FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 draw preview

The FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 is getting closer by the day and just to add to the excitement, the 24 teams involved will find out which groups they are in next month. Here is all you need to know ahead of the draw.

When is the draw for the 2019 Women’s World Cup?

The draw for the Women’s World Cup will take place on Saturday, December 8 (17:00 GMT) at the Seine Musicale arts centre in Boulogne-Billancourt, near Paris.

The 24 teams will be seeded on the basis of the FIFA Women’s World Ranking, released on 7 December 2018, and will be drawn from four pots, each containing six teams, to form six groups of four from Group A-F.

When does the 2019 Women’s World Cup begin?

The Women’s World Cup starts on June 7 at the Parc des Princes, Paris with the final being held at Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon on July 7.

Parc Olympique Lyonnais where the final will be held. Photo: UEFA

Have all 24 teams qualified yet?

No, there are still four teams left to qualify.

Asia, Europe, North, Central America and Caribbean and South America have filled their slots for the tournament. The African and Oceanian teams taking part in the World Cup are yet to be determined.

The 2018 CAF African Women’s Cup of Nations will occur between 17 November and 1 December in Ghana.

The winner, runner-up and third-place side will qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019.

The eight-nation field for the OFC Women’s Nations Cup, which will be held from 18 November to 1 December 2018 in New Caledonia. The winner will qualify for France 2019 as Oceania’s sole representative.

Who are the pre-tournament favourites?

The USA, current holders after beating Japan 5-2 in the 2015 final, are favourites to retain their title. They are the first team to win three World Cups and could make it four in France.

The Lionesses are another favourite to win the World Cup. They finished third at the 2015 World Cup in Canada after beating Germany 1-0 in the third-place play-off.

France, as the hosts of the tournament, will have extra motivation to win their first ever World Cup on home soil.