Sweden vs Italy: Preview, kick-off time and where to watch the Women's World Cup on TV and online

Euan Burns /

The Italian Women's National Team got their 2023 Women's World Cup campaign off to a good start as they beat Argentina 1-0, but a much tougher test awaits as the Azzurre get ready to face Sweden.

The performance from Italy was far from vintage against Argentina but Cristiana Girelli's late header after coming off the bench was enough to secure a crucial three points at Eden Park.

Sweden are the favourites to win the group and, whilst it proved much tougher than expected, they got off to a winning start by beating South Africa 2-1. Italy and Sweden both know that a win will be enough to book a place in the Round of 16 with a game to spare, but the Swedes will be the most confident of getting it.

Italy Women's Manuela Giugliano in action at the 2023 Women's World Cup. [@AzzurreFIGC]

Sweden vs Italy: Predicted line-ups

One of the major things to look out for when these teams take the field is whether Sweden's Linda Sembrant and Italy's Lisa Boattin both start. Not only are they teammates at Juventus Women, they are also partners.

Sembrant stayed on the bench in the South Africa game, whilst Boattin was Italy's most important player from the first whistle against Argentina, so there is little doubt that she will start against Sweden. There could be a handful of changes for the Scandinavian side given they did not impress heavily against South Africa.

There is an expectation that Milena Bertolini will switch to a 3-5-2 formation given the quality Sweden possesses, which could see a shake-up in the attack compared to the Argentina game.

Sweden predicted XI vs Italy (4-3-3): Musovic; Bjorn, Ilestedt, Eriksson, Andersson; Angeldal, Asllani, Rubensson; Kaneryd, Rolfo, Blackstenius

Italy predicted XI vs Sweden (4-2-3-1): Durante; Di Guglielmo, Salvai, Linari, Boattin; Giugliano, Caruso; Bonansea, Dragoni, Beccari; Cantore

Arianna Caruso of the Italy National Women's Team up against Argentina's Estefania Banini at the 2023 Women's World Cup. (@AzzurreFIGC)

Sweden vs Italy: When does the Women's World Cup fixture start?

The Women's World Cup Group G fixture of Sweden vs Italy is set to kick off at 19:30 NZST, local time in Wellington, New Zealand. That makes it a 08:30 BST kick-off in the United Kingdom and Ireland on the morning of Saturday, July 29. It starts at 09:30 CEST in Italy.

For those watching 2023 Women's World Cup fixture of Sweden vs Italy in the United States of America, the game kicks off at 03:30 EST / 00:30 PST.

Sweden vs Italy: Where to watch the Women's World Cup fixture?

The 2023 Women's World Cup fixture of Sweden vs Italy in the United Kingdom on Saturday morning can be viewed on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport app and website. Sweden vs Italy is on RTE 2 in Ireland and on the RTE Player.

In the United States of America, 2023 Women's World Cup fixture of Sweden vs Italy is on Peacock and Fox Sports 1, as well as the Fox Sports app.