USA Women Are New World Cup 2019 Favorites, Given Much Better Odds Than France To Win Title

When the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup began, there was some debate regarding which team had the best chance to win the title.

The U.S. women’s national soccer team has largely been viewed by many as the best of the 24-nation field, looking to successfully defend their 2015 championship. Then there was France, who is hosting the tournament and the only team to defeat the USWNT over the last 18 months.

Just prior to competing in the year’s first World Cup match, France was actually named the betting favorite. The team was given slightly better odds than Team USA. At least some of the defending champs agreed that should be the case

“For me, I consider them the favorites and I feel like all the pressure is on them,” USWNT star Megan Rapinoe told ESPN.com earlier this month.

“I still back us over anyone, of course,” Rapinoe continued. “But I just think they have such a strong squad, and obviously it being a home World Cup just adds that little bit to them.”

Maybe Rapinoe had a point nearly two weeks ago. It’s hard to say the same now that the World Cup is underway.

Both France and the U.S. have competed in two matches, leaving one contest in group play on the schedule for each team. France is on its way to the knockout stage, outscoring their opponents 6-1. The USWNT has obliterated the competition, shutting out Thailand and Chile by a combined 16-0 and reminding everyone that they are the team to beat.

The oddsmakers have been given no choice but to make the USWNT the overwhelming favorites. Team USA has better than 2/1 odds to successfully defend its championship. France is second in the field with odds just north of 3/1.

The USWNT embarrassed an overmatched Thailand team in their 2019 World Cup debut, making history with a 13-0 victory. Alex Morgan tied a record with five goals in a single contest.

The shift in odds isn’t simply a reaction to the USWNT routing a team that has no business making it to the knockout stage. The favorites defeated Chile 3-0 Sunday as many of their best players watched from the sidelines.

Morgan didn’t play against Chile. Rapinoe also stayed on the bench, along with star Tobin Heath. Instead, it was Carli Lloyd leading the way with two goals, becoming the first woman to score a goal in six straight World Cup matches.

Lloyd received the Golden Ball award in 2015 for being the best player in the World Cup. The USWNT is so loaded in 2019 that she typically comes off the bench, and the team didn’t miss a beat when she Lloyd was inserted back into the starting lineup.

Things will certainly get more difficult for the USWNT from this point forward. It starts Thursday with a match against Sweden

Sweden defeated Team USA in the 2016 Olympics and prevented the U.S. from winning a fourth straight gold medal.