The United States started its bid for an unprecedented three-peat at the Women’s World Cup with a 3-0 win over Vietnam and followed it up with a 1-1 draw against Netherlands in a rematch of the 2019 final. Then it got worse. The Americans squeezed into the knockout stage as the No. 2 team in the group after a very shaky 0-0 draw with Portugal. And now they’re facing No. 3-ranked Sweden in the round of 16. Winning a third straight title won’t be easy for the No. 1 team in the world.
Co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, the quadrennial tournament for international soccer’s most coveted trophy kicked off July 20 and features an expanded field of 32 teams, up from 24. There are 64 matches during the tournament.
That means more competition for the two-time defending World Cup champion U.S., which won the 2015 event in Canada and the 2019 tournament in France. The Americans have won four titles overall, the most of any nation.
WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
RESULTS
Morocco beat Colombia 1-0 to make it to the Women’s World Cup knockout round, creating yet more history in a dramatic conclusion to the group stage of the 2023 tournament.
Two-time champion Germany failed to reach the knockout stage for the first time ever at the Women’s World Cup after being held to a 1-1 draw by South Korea in a tense group finale. Morocco’s 1-0 win over Colombia in Perth added pressure on a German team that then needed to beat South Korea in Brisbane to advance.
WOMEN’S WORLD CUP SCHEDULE
Friday is a rest day before round-of-16 games start Saturday with two games in New Zealand, where Group A winner Switzerland is against Group B runner-up Spain at 5 p.m. local time (1 a.m. ET) at Auckland and Group C winner Japan takes on Norway at Wellington at 8 p.m. (4 a.m. ET).
On Sunday there’s two matches in Australia, with Group E winner Netherlands against Group G runner-up South Africa in Sydney at noon local time (10 p.m. Saturday ET) and Group G winner Sweden against the defending champion U.S. team at 7 p.m. local time in Melbourne (5 a.m. ET).
HOW TO WATCH THE FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
Fox holds the English-language media rights in the United States for the Women’s World Cup. Telemundo holds the Spanish-language rights.
Fox will broadcast a record 29 matches over the air on its main network and the rest of the games will be aired on FS1. All matches will be streamed on the Fox app.
FIFA struck a collective deal with the European Broadcasting Union in mid-June, ending a standoff with a broadcasters in five major European television markets. The deal guarantees the games will air in France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Britain.
TOP STORIES
In a wild finale to the group stage of the Women’s World Cup, two-time champion Germany was eliminated on Thursday and the second lowest-ranked team in the tournament, Morocco, advanced to the knockout stage.
Germany’s earliest exit ever at a Women’s World Cup has two-time champions searching for answers.
Alex Morgan was speaking to reporters at the Women’s World Cup when she had to excuse herself to Facetime her young daughter before the toddler’s bedtime back home in the United States. Just another day for a working mom. Players such as Morgan, Katrina Gorry of Australia and Cheyna Matthews of Jamaica are redefining what it means to be a “soccer mom.”
Brazil coach Pia Sundhage has faced widespread criticism in the South American nation after the team was eliminated in the group stage. Commentators and fans complained about the team’s lack of flair and Sundhage’s tactics following a 0-0 draw Wednesday against Jamaica.
BETTING GUIDE
England firmed as favorite for the title at +270 after a dramatic finish to the group stage, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. After the opening 15 days of the tournament, the U.S. team and Spain are at +470 and, with Germany no longer in contention, France moved to +650 and Japan and Netherlands are at +900.
___
AP Women’s World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-womens-world-cup
