The U.S. women’s soccer program is one of the giants in the sport. Winning the Women’s World Cup in France in 2019 and in Canada in 2015, they will be aiming to three-peat as they come into the tournament ranked first in the world in the latest FIFA rankings.
Standing in their way is the team they defeated in that 2019 final, Netherlands, who will be looking to get their revenge from that 2-0 loss. On the other side of the group are Vietnam and Portugal, two teams playing in the Women’s World Cup for the first time.
GROUP A SCHEDULE
July 22: United States vs. Vietnam (9 p.m. ET)
July 23: Netherlands vs. Portugal (3:30 a.m. ET)
July 27: United States vs. Netherlands (9 p.m. ET)
July 27: Portugal vs. Vietnam (3:30 a.m. ET)
Aug 1: Portugal vs. United States (3 a.m. ET)
Aug. 1: Vietnam vs. Netherlands (3 a.m. ET)
THE TEAMS
UNITED STATES
FIFA world ranking: 1
Odds to win the World Cup: +239 (via Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: -357 (via Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: 8
Best showing: 1991, 1995, 2015, 2019 (Champions)
2019 World Cup: Champions
Manager: Vlatko Andonovski
Probable formation: 4-4-3
Probable starting XI: Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars) — Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage), Alana Cook (OL Reign), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns) — Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Julie Ertz (Angel City FC), Lindsay Horan (Lyon) — Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns)
THE BIG QUESTION: Can the U.S. win the World Cup with Megan Rapinoe one last time?
THE PULSE: It’s no secret that two-time defending champion Americans are the best team in the world, constantly reloading with young star talent, with Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith looking to be on the front lines scoring big goals, as well as Naomi Girma controlling the backline.
They also have the veteran presence of Alex Morgan, Kelley O’Hara, Alyssa Naeher and the return of Julie Ertz, who all have at least three World Cups under their belts coming to Australia and New Zealand.
However, the U.S. will have 14 World Cup first-timers in this competition and missing will be the likes of Mallory Swanson, Catarina Macario, Sam Mewis and captain Becky Sauerbrunn. While they still have strength in their depth, they will have to rely more on young stars with so many veterans sidelined.
THE X-FACTOR: In 2022, Smith became the youngest NWSL MVP in the league’s history, leading the Portland Thorns to a third league title, while also adding 11 international goals to become the youngest player to lead the USWNT in scoring in a calendar year since 1993.
With 10 goals and five assists in 13 NWSL matches this season, and having both Swanson and Macario out of the World Cup, the U.S. will be relying on the 22-year-old to deliver the highlight-worthy goals as she makes her World Cup debut.
NETHERLANDS
FIFA world ranking: 9
Odds to win the World Cup: +2,155 (via Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: +264 (via Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: 2
Best showing: France 2019 (Runners-up)
2019 World Cup: Lost 2-0 to U.S. in final
Manager: Andries Jonker
Probable formation: 4-2-3-1
Probable starting XI: Daphne van Domselaar (Aston Villa), Stefanie van der Gragt (Inter Milan), Dominique Janssen (Wolfsburg), Sherida Spitse (Ajax), Jackie Groenen (PSG), Jill Roord (Manchester City), Daniëlle van de Donk (Lyon), Victoria Pelova (Arsenal), Esmee Brugts (PSV), Lineth Beerensteyn (Juventus), Lieke Martens (PSG)
THE BIG QUESTION: How will the OranjeLeeuwinnen fare without all-time leading scorer Vivianne Miedema?
THE PULSE: In their first-ever World Cup, Netherlands advanced to the knockout stage, and followed that performance up with a EURO 2017 title. In their second World Cup in France, they managed to make it all the way to the final, falling 2-0 to the U.S.
But after suffering an ACL injury that ended her club season with Arsenal, the Dutch side will be without all-time leading scorer Miedema, which means that Lieke Martens, Jill Roord, and Daniëlle van de Donk will be expected to be attacking threats in her absence.
