The 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup kicks off on Saturday as hosts Canada face China in the tournament's opening match (3pm PT, FOX Sports 1).
If you're at all unfamiliar with this year's tournament, there are a few things you need to know.
There are eight Portland Thorns FC representing five different countries in the tournament: Alex Morgan and Tobin Heath for the U.S., Christine Sinclair, Kaylyn Kyle and Rhian Wilkinson for Canada, Nadine Angerer for Germany, Steph Catley for Australia, and Jodie Taylor for England.
This will be the second straight tournament with 24 teams, as FIFA expanded the total from 16 to 24 ahead of the 2011 tournament. This means that there will be a number of nations who are appearing in their first ever Women's World Cup.
The 24 teams are separated into six groups of four and all of the round robin rules of the World Cup still apply. As in the men's tournament, the top two teams from each group will automatically qualify for the first knockout round.
However, unlike in the men's tournament, the best four third-place group teams will qualify for the next round of the tournament.
With the rules cleared up, here's a brief look at all 24 participants in this summer's World Cup.
GROUP A
Canada -- The Women's World Cup hosts boast an experienced squad led by their captain, Portland Thorns FC forward Christine Sinclair. Sinclair has appeared over 200 times for her native Canada and scored over 150 goals (including three beauties against the United States in a crushing 4-3 semifinal loss during the 2012 Olympic Games). While all eyes will be on Sinclair, she will be joined by two Thorns teammates, defenders Kaylyn Kyle and Rhian Wilkinson and by eight other NWSL-based Canadian players.
China PR -- Historically, China has been a consistent perforrmer in the Women's World Cup, finishing in the quarterfinals or better in each of its five previous tournament appearances. Unfortunately for the Chinese, though, they didn't even qualify in 2011. All but three of their players this year play domestically in China, so their expected performance is a bit of a mystery. Portland Thorns connection: goalkeeper Wang Fei plays in Germany for Turbine Potsdam, which is Thorns forward Ayo's old club.
New Zealand -- While this is New Zealand's fourth Women's World Cup appearance, the Football Ferns have never advanced past the group stage. New Zealand is led by defender and captain Abby Erceg of the Chicago Red Stars. At just 25 years-old, Erceg already has over 100 caps for her country. Defender Ria Percival and forward Amber Hearn both play professionaly for USV Jena in Germany, another of Ayo's former clubs.
The Netherlands -- This wil be the Netherlands's first-ever Women's World Cup appearance. The Dutch women, however, do have the distinction of having played the first women's international soccer match officially recognized by FIFA in 1971. All of the Netherlands's players currently play in Europe, including standout Manon Melis. Melis very nearly played for Sky Blue FC in 2011, but before she could ever appear for the New Jersey club, the then-Women's Professional Soccer league folded. Melis currently plays for Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC in Sweden.
GROUP B
Germany -- Back-to-back Women's World Cup champions in 2003 and 2007 and currently ranked number one in the world, the Germans have never finished worse than the quarterfinals in the tournament. They breezed through their 2015 World Cup qualification with ten wins from ten matches and a goal differential that beggars belief: +58. Thorns FC goalkeeper Nadine Angerer is the only American-based player on this German squad, which boasts a compelling mix of young talent and veteran experience. The youth infusion includes forwards Pauline Bremer and Lena Petermann, the latter of whom scored against the U.S. in last summer's U-20 Women's World Cup.
Ivory Coast -- The Ivory Coast has never before appeared in a World Cup. On paper, the Ivory Coast is a bit of a question mark. Only four of the Ivory Coast's 23 players play their soccer outside of the country. Additionally, the Ivory Coast is ranked 67th in the world and only sixth in Africa. Thanks to the expanded field, however, the Ivory Coast boasts a good chance to get out of its group if it can defeat lowly Thailand and manage a draw against either Germany or Norway.
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Norway -- Only three other nations can claim to have won the Women's World Cup, as Norway did in 1995. But, like China, Norway has recently hit hard times, having failed to advance out of its group in 2011. The current Norwegian squad has no American-based players but does include Solveig Gulbrandsen, an experienced midfielder with over 170 caps who will be appearing in her fourth Women's World Cup Finals (she missed 2011). Young forward Ada Hegerberg may be one to keep an eye on. The Olympique Lyon player is only 19, but she already has 16 goals in just 34 international appearances.
Thailand -- Another new entrant to the Women's World Cup, Thailand has a squad comrpised entirely of domestic players. Can this inexperienced squad of mostly amateurs compete with the likes of heavyweights Germany and Norway or will it turn Group B into a classic case of which team can run up the score the most?
GROUP C
Japan -- The reigning Women's World Cup champs return with a strong side. While no Japanese player currently plays in the U.S., midfielder Nahomi Kawasumi spent part of 2014 on loan to Seattle Reign where she scored eight goals in 20 matches. Up top, the Japanese feature prolific striker Yuki Ogimi, a former Turbine Potsdam teammate of the Thorns' Ayo. Returning for her record-breaking sixth World Cup is midfielder Homare Sawa who scored the first goal in the history of the Atlanta Beat and later played for the Washington Freedom of the old WPS.
Switzerland -- First-time World Cup participants, the Swiss feature a squad heavy with European-based players, including veterans of the German Frauen-Bundesliga, Sweden's Damallsvenskan, France's Division 1 Féminine, Norway's Toppserien, and the Swiss domestic league. Switzerland should advance out of this group, one of the weakest in the tournament, but its hopes of advancing far hinge on forward Ramona Bachmann, who until recently, was best known for this epic dive:
But Bachmann has transformed into an impressive attacking talent and if Switzerland exceeds expectations in Canada it will be because of her.
