23 under 23 in '23
The World Cup is set to have as much talent on show than ever before with 32 nations descending on Oceania. WFC takes a look at 23 of the best under 23 players to keep an eye on...
There are only a few rules in place. I didn’t pick more than one player from any nation, meaning if there were a few options I went with the less obvious one.
They also had to be under 23, not 23, so this is players 22 and below, narrowing the field slightly once again!
Charlotte Grant (Australia)
There’s a couple of exciting under 23s in the co-hosts’ squad, but Charlotte Grant’s recent emergence makes her the one I like to look at heading into this tournament. The defender hasn’t even reached 20 caps yet, but has quickly grown in stature under Tony Gustavsson. Scoring her first goal in a win against England earlier this year, Grant’s calmness and solidity has come to summarise what Gustavsson’s Australia is all about, and the Vittsjö GIK centre-back is definitely one to keep an eye on when the action gets under way.
Julia Grosso (Canada)
Given how long she seems to have been established at a high level, it’s almost hard to comprehend Grosso still fits into the under 23 category, whether it’s been her performances for Juventus or Canada. Grosso is one of the best young defensive midfielders anywhere right now. Despite an unsuccessful league campaign for Juve, Grosso was named Serie A’s Midfielder of the Season and comes into the tournament in top form. With an ever-solid back line behind her, Grosso’s protection will only make Bev Priestman’s Olympic champions an even tougher nut to crack.
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria)
Nigeria’s 22-year-old shot-stopper perhaps doesn’t get the love of some of the more established names around the world, but she remains one of the most promising goalkeepers anywhere in the world. Four years ago, Nnadozie became the youngest player to keep a clean sheet at a World Cup at just 18 and since then she’s gone from strength to strength, thriving in Europe with Paris FC in France, and she shone at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations too. With two highly ranked nations in Australia and Canada to face, Nnadozie should get a chance to show her talent yet again.
Evarine Katongo (Zambia)
After an exciting young Zambia side which beat Germany last week, all eyes will be on the 23-year-old duo of Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji, so this is a focus on 20-year-old Evarine Katongo. The young midfielder started against the Germans and didn’t look out of place in the centre of the park, and she also played the opening 75 minutes against Switzerland the week before. Katongo seems a dead cert to start for the Copper Queens and she’ll be one to keep a watching brief on come next week.
Maika Hamano (Japan)
There can only be a few forwards people are looking forward to seeing more than Maika Hamano this summer. Whether that’s Chelsea fans yearning for a glimpse of their new signing who is currently shining on loan at Hammarby in Sweden, or Japan fans excited for a new era filled with promising young talents. Hamano has the skill and talent to unlock defences, she will also have plenty of good players around her, such as WE-League top scorer Riko Ueki. Behind them is a midfield which includes Yui Hasegawa, Jun Endo, Hina Sugita and Fuka Nagano, so there’s plenty of creativity there to bring the best out of Hamano.
Athenea del Castillo (Spain)
Spain’s flying winger Athenea broke onto the international scene with an exciting cameo against England in the lead up to Euro 2022. The Real Madrid star kept those performances up during the tournament itself, and with another year under her belt for club and country, there should be even more excitement to see what Athenea can do this summer. One of the most unpredictable forward players to watch, she adds a different dimension to an already strong Spain attack and with Liga F’s top scorer ready to be serviced, Athenea should play a key part in any success for La Roja.
Kathrine Kühl (Denmark)
At just 20 years old, the attacking midfielder has already surpassed a quarter of a centuries worth of international caps. After impressing back in Scandinavia at club level, Khl got the chance to step up and join Arsenal in January, where she’s already shown glimpses of her burgeoning talent on the field. While Denmark has often built around Pernille Harder, the emergence of players such as Kühl adds a new dimension to the team heading into a tournament where they have a good chance of group stage progression.
Check out over 100 more unique stories in WFC’s Premium section, available for just £45 for 12 months, paid in one go, or a £6 a month rolling subscription.
All subscriptions come with a 7-day free trial to allow you to explore our full archive.
