USWNT Narrowly Avoids World Cup Humiliation

By Sam Batz

Never in the history of the Women’s World Cup has the United States been eliminated in the Group Stage. In fact, the USWNT has been the most dominant team at the Women’s World Cup winning 4 titles (1991, 1999, 2015, & 2019) in the first 8 editions of the tournament. Even when they don’t win it all, the US has been on the podium in all 8 editions, never finishing below 3rd-place. Their overall record at the World Cup is an outstanding 41-8-4, with 142 goals scored and 39 against. The USWNT has completed 4 tournaments on the world stage without losing a single game, and they have never fallen below No. 2 on the FIFA World Rankings list. 

Domination doesn’t even begin to describe what the USWNT has done at the World Cup. Even with the immense weight of a nation’s expectations on their shoulders, the US has never faltered on the biggest stage in international soccer. They are expected to win every match, in every tournament, against every country, and more often than not, they do. Yet at this year’s World Cup, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, the USWNT nearly suffered what would have been the greatest humiliation in their vastly decorated history, a group stage elimination. 

Thankfully, we can safely say the US was not eliminated in the group stage, but it was easily the closest they’ve ever come to missing the knockout rounds. The US were in Group E, along with Vietnam, Portugal, and Netherlands. They easily won their opener, beating Vietnam 3-0 in convincing fashion. It was a good start, but when they tied the Netherlands 1-1 in the second match, the situation became quite tenuous. Entering their third Group Stage match against Portugal, the US needed to win or tie. A loss would have meant an early exit, and the USWNT’s first ever group stage elimination in 32 years of World Cup soccer. 

The game against Portugal took place on Tuesday, August 1st, and with the Netherlands beating Vietnam 7-0, the fate of the United States was sealed, needing just 1-point to advance. It was arguably the biggest group stage match in USWNT history, and while they were favored to win, Portugal put up quite a fight. The US recorded 17 shots, with 6 on target, but failed to put one in the back of the net, and the score was tied 0-0 entering stoppage time. Then, in the 91st minute, Portugal’s Diana Silva nearly ended the USA’s dreams of becoming the first team to win 3-straight World Cup championships. With just a few minutes remaining, Silva broke away from the US defense for a one-on-one with the goalie, but was denied by the post. 

A collective sigh of relief went throughout the country, and when the final whistle blew, and the score remained 0-0, the US was safe from elimination. They ended 2nd in Group E with 5-points, beating Portugal by 1. But the US did not look good in their final group stage match, and yet many of the players could be seen dancing and celebrating after the 0-0 tie in a match that nearly sent them home. The scenes after the game drew criticism from several pundits, including past USWNT legend Carly Lloyd, who berated the USA’s demeanor after nearly suffering their most humiliating loss in their storied history. 

It was a fair criticism, but the USWNT did get the job done, and are advancing to the knockout round. Sweden is likely their next opponent, as the US will play the winner of Group G, and with Sweden up 3-points, that is the expected matchup. The USWNT’s Round of 16 game is set to take place Sunday, August 6th, but unless they step it up and take the game seriously, they could be looking at an early exit. After the near elimination, the US is priced at +500, no longer the favorite to win the World Cup. England is the favorite, priced at +350, with Spain in 2nd priced at +400. Women’s international soccer has clearly improved, and if the US isn’t careful, they could easily lose their crown as the best in the world.