The Dutch not only have prior experience against the Americans in a high-stakes match, but also have recent experience against Portugal, defeating them in the group stage of the 2022 EURO. They are expected to make it out of the group with ease, but will be looking to get the better of U.S. this World Cup.
THE X-FACTOR: Coming off heartbreak in the Champions League final with Wolfsburg, Roord will hope to have a happier ending representing her country at the World Cup. She has already shown up in big moments, scoring a stoppage time goal against New Zealand in 2019.
The technicality of Roord’s game includes being able to use both of her feet and pass with clinical precision. She 21 goals in 86 international caps and will be relied on not only to score, but use her aggression and technique on the ball to create plays as well.
VIETNAM
FIFA world ranking: 32
Odds to win the World Cup: +50,000 (via Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: +46,300 (via Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: None
Best showing: N/A
2019 World Cup: N/A
Manager: Mai Duc Chung
Probable formation: 5-4-1
Probable starting XI: GK: Tran Thi Kim Thanh (Ho Chi Minh City), Tran Thi Thu (Ho Chi Minh City), Hoang Thi Loan (Hanoi), Le Thi Diem My (Than KSVN), Tran Thi Thu Thao (Ho Chi Minh City), Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha (Hanoi), Tran Nguyen Bao Chau (Ho Chi Minh City), Vu Thi Hoa (Ho Chi Minh City), Huynh Nhu (Lank Vilaverdense), Pham Hai Yen (Hanoi), Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha (Hanoi)
THE BIG QUESTION: Can Vietnam shock a group with two women’s soccer giants and make it to the knockout round in their first-ever Women’s World Cup?
THE PULSE: Vietnam joins a group of countries who will be showcasing at the Women’s World Cup for the first time, and have to open their campaign against two-time defending Women’s World Cup champion U.S.
Vietnam secured a gold medal in a 2-0 win over Myanmar at the Southeast Asian Games, and their squad comes into this World Cup with veteran experience from players like captain Huỳnh Như and Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Dung.
They will certainly have an uphill climb against teams with recent global triumph like the U.S. and Netherlands, but they have seen success in Asia and hope to bring that to Australia and New Zealand.
THE X-FACTOR: Như is the team’s main striker, winning Vietnam's Golden Ball five times. She continued to impress by scoring seven goals with Länk in Portugal this past season. As such, she has experience against many players from another of the teams in Group E.
She has netted netted 67 goals in 72 appearances for Vietnam and will be the player to lock down for any opposing team defender.
PORTUGAL
FIFA world ranking: 21
Odds to win the World Cup: +12,100 (via Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: +4,344 (via Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: None
Best showing: N/A
2019 World Cup: N/A
Manager: Francisco Neto
Probable formation: 4-4-2
Probable starting XI: Ines Pereira (Servette), Carole Costa (Benfica), Diana Gomes (Sevilla), Catarina Amado (Benfica), Dolores Silva (Braga), Andreia Norton (Benfica), Tatiana Pinto (Levante), Kika Nazareth (Benfica), Diana Silva (Sporting), Ana Borges (Sporting), Jessica Silva (Benfica)
THE BIG QUESTION: Will Portugal be able to get their EURO revenge on Netherlands and make an exit out of Group E?
THE PULSE: No one had to play more qualification games than Portugal to get to the Women’s World Cup, playing 13 and defeating Belgium and Iceland in European playoffs before Carole Costa’s penalty in extra time against Cameroon secured a spot.
The Portuguese only made their first appearance at the EURO in 2017, and returned in 2022, constantly growing as a national program. The team has 19 players coming to the World Cup who played in the 2022 EURO event.
Seven players also have 100 or more international caps, bringing chemistry and veteran experience to the group that will face teams like Netherlands and United States.
THE X-FACTOR: With Levante UD last season, Tatiana Pinto scored 12 goals and tallied three assists, helping the team finish third in the Spanish league. Pinto was named player of the match in the game that sent Portugal to the World Cup.
A creative midfielder who will drive her team forward and help create offensive chances against tough defenders, she will be expected to assist in getting the ball in the net alongside Kika Nazareth and Ana Borges.
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