Plus, guarantee you everything that is to come over the next 12 months…
Lauren James (England)
This one may feel a little obvious, but in an England squad where many of Sarina Wiegman’s best young players already announced themselves on home soil during last summer’s Euro 2022 success, it is James who comes into the World Cup as the biggest new talent for the Lionesses. Described by many as a once in a generation player, few have the skill, talent and footwork James holds, and this is her first big chance to show that to the world. She may not start, and if she does we don’t even know for certain where it will be, such is her versatility in where she can show her level. Capable of the unpredictable, James will be one to watch, whoever you support.
Melchie Dumornay (Haiti)
Another name who given the talk around her at the moment is perhaps an obvious one, but you can’t not be excited about getting to see Melchie Dumornay on the world stage. The attention around the Haiti forward has grown over time, as her performances for Stade de Reims brought her to the eyes of Europe’s biggest and best, leading to a summer move to Lyon. It was apt it was her goals which saw Haiti past Chile in the play-offs and into the World Cup itself and it’s exciting to think we will get to see her on the world stage next week.
Jill Baijings (Netherlands)
In a stacked and experienced Netherlands midfield, this might be one tournament too early to see Baijings as a starter for the 2019 finalists, but she is definitely one to keep an eye on. She hasn’t yet reached double figures in caps after only recently breaking through, but her performances in the Bundesliga for Bayer Leverkusen will be giving Andries Jonker food for thought, as will her recent big move to champions Bayern Munich. A midfielder who has it all, Baijings is heading for the top, and who knows, she may even get her chance to show it over the next month.
Andreia Jacinto (Portugal)
Portugal has an exciting young side, and while last summer the attention was around Kika Nazareth, for that reason I’m putting Real Sociedad’s all-action midfielder Andreia Jacinto into the spotlight. After leaving childhood club Sporting Lisbon last summer, Jacinto has taken nicely to life in Spain and even at just 21 is already holding down a regular role in Portugal’s midfield. Against England in a friendly last week, Jacinto showed how good she was, buzzing around the pitch and frustrating the European champions, as well as looking to unlock the door at the other end.
Trinity Rodman (USA)
As above, there are perhaps more obvious candidates in this new-look USA attack, such as the much talked about teenager Alyssa Thompson or bang in form Sophia Smith, so I’m going with Trinity Rodman, who scored both goals in a win against Wales earlier this week. While Smith is undoubtedly brilliant, she’s almost robotic in how good she has become, whereas with Rodman everything feels a little unpredictable, a little raw, and that’s exciting. USA’s attack will look and feel different to what we’ve become used to, but Rodman is shining bright and her cameo against Wales may help work her way into a starting role come next week.
Nguyễn Thị Thanh Nhã (Vietnam)
There’s no two ways about, Vietnam are up against it in this World Cup. Not only is it their debut, but they’re in a tough group which includes the two finalists from four years ago. If they are to get a foothold, the exciting Thanh Nha showed recently against Germany she’s capable of scoring against the best, and Vietnam did cause the former world champions plenty of problems at the back. Thanh Nha already has seven international goals at just 21, and who knows, she could spring a surprise or two.Â
Bruninha (Brazil)
While this is generally a new and exciting Brazil squad compared to what we’ve seen in the past, there’s a good chunk who have just surpassed the 23 thresholds for this feature. There’s a few that don’t, and NJ/NY Gotham FC full-back Bruninha is one of them. She’s still relatively new to the first team set up but her performances at club level have justified her inclusion, and she has every chance of a starting role at the tournament. Typically, she loves to get forward and will add to this new-look, dynamic Brazil front line if she can support from full-back.Â
Laurina Fazer (France)
I avoided Selma Bacha here, as I wrote about the Lyon full-back last summer ahead of Euro 2022, and Laurina Fazer may just see some more regular game time with Amandine Henry having to sadly pull out of the France squad due to a calf injury. Hervé Renard has rung the changes since his arrival, but Fazer is one of just two teenagers in the squad. Already making an impact at PSG, Fazer is going to have a great career and while she may have to sit back and watch her more experienced teammates, she will be one to look at if she gets on the pitch.
