The Women’s World Cup begins on Thursday in Australia and New Zealand and is bigger, bolder, and breaking new ground. The United States is hoping to extend their golden period by winning an unprecedented third straight title.

The first edition in the southern hemisphere will be a testament to how far the women’s game has come since the United States won the initial 12-team tournament in China in 1991 with its expanded 32-team field and eight new nations.

On Thursday, the 64-game tournament gets begin on both sides of the Tasman Sea with a sell-out crowd at Auckland’s Eden Park when New Zealand takes on past winners Norway.