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Ray Ratto

Carolin Simon of Germany, Klara Buehl of Germany and Alexandra Popp of Germany look on during the Women's international friendly between Germany and Zambia at Sportpark Ronhof Thomas Sommer on July 7, 2023 in Fuerth, Germany.

Soccer

It’s All Set Up For Germany To Reclaim World Cup Glory

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - JULY 09: Sofia Huerta #3 of the United States controls the ball during the second half of an international friendly against Wales at PayPal Park on July 09, 2023 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Sofia Huerta

Albert Burneko

The Italy women's national team poses for a team photograph at the Euro 2022 tournament.

Italy’s Getting There, Slowly, Maybe

Dunedin Stadium is pictured ahead of the FIFA World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 on July 11, 2023 in Dunedin, New Zealand.

FIFA Struggling To Fill Stadiums In Remote Soccer-Indifferent Country With Nobody In It

Luis Paez-Pumar

Yamila Tamara Rodriguez (#11) of Argentina celebrates after scoring the second goal of her team during a match between Argentina and Uruguay as part of Women's CONMEBOL Copa America 2022 at Centenario Stadium on July 15, 2022 in Armenia, Colombia

Argentina Is Just One Win Away From A New Era

Patrick Redford

LEIGH, ENGLAND - JULY 22: Stina Blackstenius of Sweden celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal which was later disallowed by VAR for an offside during the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 Quarter Final match between Sweden and Belgium at Leigh Sports Village on July 22, 2022 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images)

This Could Finally Be Sweden’s Year

HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 23: Marta Cox and Wendy Natis of Panama celebrate with team member Raiza Gutierrez during the 2023 FIFA World Cup Play Off Tournament match between Paraguay and Panama at Waikato Stadium on February 23, 2023 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Panama Has Done Its Job Simply By Making The World Cup

Debinha #9 celebrates with her teammate Marta #10 of Brazil after scores 1st goal during the match between Japan and Brazil at Exploria Stadium on February 16, 2023 in Orlando, Florida.

It’s Brazil Versus Time At This World Cup

French women's football captain Wendie Renard (C) runs with her teammates during the team's first training session in Melbourne on July 10, 2023, ahead of their international friendly against Australia. Teams are arriving in Australia and New Zealand to prepare for the upcoming Women's World Cup 2023 football tournament. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

France Is Riding The High Of Defeating A Shitty Boss

Lieke Martens of the Netherlands celebrates after scoring her teams first goal, Danielle van de Donk of the Netherlands during the International Women's Friendly match between Netherlands and Belgium at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion on July 2, 2023 in Kerkrade, Netherlands

The Netherlands Will Find Life At The World Cup Much Harder This Time Around

Crystal Dunn #19 of the United States warms up

The USWNT Is Under Pressure, And That’s Bad News For The Rest Of The World

LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND - APRIL 06: Wang Shuang of China (C) and teammates thanks supporters for standing during the International Womens Friendly match between Switzerland and China at Swissporarena on April 6, 2023 in Lucerne, Switzerland. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

China Has A Hard Path Back To World Cup Glory

SCHAFFHAUSEN, SWITZERLAND - NOVEMBER 11: Signe Bruun of Denmark (C) celebrating her goal with her teammates during the international Women's friendly match between Switzerland and Denmark at Wefox Arena on November 11, 2022 in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.

Denmark’s Ready To Make Their Return To The World Cup Count

MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Lucy Bronze of England pointing during the Women's International Friendly match between England and Portugal at Stadium MK on July 01, 2023 in Milton Keynes, England.

England’s Last Step Will Be The Hardest

Tom Ley

GUIMARAES, PORTUGAL - APRIL 7: Yui Hasegawa of Japan Women, Fatima Pinto of Portugal Women during the International Friendly Women match between Portugal Women v Japan Women at the Estadio D Afonso Henriques on April 7, 2023 in Guimaraes Portugal

Japan Climbed The Mountain Once, And Now They Need To Do It Again

RIFU, MIYAGI, JAPAN - JULY 24: Babra Banda #11 of Team Zambia leads their side out prior to the Women's First Round Group F match between China and Zambia on day one of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Miyagi Stadium on July 24, 2021 in Rifu, Miyagi, Japan. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)

Zambia Is Here For A Good Time, And Maybe Even A Long Time

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 31: Raquel Rodríguez #11 of Costa Rica celebrates her goal against Haiti during the second half during a Group A - 2020 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying at BBVA Stadium on January 31, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Can Costa Rica Sneak Up On The World Again?

SAINT LOUIS, MO - APRIL 11: Kristie Mewis #22 of the United States with the ball during a game between Ireland and USWNT at CITYPARK on April 11, 2023 in Saint Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Bill Barrett/USSF/Getty Images).

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Kristie Mewis

Members of the Canadian womens national soccer team wear "Enough Is Enough" shirts in protest for equal pay ahead of the 2023 SheBelieves Cup soccer match between Canada and Japan at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on February 22, 2023.

Canada Needs A Win, And They Might Just Get One

Irish players pictured at the warm up on the field ahead of a friendly women's soccer game between Belgium's national team the Red Flames and the Republic of Ireland, Sunday 11 April 2021 in Brussels. BELGA PHOTO DAVID CATRY (

Ireland Is Ready To Keep Singing At Their First World Cup

Mary Fowler of the Matildas celebrates scoring a goal with Sam Kerr of the Matildas during the Women's International Friendly match between the Australia Matildas and Brazil at CommBank Stadium on October 23, 2021 in Sydney, Australia

The Matildas Have Australia’s Hopes On Their Shoulders

Ramona Bachmann of Switzerland celebrates scoring their side's first goal with teammates Noelle Maritz and Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup play-off round 2 match between Switzerland and Wales at Stadion Letzigrund on October 11, 2022 in Zurich, Zurich

Switzerland Is Back At The World Cup, But For How Long?

Sophia Smith #11 of the United States runs on the field during a game between Ireland and USWNT at CITYPARK on April 11, 2023 in Saint Louis, Missouri.

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Sophia Smith

CARSON, CA - FEBRUARY 20: United States players celebrate a second own goal in their favor during a match between New Zealand and United States as part of SheBelieves Cup 2022 at Dignity Health Sports Park on February 20, 2022 in Carson, California. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)

The USWNT World Cup Roster Doesn’t Answer All My Questions

ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 11: Trinity Rodman #25 of the United States runs for the ball during an international friendly game between Ireland and the USWNT at CITYPARK on April 11, 2023 in St. Louis, Missouri.