MELBOURNE, July 18 (Reuters) - Bigger, bolder and breaking new ground, the Women's World Cup kicks off in Australia and New Zealand on Thursday with the United States bidding to extend their golden era by winning an unprecedented third straight title.
Four years on from dominating in France, the top-ranked Americans remain favourites to secure a record-extending fifth World Cup triumph with a new generation of players.
However, the landscape has changed irrevocably through the World Cup cycle, with money, talent and professionalism shifting to the sport's traditional European heartlands.
Olympic champions Canada, who upset the U.S. in the Tokyo Games semi-finals, also cannot be discounted as they look to give 40-year-old Christine Sinclair a first title at her sixth World Cup.
Other players say the money is not nearly enough, given the $440 million prize pool for the men's World Cup.
Persons:
Sam Kerr, Christine Sinclair, Prizemoney, mums, Megan Rapinoe, Alexia Putellas, Ghizlane Chebbak, Ian Ransom, Peter Rutherford
Organizations:
MELBOURNE, United, U.S, New Zealand, Norway, Sydney's, Ireland, Sydney, England, Olympic, Canada, Tokyo Games, FIFPRO, FIFA, France, Thomson
Locations:
Australia, New Zealand, United States, China, New, Eden, France, Germany, Sweden, Rich, Morocco, Melbourne