The U.S. women’s national team survived a close call at the Women’s World Cup on Tuesday, and now it faces a much taller task in the Round of 16.
The two-time defending tournament champions advanced to the knockout stage with a 0-0 draw against Portugal to close out Group E play. It was a frustrating game for both players and fans, but now the team will need to turn the page to avoid elimination.
The USWNT’s Round of 16 match is set for 5 a.m. ET/2 a.m. PT on Sunday, Aug. 6, at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. On Wednesday, the Americans learned who they will face in that match -- and it's a country they are quite familiar with.
Here is everything know about the USWNT’s next opponent:
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Who will the USWNT play in the Round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup?
As the Group E runner-up, the USWNT will go up against the Group G winner in the Round of 16. That left the Americans with two possible opponents entering Wednesday: Sweden or Italy.
Sweden led Group G with six points and a +6 goal differential after beating South Africa 2-1 and Italy 5-0 in its first two matches. Italy still had a slim chance of winning the group, as it had three points through two matches thanks to a 1-0 win over Argentina.
The Swedes took care of business against Argentina on Wednesday, picking up a 2-0 win to remain unbeaten and set up a Round of 16 clash with the USWNT.
USWNT vs. Sweden Women’s World Cup results
The USWNT is 4-1-1 all-time against Sweden at the Women’s World Cup. Its six matches against Sweden are the most of any opponent in the team’s tournament history.
The Americans beat the Swedes in their first ever Women’s World Cup match in 1991. They then went on to play in the group stage at five straight tournaments from 2003 to 2019.
The USWNT won the 2003 and 2007 meetings by two goals apiece. Sweden finally defeated the USWNT in the 2011 group stage by a score of 2-1 and the countries played a scoreless draw in 2015.
The most recent Women’s World Cup match between the two sides was the conclusion of the 2019 group stage. Lindsey Horan gave the USWNT the lead in the third minute and Jonna Andersson contributed an own goal early in the second half en route to a 2-0 result.
Sunday's showdown will be the first ever knockout match between the USWNT and Sweden at the Women’s World Cup.
Who will the Group G runner-up face at the Women’s World Cup?
Despite being in position to potentially win the group, Italy was instead eliminated in the group stage. South Africa defeated Le Azzurre 3-2 on Wednesday to punch its ticket to the Round of 16.
South Africa will now play the Netherlands, the Group E winner, in the Round of 16. That match will take place at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Saturday from Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Australia.
