It was tense, the sort of match which causes the stomach to churn, but it is Sweden which progresses to the quarterfinals, stopping the two-time defending champion from winning a historic three consecutive world titles, with a thrilling penalty shootout victory in Melbourne on Sunday.
The match was decided by the video assistant referee (VAR), with referee Stéphanie Frappart – after reviewing the action – deeming that Lina Hurtig’s penalty had crossed the line despite the US’ Alyssa Naeher getting her hands to the ball and initially appearing to save it.
Sweden’s players celebrated joyously, while there were tears from the US squad, its participation ending in the round-of-16, the earliest the US has ever departed a Women’s World Cup.
“So proud of the team, of the women on the field,” coach Vlatko Andonovski said afterwards. “I know we were criticized for the way we played and for different moments in the group stage. I think we came out today and showed what we’re all about, showed the grit, the resilience, the fight, the bravery.”
With the score goalless after 120 minutes of play – 90 minutes of regulation time and 30 minutes of extra-time – the match had to be decided by penalty kicks.
Sweden’s Nathalie Björn was the first player to miss from the spot, giving Megan Rapinoe, who has now played her last major tournament for her country, the chance to put the US ahead in the shootout, yet Rapinoe – usually the most reliable of penalty takers – missed to give Sweden hope again.
Rebecka Blomqvist of Sweden and the US’ Sophia Smith proceeded to also miss from the spot. With the scores tied at 4-4, up stepped substitute Kelley O’Hara for the US and her effort hit the crossbar, presenting Hurtig with the chance to win it for her team.
The closer a team gets to achieving history, the bigger the expectations become, the more microscopic the focus on its every travail. The burden of becoming the first to win three successive World Cups ultimately proved too heavy, though there is some solace in defeat as this was the US’ best performance of the tournament.
The US has never before failed to reach the semifinals of a World Cup, so this will be a chastening experience for a country that has for decades been a standard-bearer in women’s soccer.
Four years ago, when it won its second successive title, the US was the dominant side of its generation, but times have changed and the sport has moved on.
Much has been written about the American squad’s struggles in this tournament. There was just one victory in the group stage and a goalpost came to the team’s rescue against Portugal, preventing the Portuguese from scoring a late winner which would’ve ended the US participation in this tournament.
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USA players comfort each other after being eliminated during the penalty shootout against Sweden in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Melbourne Sunday, August 6, 2023.
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Alex Morgan cries after USA was knocked out of the tournament after a penalty shoot out loss to Sweden.
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Sweden players celebrate the team’s victory through penalty shootout in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in the Round of 16 match eliminating defending champion USA in Melbourne on Sunday, August 6, 2023.
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Amanda Ilestedt and Fridolina Rolfo of Sweden celebrate their team’s victory through the penalty shootout eliminating defending champion Team USA.
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USA’s forward Lynn Williams, left, and Sweden’s defender Jonna Andersson, right, fight for the ball during the Women’s World Cup round of 16 football match between Sweden and USA in Melbourne on Sunday, August 6, 2023.
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Megan Rapinoe of USA takes a corner kick.
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USA’s forward Alex Morgan, center, heads the ball against Sweden.
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Alex Morgan of the United States goes up for a header with Amanda Ilestedt.
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Lindsey Horan of the United States grimaces in pain after a collision.
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United States’ goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, center, takes the ball in front of the goal.
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US midfielder Lindsey Horan, right, heads the ball as Sweden forward Fridolina Rolfo challenges during the last-16 tie at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
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Taken from a remote camera, Sweden goalkeeper Zecira Musovic dives in an attempt to save a Lindsey Horan header.
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Sweden’s Johanna Kaneryd, center, competes for the ball with the US’ Andi Sullivan, right, and Crystal Dunn.
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United States goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher in action during the crunch knockout match.
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US forward Megan Rapinoe, left, looks on from the substitutes’ bench.
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Captain Kosovare Asllani of Sweden talks to her teammates in the huddle prior to the last-16 tie in Melbourne, Australia.
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The Netherlands’ Jill Roord celebrates scoring their first goal against South Africa during the match at Sydney Football Stadium in Australia on August 6. Netherlands won 2-0 and will advance to the quarterfinals.
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Netherlands’ fans cheer in the stands before the start of the match against South Africa.
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South Africa’s Bambanani Mbane grimaces after colliding with Netherlands’ Lieke Martens. She was taken away with a stretcher shortly after.
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Risa Shimizu of Japan celebrates with teammates after scoring her team’s second goal during the match against Norway on August 5, 2023 at Wellington Regional Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand. Japan won 3-1.
