The stage is set for an exhilarating clash as the U.S. national team prepares to face off against the Netherlands in the Women’s World Cup. This showdown is a highly anticipated repeat of the 2019 World Cup final, where the U.S. emerged victorious with a resounding 2-0 triumph.
A Battle for Knockout Stage Berth
Both teams will enter the Group E match in Wellington, New Zealand, hungry for a victory that would secure a coveted spot in the knockout stage of the tournament. The stakes are high as the match kicks off at 9 p.m. ET.
In their opening game against World Cup debutants Vietnam, the U.S. secured a hard-fought 3-0 win. Despite facing a determined Vietnamese defense and missing several scoring opportunities, the team managed to dominate the game. First-half goals from the talented Sophia Smith, making her World Cup debut, set the U.S. on the path to victory. Lindsey Horan sealed the deal with a goal in the 77th minute. Notably, Vietnam’s impressive goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh saved Alex Morgan’s first-half penalty, providing a glimpse of her skills.
Rejuvenated Squad
The U.S. team welcomes key players as substitutes, including iconic forward Megan Rapinoe and influential midfielder Rose Lavelle. Rapinoe, who plans to retire later this year, will bring her expertise and experience to the field. Lavelle, recently recovering from a knee injury, expresses her readiness to face the Netherlands, as reported by The Athletic.
A Formidable Opponent
Ranked ninth in the world, the Netherlands poses a formidable challenge to the U.S. team. Their opening match showcased their strength as they clinched a narrow 1-0 victory against Portugal through Stefanie van der Gragt’s header in the 13th minute.
Pursuit of History
The U.S. national team is widely favored to win the World Cup, which would mark a historic third victory for them. This achievement would also make them the first-ever team, in any edition of the World Cup, to secure such a hat-trick. Led by co-captains Horan and Morgan, the Americans currently hold the top spot in FIFA’s women’s team rankings. They are followed by Germany, Sweden, England, France, and Spain. Olympic champions Canada claim the seventh spot, with Brazil, the Netherlands, and Australia rounding out the top 10 contenders.
The battle begins, tensions rise, and the world eagerly awaits the outcome of this epic clash between two powerhouse nations in women’s soccer.
The Growing Global Audience for the Women’s World Cup
The Women’s World Cup, organized by FIFA, continues to attract a larger global audience with each passing tournament. In 2019, a record-breaking 1.1 billion viewers across the world watched coverage of the event on various platforms. Now, FIFA expects an even higher viewership of over 2 billion people for this year’s Women’s World Cup.
Fox Sports, the broadcasting arm of Fox Corp., holds the English-language broadcast rights to the Women’s World Cup. Their coverage of the U.S. opening game garnered an impressive average of 5.261 million viewers, making it the second-most watched group stage telecast since Fox started covering the tournament in 2015. The highest viewership for a group stage clash occurred in 2019 when an average of 5.337 million people tuned in to watch the match between the U.S. and Chile.
The recent years have witnessed significant transformations within women’s soccer, both on and off the field. One notable milestone was the U.S. women’s national team’s successful campaign for equal pay, a hard-fought victory against the disparities faced by the men’s national team. This achievement has inspired other national teams to follow suit and take steps towards obtaining equal pay or at least moving in that direction, as noted by U.S. Soccer Federation President Cindy Parlow Cone in her interview on ‘s Best New Ideas in Money podcast.
As women’s soccer continues to thrive and gain more attention worldwide, it’s evident that the Women’s World Cup has become a prominent stage for showcasing skill, talent, and dedication to the sport. With an expanding global audience, this tournament is breaking barriers and elevating the status of women’s soccer to new heights.
