The men were up last year – now it’s the women’s turn for the FIFA World Cup, and the U.S. will be looking for a three-peat.
Not to mention the fact that five San Diego pros will be part of the action.
The American women have been a force at the World Cup, and have a chance to shine again as they are favored to win it all once the month-long tournament begins Thursday. San Diego bars and venues, naturally, are stepping up to host watch parties so you can see it all play out.
Root for the U.S. side, of course, but there’s big local connections too. The U.S. women’s national team features two stars from San Diego Wave FC, veteran Alex Morgan – she was a member of the 2015 and 2019 World Cup-winning squads – and newcomer Naomi Girma.
The Wave is well represented as a matter of fact, with three other players – Sofia Jakobsson (Sweden), Kailen Sheridan (Canada) and Emily Van Egmond (Australia) – playing for their countries.
The tournament opens with two matches in the wee hours Thursday. The U.S. begins play the following day against Vietnam at 6 p.m. PST. They follow with matches against the Netherlands on July 26 and Portugal on Aug. 1.
Here’s how to follow along and catch a match or two – or more! –at a San Diego watch party:
Basics
The event, held every four years since 1991, is being hosted by two countries, Australia and New Zealand. Competition continues through most of August. For the first time, the women’s World Cup, like the men’s, will include 32 teams. They are divided into eight four-team groups, with the U.S. in Group E, which will play in New Zealand. After the group stage, the field will narrow to 16 teams by Aug. 4. Quarterfinals start on Aug. 10, with the semifinals to follow Aug. 15-16 and the final, in Sydney, on Aug. 20.
Team to Beat
The U.S. won the last two women’s World Cups, in 2015, 5-2 over Japan, and in 2019, 2-0 over the Netherlands. Germany, in 2003 and 2007, also won back-to-back titles. If the U.S. wins in 2023, it will be the first team to come out on top three straight times.
Television
Tune in to Fox5 San Diego or FS1. Friday’s U.S. opener is on Fox.
Watch Parties
San Diego Wave has gatherings planned for three early U.S. matches:
Friday – NOVO Brazil Brewing Company, 2015 Birch Road, Suite 1017, at Otay Ranch Town Center in Chula Vista. La Ola Dragon Fruit kombucha, which NOVO’s sister brand NOVA created in partnership with Wave players, will be on special for $5. Fans are invited to stay to view the Wave FC match against Portland at 7:30 p.m.
July 26 – Guava Beach Bar & Grill, 3714 Mission Blvd., Mission Beach.
Aug. 1 – the team joins with American Outlaws San Diego to co-host a party at soccer stalwart O’Brien’s Pub, 4646 Convoy St. in Kearny Mesa.
Keep an eye out here for Wave World Cup party updates.
More Bars and Restaurants
Mavericks Beach Club, 860 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach, will show all of the World Cup games, but there’s a bonus for U.S. matches – $7 drink specials.
Juneshine Ranch, 10051 Old Grove Road, Scripps Ranch, opens an hour ahead of the 6 p.m. game time, with the debut of the new Watermelon Razz beverage. The brewery plans to host fans for each U.S. match.
Shakespeare Pub, 3701 India St., will show games, including U.S. matches, during the pub’s regular hours – they open by 10:30 a.m. and close as late as 11 p.m., on Friday and Saturday. Their opening week World Cup broadcast schedule, from Thursday to Saturday, includes Canada v. Nigeria, the U.S. vs. Vietnam, Sweden vs. South Africa and Colombia vs. Korea.
Updated 1:10 p.m. July 20, 2023
