Here’s a breakdown of the four teams comprising each Groups E and F in the Women’s World Cup, which starts late Wednesday night PT.
GROUP E
UNITED STATES
Previous World Cup appearances: 8
World Cup record: 40-6-4
Best finish: Champion in 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019
Coach: Vlatko Andonovski
Key players: Alex Morgan, Sophia Smith. Crystal Dunn
What to know: The United States lost one of its best players, forward Mallory Swanson, to injury in an exhibition match against Ireland earlier this year. Swanson was the team’s top scorer this year with seven goals. The team has options to replace her, including Lynn Williams, Trinity Rodman and possibly Megan Rapinoe. Alex Morgan and Rapinoe lead the United States among active players with nine goals each. The United States beat the Netherlands, 2-0, to win the 2019 World Cup. The team’s most memorable World Cup final came in 1999 at the Rose Bowl, when the Americans prevailed over China on penalty kicks. In the 2015 final, Carli Lloyd scored three goals in the first 16 minutes. Overall, the U.S. is 8-1-1 against the Dutch. It will be the first meeting with Vietnam. The Americans have won all 10 matches they’ve played against Portugal.
VIETNAM
Previous World Cup appearances: 0
World Cup record: 0-0
Best finish: N/A
Coach: Mai Duc Chung
Key players: Huynh Nhu, Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung
What to know: Vietnam made team history just by qualifying for the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Vietnam had never qualified for a World Cup, men’s or women’s, in the country’s history. After losing to China in the quarterfinals of the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, Vietnam was placed in a three-team, round-robin playoff among quarterfinal losers for a World Cup spot. Vietnam defeated both Thailand and Taiwan to qualify. Midfielder Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung is the player with the most international appearances with 76. She has scored 54 goals. Captain Huynh Nhu has scored 67 times in 72 international appearances. Vietnam has never played any of the countries in its group.
NETHERLANDS
Previous World Cup appearances: 2
World Cup record: 7-3-1
Best finish: Runner-up in 2019
Coach: Andries Jonker
Key players: Jill Roord, Lieke Martens, Daniëlle van de Donk
What to know: The team lost its all-time leading scorer, forward Vivianne Miedema, to an ACL injury in 2022. Miedema confirmed earlier this year that she won’t be playing at the World Cup. Without her, the Dutch will rely on scoring punch from players such as Jill Roord and Lieke Martens. The Netherlands has a 1-8-1 record against the United States, though only one of those matches was in a World Cup: the 2019 World Cup final, which the Americans won, 2-0. The team’s game against the Americans at the Tokyo Olympics ended in a 2-2 draw. The Netherlands’ only loss to Portugal was in a 2003 World Cup qualifier in 2001. This will be the first meeting with World Cup newcomer Vietnam.
PORTUGAL
Previous World Cup appearances: 0
World Cup record: 0-0
Best finish: N/A
Coach: Francisco Neto
Key players: Jessica Silva, Diana Silva, Kika Nazareth
What to know: Portugal will make its first World Cup appearance after qualifying through the playoff tournament. Its second-most experienced player, Carole Costa with 151 national team appearances, scored a stoppage-time penalty against Cameroon to win the final playoff match, 2-1. Portugal made its second appearance in the European Championship last year, exiting in the group stage. Portugal has lost and been shut out in all 10 of its matches against the United States, losing by a combined 39-0. In three meetings, it has never beaten the Netherlands, losing 3-2 twice (2022, 2014) and 7-0 (2013). Portugal has never played Vietnam.
GROUP F
FRANCE
Previous World Cup appearances: 4
World Cup record: 10-3-6
Best finish: Semifinals in 2011
Coach: Hervé Renard
Key players: Wendie Renard, Eugénie Le Sommer, Grace Geyoro
What to know: After Wendie Renard announced she would no longer play for the national team, the French soccer federation replaced Coach Corinne Diacre with Hervé Renard this year. Renard recently managed the Saudi Arabia men’s team during the 2022 World Cup. Wendie Renard has since returned to the team. With 88 goals and counting, Eugenie Le Sommer is France’s all-time leading scorer. Renard is one of the most decorated center backs in French soccer, with 14 French League titles and eight European Cups to her name. France will be without Delphine Cascarino, who recently suffered an ACL injury while playing for her club team, Lyon. France has never lost to Brazil, with six wins and five draws in 11 matches. It won its only match against Jamaica and has never faced Panama.
JAMAICA
Previous World Cup appearances: 1
World Cup record: 0-0-3
Best finish: Group stage in 2019
Coach: Lorne Donaldson
Key players: Khadija Shaw, Trudi Carter, Jody Brown
What to know: Jamaica will be making its second World Cup appearance after becoming the first Caribbean team to qualify for the tournament in 2019. Jamaica lost all three group stage games in 2019 – 3-0 to Brazil, 5-0 to Italy and 4-1 to Australia. Havana Solaun scored the team’s only goal of the tournament. Khadija “Bunny” Shaw is the team’s captain and all-time leader with 38 goals in 56 appearances. The Manchester City striker was the second-leading scorer in the Women’s Super League this season. Jamaica has defeated Panama twice, including a victory in qualifying for the 2019 World Cup. Jamaica’s all-time record against Brazil is 0-2. It lost its only match against France.
BRAZIL
Previous World Cup appearances: 8
World Cup record: 20-10-4
Best finish: Runner-up in 2007
Coach: Pia Sundhage
Key players: Marta, Debinha, Rafaelle Souza, Gabi Nunes
What to know: Brazil will be making its ninth World Cup appearance this year. The team is led by six-time FIFA Player of the Year Marta, who is playing in her sixth – and last, she says – World Cup. The team’s most memorable World Cup finish came in 2007 when it lost in the final to Germany, 2-0. Brazil has dominated South American women’s soccer, winning eight of the nine Copa America Femenina tournaments that have been played. Brazil lost to England following a penalty shootout on April 6. Five days later, the team rebounded to defeat Germany, 2-1. Brazil is winless against France in 11 matches, with five draws and six losses. Brazil and Jamaica have met twice, with Brazil winning both matches, including a 3-0 victory in the 2019 World Cup. Brazil and Panama have never played.
PANAMA
Previous World Cup appearances: 0
World Cup record: 0-0
Best finish: N/A
Coach: Ignacio Quintana
Key players: Marta Cox, Riley Tanner, Lineth Cedeño, Yenith Bailey
What to know: Known as Las Canaleras, Panama will make its debut in the World Cup this year. Panama came close to qualifying for the 2019 tournament but was defeated by Argentina in the CONMEBOL-CONCACAF playoff. This year, Panama was the final team to qualify, defeating Papua New Guinea and Paraguay in the inter-confederation playoffs in February. Panama has faced Jamaica twice in its history, losing both matches. Panama’s upcoming matches against Brazil and France will be its first-ever encounters with those teams.
