Korea Republic women’s national team have been pitted against Germany, Morocco and Colombia in the group stage of the world finals next year.

Colin Bell’s side were drawn into Group H alongside Germany, Morocco and Colombia in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Draw staged at Aotea Centre in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday. The showpiece event of women’s football is co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand from 20 July to 20 August next year.

The Taegeuk Nangja will open their campaign against Colombia at Sidney Football Stadium on 25 July, before taking on Morocco at Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide five days later and then Germany at Brisbane Stadium on 3 August.

Bell admitted that ‘it is a difficult and tough group’ whilst he was looking forward to the encounter with Germany, where he had spent most of his lifetime. He also remained positive about the prospect of meeting Morocco and Colombia, both of whom Korea Republic had never met before.

The participating teams in the Women’s World Cup have increase from 24 to 32 for the 2023 edition, for which 29 countries including co-hosts Australia and New Zealand have qualified so far. Ten teams are set to compete for the three remaining tickets in the Playoff tournament to be staged in Hamilton and Auckland, New Zealand in February 2023.

The group stage is contested by 32 finalists that are divided into eight groups of four: the draw procedure saw the participating sides allocated in four pots of eight teams according to their world rankings.

Meanwhile, Korea Republic have qualified for their third world finals in succession, and fourth overall, by finishing runners up in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in India earlier this year. The best result they have achieved at the world finals is reaching the round of 16 at Canada 2015.

FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia/New Zealand 2023 Draw results

Group A – New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Switzerland

Group B – Australia, Republic of Ireland, Nigeria, Canada

Group C – Spain, Costa Rica, Zambia, Japan

Group D – England, Winner PO B, Denmark, China PR

Group E – United States, Vietnam, Netherlands, Winner PO A

Group F – France, Jamaica, Brazil, Winner PO C

Group G – Sweden, South Africa, Italy, Argentina

Group H – Germany, Morocco, Colombia, Korea Republic