The FIFA Women’s World Cup has officially kicked off. The month-long tournament will see some of football’s best teams take to the international stage in the hope of being crowned World Champions.

Taking place every four years, the World Cup is a competition that’s always met with anticipation and excitement. Yet, this year’s iteration is one that’s breaking new ground and for that reason, feels extra special.

For the first time in history, the tournament will be hosted across two federations: Australia and New Zealand. With 32 teams having to travel between 10 cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland and Wellington, to participate. And with eight debutants set to break out for the first time, fans are about to add Republic of Ireland, Panama, Zambia and more to their watch list.

Another first is the implementation of a new payment model. The increased prize pot now sits at $110 million – nearly a three-fold increase from 2019 – with every player receiving at least $30,000 for qualifying. National team federations will also receive $1,560,000 for reaching the group stages with the eventual champion taking home $4,290,000. The average annual salary for a women’s footballer is $14,000, so the new payment model is set to change lives both on and off the pitch.

Women’s football is the fastest growing global sport. In recent years, the game’s seen multi-million pound broadcasting and endorsement deals take the women’s football to new heights. If last summer’s UEFA European Women's Championship taught us anything, it’s that women’s football isn’t just here to stay, it’s here to change the game forever.

VERSUS and GLAMOUR UK have teamed up to tell you all you need to know about the tournament and some of the most topical conversations happening right now in women's football. From the players you need to keep on your radar to the ongoing fight for equality.

4. The Best Players In The World Deserve The Best Kits

From festival goers to fashion students and football nuts. Today, the humble football shirt serves more than a performance-based purpose. It’s been adapted and reworked to reflect its diverse and ever growing fanbase. And the best thing about federation kits is: there are no rules.

Fancy wearing Germany’s forest green, Bavaria-inspired adidas kit? Go for it. What about England’s baby blue, Art Deco-esque away shirt? You could go all out ‘fashion’ and rock the Wales Bonner designed Jamaica capsule. A range the British-Jamaican designer first teased at Paris Fashion Week in January.

Since 2019, women’s kits have been bespoke. No more oversized, ill-fitting, hand-me-downs from their male counterparts. Instead we’ve got tailored cuts for a range of sizes, leak-proof period shorts and collaborations with some of fashion’s most revered designers

5. The Fight For Equality Isn’t Over

A World Cup is a time of celebration. It’s a moment players spend their entire lives working towards. It fuels their dreams and gives them purpose. Yet for some, this year’s tournament has proven to be anything but aspirational.

Olympic Champions Canada have been in an ongoing labour dispute with the Canadian Soccer Association over budget cuts, equal pay issues and an overall lack of support. European powerhouses France and Spain have also expressed serious concerns to federations in relation to mistreatment at the hands of poor management. Jamaica’s had to crowdfund in order to pay for flights and accommodation. South Africa boycotted a warm-up match two weeks ago over a lack of bonuses offered by the South African Football Association; something Nigeria knows a thing or two about considering they’ve been in a constant battle with their federation over payments for years. Whilst even England have been in discussion with the Players’ Football Association trade union over performance-related bonuses. Something the players feel the English Football Association should be implementing in line with other countries, like the USA, who are pushing for parity in football.

Although players feel more empowered than ever before to fight for their rights, some elite athletes are still fighting for the basics. Equal pay, standardised facilities and a safe place to work. How can they perform at their very best when they don’t have the necessities to do so in place? Enough is enough.

1. FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Will Be Bigger Than Ever Before

This year’s competition will be the ninth edition of the tournament, and will feature 32 nations for the first time in history. When the competition kicked off for the first time in 1991 only 12 teams competed, with the USA crowned as inaugural champions – the first of their four world titles. With an additional eight teams fighting to become World Champions, this competition is set to be the most competitive and exciting Women’s World Cup to date.

64 matches will take place at 10 venues across nine different cities, spanning host nations Australia and New Zealand from July 20 until August 20. With more than 1.3 million tickets bought in advance, and with an estimated two billion television viewers set to tune in, this will be the most watched competition women’s football has ever known.

2. Who Are The Favourites?

The USA are looking to ‘three-peat’ their 2015 and 2019 victories. And with the likes of Alex Morgan and Trinity Rodman up front, there’s a high chance they could be adding World Cup No.5 to their already stacked trophy cabinet.

England are considered one of the favourites off the back of their Euros win last summer. And despite a string of injuries – Beth Mead and Leah Williamson the most notable – the Lionesses are full to the brim with attacking talent in the form of Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo and Ella Toone.

Then there’s 2019 runners-up the Netherlands. They might be without their all-time leading goalscorer, Vivianne Miedema, but 19-year-old Esmee Brugts is ready and raring to go. But don’t forget about the underdogs.

Debutants Morocco are the first MENA region to compete at the World Cup, and with Spurs’ Rosella Ayane in attack, they’re going to cause some headaches. Equally, Jamaica’s Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw’s been racking up the goals for Manchester City this year, so will be entering the tournament hot. Whilst African powerhouse Nigeria will be playing in their ninth consecutive World Cup, and with Asisat Oshoala leading the line, expect flair and plenty of goals.

3. The Players You Need To Keep On Your Radar

Some of the greatest-ever players in women’s football history are set to take centre stage at this year’s tournament. Australia’s taliswoman Sam Kerr made her international debut at just 15. In 2019 she became the first Australian to score a World Cup hattrick and is the country’s all-time leading international scorer. Known as one of the deadliest attackers in the game, Kerr’s ready to captain her side to glory.

Another striker who’s looking to make a serious impact is Norway’s Ada Hegerberg. The Norwegian boycotted the tournament in 2019 over gender inequality issues, but is back and ready to show the world what this Ballon d’Or winner is capable of.

She might have announced her retirement recently, but 38-year-old Megan Rapinoe is looking to add a third Women’s World Cup title to her collection before hanging up her boots. Then there’s the new gen. England’s Lauren James. Morocco’s Nouhaila Benzina. Haiti’s Melchie Dumornay. Korea Republic’s Casey Phair. This year’s competition is going to throw up some surprise standout performances, and we can’t wait.