The 2023 World Cup moves on to the knockout stages, a high-octane, two-week, win-or-go-home endeavor.
The United States hopes the knockout rounds represent a fresh start after a lackluster group stage in which the USWNT didn’t win their group for just the second time at a World Cup (2011 was the other). The USWNT’s road to glory — and becoming the first team to win three consecutive World Cups — will not be easy. The journey starts early Sunday morning (get that ☕ ready!) against an old nemesis, Sweden.
Here is a look at all of the Round of 16 matchups at the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand:
Switzerland vs. Spain
Date/time: Saturday, 1 a.m. ET | TV: FS1
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Spain entered the World Cup on the short list of favorites and looked the part through its first two games, outscoring Costa Rica and Zambia 8-0. But that momentum came to a crashing halt in a 4-0 loss to Japan on Monday. Switzerland won Group A but lacked style points. After a 2-0 win over the Philippines, Switzerland played to scoreless draws against Norway and New Zealand. Jennifer Hermoso, who has two goals in this World Cup, is Spain’s all-time top women’s goal-scorer with 50.
Japan vs. Norway
Date/time: Saturday, 4 a.m. ET | TV: FS1
Hinata Miyazawa is tied for the lead (with Alexandra Popp of Germany, which has been eliminated) for the Golden Boot award with four goals scored for a Japan squad that arguably has been the World Cup’s most impressive team so far. Japan cruised to its Group C win by outscoring opponents 11-0, including steamrolling Spain in its group stage finale. A Japan win, coupled with a United States win over Sweden, would set up a rematch of the 2015 World Cup final in the quarterfinals. Norway’s Sophie Román Haug is among the group of players with three goals scored and nipping at Miyazawa’s heels in the Golden Boot race. Norway won the 1995 World Cup, while Japan won the trophy in 2011.
Netherlands vs. South Africa
Date/time: Saturday, 10 p.m. ET | TV: Fox
It was Netherlands, and not the USWNT, that won Group E and with it a more ideal television time for viewers in the United States States. South Africa pulled off a major upset of Italy, its first win in a women’s World Cup, to be the biggest surprise team in the Round of 16. The Dutch should be the favorites, however, after making the final in 2019.
Sweden vs. United States
Date/time: Sunday, 5 a.m. ET | TV: Fox
Sweden and the USWNT have a long-standing rivalry. This will be the sixth straight World Cup that the two teams have met. Two years ago at the Tokyo Olympics, Sweden dominated the U.S., winning 3-0 in the opening game of the tournament. The U.S. settled for bronze in those Games, while Sweden lost to Canada in the gold medal game. At the 2016 Olympics, the USWNT lost to Sweden on penalty kicks in the quarterfinals, which represents the team’s worst-ever result at a major tournament. This U.S. team, which has been disjointed the entire World Cup, will aim to avoid an undesirable place in team history.
England vs. Nigeria
Date/time: Monday, 3:30 a.m. ET | TV: FS1
Nigeria also is a surprise entrant in the knockout rounds. England, however, is not, and likely enters the Round of 16 as the team to beat moving forward. The reigning European champions haven’t missed a beat in Australia, winning each of its group stage games with Lauren James leading the way with three goals. England is on the opposite side of the bracket from Japan, the Netherlands, Spain and United States, making a clearer path to the final for the Lionesses.
Australia vs. Denmark
Date/time: Monday, 6:30 a.m. ET | TV: FS1
With New Zealand eliminated, Australia carries the torch for the co-hosts. The best Australia has ever done at a World Cup is reach the quarterfinals (2007, 2011 and 2015), but could the potential return of star player Sam Kerr and playing in front of the home fans inspire an even deeper run? Denmark — which did not make it out of the group stage of last summer’s European championships — has conceded just one goal so far at the World Cup.
Colombia vs. Jamaica
Date/time: Tuesday, 4 a.m. ET | TV: FS1
Colombia was a surprising winner of Group H — an upset victory over Germany set in motion a chain of events in which Morocco took second in the group and the two-time World Cup champions were eliminated. Jamaica, meanwhile, not only collected its first World Cup win but also made history as the first Caribbean nation to qualify for the knockout rounds. The journey has not been easy for the Reggae Girlz, who received financial assistance ahead of the World Cup by way of a GoFundMe set by by Sandra Phillips-Brower, the mother of midfielder Havana Solaun.
France vs. Morocco
Date/time: Tuesday, 7 a.m. ET | TV: FS1
Morocco sent Germany packing and reached the knockout round in its first-ever World Cup after a 1-0 win over Colombia, becoming the only World Cup newcomer to advance and the first Arab or North African nation to go beyond the group stage. The reward is a Round of 16 encounter with France, which has advanced to the quarterfinals of the last two World Cup and is one of this tournament’s favorites. A hat trick against Panama on Thursday thrust Kadidiatou Diani into the Golden Boot race.
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