USA vs Sweden in the round of 16 in the ongoing World Cup.

The ongoing 2023 Women’s World Cup has reached its knockout stages with teams like Japan and Spain booking their seat in the quarter finals. The USWNT continues their run on Sunday. The United States will battle against Sweden in a Round of 16 match at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium. The victor will advance to meet either the Netherlands or South Africa in the quarterfinal. The United States struggled by their abysmal performance in the group stage winning only one match and finished second in Group E. On the other hand, Sweden dominated Group G, winning all three group stage matches to sit atop the group.

Head coach Vlatko Andonovski and his team are not satisfied with the overall performance from the group stage and are looking for redemption in their game against Sweden.

The Americans were able to create shots at a high level and, with positive regression, those shots are more likely to turn into more goals. Sophia Smith and Lindsey Horan were able to find the net in the group stage, and there is a reasonable expectation for Alex Morgan and others to get going in the knockout round.

On defense, no team has been better than the United States. Opponents have only one goal and 0.7 xG against the USWNT in the tournament, and the the USWNT have nine clean sheets in 12 games this year. That includes only three goals allowed in 2023, and the United States held Vietnam without a single shot in a group stage win. Overall, the Americans rank No. 1 in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings with incredible pedigree, including four World Cup titles and four Olympic gold medals. That includes the last two World Cup titles, and the USWNT are seeking a tournament win that would make history as the first men’s or women’s team to claim three consecutive World Cup titles. 

Brilliant Sweden side.

Sweden have finished in the top three in each of the past two Olympics and also the most recent World Cup. Sweden defeated the United States by a 3-0 margin in group play at the Tokyo Olympics, and the team also ranks No. 3 in the current FIFA Women’s World Rankings. Sweden are one of only seven teams to qualify for all nine Women’s World Cups, and the team has 26 wins all-time in World Cup action, third-most in history. This year, Sweden won all three group stage matches, one of only two teams to do so, and the goal differential was +8 with only one goal allowed. 

Records of the game

Amanda Ilestedt has three goals in the tournament, including two against Italy, and Sweden are also facing a United States squad that isn’t in their best form. The United States scored only four goals on 63 shots during the group stage, and standout Rose Lavelle will miss this game as a result of yellow card accumulation. The USWNT did not win their group for the first time since 2011 and, for the first time ever at a Women’s World Cup, the United States did not win at least two games during the group stage.

If the USWNT fails to qualify to the quarter finals, they would be joining the likes of Germany and Brazil ; some of the big names to exit this year’s World Cup in its early stages. Brazil crashed out of the tournament after a goalless draw against Jamaica and Germany 1-1 draw with South Korea saw the German side exiting the tournament.