches of the tournament.
Spain, slight favourites heading in, have won both their previous matches by a combined score of 8-0, defeating Costa Rica 3-0 in the opener and following it up with a 5-0 win over Zambia. Japan, unbeaten in two against Spain including a 1-0 friendly win last November, has won their matches against the same opponents by a combined score of 7-0 with two against Costa Rica and five against Zambia.
Both are already through to the knockout stages, so this one will decide which team takes the top spot in the group. Spain currently hold that distinction with a superior goal-difference of just a single goal.
Spain have been quick out of the gates in both their matches, scoring inside the opening 21 minutes in both outings. Japan have taken a bit more time to get going – needing 43 minutes to score against Zambia and 25 minutes against Costa Rica. But while both sides have been dominant in both their matches, this one is likely to look very different.
La Roja could well still get off to a fast start – To Score in 1st Half Spain Yes (+100) – but Nadeshiko Japan will not crumble after going behind the way previous opponents had. That, combined with the circumstances that allow both teams to make use of the opportunity for squad rotation, sees a Half Time/Full Time Spain – Draw (+1400) look appealing.
It is worth noting that neither team saw a yellow card in their first two matches, so Both Teams Combined 0 Cards Exactly at +800 could be worth some attention – no sense picking up a booking now that could put participation in a future match at risk.
Another interesting element to both teams success at the tournament has been not just the volume of scoring, but the way it has been spread around. Spain’s eight goals have come from five different goalscorers; Japan’s seven from six different scorers.
Jennifer Hermoso (First +450, Last +450, Anytime +162) – First bet boosted to +500 and Alba Redondo (+550, +550, +210) lead the way with two apiece for Spain, both scoring braces against Zambia, but forward Esther González (+400, +400, +150), who scored the third against Costa Rica, has the shortest odds on the day.
Hinata Miyazawa (+1100, +1100, +450) scored twice for Japan against Zambia, but Riko Ueki (+800, +800, +300) who scored the fifth in that match, has the shorter odds for this one.
And once again there are some intriguing bet boosted Same Game Parlays each way. For Spain a trio of Over 2 Goals, Jennifer Hermoso to Score Anytime, and Match result will be Spain sits at +450. For Japan: Match result will be Japan, Both Teams to Score – Yes, and Mina Tanaka Over 0.5 Shots on Target is at +1400. Tanaka has averaged 2.2 shots on target per 90 minutes so far at the Women’s World Cup.
Spain to Win in Full Time
6:00 a.m. Match: Republic of Ireland vs. Nigeria
| Ireland Win In Full Time | +220 |
| Nigeria Win in Full Time | +115 |
| Draw After Full Time | +250 |
| Over/Under | 2.5 goals (over -125, under +100) |
| Time/Date | Monday, June 31, 6:00 a.m. ET |
| TV | Broadcast: TSN2 Stream: TSN GO App |
At Lang Park in Brisbane, Australia Group B’s other match will be equally fascinating. Nigeria, who control their own fate, come up against the already eliminated Republic of Ireland.
Given that one side tops the group and the other is out, the line is oddly tight. It makes some sense in that the Girls in Green have been in both matches they’ve played so far – Australia needed a penalty kick in their victory while Canada fell behind before an own-goal and some half-time substitutions changed the game. The Super Falcons showed what they were capable of in their 3-2 win over Australia – responding quickly after falling behind at the end of the first half and then scoring twice in quick succession around the hour mark – but they have tended to be reactive rather than take the game to the opponent.
Ireland will be eager to leave their first Women’s World Cup on a positive note – a Republic of Ireland Correct Score of 2-1 is bet boosted to +1200. A scoreless draw (Correct Score 0-0 at +1100) is slightly more likely, but it’s hard to look past Nigeria who have found ways to get the result they needed.
A Same Game Parlay of Match result will be Nigeria, Over 2 Goals, Uchenna Kanu to Score Anytime is bet boosted to +450.
Asisat Oshoala (First +450, Last +450, Anytime +130) showed her qualities against Australia, racing onto a ball, rounding the goalkeeper, and scoring from a tight angle. Uchenna Kanu (+600, +600, +187), who has been dangerous in both matches, scored the equalizer in first half stoppage-time and Osinachi Ohale (+3300, +3300, +1100) scored the crucial third that proved the game-winner against the Australians.
For Ireland, Katie McCabe (+900, +9000, +275) has their only goal, an Olimpico, scoring straight from a corner kick. While Amber Barrett (+700, +700, +220) is the most likely Irish scorer.