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Ayaka Yamashita of Japan dives in vain as Guro Reiten of Norway (obscured) heads to score her team’s first goal.
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Japan’s Mina Tanaka, center up, and Norway’s Vilde Boe Risa challenge for the ball during the match.
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Aitana Bonmati of Spain celebrates after scoring her team’s first goal during the match against Switzerland at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, on August 5, 2023. Spain won 5-1.
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Spain’s Alba Redondo puts the ball past Switzerland’s goalkeeper Gaelle Thalmann to score her team’s second goal.
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Spectators show their support during the match between Spain and Switzerland.
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Morocco’s players celebrate advancing to last 16 after beating Colombia.
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Fans of Colombia watch their team’s Group H fixture against Morocco.
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Colombia’s teenage star Linda Caicedo, left, challenges Morocco’s Zineb Redouani during their final Group H match.
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Germany’s players react after crashing out of the Women’s World Cup.
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South Korea held Germany to a 1-1 draw but both side’s exited the tournament at the group stage.
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South Korea’s Cho So-hyun celebrates after giving her side the lead against Germany.
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Jamaica’s Deneisha Blackwood celebrates with teammates after the draw with Brazil.
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Marta reacts after Brazil’s elimination.
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France’s Vicki Becho celebrates after scoring her team’s sixth goal against Panama on August 2. France won 6-3 to advance to the knockout stage.
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Panama players spend time with fans after the France match. This was Panama’s first year playing at a Women’s World Cup.
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France’s Maëlle Lakrar celebrates after scoring her team’s first goal against Panama.
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South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana tries to hold off Italy’s Elena Linari.
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Italy’s Arianna Caruso celebrates after scoring against South Africa.
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Sweden’s Rebecka Blomqvist heads the ball for a goal against Argentina.
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Argentina’s Florencia Bonsegundo lies on the pitch after getting injured against Sweden.
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England’s Rachel Daly, right, scores the sixth goal against China.
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Chinese forward Wang Shuang, left, celebrates with Yang Lina after scoring against England.
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Chinese defender Yao Wei, right, blocks a shot from England’s Lucy Bronze.
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Denmark’s Amalie Vangsgaard shields the ball from Haiti’s Ruthny Mathurin.
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Haiti fans cheer their team at the stadium in Perth, Australia.
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Haiti’s Melchie Dumornay, left, gets tangled with Denmark’s Simone Boye.
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Megan Rapinoe consoles Portugal’s Jessica Silva following the draw, which knocked Portugal out of the competition.
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US forward Alex Morgan collides with Portuguese goalkeeper Inês Pereira in the first half.
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US fans show their support ahead of the Portugal match.
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US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher collides with the post.
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Referee Rebecca Welch shows a yellow card to US midfielder Rose Lavelle.
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Dutch midfielder Wieke Kaptein takes a selfie with fans after the Netherlands defeated Vietnam 7-0 and advanced to the knockout stage.
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Vietnamese players Trần Thị Thu Thảo, left, and Dương Thị Vân react after the loss to the Netherlands.
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Dutch forward Katja Snoeijs celebrates her team’s first goal, which was scored by Lieke Martens.
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The Netherlands’ Sherida Spitse, top, and Vietnam’s Nguyễn Thị Thanh Nhã compete for the ball.
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Australia fans in Melbourne celebrate after the Canada match.
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Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan makes a save against Australia. Canada was eliminated because of the loss and Nigeria’s goalless draw against Ireland.
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Australia’s Hayley Raso, right, celebrates after scoring her side’s second goal against Canada.
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Ireland’s Lily Agg, right, battles for the ball with Nigeria’s Uchenna Kanu during a 0-0 draw on July 31.
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Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala, center, misses a chance against Ireland.
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A fan shows support for the Nigerian team during the match in Brisbane, Australia.
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Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie and Ireland’s Kyra Carusa react after a collision.
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Japan’s Hikaru Naomoto, top, and Spain’s Ona Batlle compete for the ball.
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Japan’s Hinata Miyazawa, second from left, celebrates scoring the team’s third goal with Honoka Hayashi, left, and Risa Shimizu.
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Costa Rican players appeal to referee Bouchra Karboubi before a VAR check on July 31. Zambia beat Costa Rica 3-1. It was Zambia’s first-ever win at a Women’s World Cup.
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Zambia’s Barbra Banda celebrates after scoring her team’s second goal from the penalty spot.
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Costa Rican midfielder Melissa Herrera, right, scores her team’s lone goal.
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Costa Rica’s Fabiola Villalobos, left, takes a shot at goal as Zambia’s Racheal Kundananji attempts to block.
