Find out more about the ten teams set to battle it out for the three remaining slots at the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup™.
On 22 and 23 February, the last three tickets for this year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup™ will be handed out in New Zealand.
A total of ten teams from six different continents are in the running for these coveted slots, and all but four are aiming to qualify for this tournament for the first time.
But who are these sides? And who do they need to beat at the upcoming Playoff Tournament to take their places at Australia & New Zealand 2023? Fifa+ gives you the lowdown.
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Cameroon
Coach: Gabriel Zabo
Key player: Ajara Njoya Nchout (forward)
Previous Fifa Women’s World Cups: Cameroon qualified in 2015 and 2019, reaching the last 16 at both editions.
Route to Australia & New Zealand 2023 v Thailand, 18 February v Portugal, 22 February Quote “We have not for once thought of not qualifying. All along we've been thinking about reaching our third consecutive Women's World Cup. That will surely not happen without challenges… However, we are very optimistic about our chances going into the play-offs." Gabriel Zabo, Cameroon coach
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Chile
Coach: Jose Letelier
Key player: Christiane Endler (goalkeeper)
Previous Fifa Women’s World Cups Chile made their debut in 2019 and exited at the group stage, although they performed admirably and earned a maiden win by beating Thailand 2-0.
Route to Australia & New Zealand 2023 v Senegal/Haiti, 22 February
Quote “The biggest test will be physical. The teams we’ll be facing will be quick and strong, which are two areas where we have to improve.” Yastin Jimenez, Chile midfielder
Chinese Taipei
Coach: Yen Shih-Kai
Key player: Su Yu-hsuan (forward)
Previous Fifa Women’s World Cups: Chinese Taipei participated in the first Women’s World Cup in 1991 and went on to reach the quarterfinals.
Route to Australia & New Zealand 2023 v Paraguay, 19 February v Papua New Guinea/Panama, 22 February
Quote “The World Cup is the pinnacle of football. After over 30 years, Chinese Taipei’s women's football team will fight for another opportunity to be there. And we will not miss our chance.” Coach Yen Shih-Kai, speaking to Fifa+
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Haiti
Coach Nicolas Delepine
Key Player: Melchie Dumornay (midfielder)
Previous Fifa Women’s World Cups: None
Route to Australia & New Zealand 2023 v Senegal, 18 February v Chile, 22 February
Quote: “Haiti isn’t the most developed country, but we’re going to give everything we’ve got to reach the World Cup because, if we make it, our nation will be so proud of us. We don’t quite know how yet, but we’re going to do everything possible to qualify!” Defender Jennyfer Limage, speaking to Fifa+
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Panama
Coach: Ignacio Quintana
Star Player: Lineth Cedeno (forward)
Previous Fifa Women’s World Cups: None
Route to Australia & New Zealand 2023 v Papua New Guinea, 19 February v Chinese Taipei/Paraguay, 22 February
Quote “Qualifying would be a watershed moment for this group. We also know that when we have that World Cup ticket, parents are going to trust more and take their daughters to train in football and break that paradigm that sadly still exists a lot in Latin America that only men can play football.” Ignacio Quintana, Panama coach
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Papua New Guinea
Coach: Spencer Prior
Key player: Ramona Padio (midfielder)
Previous Fifa Women’s World Cups: None
Route to Australia & New Zealand 2023 v Panama, 19 February v Chinese Taipei/Paraguay, 22 February
Quote “Yes, we’ll be underdogs. But we’re not approaching it with any fear… There are some good athletes in this PNG team, some good technicians too, for us the challenge is to find the right formula to give them the best opportunity to do something very special.” Coach Spencer Prior, speaking to Fifa+
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Paraguay
Coach Marcello Frigerio
Key player Jessica Martinez (forward)
Previous Fifa Women’s World Cups None
Route to Australia & New Zealand 2023 v Chinese Taipei, 19 February v Papua New Guinea/Panama, 22 February
Quote "The girls have improved a lot - we have already seen it in the Copa America. And they are focused. We work every day, starting with a 4-4-2 system, but we are preparing to vary that." Marcello Frigerio, Paraguay coach
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Portugal
Coach Francisco Neto
Key player Jessica Silva (winger)
Previous Fifa Women’s World Cups None
Route to Australia & New Zealand 2023 v Cameroon/Thailand, 22 February
Quote “We know that Cameroon and Thailand have both been to the last two Women’s World Cups and that it won’t be easy, but we really believe that we will make it. Portugal simply have to be at the World Cup.” Jessica Silva, speaking to Fifa+
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Senegal
Coach Mame Moussa Cisse
Key player Awa Diakhate (forward)
Previous Fifa Women’s World Cups None
Route to Australia & New Zealand 2023 v Haiti, 18 February v Chile, 22 February
Quote “We love a challenge. It’s not going to be easy to make it through these play-offs, because our opponents will be tenacious. We’ll have to make sure our level of play matches our ambition. We’re preparing ourselves tactically, physically and even mentally.” Mame Moussa Cisse, speaking to Fifa+
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Thailand
Coach Miyo Okamoto
Key player Silawan Intamee (midfielder)
Previous Fifa Women’s World Cups Thailand have qualified for each of the last two editions, exiting at the group stage in each. They did, however, claim a maiden victory in 2015 by beating Ivory Coast 3-2.
Route to Australia & New Zealand 2023 v Cameroon, 18 February v Portugal, 22 February
Quote “I've got a lot of hopes set on this Play-off Tournament. It’s a tough route we have and, with Cameroon [up first], you know African teams tend to have an advantage when it comes to their size and physical speed. That’s an aspect of our game we’ve been focusing on lately.” Midfielder Irravadee Makris, speaking to Fifa+