FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 - Group D: Preview, schedule and how to watch 

The countdown has begun for the most prestigious tournament in women's football, the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.

Among the favourites for this competition are European Champions England.

Despite a setback of squad injuries, the Lionesses still stand out as a top side within the competition and will begin their campaign in Group D on 22 July, 2023 against Haiti in Brisbane.

Joining them in Group D are China PR and Denmark who will also play their first fixture on 22 July, 2023 in Perth.

Women’s Football World Cup 2023: Group D Preview

After clinching their first European Championship and securing a win over the USWNT in 2022, England’s Lionesses emerged as favourites for this year’s 2023 Women’s World Cup.

That was, however, until manager Sarina Wiegman’s squad was plagued with injuries.

EURO 2022 Golden Boot winner Beth Mead will miss out on this summer’s competition due to her ACL that ruptured in November, and Lionesses captain Leah Williamson is absent from England’s World Cup squad with the same injury.

Chelsea’s Fran Kirby - who also appeared during last year’s European Championships - is another Lioness who will not appear at the World Cup due to knee injury she picked up in February.

Both Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze were doubts given their recent surgeries but it was recently confirmed that the defensive pair would compete at this summer’s tournament.

Following a 2-0 friendly loss to Australia in April and now missing both their captain and Golden Boot winner from last year’s European Championships, there is some doubt surrounding England’s status as competition favourites.

However with Chelsea veteran Millie Bright taking the armband, and full-back-turned-striker Rachel Daly hitting fine form, the Lionesses will be confident in their ability to top Group D.

Haiti secured qualification to their first-ever Women’s World Cup this February after overcoming Senegal and Chile with impressive scorelines.

Manager Nicolas Delepine took charge of the Haitian side in 2022 and has been no stranger to experimentation in the lead up to this summer’s tournament.

Earlier this year, Les Grenadières secured their first-ever win over European opposition when they beat Moldova 3-1 in a friendly. The performance was a brilliant response to their 2-1 loss to Nigeria a few days prior.

The Caribbean side head into the 2023 Women’s World Cup 53rd in the FIFA World Rankings - compared to their Group D counterparts who find themselves in 4th (England), 13th (China PR) and 15th (Denmark).

Despite Pernille Harder’s personal successes, she has never appeared at a FIFA Women’s World Cup - and as Denmark make their return to the competition after a 16 year absence, the Chelsea forward will be eager to grab the opportunity with both hands.

The last time Denmark appeared at a Women’s World Cup was back in 2007 when they failed to make it past the group stages.

However, they will head into this summer’s competition full of confidence having finished as runners-up to France at this year’s Tournoi de France, beating Uruguay and Norway in the process.

The Danes then secured two friendly victories in preparation for this summer, securing 1-0 wins over Tokyo 2020 silver medallists Sweden and 2011 World Cup Champions Japan.

Denmark kick-off their World Cup campaign against China PR in Perth on July 22, 2023.

China step into this summer’s tournament led by a winner.

Manager Shui Qingxia took charge of her nation in 2021 following a glorious playing career that saw her become an Olympic silver medallist and five-time Women’s Asian Cup winner.

Qingxia has already secured silverware as China’s manager, coaching her side to a 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup victory which ended the nation’s 16 year wait for the trophy.

Despite their success last summer, China head into this year’s Women’s World Cup in bleak form.

A 4-1 loss to Sweden was followed by two 0-0 draws against the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland before a 3-0 loss to Spain in April.

Despite their short run of poor results, Qingxia will be eager to push on and better China’s World Cup result from 2019 - when they failed to make it past the Round of 16.

Women’s World Cup 2023: Group D players to watch

Melchie Dumornay

Set to represent her country as they make their FIFA Women’s World Cup debut is 19-year old Haitian, Melchie Dumornay.

Not only is the young midfielder regarded as one of the most promising talents in the women’s game, earlier this year she announced her pending move to women’s football giants Lyon from Reims.

Dumornay joined Reims in 2021 at the age of just 17 and took no time to settle in - managing two assists in her debut performance. A week after her debut, Dumornay achieved her first start for the club and scored a brace as part of their 5-2 victory over Bordeaux.

In 2022, GOAL named the 19 year old as their NXGN 2022 winner, highlighting not only her current talent but the promise that talent holds for the future of Haitian women’s football.

Lauren James

The Chelsea youngster stole all the headlines at this year’s Arnold Clark Cup after being named Best Player at the tournament.

The 21-year-old failed to make Sarina Wiegman’s European Championship winning squad last year due to a lingering injury, and will be keen to impress on her senior tournament debut with the Lionesses.

Fresh from winning a second consecutive domestic double with Chelsea this season, James is finding formidable form at the best possible time.

With goal-scorer Beth Mead out of this summer’s tournament, England manager Sarina Wiegman will be eager for more attacking talent to bolster her side and will look no further than Lauren James.

Women’s World Cup 2023: Group C schedule and how to watch

Here are the complete fixtures for Group C: (All times in local timezone of AEST)

22 July 2023: England v Haiti, 19:30 KO at Lang Park, Brisbane

22 July 2023: Denmark v China PR, 22:00 KO at Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth

28 July 2023: England v Denmark, 18:30 KO at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney

28 July 2023: China PR v Haiti, 21:00 KO at Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide 

01 August 2023: Haiti v Denmark, 21:00 KO at Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth

01 August 2023: China PR v England, 21:00 KO at Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide

You can discover how to watch live and find the full list of confirmed broadcasters so far here.