Four years since the last World Cup, we’re ready for more thrills, spills, and fairy tales on a grander stage.
Expect Belgium to struggle early and fall out. The Netherlands, England, and France should advance, although don’t discount an Iran team with in-depth knowledge of American and English soccer as potential threats.
Table of Contents
Group Stages
As the Group Stage concludes, teams compete to emerge victorious from their respective groups and advance to the Knockout Round of the World Cup. Only two top teams from each group qualify for this phase, while any others are eliminated and sent home. The tournament takes place over one month in Qatar, with each entire team receiving three points; teams tied for first receive two.
The 2023 World Cup marks the inaugural competition featuring 32 teams across its group stages, and competition is fiercely fierce. Many games have been closely contested, producing memorable results that provide exciting viewing. Below is a table that details the current standings in each group and should help fans determine which teams might advance out of group stage play.
Japan defeated Spain 4-0 to top Group C and secure the top spot. Hinata Miyazawa scored twice as Japan displayed brilliant counterattacking and secured their place in the last 16. Nigeria and Ireland also qualified for further competition by playing out a goalless draw – although Ireland may feel heartened that they finally made it past group play on five attempts.
Brazil suffered an unexpected 3-1 defeat against Panama and was effectively eliminated early from the competition. Marta Cox scored one of the quickest goals ever seen at this World Cup – an unstoppable 35-yard free kick that curled into the top corner – but Reggae Girlz stood firm to prevent an unlikely comeback by South American sides.
England and Wales both have an opportunity to reach the semifinals but must win their remaining matches. Meanwhile, USA players hope for a return to the final four after suffering through an agonizing journey eight years ago.
Round of 16
As the Women’s World Cup group stage comes to a close, 16 teams remain in contention for quarterfinal spots. Matches in the knockout phase are more intense than group-stage contests; even one loss can send teams packing. Round 16 games tend to be closer-fought, meaning one goal could determine victory or defeat.
Jamaica and Colombia both entered the round of 16 as underdogs, but both exceeded expectations to reach the knockout stage. Jamaica particularly stood out during their goalless draw with Brazil; Reggae Girlz appears poised for deep runs in this tournament. Colombia made their mark against Germany as they took a step toward making history; the South American team’s chances may extend to the final.
Reigning champions United States and France were both assured spots in the knockout rounds by winning each game outright, while England, Denmark, and co-host Australia also performed strongly within their groups; pre-tournament favorites Germany, Spain, and Italy all fell short of qualifying for this competition stage.
Whenever a match in the Round of 16 ends in a tie, an extra 30 minutes will be used to determine a victor. If they remain tied at that point, a penalty shootout will take place to decide the game’s outcome. This rule applies across all knockout rounds, including quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals.
Round 16 will feature some of the most exciting World Cup matches ever seen: England will meet Sweden, the Netherlands is up against Spain, and Japan will take on Norway – two teams that display vastly differing styles of play that met only once during Group C play! Japan breezed through with three wins, while Norway managed only one victory during Group Stage play.
Quarterfinals
The 2022 World Cup quarterfinals have begun, and it all starts with a clash between two European nations – Spain against the Netherlands, who easily beat South Africa to take the Group E title. Both teams feature talented players, but this match may come down to individual performances: Memphis Depay scored the opening goal against the U.S.A. and is considered a candidate for the Golden Boot. At the same time, Kylian Mbappe has impressed all with his remarkable speed and ball handling, perhaps making a difference here.
The second match will pit an unexpected powerhouse against an unlikely underdog. Morocco is full of confidence after ousting Spain in an exciting round 16 competition that went to penalties and will depend on full-back Achraf Hakimi and midfielder Hakim Ziyech to win this contest. Meanwhile, Portugal is determined to continue their journey towards the semifinals after easily defeating Switzerland in their previous game.
This tournament will air on FOX and Fox Sports 1 and can be streamed via various MVPDs such as Fubo TV (with subscription options), YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV, and DirecTV Stream. Tickets can also be purchased online. Qatar is hosting the 2018 World Cup for the first time, and this tournament promises to be exciting! The final is set for December 18th; read on for an in-depth breakdown of quarterfinal matches and their odds to win each one – the future looks bright for football! At this early stage of the tournament, there have already been some shocking upsets, raising hopes that an underdog might make a run at it and win it all – an outcome likely based on how this tournament has unfolded – suggesting we may witness a Middle Eastern champion for the first time since 2002.
Semifinals
Once they’ve survived an intense round 16 and quarterfinal round, four remaining World Cup teams will battle it out in two semifinals on Tuesday and Wednesday for glory at this year’s competition. The winner of each match will advance to Sunday’s final, while losers will vie for the bronze medal.
Spain and England will go head-to-head in the first semifinal, featuring two European heavyweights at this year’s championships. Both sides have enjoyed strong tournament performances; Spain is widely seen as more consistent; they lost just one group stage game against Sweden but since won all three knockout-round contests with ease and showcased an exciting brand of football that made them one of its most captivating sides in 2017.
England, however, has had mixed fortunes at this World Cup tournament. Their Lionesses looked in trouble against Colombia after Leicy Santos gave Colombian a 1-0 lead early on, but rallied thanks to goals by Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo to emerge 2-1 winners – with Russo notching her second goal of the competition – helping lead England women’s team into yet another semifinal at this World Cup tournament.
Though both teams have recently encountered struggles, both are optimistic and prepared to fight for a spot in the final. Whoever wins this match will depend on skill, determination, and luck combined – both likely emerging victorious. However, any margin of victory could be slim.
Australia and France, two teams with incredible performances during this tournament, meet in another semifinal. Australia defeated France 7-6 in an unforgettable shootout victory. They are now just two wins away from becoming the first host team since the USA did in 1999 to claim glory at their tournament.
France, like Argentina, remains unbeaten in this tournament and boasts an elite squad. Coach Didier Deschamps knows his team can beat Argentina using either strategy – from playing an aggressive style or adopting an ultra-defensive stance if necessary – or by simply shutting up shop and playing a tight defensive game; either way, they have multiple one-on-one threats such as Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud, Kingsley Coman off the bench and Aurelien Tchouameni to worry Argentina’s defense.