Jody Brown (Jamaica)
Four years ago, it was all eyes on then Bordeaux forward Khadija Shaw as Jamaica descended on its first Women’s World Cup. Shaw has since established herself as one of the best strikers in the world, and it’s her strike partner Jody Brown to keep an eye on now. The 21-year-old has an impressive scoring record of 13 goals in just 29 caps and is enjoying herself at Florida State in the USA, with a professional move surely not far away. An elegant player with a real eye for goal, Brown and Shaw could prove a tough partnership to stop.     Â
Enjoying your subscription? Please feel free to recommend and share Women’s Football Chronicles to continue helping and supporting unique and in-depth women’s football content…
Lineth Cedeño (Panama)
Things didn’t really work out for Cedeño in Italy last season after leaving home for Europe, but Sampdoria’s own struggles shouldn’t be a reflection on Cedeño’s impact for the national team. Similar to other developing nations, debutants Panama are in a really tough group, but her eight goals in 14 games give reason for optimism in Ignacio Quintana’s side can service her. Just 22 years old, Cedeño might be one to watch if you’re tuning in for Panama.
Paulina Gramaglia (Argentina)
Another young forward from the Americas. Argentina probably won’t be emulating their men’s team in Qatar, but under Germán Portanova do seem to be on the right track and have a group where qualification isn’t impossible whatsoever. Some of their key names have flown the nest to neighbouring Brazil, while some are also in Europe, but young 20-year-old Gramaglia adds a new dimension to their attack. Her attachment to NWSL side Houston Dash shows how highly she is rated, and is currently on loan in Brazil. She only has a handful of caps but is an exciting young forward who could shine this summer.
Chiara Beccari (Italy)
It was hard not to focus on Italy’s only non-domestic based player here in 16-year-old Giulia Dragoni of Barcelona, but given we have another 16-year-old still to come and Italy’s strike force needs some rejuvenation after Euro 2022, I’m looking at Como forward Chiara Beccari, who is just 18 herself. The fact Beccari was named the Under 21 MVP in Serie A last season tells its own story and while she’s only just earned her first senior cap under Milena Bertolini, she found the net for relegation-threatened Como against all of Milan, Fiorentina and Juventus last season.
Hanna Lundkvist (Sweden)
Youth in usually in short supply in a Sweden squad which has become very familiar over the past few tournaments. But the 21-year-old only made her senior debut in February and is now heading to a first major tournament, such have been her performances for both Sweden and at club level with Atlético Madrid, where she’s now being linked with moves to even bigger European clubs. With Hanna Glas out injured, Lundkvist has a real chance to assert herself, add energy to her team and show what she can do with both her offensive and defensive capabilities.     Â
Linda Caicedo (Colombia)
Another fairly obvious one, even if she’s not playing for one of the top ranked nations. Caicedo is an 18-year-old who can’t be ignored. Like others in this list, she was at the centre of a transfer tussle between some of the best in the world, choosing Real Madrid in January, where the forward has already started to make an impact. The Colombia attack won’t be built around her, not with other top players such as Levante’s Mayra Ramirez, but the two of them together is a tantalising prospect in what should be a closely fought group. 2023 offers a first chance to see Caicedo on the world stage.     Â
Sjoeke Nüsken (Germany)
It was impossible to too predictable and pick the player who has already been named Young Player of the Tournament at a major tournament, so it came down to Nüsken or Jule Brand, so I went with Nüsken due to Brand having a lot of talk around her last summer too. I guess part of that too is the intrigue around Nüsken right now due to her impending move to Chelsea post-World Cup. A versatile star who can play midfield and defence, how much we will see of her this tournament remains to be seen, but her qualities are evidently there. Â
Casey Phair (Korea Republic)
Last but not least and very much the joker in the pack, for several reasons. Firstly, Casey Phair, who lives and plays in the USA, is uncapped and only played at under 17 level prior to her surprise call-up. Secondly, she’s the youngest player at the tournament and only turned 16 two weeks ago, which is incredible when you think about it. What she will add to the Korea Republic squad remains to be seen, but it’s a hugely intriguing pick by the experienced Colin Bell and for that alone all eyes will be on Phair if she makes it onto the pitch.