All eyes will be on the U.S. women’s national team as the reigning world champions embark on their quest for an unprecedented World Cup three-peat. But before the U.S. can even think about hoisting the trophy, Vlatko Andonovski’s squad will need to advance out of a group featuring one rival and two World Cup newcomers. The Dutch and the USWNT have plenty of history; the U.S. took out the Netherlands in the 2019 World Cup final. Without superstar Vivianne Miedema, who is sidelined with an ACL tear, veteran players—and paragons of European soccer—Lyon midfielder Daniëlle van de Donk and PSG forward Lieke Martens will need to step up for the Orange. With 58 goals in 144 international appearances, including two in a 2–1 win over Japan in the ’19 round of 16, the 30-year-old Martens’s experience will be crucial. Barring calamity, the U.S. and the Netherlands should move on to the knockout rounds, but don’t count out Portugal.
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A Seleção das Quinas—as the team is affectionately known, a nod to the five blue shields on their badge—haven’t made a deep run in a major tourney, but they challenged the Netherlands in a 3–2 contest in the group stage at Euro 2022. In this formidable group, first-timer Vietnam—the second-lowest ranked Asian team of six in the tournament—faces a tall task.
Projected Group Finish
- U.S.
- Netherlands
- Portugal
- Vietnam
Breakout Star
Jill Roord, NetherlandsThe 26-year-old midfielder will no doubt find herself seeing an increased role given Vivianne Miedema’s absence. Since signing a three-year contract with Frauen-Bundesliga club Wolfsburg in 2021, Roord has shown she can create chances and find the back of the net in big moments. At the World Cup in ’19, she scored a 92nd-minute, game-winning goal during the Netherlands’ first match, against New Zealand.
IMAGO
Wild Card
Vietnam earned a historic World Cup berth at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in February 2022, beating Chinese Taipei 2–1 to secure the fifth and final qualifying spot. Its reward? Facing the U.S. in its opening match.
Game of the Group
U.S. vs Netherlands, July 26The last time these sides met, U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher saved two penalty kicks in a shootout win in the Tokyo Games quarterfinals.
