The seven teams we’re keeping an eye on this World Cup and the best beers, wines and spirits to cheer them on with.

To say we’re excited about the 2023 FIFA Women’s Cup would be a gross understatement. The fact that it’s kicking off in our own backyard and that our Matildas are looking like strong contenders is the cherry on top of what is the biggest instalment of the competition to date. If you haven’t yet done so, cancel all your plans (weddings count, even your own) and get ready to witness the dazzling zenith of human achievement (football).

We’ve already seen some spectacular performances from the usual suspects (looking at you, USA and Brazil). But putting all bias aside, we’ve assembled a list of some of the tournament’s most compelling teams. There are underdogs, fairytales in waiting, and serious contenders – alongside the best drinks to cheer them on with, of course. From a surprising Japanese Slipper to no-brainer malbec and beyond, these drinks have the makings of a winning World Cup.

A can of Monsuta Okinawa Dry Premium Draft

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Japan: Monsuta Okinawa Premium Draft

No strangers to World Cup glory, the 2011 champions and back-to-back finalists began their campaign with a 5-0 drubbing of Zambia. If their star midfielder and creative powerhouse Yui Hasegawa can maintain her monster run of form in the middle of the park, Japan will have every chance of adding a second World Cup to their already impressive trophy cabinet. Speaking of monster form, it’s hard to look past Monsuta’s Okinawa Premium Draft for your gameday refreshments. Crisper than Hinata Miyazawa in front of goal, this big and bold lager is an award-winner in its own right.

Netherlands: Heineken 0.0

For a country with such a rich footballing pedigree, it’s hard to believe this is only Netherlands’ third time out at the Women’s World Cup. That said, their trajectory has been impressive, to say the least. They made the Round of 16 in their debut tournament and came oh-so-close at the last World Cup, going down to a rampant USA in the final. If they can go one better this time around, they’ll be lifting that trophy. With a crucial win against Portugal in their first game, cracking a Heineken 0.0 or two for their opening fixtures should be firmly on your World Cup watchlist. Zero% alcohol and 100% flavour, this classic lager is an iconic choice for what could be an iconic tournament for the ‘Leeuwinnen’.

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A can of Batched Cocktails Salted Grapefruit Margarita

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New Zealand: Batched Cocktails Grapefruit Margarita

The Football Ferns had never won a game at the World Cup, but with a home-ground advantage up their sleeve this time around, the tournament co-hosts finally treated their fans to a maiden win in their opening match. Facing some stiff competition in the group stages (Norway is short odds to go all the way), we’re looking forward to even more spirited play from our Pacific neighbours and will be cheering them on with a spirited play of our own – an ice-cold can of New Zealand’s Batched Cocktails Grapefruit Margarita, that is. Premixed to perfection, this cocktail in a can is just the thing to shake up your World Cup drinks as the Kiwis shake up the World Cup.

Australia: Japanese Slipper

How good are our Matildas? Very bloody good. Caitlin Foord, Ellie Carpenter, Alana Kennedy, Steph Catley, Hayley Raso… point to any position on the field and we’ll show you a creme-de-la-creme footballer. Oh yeah, we’ve also got the best player in the world (Sam Kerr!) coming back from injury to look forward to, too. It’s hard to escape the feeling that this team’s booked itself a date with destiny, and if their recent run of form is anything to go by, they’ll be simply unplayable on home turf. If you haven’t got tickets to see the Matildas live, parked up in front of the telly with a Japanese Slipper in hand is the next best thing. Nope, that isn’t a typo. This green (and golden!) Midori-based cocktail was invented right here in Australia and has the added bonus of sounding like a sick soccer move. Just mix equal parts Midori, triple sec and lemon juice, shake and strain into a Martini glass with a maraschino cherry for garnish. Perfect. C’arn The Matildas!

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A bottle of the Decero Malbec Remolinos Vineyard

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Argentina: Decero Malbec Remolinos Vineyard

Germany is the only nation to have ever simultaneously held both the men’s and women’s World Cups. For Argentina, this year’s tournament represents a golden opportunity to be the second. Though victory eluded the former Copa América Femenina champions against Italy, they’ll take plenty of encouragement from their performance and will be even more desperate to make history. Just like football, malbec is in their DNA, so we can’t think of a better way to cheer them on than with this delicious drop from Decero’s Mendoza Remolinos Vineyard. Grown at 3,500 metres above sea level, it’s beaming with notes of raspberry and cherry with a whisper of fairytale on the finish.

Germany: Schloss Vollrads Kabinett Riesling

Leading from the front, Germany’s captain Alexandra Popp only seems to get better with age. The prolific goalscorer has won pretty much everything there is to win, except for a World Cup, and if her brace against Morocco is anything to go by, she’s not mucking around. Boasting one of the competition’s best squads on paper (including rising Wolfsburg star Lena Oberdorf), the Germans are looking like the team to beat. Victory looks ripe and will be sweet should they secure it – sort of like this Schloss Vollrads Kabinett Riesling. The historic vineyards that produce this elegant off-dry white are over 800 years old, making it the perfect pairing for what could be a historic tournament for the two-time winners.

A bottle of the Schloss Vollrads Kabinett Riesling

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A bottle of the Wynns Coonawarra Estate Coonawarra Pedro Ximenez

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Spain: Wynns Coonawarra Estate Coonawarra Pedro Ximenez

With back-to-back Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas back from injury, and her Barcelona teammate and Champions League hero Aitana Bonmati lining up in midfield behind national all-time record goalscorer Jennifer Hermoso, Spain’s teamsheet is sure to send a shiver down the spines of any opponent. Having never tasted success at a major competition before, we’re tipping La Roja to book themselves a lengthy stay at this World Cup. While we’re on the topic of Spaniards Down Under, this Aussie-made apera (the name for sherry made in Australia) from Wynns Coonawarra Estate is crafted from Spain’s iconic Pedro Ximenez grape variety and it’s every bit as elegant and spicy as the Iberian nation’s football. With buttery notes of caramel, toffee and raisin, this one is a no-brainer.