The 2023 Women’s World Cup will be the first 32-team event of its kind, and qualifying for a trip to Australia and New Zealand next summer is unique all over the world. In only one region, Europe, there’s a dedicated qualifying tournament solely for the competition, where 11 nations will directly punch their tickets.
In Asia and Africa, their regional cup competitions—Asian Cup and Cup of Nations—double as qualifying, with finishers of a certain tier also booking their World Cup trips. In Concacaf and South America, the new W Championship and Copa América Femenina, respectively, double as World Cup and Olympic qualifying, while in Oceania, qualifying beyond co-host New Zealand is limited to one tournament, the OFC Women’s Nations Cup, whose winner is only guaranteed a place in a new 10-team intercontinental playoff.