USWNT scenarios: Can they make 2023 Women's World Cup final? - ESPN

The knockout stage of the 2023 Women's World Cup is all-but set, which means United States' path to the final has been made clear.

After Tuesday's surprise 0-0 draw with Portugal, a match which saw the USWNT come a post's width from exiting the tournament, Vlatko Andonovski's side finished second in Group E.

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The Netherlands smashed Vietnam 7-0 in the simultaneous kickoff to lock in their place atop the group, meaning the U.S. must now take a different road to the one that they likely envisioned when they headed Down Under — and a harder one, after just their second runner's-up finish in Women's World Cup group play.

Back in 2011, when they finished second to Sweden in the group stage, the USWNT still went on to reach the final of the tournament in Germany before losing to Japan. And perhaps there's some level of serendipity to be found here, given the likely opponents that await the USWNT this time around if they hope to match that feat or, indeed, go one better.

First up for the U.S. will be a meeting with a very, very familiar foe: Sweden. Yes, them again. No fixture has been played more at Women's World Cups than this one, with Sunday's meeting (5 a.m ET) representing the seventh time the two nations have locked horns on this stage, as well as the sixth time in succession.

The U.S handily leads the all-time World Cup series with four wins — Sweden have won one game, with one drawn — but the Europeans won the last competitive meeting between the two sides in 2021, when they ended the USWNT's 44-game unbeaten streak via a comprehensive 3-0 win in the group stages of the Tokyo Olympics.

Should Vlatko Andonovski's side find a way past their old rivals they will