WWC23: Good start for hosts, Lionesses and champions set for kick-offs

The FIFA Women’s World Cup is getting set for a blockbuster third day with European champions England one of Saturday’s big draws.

The Lionesses take on Haiti in what is their opening group game of the tournament being held in Australia and New Zealand and will be shown on live on STV and STV Player.

Brisbane is hosting the game that will kick-off at 10.30am UK time and be played at the Suncorp stadium.

But before that it will be the reining champions USA that will take the headlines when they take on Vietnam at 2am UK Times.

Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and co are looking to become the first team ever in women’s or men’s football to win three World Cups in a row.

On Sunday STV will play host to France vs Jamaica in Sydney with Rangers player Kayla McKenna potentially playing a part for the Reggae Girlz.

Roundup

The tournament kicked off on Thursday when co-hosts New Zealand, with the help of Rangers goalkeeper Victoria Esson, won their first ever game at the tournament.

Norway were defeated by a goal to nil in Auckland with New Zealand also missing a late penalty.

In Thursday’s second game the Republic of Ireland came close to an opening day shock when they were narrowly beaten by the Matildas.

A massive home crowd of 75,000 breathed a sigh of relief at full-time when Australia, who were without star player Sam Kerr who has also been ruled out for their next group game, scraped to a 1-0 win thanks to a second-half penalty.

In Friday’s game Spain were the team leading the way and they defeated Costa Rica 3-0 in Wellington in the biggest result so far in a game that could, and probably should have been more.

Elsewhere Switzerland beat the Phillipines 2-0 at the Forsyth Barr stadium in Dunedin and Nigeria, who had a player sent off deep into injury time, played out a goalless draw with Canada in Melbourne.