Racing Louisville fans will have lots of soccer to follow this summer as the club kicks on in the UKG NWSL Challenge Cup and six Racing stars compete in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, set to play out July 20-August 20 in Australia and New Zealand.
Racing players will represent an NWSL-high six countries at the World Cup with midfielders Ary Borges (Brazil), Alex Chidiac (Australia) and Savannah DeMelo (USA) and forwards Uchenna Kanu (Nigeria), Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa) and Wang Shuang (China) all called up to the sport’s biggest stage.
It will be a football bonanza for Big Purp followers across the globe. Here’s a preview of what’s to come in what should be the best World Cup yet, and a look at when and how to watch Racing’s stars at the World Cup on FOX and FS1.
In all, fans can watch a Racing player compete on all but three days of the World Cup group stages, which run July 20-August 3 — so make sure you schedule some outside time for July 25, July 30 and August 3.
Ary Borges (Brazil, Midfielder, No. 17)
Among the pre-tournament favorites, the Brazilians arrive Down Under still in search of their first Women’s World Cup trophy despite a rich footballing history that includes runner-up and third-place finishes. This squad may just be the group capable of breaking through, loaded with attacking talent (Debinha, Kerolin, Marta, etc.) and midfield gusto, including Racing’s own Borges, who has quickly become one of the top young midfielders in the NWSL.
Group F will be an intriguing one, with Brazil and France the clear favorites but 2022 Concacaf W Championship darlings Jamaica coming into the tournament boasting one of the tournament’s most exciting and talented players, forward Bunny Shaw.
Group F games
Monday, July 24
Brazil vs. Panama, 7 a.m., FS1
Saturday, July 29
Brazil vs. France, 6 a.m., FOX
Wednesday, August 2
Brazil vs. Jamaica, 6 a.m., FS1
Alex Chidiac (Australia, Midfielder, No. 8)
Racing midfielder Alex Chidiac and the Matildas of Australia kick off the tournament on opening day with a 6 a.m. ET matchup against Ireland. The game is expected to draw 80,000-plus fans at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
There’s potential for chaos in Group B, with the Olympic gold medalists from Canada hoping to maintain their big tournament success while the Aussies aim to ride the host wave all the way to a trophy. The group favorites will have to contend with a fun Nigeria squad led by Barcelona star Asisat Oshoala and, of course, Chidiac’s teammate Kanu. Ireland is led by Arsenal’s Katie McCabe and North Carolina Courage captain Denise O’Sullivan and has proven to be a frustrating opponent for big names, too.
Racing fans will want to tune in when Chidiac and Australia take on Kanu and Nigeria at 6 a.m. ET on Thursday, July 27. They are both considered so-called super subs for their squads coming into the tournament. That matchup is the only guaranteed game between Racing teammates in the group stage, though they could bump into each other in the knockout tournament.
Group B games
Thursday, July 20
Australia vs. Ireland, 6 a.m., FOX
Thursday, July 27
Australia vs. Nigeria, 6 a.m., FS1
Monday, July 31
Australia vs. Canada, 6 a.m., FOX
Savannah DeMelo (United States, Midfielder, No. 9)
No Racing player enters the World Cup with more intrigue around their role than DeMelo, who made her first appearance for the U.S. on Sunday. With a handful of rehabilitating players working their way back to full fitness in the U.S. squad, there appears to potentially be some room for early playing time for DeMelo, who has emerged this NWSL season as an MVP candidate.
The U.S. starts the group stage against a Vietnamese squad that will be in its first World Cup and recently pushed Germany (2-1 loss) and New Zealand (2-0 loss) in tight affairs. A 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 26, game against the Netherlands will be must-see TV, not only because it’s a rematch of the 2019 World Cup final, but also because it very well might determine the group winner and runner-up. This year, Portugal, the fourth team in Group E, beat New Zealand, 5-0, and played UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 champion England to a 0-0 draw.
Group E games
Friday, July 21
United States vs. Vietnam, 9 p.m., FOX
Wednesday, July 26
United States vs. Netherlands, 9 p.m., FOX
Tuesday, August 1
United States vs. Portugal, 3 a.m., FOX
Uchenna Kanu (Nigeria, Forward, No. TBA)
The exciting forward Kanu arrives at her second World Cup with the Super Falcons hoping to help them match – and exceed – their Round of 16 run in the 2019 World Cup. To do so, Nigeria will have to start strong, with its opener on July 20 against Canada.
If Nigeria can produce solid results (or better) against Canada and the aforementioned Australia, a group stage finale against Ireland could take on significant meaning for the 11-time African champions. There’s no doubt it’s tough sledding for the Nigerians – and there’s equally no doubt the giants in the group won’t want to see a very dangerous Nigerian squad opposite them.
Group B games
Thursday, July 20
Nigeria vs. Canada, 10:30 p.m., FOX
Thursday, July 27
Nigeria vs. Australia, 6 a.m., FS1
Monday, July 31
Nigeria vs. Ireland, 6 a.m., FOX
Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa, Forward, No. 11)
Healthy and fully recovered from tearing her Achilles while playing for Banyana Banyana at last year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Kgatlana hits the World Cup with designs on matching her performance at the 2019 tournament, where she scored the first World Cup goal in South Africa women’s footballing history. The diminutive spark plug is a centerpiece for her team, and she’ll have to play well for South Africa to thrive Down Under.
The 2022 African champions are in an interesting group with European power Sweden as well as Argentina and Italy. While the Swedish are the favorites and the opening opponent for Banyana Banyana, South Africa has a real chance at breaking through if the Italians of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 show up.
Group G games
Sunday, July 23
South Africa vs. Sweden, 1 a.m., FS1
Thursday, July 27
South Africa vs. Argentina, 8 p.m., FS1
Wednesday, August 2
South Africa vs. Italy, 3 a.m., FS1
Wang Shuang (China, Forward, No. 7)
The star forward for her national team, 28-year-old Wang Shuang arrives in Australia with high hopes on her shoulders. She will lead a squad hoping to resurrect its successes of years past, when China was runner-up in the famous 1999 World Cup and repeat quarterfinalists in 2003, 2007 and 2015.
The task ahead, however, is a challenging one. Group D contains European champion England, one of the world’s hottest teams entering the tournament, as well as traditional power Denmark and World Cup first-timers Haiti. The Chinese will be under pressure to get results in the opener against Denmark and the second match against Haiti, because the finale against England is a tall order.
Group D games
Saturday, July 22
China vs. Denmark, 8 a.m., FOX
Friday, July 28
China vs. Haiti, 7 a.m., FS1
Tuesday, August 1
China vs. England, 7 a.m., FOX
