Updated USA Women's World Cup Schedule: On to Portugal

by

Jul 31, 2023

On Thursday, July 20, the soccer world will focus on the 2023 Women’s World Cup, where Team USA is favored to win their third-straight WC. USWNT opened the tournament priced at +240 to bring home the trophy at the FanDuel Sportsbook, which has ticked up to +270 as of July 31. No team is getting more action in the World Cup than the United States.

USWNT Group E Favorite

The United States is a slight favorite to win Group E (-115), followed by the Netherlands (+100), with Portugal (+10000) a distant third, and Vietnam eliminated at the FanDuel Sportsbook (as of July 31). Their odds of getting eliminated in the group stage significantly increased from +6400 a week ago to +1400 going into the match against Portugal.

How to Watch USWNT in the World Cup 

Tuesday, August 1

3:00 a.m. – United States vs. Portugal (FOX | FOXSports.com | FOX Sports App | Telemundo)

Portugal +100 | Draw +500 | United States -450

If the USWNT wins Group E as expected, they will move on to the Round of 16, which begins on August 5 and runs through August 8. Should the USA win their group, they would take on Group G’s runner-up in Sydney. If the US Women become runners-up, they will take on the Group G winner in Melbourne.

USWNT vs. Portugal

The USWNT is the clear favorite in this match, as they are the defending champions and have been one of the best teams in the world for the past decade. On the other hand, Portugal is a lower-ranked team, but they will be looking to give the United States a run for their money.

The Stars and Stripes have been inconsistent in the group stage. They have struggled to score goals and will need to find their scoring touch against Portugal.

Portugal has a strong defense, and they will be looking to frustrate the USWNT and create chances on the counter-attack. This should be a close match, but the USWNT should be able to get the job done and finish top of Group E.

Here are some key players to watch in this match:

  • For the USWNT: Alex Morgan, Sophia Smith, and Trinity Rodman
  • For Portugal: Carole Costa, Diana Silva, and Dolores Silva

The winner of this match will be determined by who can control the midfield and create more chances. The USWNT has the better players, but Portugal will be fighting for their World Cup lives so they will be up for the challenge.

USWNT World Cup Results

United States 3, Vietnam 0 (Friday, July 21)

The United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) opened its 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory over Vietnam. Sophia Smith scored two goals in the first half, and Lindsey Horan added a third in the second half. The USWNT dominated possession and had a 28-0 shot advantage. Vietnam made a valiant effort but was no match for the defending champions.

United States 1, Netherlands 1 (Wednesday, July 26)

In a surprising turn, the US women’s team played to a draw against the Netherlands in their second match of the World Cup. This unexpected result has stirred mixed emotions, inciting questions about coach Vlatko Andonovski’s lineup selection. Despite criticism for the performance in the first half and the underutilization of Rose Lavelle, the team showed resilience in the second half, overpowering the Dutch and demonstrating their capacity to compete even when not at peak performance. While this match may be viewed as a wake-up call, with effective lineup adjustments, the US remains tournament favorites.

USWNT Players to Watch

A combination of experienced and emerging talents will spearhead the United States team, with notable figures such as Megan Rapinoe, forward Alex Morgan, and the versatile midfielder Lindsey Horan forming the squad’s core.

At just 21 years of age, Trinity Rodman is anticipated to contribute significantly from the substitutes bench. Another promising young forward is Sophia Smith, the favorite to score the most goals. Despite being only 22, she’s ripe for a breakout performance. The squad’s youngest member, Alyssa Thompson, could potentially be its most gifted. Making her World Cup debut at just 18, this lightning-fast attacker is undoubtedly a rising star.

Stage of Elimination Odds (as of July 31)

Runner-Up  +380
Semifinals +380
Quarterfinals  +430
Round of 16  +470
Group Stage  +1400

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.

Thumbnail photo via Dustin Safranek-USA TODAY Sports

Picked For You