The Women's World Cup will be the biggest yet, and the hardest to win. It is possible to make a case for almost half the 24 teams as the rest of the world closes the gap on the usual suspects.
Countries who once paid lip service to the ladies are now taking it seriously. Standards of coaching, fitness, skills and professionalism are rising fast. Witness the Netherlands and Denmark surprisingly contesting the last European Championship final, rather than once dominant Germany.
That said, the three-times champions U.S. will still take all the beating. Carli Lloyd, hat-trick hero in the final four years ago and star of the tournament, is a 36-year-old super-sub now.