Is the USWNT eliminated if they lose against Portugal in the Women’s World Cup 2023?
The USWNT top Group E, a tightly-packed section with just one point separating the top three teams, but have no margin for error against Portugal.
Out of the remaining five groups to be concluded at the Women’s World Cup, two are looking very tightly-packed with the top two qualifying places to be determined in the final game. There is no clear indication of who will emerge from Group F - a battle between France, Jamaica and Brazil, and Group E looks equally up in the air, which is concerning for the USWNT - the big tournament favorites.
In their favor, the cup holders top the group on four points, with a slightly superior goal difference to the Netherlands - also on four points, in second. But Portugal, who are third on three points, could still mathematically finish top of Group E - and they are the USWNT’s rivals when the section is wrapped up on Tuesday.
So what are the chances that the USWNT could be dumped out of the 2023 World Cup without even making it past the group stage? It’s a possibility although a small one and the odds are still very much stacked in their favour.
As it stands, a win or a draw against Portugal at Eden Park will be enough to Vlatko Andonovski’s team advance to the next round. A defeat would see Portugal overtake the USWNT to finish on six points with Andonovski’s team on four. That means qualification for the Round of 16 would depend on the outcome of the other Group E game, between the Netherlands and Vietnam.
Group E all the possible outcomes
A victory against Portugal would be enough to see the USWNT qualify as champions of Group E.
A draw against Portugal would still be enough to see the USWNT qualify although they would drop to second place in the group if the Netherlands beat Vietnam.
If the USWNT lose to Portugal and the Netherlands either beat or draw against Vietnam, then the defending champions would be eliminated.
However, in another possible scenario: if the USWNT loses to Portugal and the Netherlands lose to Vietnam, then the United States would qualify for the next round as runners-up in their group on four points, two points behind Portugal.
The two teams with the most points from each of the groups A-H will qualify for the Round of 16. If teams in the same group finish level on points, their positions will be decided by goal difference.