With the group stages having drawn to a close in Australia and New Zealand, the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 now heads into its Round of 16 stage.
The 32 teams competing at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand were divided into eight groups – Group A to H – for the first phase. In every group, each team faced each other once in a single-headed round robin format and the top two teams from each group qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Round of 16 – the first of the knockout stages.
Reigning champions USWNT, from Group E, only just made the cut for the Round of 16 after drawing two of their group games. Their only win came against Vietnam, before they failed to overcome 2019 finalists Netherlands and 2023 debutants Portugal.
The fate of co-hosts Australia went down to the very last fixture of Group B, after their shock 3-2 loss to Nigeria. An impressive 4-0 win over Canada, however, saw them finish top of the group – sending the 2020 Tokyo Olympic gold medallists home in the process.
England secured their place in the knockouts with three wins from three in Group D. 1-0 wins over Denmark and Haiti were followed by an incredible 6-0 performance against China. The Lionesses join Japan and Sweden as the only three sides to have won all of their group games this tournament.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 group stages saw some big names exit the competition.
Brazil were sent home after winning only one game in Group F against Panama. They then lost to France and drew to Jamaica – a result that sent the Reggae Girlz through to the knockouts and women’s football legend Marta out of her final ever Women’s World Cup.
Germany also failed to progress past group stages for the first time. Prior to this summer, their worst ever finish at a Women’s World Cup was a quarter-final exit, making 2023 their least impressive campaign to date.
Partly responsible for Germany’s early exit is Colombia, who topped Group H with two wins and a loss. This is only the second time in the nation’s history that they have reached the Women’s World Cup Round of 16. Their only loss came against Morocco who finished second in Group H in their debut Women’s World Cup campaign.
South Africa also qualified for their first ever Round of 16 at a Women’s World Cup. They finished second in Group G, above Italy and Argentina.
Switzerland, Norway, Australia, Nigeria, Japan, Spain, England, Denmark, Netherlands, USA, France, Jamaica, Sweden, South Africa, Colombia and Morocco all qualified for the Round of 16 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
Round of 16 fixtures
Switzerland v Spain
Saturday 5 August, 2023 – 10.30am
Switzerland quietly qualified at the top of Group A with two goalless draws and a 2-0 over debutants Phillipines. Despite clinching the top spot, the Swiss will need to better their performances if they are to overcome Spain. La Roja racked up eight goals in their three group stage games, but suffered a big 4-0 loss to Japan that resulted in them finishing second. Switzerland are yet to concede a goal this tournament, and Spain have the attacking talent to upset that.
Japan v Norway
Saturday 5 August, 2023 – 1.30pm
Japan sailed through Group C with three wins out of three, including an impressive 4-0 over Spain. So far this tournament they have scored 11 goals in just three games, and will be hoping to increase that tally against their Round of 16 opponents Norway. The Norwegians conceded just one goal throughout the group stages, which could make for a very tight game between the two.
Netherlands v South Africa
Sunday 6 August, 2023 – 7.30am
South Africa made history as they qualified for the Round of 16 for the first time, but now they encounter the challenge of facing the formidable Dutch team. The Dutch kicked their FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign off with a nervous 1-0 win over Portugal, but switched into gear for their final group game securing a 7-0 triumph over Vietnam. The Banyana Banyana pulled off a well-fought 3-2 victory over Italy before holding Argentina to a 2-2 draw. They narrowly lost to Sweden on the final day of Group G, but will take confidence from their group performances as they move onto the knockouts.
Sweden v United States
Sunday 6 August, 2023 – 2.30pm
The USWNT scraped through Group E and will meet Group G winners Sweden to battle it out for a place in the quarter finals. Following their group stage performances the reigning world champions head into this fixture as somewhat an underdog, as Vlatko Andonovski’s side face tough opposition in Sweden – who took three wins from three in the groups. The USWNT have never failed to make it to the semi finals of a Women’s World Cup… but could this be the year?
England v Nigeria
Monday 7 August, 2023 – 1.00pm
Following two nervewracking 1-0 wins, England truly arrived at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 with a 6-0 over China to secure their spot as Group D winners. They will head into this game as favourites, but should be careful not to underestimate the Super Falcons who secured a superb 3-2 victory over co-hosts Australia in the group stages. After some lacklustre performances from the so-called big nations of the tournament, England will have their eyes on going all the way whilst Nigeria will look to make the quarter finals for the first time since 1999.
Australia v Denmark
Monday 7 August, 2023 – 4.00pm
Much like the Lionesses, Australia didn’t arrive to this year’s tournament until their final group game against Canada. A 4-0 trashing of the current Olympic champions was enough to secure the Matilda’s the top spot and secure them a Round of 16 fixture against Denmark. The Danes were unlucky not to take anything from their game against England, but with Australia’s Sam Kerr finally fit and ready to start, they will need to be better than their group stage form if they are to progress.
Colombia v Jamaica
Tuesday 8 August, 2023 – 1.30pm
For a match that could have been Germany v Brazil, this still has huge potential to be the standout fixture of the Round of 16. Both sides have already exceeded expectations, with Colombia reaching the knock outs for only the second time in their history and Jamaica doing so for the first ever time, and continue to impress with each game. The Reggae Girlz showed their nerve, holding Brazil to a 0-0 draw in the final game of Group F and Colombia took the world by storm with a 2-1 win over Germany.
France v Morocco
Tuesday 8 August, 2023 – 4.30pm
Debutants Morocco continued to make history as they secured qualification to the Round of 16. They now find themselves faced with tough opposition of France, but will take confidence from Jamaica’s ability to hold them to a 0-0 draw. It is also worth noting that although the French put six past a debutant Panama side, they also let three in – an early indication to Morocco that there are goals to be had in this game.
How to watch the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Round of 16
FIFA.com provides complete coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, with live match streams of every fixture on FIFA+.
