The United States are the early favorites to win the eighth Women’s World Football Cup. This will kick off in the French City of Lyon on July 7.
And it is no surprise.
If like all New Jersey sportsbooks, William Hill currently has the American women on top of their list of futures odds at +200, it is not only because the US is the defending champions.
Since the start of the championship in 1991, they have been the dominant force, winning it three times with one runner-up and three 3rd-place finishes in their seven starts.
They will start this time in Group F which includes Sweden at +2000, Chile at +15000 and Thailand at +50000.
Host France, who will be staging the championship for the first time, are second favorites at +350 followed by Germany at +450, the Netherlands, Japan and England at +1000, Brazil and, Spain at +1500, Sweden at +2000, and Australia at +2200.
Despite the ’home ground advantage’ the French will get, the fact that they are favored above the German women is something of a surprise.
Germany, after all, is two-time winners and indeed the only country ever to have won the women’s World title back-to-back (2007 & 2011).
Against this, winning on home soil has only been achieved one time. And this by the powerhouse US team in 1999 when they beat China in a penalty shoot-out.
No one who saw that game live or on television is ever likely to forget US star Brandi Chastain hauling off her jersey after nailing the final winning kick of the shoot-out.
Some cynics said she did it to advertise her sports bra.
In all 24 teams will start in Lyon on July 7 and Cameroon (+25000), Jamaica (+25000), South Africa (30000) and Thailand (+5000) are the big outsiders.
Futures odds for Women’s Football World Cup
Listed below were the Futures odds for the winners of Women’s 2019 World Cup as on January 22, 2019
TOP 10
United States +200, France +350, Germany +450, Netherlands +1000, Japan +1000, England +1000, Brazil +1500, Spain +1500, Sweden +2000, Australia +2200
TOP 20
Add Canada +3000, Norway +4000, Italy +5000, China +6000, New Zealand +6000, Scotland +6000, South Korea +6000, Argentina +10000,
Chile +15000, Nigeria +20000
TOP 24
Add Cameroon +25000, Jamaica +25000, South Africa 30000 and
Thailand +50000
