Spain v England: Here’s what to know ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final

Key Points

Spain and England will face off at Stadium Australia, deciding the winner of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
It’s both teams’ first time playing in a Women’s World Cup final.
Spain and England last faced off against one another in 2022, during the UEFA Women’s Euros.

The Matildas may be out of the competition, but there’s one more game of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup still to play: England and Spain are preparing to face off in the final.

After a month-long tournament in Australia and New Zealand – hosts of the Women’s World Cup for the first time – the champions will finally be decided in Sydney.

As both teams vie for World Cup glory, here are the details for La Roja and the Lionesses’ much-anticipated match-up.

How can you watch the Women’s World Cup final?

Spain and England’s match will kick off at 8pm AEST on Sunday at Stadium Australia in Sydney – tickets have long been sold out. The game will be broadcast live on both Channel 7 and Optus Sport, and streamed live on 7 Plus in Australia.

The game will also be screened live on the big screen at all of the FIFA Fan Festival sites across Australia. Those are located at Festival Plaza in Adelaide, South Bank in Brisbane, Federation Square in Melbourne, Forrest Place in Perth and Tumbalong Park in Sydney.

Who will win the Women’s World Cup final?

Spain is the underdog here, but it’s both teams’ first time playing in a Women’s World Cup final. No matter who wins, it’ll be a history-making championship.

The closest England has come was at the seventh Women’s World Cup in 2015, which was hosted by Canada, where England finished in third place after defeating Germany. For Spain, it’s the team’s first time making the top four.

In the last Women’s World Cup, in 2019, England finished in fourth place behind Sweden, runners-up the Netherlands and winners the United States. Spain was knocked out in the round of 16 stage, losing 1-2 to the US.

The last time Spain and England faced off against one another was last year, in a quarter-final game during the UEFA Women’s Euros. England won that game 2-1.

For England, a win against Span would make them champions in a women’s football tournament for the second time in as many years. The team were the victors of the Euros in 2022, defeating Germany 2-1.

In the official FIFA Women’s Ranking, England is in fourth position, while Spain’s team is at number six.

Who’ll be playing for Spain and England?

While both teams’ starting lineups have not yet been announced, there are a couple of questions up in the air about who’ll be hitting the pitch when the match starts.

Spain’s Salma Paralluelo helped secure the team their and semi-final victories with goals from the bench. Whether she starts the game or not, we’re likely to see her on the field.

England’s Lauren James scored three goals in the early rounds of the World Cup but was banned for two matches after receiving a red card in England’s round of 16 game against Nigeria. James is available for selection in the final – but we don’t know yet whether she’ll start.

Who are the coaches in the Women’s World Cup final?

Spain coach Jorge Vilda has helped steer the team to the final, but it’s been a rocky road for him. Last year, within the Spanish national women’s team, with more than a dozen players announcing they would stand down from the team after qualifying for the Women’s World Cup.

Players cited Vilda’s methods, along with issues around training, facilities and low levels of support. Three of those players returned to the Women’s World Cup team – Aitana Bonmati, Mariona Caldentey and Ona Batlle – but players like Mapi Leon and Patri Guijarr have not come back to the fold.

The English team is being coached by Sarina Wiegman. The Netherlands-born coach and former player has been the manager of the England women’s national football team since 2021. She led the team to their Euros victory last year. She was also the coach of the Dutch team when they were runners-up in the 2019 Women’s World Cup.

Matildas celebrated after finishing in fourth place

The Australian team have been celebrated as heroes in Brisbane, after in Saturday night’s game to determine third place. The Matildas were defeated 2-0 at Stadium Australia, but received a warm reception at Riverstage on Sunday.

Almost 4,500 fans packed out the outdoor venue, as the players were given the key to the city. The players were also surprised onstage by Australian pop star Nikki Webster, joining her for a rendition of her hit Strawberry Kisses. The 2000 song was the Matildas’ unofficial anthem of the tournament.