Neil Johnston
BBC Sport at Eden Park

Image source, Getty Images

It was standing room only at the United States pre-match news conference at Eden Park on Friday.

There was laughter in the room when one Vietnamese journalist asked USA boss Vlatko Andonovski: "Are you going to crush us like you did to Thailand four years ago? [USA won 13-0 - a Women's World Cup record]

Andonovski smiled before showing off his best diplomacy skills.

"We do have a lot of respect for the [Vietnam] team and coach," he said. "They will fight, they will put up a battle and make it as hard as possible for us. We're going into this game to get a result."

Four years ago, the USA thrashed Thailand 13-0 in their opening World Cup game (pictured) and they are expected to get a straightforward win against Vietnam.

However, the Golden Star Warriors have been described as a "wildcard" by US forward Lynn Williams, while US manager Vlatko Andonovski said it was "the best Vietnam team that has ever been on the field".

"We have a very tough opponent ahead of us," Andonovski added.

"We're certainly going to come out with a team that will give us the best chance to win every game."

Image source, Getty Images

No side, men's or women's, has ever won three successive World Cups.

That is the goal for the United States, who have dominated this competition - winning it on four out of eight occasions, in 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019.

They have made at least the semi-finals of every Women's World Cup - and are looking indangerous form going into this one too.

After losing three in a row for the first time in 29 years at the end of 2022, with defeats to fellow title hopefuls England, Spain and Germany, the Americans are back on the wagon with nine victories in their last 10 matches.

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport at Eden Park

Eden Park is awash with colour. The Stars and Stripes like to dress up for matches and today is no exception.

Meanwhile, one Vietnam fan has come in his best Manchester United shirt.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

United States launch their defence by naming three players in their starting XI who started the 2019 final - keeper Alyssa Naeher, midfielder Julie Ertz and forward Alex Morgan.

What a moment for Savannah DeMelo. The midfielder makes her first World Cup appearance along with Naomi Girma, Sophia Smith, Andi Sullivan, Trinity Rodman and Emily Fox.

Image source, .

Vietnam's starting XI features their only player who is based in Europe.

Captain Huynh Nhu is regarded as a star of this team and plays her club football in Portugal.

Image source, .

Good whatever time it is where you are, and welcome to our live text coverage of United States v Vietnam at the 2023 Fifa Women's World Cup.

It's a packed schedule today - following this we have Zambia v Japan in Group C (08.00 BST), then the small matter of European champions England getting their campaign underway.

The Lionesses take on debutants Haiti at 10.30 BST, followed by the other match in Group D - what looks like one of the most competitive games in the group stage, Denmark v China. That kicks off at 13.00 BST.

They did it in 2015...

Image source, Getty Images

They did it in 2019...

Image source, Getty Images

And they are the favourites to do it in 2023.

Welcome to day three of the Fifa Women's World Cup - where the big guns are rolling into town. The United States are aiming to win an unprecedented third successive World Cup - can anyone stop them?