Cameroon -- Another Women's World Cup debutant, Cameroon boasts a diversified squad that includes players based in Europe, Africa, and the United States. Forward Njoya Nkout was signed by the Western New York Flash this past offseason but has yet to appear for the club this season.
Ecuador -- This will be Ecuador's first ever Women's World Cup. This entirely domestic-based squad qualified by defeating Trinidad and Tobago, a team coached by the Houston Dash's Randy Waldrum, 1-0 over a two-leg series.
GROUP D
United States -- According to the statisticians at FiveThirtyEight, Group D, with an average WSPI rating of 90.4, ranks as the hardest group in the tournament. In other words, this is the Group of Death and the U.S. Women will have their work cut out for them. Still, the U.S. is among the most experienced and talented teams in the entire tournament and features the attacking talents of Megan Rapinoe, Christen Press, and Sydney Leroux, in addition to Thorns stars Alex Morgan and Tobin Heath.
Australia -- Aside from Thorns defender Steph Catley, Australia also boasts a physical and athletic side that will almost certainly cause problems for their Group D opponents. Up top, the team boasts the powerful and experienced striker Lisa De Vanna, who played for Sky Blue FC, the Boston Breakers, and the Washington Spirit in NWSL and who, in 2013, scored this bicycle kick goal in league play:
Sweden -- Like many of the other European nations in the 2015 World Cup, Sweden has a squad based entirely out of the European women's leagues. Their captain and leading goalscorer is forward Lotta Schelin. The 31 year-old has scored 80 goals for her country and, since 2008, 129 goals for her club team, Olympique Lyon. Sweden is managed by former U.S. Women's National Team head coach Pia Sundhage.
Nigeria -- Rounding up Group D is perennial African powerhouse Nigeria. This young squad, winners of the 2014 African Women's Championship, hopes to navigate out of its very difficult group. Up top, the team features the BBC's inaugural Women's Footballer of the Year, 20 year-old Asisat Oshoala. It also features the lone NWSL representative on the team, Washington Spirit forward Francisca Ordega. Former Timbers forward Bright Dike's sister, Courtney, is a striker for the Nigerian side.
GROUP E
Brazil -- You may remember the stunning finish to 2011's quaterfinal match between the United States and Brazil and Ian Darke's memorable call on Abby Wambach's late equalizer. Four years later, that result still rankles many of the players in this Brazilian side and they will look to avenge themselves this time around. That all starts with legendary Brazilian forward Marta. The five-time FIFA Player of the Year award winner has scored 91 goals in 92 matches for Brazil and was instrumental in her nation's run to the 2007 Final. The only question is: can she do it again?
South Korea -- Don't look past the South Koreans. This group of mostly domestic-based Korean players recently played the United States to a scoreless draw and are considered as likely to advance out of the group as Spain. South Korea's prowess starts up top with Ji So-yun. Ji, who plays for Chelsea Ladies in England, was voted Player of the Year by the Professional Footballers Association in April.
Spain -- The Spanish will be playing in their first ever Women's World Cup this summer, but they're lack of experience in the tournament belies a very talented squad. No Spanish player, though, generates as many superlatives as former Thorns FC player Verónica Boquete. Boquette recently won the UEFA Women's Champions League with 1. FFC Frankfurt of the Frauen-Bundesliga and is looking to take Spain into the knockout rounds of this tournament.
Costa Rica -- Like Spain, Costa Rica is also making its first-ever appearance in the Women's World Cup this summer. While they will feature a largely domestic-based roster, they will get a heavy dose of European experience from midfielder Shirley Cruz Traña. Traña has played professionally in France since 2006, and has made over 30 appearances and scored four goals for her current club, French giant Paris Saint-Germain.
GROUP F
France -- France comes into the 2015 Women's World Cup as one of the favorites. Led by forward Eugénie Le Sommer and attacking midfielder Louisa Nécib -- perhaps the best player at her position in the world -- the French, semifinalists in 2011, have their eyes firmly set on the trophy. After blanking the U.S. 2-0 in February, Le Sommer told French magazine L'Equipe, "We know we can beat anyone." Oh, and Nécib also did this to poor Ali Krieger:
England -- Revenge must surely be on the minds of the English. It was group opponent France that knocked the English out of the 2011 tournament and the English will try to avenge themselves when they take on the French in a marquee matchup on June 9 in Moncton. The English are hoping to make some noise this summer and to do so they'll need Thorns FC striker Jodie Taylor and her partners up top to consistently find the back of the net.
Colombia -- No one is giving the Colombians much of a shot to advance out of a group featuring tournament heavyweights France and England. If they're going to make any waves, they'll need a big tournament from enigmatic midfielder Yoreli Rincón. Rincón has so far failed to live up to the promise she showed during the 2010 Women's U-20 World Cup, when many pundits were comparing her to Brazilian legend Marta. But despite some early career hiccups, Rincón is still just 21 years-old and she knows that this is a big chance on the world stage.
Mexico -- Mexico features a line-up that boasts three players with NWSL experience. Forward Renae Cuéllar and defender Arianna Romero both play for the Washington Spirit, while forward Monica Ocampo plays for Sky Blue FC. Mexico recently hung tough against the United States before capitulating late in a 5-1 loss. Few suspect that Mexico will advance over the likes of France and England, but this Mexican team may still surprise a few opponents and squeak through with a strong third-place finish.
