The Round of 16 will be progressed to by the top two teams from each group. The U.S. Currently leads Group E with a plus-three goal difference, but the Netherlands enter the game after securing a 1-0 victory against tournament newcomers Portugal on July 23 with a goal from towering defender Stefanie van der Gragt from a set-piece. The second group stage match will be, at least on paper, a rematch of the 2019 Women’s World Cup Final and the first time in FIFA Women’s World Cup history that the two finalists from the previous tournament meet in the group stage. The U.S. Women’s National Team will now confront the Netherlands at Wellington Regional Stadium in Wellington/Te Whanganui-a-Tara on July 26 (1 p.M. NZT; 9 p.M. ET on FOX, Telemundo, Universo and Peacock) after defeating Vietnam 3-0 in its opening match at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with two goals from forward Sophia Smith and a goal from midfielder Lindsey Horan.
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Media Guide for the 2023 World Cup Now Accessible
The digital versions of the Guide Media Cup World Women’s USWNT 2023 and the Guide Media USWNT 2023 are also available for download.
WORLD CUP FIRST APPEARANCE UNDER THEIR WAIST
The USA’s roster for the Women’s World Cup was officially announced on June 21, revealing the 23 players who will represent the emblem Down Under. The roster includes nine players who were part of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup championship team and 14 players who were selected for their first World Cup roster. Savannah DeMelo (who also made her first USWNT start), Naomi Girma, Emily Fox, Andi Sullivan, Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman, 18-year-old Alyssa Thompson, and Sofia Huerta all made their debuts in the team’s 3-0 victory against Vietnam, accounting for eight of those 14 players.
Roster of the United States Women’s National Team by Position (Club; Appearances/Goals)
The goalkeeping squad consists of three goalkeepers: Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit; 1), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 14), and Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 92).
Alana Cook (OL Reign; 25/1), Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage; 30/1), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC; 133/24), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 17/0), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign; 31/0), Kelley O’Hara (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 158/3), and Emily Sonnett (OL Reign; 75/1) are the seven DEFENDERS.
Savannah DeMelo (Racing Louisville FC; 2/0), Julie Ertz (Angel City FC; 119/20), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 130/28), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign; 89/24), Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 51/7), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit; 25/3), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit; 46/3) are the MIDFIELDERS (7).
Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC; 208/121), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign; 200/63), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit; 19/4), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC; 31/14), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 5/0), and Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 53/15) are the forwards, totaling six players.
PREVIOUS OCCASION
The USA Women’s National Team dominated the match against Vietnam in the opening match of the tournament, earning a 3-0 win. The team was led by a goal from Lindsey Horan and a brace from Sophia Smith, making her the youngest player in USWNT history to score multiple goals in a World Cup match. Although credit is due to Vietnam’s goalkeeper Thanh Kim Thi Tran for her impressive performance, which included four saves, the scoreline could have been even more in favor of the USA.
Format of the World Cup
During that time period, the team is presently enjoying a five-game winning streak in group stage matches, surpassing its opponents by a margin of 22-0. The United States has achieved great success in the group stage, with a historical record of 21 wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss in group stage matches, and remaining undefeated in its last seven matches at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The other countries that have consistently participated in all nine editions of the tournament are Brazil, Germany, Japan, Nigeria, Norway, and Sweden. The United States is participating in its ninth FIFA Women’s World Cup and is one of seven nations to have appeared in every edition of the tournament. The top two teams from each of the eight groups will advance to the Round of 16. In contrast to the six matches required to win the Women’s World Cups from 1991-2011, the current World Cup format necessitates winning seven matches to secure the championship, including four in the knockout rounds.
SMITH’S IMPRESSIVE BEGINNING
She is also the youngest player to score multiple goals in her debut World Cup. She has been the youngest player since 2003 when Cat Whitehill achieved the same feat. Smith is the second youngest player in USWNT history to score multiple goals in a World Cup game. So far, she is only the third player, along with Brazil’s Ary Borges and Germany’s Alexandra Popp, to score multiple goals in the tournament. Smith’s goal is also the third fastest goal scored at the current tournament. In her debut World Cup match against the Netherlands, Smith, a forward, headed the ball into the net to assist Linsey Horan’s goal and scored a brace, fulfilling her dream of a World Cup debut.
Notes on the USA World Cup Squad
Spotlight on the Netherlands
The team is ranked 6th in the FIFA World Ranking and 3rd in the UEFA Ranking. They have appeared in the World Cup in 2015, 2019, and will also participate in 2023. Their best World Cup finish was as runners-up in 2019. They have played against the USA with a record of 1 win, 1 draw, and 8 losses, scoring 8 goals and conceding 31. The head coach of the team is Andries Jonker from the Netherlands.
Women’s World Cup Roster for the Netherlands Organized by Position
Goalkeepers (3): 1-Daphne van Domselaar (Aston Villa LFC, ENG), 16-Lize Kop (AFC Ajax), 23-Jacintha Anouchka Weimar (Feyenoord Rotterdam).
Defenders (7) include Lynn Anke Hannie Wilms from VfL Wolfsburg in Germany, Stefanie van der Gragt who is currently unattached, Aniek Nouwen from Chelsea FC in England, Merel van Dongen from Atlético Madrid in Spain, Caitlin Dijkstra from FC Twente, Kerstin Casparij from Manchester City in England, and Dominique Janssen from VfL Wolfsburg in Germany.
(8) Midfielders: (ENG) Manchester City, 6-Jill Roord, (AFC Ajax) 8-Sherida SPITSE, (FRA) Olympique Lyonnais, 10-Daniëlle van de Donk, (GER) FC Bayern München, 12-Jill Baijings, (FRA) Paris Saint-Germain, 14-Jackie Groenen, (ENG) Arsenal FC, 17-Victoria Pelova, (FC Twente) 19-Wieke Kaptein, (FRA) Olympique Lyonnais, 21-Damaris Egurrola.Output: (8) Midfielders: (ENG) Manchester City, 6-Jill Roord, (AFC Ajax) 8-Sherida SPITSE, (FRA) Olympique Lyonnais, 10-Daniëlle van de Donk, (GER) FC Bayern München,
7-Lineth Beerensteyn (Juventus, ITA), 9-Katja Snoeijs (Everton FC, ENG), 11-Lieke Martens (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA), 13-Renate Jansen (FC Twente), 22-Esmee Brugts (Unattached): Strikers (5).