CAPE TOWN - World Cup places will be up for grabs at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off in Morocco on Saturday, with the top four finishers guaranteed a spot at the 2023 finals in Australia and New Zealand.

Africa previously had three places at the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France, but with the field for the 2023 tournament expanded to 32 teams, there are now four automatic berths for the continent and the chance of two more places via a proposed 10-team playoff tournament.

The USWNT huffed and puffed its way to a 2-0 victory over Colombia on Tuesday night in Sandy, Utah. It was hardly the first time the Americans struggled to put away lower competition, and with World Cup and Olympic qualifying less than a week away, you have to wonder if it’s time to start worrying about the USWNT’s rebuild. 

The draw is complete and we now know the USWNT schedule for the 2022 Concacaf W Championship in Monterrey, Mexico, which serves as the qualifying tournament for both the 2023 World Cup in Australia/New Zealand and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. 

With Women’s World Cup qualifying three weeks away, USWNT players are peaking at the right time. Alex Morgan is unstoppable, Sophia Smith and Mal Pugh are lighting up the scoreboards and Rose Lavelle is literally flying.

The USWNT is already approaching the CONCACAF W Championship without rising star Catarina Macario (knee) and the explosive Lynn Williams (hip), but another big name might be added to the list of injury casualties at forward after Christen Press was forced off in the 66th-minute of Angel City's 3-2 win over Racing Louisville in NWSL action Saturday.

The 33-year-old was at her best during her time on the pitch, including an impressive run and finish in the 36th-minute for her second goal of the season. 

La teoría de que Charlyn Corral es la Chicharito Hernández del Tri Femenil quedó básicamente comprobada luego de que la Concacaf publicara la lista provisional de las selecciones que en julio participarán del Campeonato W, un torneo que da boletos para el Mundial de Australia y Nueva Zelandia 2023, así como los Juegos Olímpicos de París 2024.

The 2022 Concacaf W Championship is just 26 days away, so USWNT manager Vlatko Andonovski has to be close to knowing the final 23-player squad he'll name for the tournament in Mexico — which serves as qualifying for both the 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympic Games.

But he's not showing his hand yet.

On Monday, Concacaf revealed the provisional rosters for the W Championship, so while the final 23 will have to be selected from this list, the provisional roster for the USWNT includes an all-encompassing 59 names.

United States women's national team midfielder Catarina Macario announced Sunday that she sustained an ACL injury in Lyon's final match of the season.

The injury will keep Macario off the pitch for the USWNT's 2023 World Cup qualifying and Olympic qualifying matches in July.