Women’s World Cup living up to potential but FIFA and federations must

Almost four years ago to the day, FIFA announced that it would expand the Women’s World Cup to 32 teams for the 2023 edition. The move was designed to “foster the growth” of the women’s game, as president Gianni Infantino described it, and it was met with plenty of fanfare. It also came just weeks after the U.S. women’s national team infamously opened their 2019 World Cup campaign with a 13-0 win over Thailand.

There was no question the gap was closing at the top of the sport, which is why many believed the 2023 edition of the tournament would be the most competitive yet. The expanded field was also inherently good for the rest of the world since it came with the hope of more investment. The big question, though — would the lower-ranked teams at the 2023 World Cup be ready for the spotlight?

After a group stage for the ages in Australia and New Zealand, the answer is a resounding yes.

Take Jamaica as a prime example. The Reggae Girlz qualified for their first World Cup four years ago and lost 3-0 to Brazil in their tournament debut. They did not pick up a single point in 2019, conceded 12 goals and scored just once. The contrast with 2023 couldn’t be starker — Jamaica may not have…