There are 17 days remaining until a new champion is to be announced for the FIFA Womens World Cup, and we now know the 16 teams that will be fighting for that championship.
These teams have fought relentlessly, played with high and intense energy, and some even caused huge upsets. The first round was a group round-robin where 32 teams were split into eight groups of four and played against each other, hoping to earn points and become the top of their group. From there, the top two teams from each group move on to the 16-team knockout round. Teams will start to battle for the championship while the game becomes even more unpredictable from there, and viewers are sure in for a treat.
With that being said, let’s go over the 16 teams who qualified for the knockout round and their matchups. Firstly we have co-host team Australia, hailing from group B; they clutched onto that knockout spot after a 3-2 loss to Nigeria and a 4-0 sweep of Canada, sending them home. Team Canada is currently the 2020 Tokyo Olympic gold medallist. From Group D, England secured their spot in the knockouts with three for three game wins. A 1-0 win over Denmark and Haiti and an absolute show against China with a 6-0 win. They join Japan and Sweden as the only three teams to have won all their group games in this tournament. Next up is Colombia, who came out on top of Group H with two wins and one loss. This advancement is the team’s second time in the country’s history of playing in the Women’s world cup to make it to the 16-team knockout round. Jamaica also secured a spot after a tie game against Brazil, as Brazil could not grab a place in the knockout round as Brazil’s only win was against Panama and had a loss to France. The last notable spot grab comes from South Africa qualified for their first-ever 16-team knockout round at a Women’s World Cup. They came second in Group G, beating out Italy and Argentina.
Adding to the wins various teams took, there were a few tough losses. As mentioned, Australia beat Canada 4-0. This loss for Canada sent the team home distraught and left many soccer lovers watching at home upset. Still, the team is now focusing on qualifying and defending their Olympic Championship in the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Germany also failed to progress past the group stages. It was a first for the team as they have qualified for the 16-team knockout round every other year they participated. Before this, their worst finish at a Women’s World Cup was a quarter-final exit.
Brazil’s end of the road in the Women’s World Cup also meant the end to women’s football legend Marta’s career, as this game was her final ever at the Women’s World Cup.
The complete list of teams that made it through to the 16-team knockout round go ss followed… Switzerland, Norway, Australia, Nigeria, Japan, Spain, England, Denmark, Netherlands, USA, France, Jamaica, Sweden, South Africa, Colombia and Morocco.
Switzerland faces off against Spain; Japan plays Norway; the Netherlands plays South Africa; Sweden is up against The United States; England plays Nigeria; Australia will play Denmark; Colombia and Jamaica are set to take the stage; and France will play Morocco.
With chances of teams going to the championship narrowing, this is a whole new ballpark and opens the door to more unpredictable, fast and intense gameplay. Will there be more shock and upset? Who wants it the most? Who will come out on top? Wishing the teams the best of luck, and may the best win!
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