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The ninth Women鈥檚 World Cup kicking off Thursday in Australia and New Zealand promises to be the biggest 鈥� and perhaps the most competitive 鈥撀� yet.听

There are more teams. The field has expanded to 32, with eight teams making their debuts. More countries 鈥撀爏uch as Morocco, the first Arab nation to compete in a Women鈥檚 World Cup 鈥� are showing changing attitudes and increased financing in support of the game.听

The prize money this year is its biggest yet. FIFA, the organizing body that runs the World Cup, has increased the pot to for the tournament 鈥� an increase of more than 300%.

And there might be more fans. The demand for tickets to Australia鈥檚 opening match against Ireland is so high that the to a larger stadium. In recent years, fans of women鈥檚 soccer all over the globe have been turning out in record numbers. In 2022, the were all for women鈥檚 games.听

But it will take commitment for even die-hard fans in the Western Hemisphere to follow the tournament half a world away. The United States plays its first game against Vietnam in Auckland, New Zealand, on Saturday 鈥� that鈥檚 9 p.m. Friday on the East Coast.

All of these factors are combining to elevate the level of competition that has traditionally been lopsided. Remember in 2019 when the U.S. decimated Thailand 13-0 in their opening match? Those days may be limited. Two weeks ago in a warmup game, newcomer Zambia stunned two-time world champion Germany when .听

The Americans are seeking a three-peat, after winning in 2015 and 2019. But it鈥檚 anybody鈥檚 guess who will hoist the trophy this year. And that鈥檚 a global win for women鈥檚 soccer.

It鈥檚 finally everybody鈥檚 game.