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Germany’s Alexandra Popp and Colombia’s Jorelyn Carabalí battle for the ball.
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Vanegas marks Germany’s Jule Brand.
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Germany fans attend the match against Colombia.
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Linda Caicedo celebrates after scoring Colombia’s opener against Germany.
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Norway celebrates a goal in its 6-0 victory over the Philippines on July 30. The victory helped Norway clinch a spot in the knockout stage.
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The Philippines’ Dominique Randle, center, consoles a teammate after the loss to Norway. The Philippines, playing in its first Women’s World Cup, was eliminated with the loss to Norway.
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The Philippines’ Hali Long makes a heart with her hands at the end of the Norway match.
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Philippines goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel fails to stop Norway’s Caroline Graham Hansen from scoring the third goal of the match.
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Norway’s Sophie Roman Haug is challenged by Jessika Cowart.
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Philippines fans cheer for their team before the match against Norway.
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Ali Riley and Katie Bowen hug after New Zealand was knocked out of the tournament on July 30. The co-hosts drew Switzerland 0-0, but they will miss the knockout stage because of goal differential.
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Bowen clears the ball in front of Switzerland’s Julia Stierli.
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Swiss forward Ramona Bachmann controls the ball against New Zealand.
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Moroccan players celebrate their 1-0 win over South Korea on July 30.
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Morocco’s Ibtissam Jraidi controls the ball before shooting on goal.
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Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters
Jamaican players celebrate after Allyson Swaby scored against Panama.
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Brazil’s Debinha celebrates her goal against France.
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Renard celebrates with teammates after scoring her team’s second goal.
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Sweden’s Amanda Ilestedt, center, heads the ball to score the opening goal against Italy on July 29. Sweden won 5-0 to clinch a spot in the round of 16.
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Sweden’s Rebecka Blomqvist celebrates after scoring her side’s fifth goal against Italy.
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Italy fans cheer before their team’s match against Sweden in Wellington, New Zealand.
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Haiti’s Melchie Dumornay, left, collides with China’s Dou Jiaxing on July 28.
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England goalkeeper Mary Earps makes a save against Denmark.
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Denmark’s Janni Thomsen, left, collides with England’s Alex Greenwood.
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Lauren James celebrates after scoring against Denmark.
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England’s Keira Walsh is stretchered off after sustaining an injury. Walsh, England’s midfield metronome, went down clutching her knee with no other player in her vicinity
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South Africa’s Bambanani Mbane slides in for a tackle against Argentina’s Mariana Larroquette on July 28. Their match ended in a 2-2 draw.
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South Africa’s Linda Motlhalo celebrates with teammates after scoring her team’s first goal against Argentina. South Africa led 2-0 before Argentina’s dramatic comeback.
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Dan Peled/Reuters
Players from Australia and Nigeria compete for a ball in the air on July 27.
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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese takes a selfie with fans before the Nigeria match in Brisbane.
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Portugal forward Jéssica Silva, right, watches a shot go wide during a match against Vietnam on July 27. Portugal won 2-0, eliminating Vietnam’s hopes of advancing in the tournament.
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Portugal’s Telma Encarnação reaches for the ball during the Vietnam match.
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Vietnam fans show their support before the Portugal match.
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Dutch goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar grabs the ball over the United States’ Julie Ertz during their 1-1 draw on July 27.
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US fans react during the Netherlands match, which was played in Wellington, New Zealand.
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US midfielder Lindsey Horan celebrates after scoring against the Netherlands. It was her second goal of the tournament.
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Horan’s header tied the match after the Dutch took an early lead.
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More than 27,000 fans attended the Netherlands-US match.
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Ireland’s Katie McCabe applauds fans after the match against Canada.
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Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan can’t get to a McCabe corner kick that went directly into the goal to give Ireland a 1-0 lead. The incredible “Olimpico” goal came in just the fourth minute of play.
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Canadian forward Adriana Leon celebrates after scoring her team’s second goal against Ireland.
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Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso is thrown in the air by teammates as they celebrate their 5-0 victory over Zambia on July 26. With the win, Spain clinched a spot in the tournament’s knockout round.
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Hermoso, left, scores her first of two goals in the win over Zambia.
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Spain fans enjoy the Zambia match at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.
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Spain’s Alexia Putellas consoles Zambia’s Mary Wilombe after the match. Zambia still had one match to play, but it was not going to be able to advance to the knockout stage.
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Japan’s Hikaru Naomoto, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal in the 2-0 victory over Costa Rica on July 26. It was Japan’s second win in as many games, and it clinched a spot in the knockout stage.
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Japan’s Mina Tanaka heads the ball toward the Costa Rican goal.
