The reigning champions USA Women will begin the defence of their World Cup trophy on Saturday when they go up against Vietnam Women in Auckland.

While the USA are looking to retain the silverware, Vietnam are aiming to give a good account of themselves as they make their first appearance at a men's or women's World Cup.

Match preview

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The USA are hoping to continue their impressive record at the World Cup, having lifted the trophy on four occasions, including the last two tournaments in Canada and France.

Impressively, they have reached the semi-final stage at all previous eight editions of the World Cup, and they will be expecting to go deep into the competition once again.

The Stars and Stripes will be looking to get their campaign up and running with a win, before they turn their attention to their remaining two group games against the Netherlands and Portugal.

After beating Wales 2-0 in their final warm-up game thanks to a Trinity Rodman brace, the USA head into the World Cup off the back of nine consecutive victories.

Having won their last three World Cup openers, the defending champions will be confident of getting off to a winning start against a Vietnam side who are making their tournament debut.

Vietnam, meanwhile, are preparing to make their first World Cup appearance after securing qualification via a playoff round at the 2022 Asia Cup.

With the competition serving as a World Cup qualifying tournament for the Asian Football Confederation, Vietnam knew that a place in the semi-finals would be enough to book their ticket to Australia and New Zealand.

However, after losing in the last four to China, they were forced to compete in a single round-robin playoff featuring the losing quarter-finalists apart from Australia, who qualified automatically as the co-hosts.

The Golden Star Women Warriors went on to beat Chinese Taipei and Thailand to secure their place at the World Cup, where they will be hoping to spring a surprise or two.

After shipping nine goals without reply in their final warm-up game against Spain, Vietnam will be hoping to produce a far more resolute performance against the USA.

Team News

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USA skipper Becky Sauerbrunn confirmed last month that she would miss the World Cup finals due to a foot injury, leaving Lindsey Horan and Alex Morgan to split the captaincy duties.

The reigning champions will also head into the tournament without Abby Dahlkemper, Sam Mewis, Christen Press, Catarina Macario and Mallory Swanson, who have all been ruled out with injury issues.

Megan Rapinoe, who has announced that she will retire at the end of the season, will provide Vlatko Andonovski with a valuable attacking option off the bench.

As for the visitors, Tran Thi Kim Thanh is expected to start in goal, and she could have her work out against the four-time winners.

Vietnam are set to operate with a back five, which could feature Tran Ti Thu Thao, Luong Thi Thu Thuong, Le Thi Diem My, Tran Thi Thu and Hoang Thi Loan.

While chances could prove few and far between, Vietnam will be looking towards their all-time leading scorer Huynh Nhu to provide the goal threat.

USA Women possible starting lineup:
Naeher; Fox, Cook, Girma, Dunn; Sanchez, Sullivan, Horan; Smith, Thompson, Morgan

Vietnam Women possible starting lineup:
Kim Thanh; Thu Thao, Thu Thuong, Diem My, Thi Thu, Thi Loan; Bich Thuy, Thanh Nha, Thi Van, Nhu; Hai Yen

We say: USA Women 6-0 Vietnam Women

USA head into the tournament opener as the overwhelming favourites, and we expect them to live up to that tag by easing to a comfortable victory over Vietnam, whose confidence would have been dented by the heavy defeat to Spain last week.

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