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As the Matildas prepare to learn their opponents in next year's World Cup, two-time winner and USWNT legend Carli Lloyd says Australia faces an uphill battle to contend for the tournament on home soil.
Key points:
- The Matildas can't be drawn against co-hosts New Zealand or any of the top six teams
- But they are almost certain to be handed a tough match-up in the group stage
- Lloyd said the Matildas are still finding their feet under coach Tony Gustavsson
FIFA's top brass, led by president Gianni Infantino, and coaches from around the globe are assembling in Auckland for Saturday night's draw.
As hosts for the 2023 tournament, Australia and New Zealand enjoy the benefit of top seeding, meaning they will avoid the world's top six sides until the knockout phase.
Lloyd, who played under current Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson when he was an assistant during USA's victories at the past two World Cups, said Australia had work to do to be contenders.
"I sense they're trying to still figure things out; I'm not really quite sure what's been going on there," she said.
"Obviously Tony was one of our assistant coaches for a number of years within our squad.
"I haven't really seen them at their best. So they've got this 10 months going in to try to sort that out.
"The Matildas always have that fighting spirit so they're going to be challenging."
Lloyd is in Auckland as one of the draw conductors, along with former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright — who said Arsenal forward Caitlin Foord may be Australia's ticket to success.
"She's playing unbelievably," Wright said.
"You've got a few players in that 27-year-old bracket, Sam Kerr, [Hayley] Raso and Caitlin Foord … they can get the vibe of the crowd and the fact that it's a home nations.
"You've got to suck that up and try and use that. That's what you're hoping for."
Lloyd will be joined by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Australian swimming star Cate Campbell and a host of football royalty for Saturday night's draw.
How the draw works
Teams have been placed according to their FIFA ranking in four pots, with one team from each pot to be drawn into eight groups.
World number 22 New Zealand is the lowest-ranked side in pot one, alongside 13th-ranked Australia and the world's top six — USA, Sweden, Germany, England, France and Spain.
The key for the Matildas will be avoiding the toughest teams in pot two.
As the Matildas cannot be drawn against another Asian team, the remaining options are fraught with danger.
Canada are the Olympic champions and beat the Matildas just last month, the Netherlands have beaten Australia 3-0 and 5-0 in their last two friendly meetings and Brazil are perennial challengers.
That leaves the only available team ranked below the Matildas in pot two, Italy, who caused a sensation at the 2019 World Cup by beating the Matildas in their group.
And then there's Norway, who exited this year's European Championships at the group stage, but also eliminated Australia on penalties in the round of 16 in France three years ago.
Lloyd said the tournament shaped as an open affair given the USA, two-time reigning champions, are in "transition", nominating European champions England, and Spain as the biggest threats.
"For England, it's going to be a matter of 'can they continue that momentum coming in'," she said.
"Winning anything back to back is hard. So that's going to be their biggest test."
The 32-team lineup will be complete after a New Zealand-hosted playoff tournament featuring 10 teams in February.
FIFA will publish the schedule and playing times for each match shortly after the draw.
AAP