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Japan fans react during the match against Costa Rica, which took place at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand.
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Costa Rican goalkeeper Daniela Solera is shaken up during a play against Japan. She was able to continue.
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Switzerland players, in red, defend their box during a match against Norway on July 25. The match ended in a 0-0 draw.
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Rain pours down during the Norway-Switzerland match.
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People in Indigenous dress perform during a welcome ceremony that was held before Norway-Switzerland.
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New Zealand’s Hannah Wilkinson attempts to head the ball past Philippines goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel during their match on July 25.
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Bolden scores on New Zealand keeper Victoria Esson.
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Philippines fans show their support during the team’s first-ever win at a Women’s World Cup.
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Colombia’s Catalina Usme celebrates with teammates after scoring her team’s first goal against South Korea on July 25. Colombia won 2-0.
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South Korea’s Cho So-hyun, bottom left, competes for the ball against Colombia’s Jorelyn Carabali and Carolina Arias.
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Colombia fans show their support in Sydney.
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Usme tries to control the ball in front of South Korea’s Kim Hye-ri.
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Colombia midfielder Manuela Vanegas receives a yellow card from referee Rebecca Welch.
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Brazil’s Ary Borges celebrates her third goal during the Panama. Her hat trick was the first of the tournament.
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Brazilian fans watch the match against Panama, which was held in Adelaide, Australia.
Victoria Adkins/AP
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Germany’s Alexandra Popp celebrates scoring a goal against Morocco.
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Germany fans celebrate as their team gets off to a great start.
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Morocco’s Fatima Tagnaout runs during the match against Germany.
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Italy’s Cristiana Girelli celebrates after scoring a late winner against Argentina on July 24. Italy won 1-0.
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Italian goalkeeper Francesca Durante makes a save during the match against Argentina.
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Argentina coach German Portanova reacts during the Italy match.
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Jamaican players celebrate on July 23, after their 0-0 draw against France earned them their country’s first-ever point in the Women’s World Cup.
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Jamaica’s Atlanta Primus tugs the shirt of France’s Grace Geyoro.
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Jamaican goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer marshals her defense.
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Jamaica’s Khadija “Bunny” Shaw is sent off for a second bookable offense against France.
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France’s Estelle Cascarino, left, and Shaw battle for the ball.
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Portugal’s Ines Pereira dives in vain as the Netherlands’ Stefanie van der Gragt, not pictured, scores the only goal in the match on July 23.
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Van der Gragt, left, and Portugal’s Jessica Silva battle for possession.
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Silva signs autographs for fans after the match.
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Sweden’s Amanda Ilestedt celebrates after scoring a late winner against South Africa on July 23. Sweden won 2-1.
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South Africa’s Hildah Magaia, who scored the opening goal, runs with the ball alongside Sweden’s Elin Rubensson.
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A South Africa fan shows support during the match.
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Danish players celebrate Amalie Vangsgaard’s late goal that gave them a 1-0 victory over China on July 22.
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China fans show their support prior to their team’s opening match against Denmark.
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China’s Zhang Linyan competes for the ball with Denmark’s Pernille Harder.
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China head coach Shui Qingxia gestures during the match.
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England’s Alessia Russo and Haiti’s Tabita Joseph fight for the ball during the two sides’ opening game on July 22. England’s Lionesses, the reigning European champions, earned a scrappy 1-0 victory over the tournament debutants.
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England’s Georgia Stanway converts the winner against Haiti from the penalty spot.
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Nicolas Delépine, Haiti’s head coach, instructs his team during the match.
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Haiti goalkeeper Kerly Theus jumps to make one of many impressive saves against England.
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Japan’s Jun Endo celebrates with her bench after scoring her team’s fourth goal in a 5-0 win against Zambia on July 22.
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Japan’s Mina Tanaka battles with Zambia’s Agnes Musase.
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Aoba Fujino of Japan is brought down by Zambian goalkeeper Catherine Musonda, resulting in a penalty to Japan. It was later overturned due to offside.
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Japan supporters react following their team’s emphatic victory over Zambia.
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US forward Alex Morgan is surrounded by Vietnam defenders during their opening match on July 22. The United States, the two-time defending champs, won 3-0.
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Lindsey Horan, left, celebrates with US teammate Megan Rapinoe after Horan scored the third goal against Vietnam.
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Players collide in the box as Vietnam goalkeeper Trần Thị Kim Thanh looks to clear the ball away.
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US forward Sophia Smith dribbles the ball against Vietnam. She scored the first two goals of the match.
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Fans cheer during the US-Vietnam match in Auckland, New Zealand.
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Spain’s Esther González wins a header against Costa Rica’s Mariana Benavides on July 21. Spain won 3-0.
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González scores her team’s third goal against Costa Rica.
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A Māori welcoming ceremony is held prior to the Spain-Costa Rica match.
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Switzerland’s Seraina Piubel scores her team’s second goal during its 2-0 victory against the Philippines on July 21.
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The Philippines’ Katrina Guillou takes a shot against Switzerland’s Gaëlle Thalmann. The goal was disallowed.
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A Philippines fan enjoys the pre-match atmosphere. This was the country’s Women’s World Cup debut.
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Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan punches the ball clear during a 0-0 draw against Nigeria on July 21.
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Nigeria’s Uchenna Kanu takes a selfie with fans after the Canada match.
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Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie clears the ball after saving a penalty by Canada’s Christine Sinclair.
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Australia’s Steph Catley, third from left, celebrates scoring her team’s only goal against Ireland on June 20. Australia won 1-0 in Sydney.
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Fans in Melbourne celebrate as they watch the match between Australia and Ireland.
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Ireland’s Heather Payne, left, tries to cross the ball past Australia’s Kyra Cooney-Cross. This was Ireland’s first-ever match in a Women’s World Cup.
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Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold makes a save.
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New Zealand’s Ria Percival and Katie Bowen, in black, compete for the ball with Norway’s Caroline Graham Hansen on July 20. New Zealand won the opening match 1-0. It was the country’s first-ever win at a Women’s World Cup.
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Norway star Ada Hegerberg reacts after a missed chance against New Zealand.
Abbie Parr/AP
New Zealand’s CJ Bott, left, and Norway’s Mathilde Harviken vie for the ball.
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New Zealand fans react during the match against Norway, which was played in Auckland, New Zealand.
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Norway players huddle before the match against New Zealand.
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Fireworks explode during the tournament’s opening ceremony, which was held before the New Zealand-Norway match.
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Dancers perform during the opening ceremony at Auckland’s Eden Park.
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Performers dance during the opening ceremony.
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A performer is pictured during the opening ceremony.
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Benee and Mallrat perform “Do It Again,” the official song of this year’s Women’s World Cup, during the opening ceremony. Benee is from New Zealand and Mallrat is from Australia.
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Dancers take the field during the opening ceremony.
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Children hold flags during the opening ceremony.
Plenty has been said about the US’ mentality this last week, too – former player Carli Lloyd was particularly vocal in her criticism following the 1-1 draw with Portugal – but to put this defeat down to the disintegration of the country’s famed winning mentality would be too simplistic.
“That’s our secret sauce, it’s the insatiable desire to win,” Rapinoe told CNN Sport before the start of the tournament. But defeat doesn’t mean the team lacked the desire to win. It did, however, lack the killer instinct of old, dominating Sweden – the US had 21 shots on goal, 11 on target – without being able to puncture its defense.
That goalkeeper Zećira Mušović was Sweden’s star player says much about the story of the match. That the Swedes only had three touches in the opposition penalty box in the first half and had its first shot on target, through substitute Sofia Jakobsson, in the 85th minute says much about how the winning team played. But it is Sweden which progresses to the last eight to face Japan on Friday. Sport can be brutal.
There were changes to the US team from the 11 that started against Portugal. In came Trinity Rodman and Emily Sonnett, the latter performing a crucial defensive role in midfield as Andonovski switched formation to a five-player midfield.
The new starters played the brightest in the first half and, as the game progressed, the US became more at ease in possession. Though, for a team ranked third in the world, Sweden did little to test the opposition.
Dominating possession and creating several chances – the majority of which fell to Rodman, who twice forced saves from Mušović with strikes from distance – the US had the better of the first half.
Captain Lindsey Horan came the closest to breaking the deadlock, her header from a corner hitting the crossbar in the 34th minute, which caused the US substitutes to rise to their feet on the sidelines.
It was a nervy game – as knockout matches on a stage such as this are – and the longer the match progressed, the more strained the occasion became.
Soon after the restart, Horan forced a fine close-range diving save from Mušović, and again Sweden’s goalkeeper came to her country’s rescue when she prevented Alex Morgan from scoring minutes from full-time with another stop from point-blank range.
In extra-time, Mušović stood firm, first against Morgan and then Smith, the latter trying to beat her at the near post in the 107th minute.
Yet, for all the possession, for all the endeavor, for all the attempts on Sweden’s goal, the US was not clinical enough, which was a problem throughout this tournament.
This being a knockout match, there had to be a winner, and so the game went to penalties; to luck, to nerve and to the most painful of losses for the loser.
