In its earliest exit ever in a major tournament, the reigning world champion U.S. women’s soccer team was eliminated from the round of 16 on Aug. 6 in the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Melbourne after losing 5-4 to Sweden in a penalty kick shootout.
The Americans, a favorite to repeat as champions, played four matches throughout the tournament, winning one and drawing two before Sunday’s elimination loss.
After finishing regulation and extra time without scoring or allowing a goal, the U.S. team missed three penalty kicks by Megan Rapinoe, Sophia Smith and Kelley O’Hara, watching its championship aspirations vanish as Sweden’s Lina Hurtig’s deciding goal barely crossed the line.
Vlatko Andonovski, coach of the U.S. team, voiced his disappointment over the outcome at the postgame press conference.
“It shows just how cruel this game can be and how small of a detail makes a difference between winning and losing,” Andonovski.
Long dominating the sport and winning four Women’s World Cup titles in the first eight editions of the tournament (1991, 1999, 2015, 2019), the U.S. team once again set high expectations this season. Before Sunday, the U.S. women’s team reached at least the semifinals in all eight World Cups and never finished below third place.
Several San Diego Wave players made the roster for this year’s Women’s World Cup team, led by forward Alex Morgan, co-captain of the U.S. women’s team, and defender Naomi Girma. The Wave also had international players playing for their respective countries, including goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan (Canada), forward Sofia Jakobsson (Sweden), and midfielder Emily van Egmond (Australia).
In previous years, Morgan, an Encinitas resident playing in her fourth World Cup, has played a crucial role in the U.S. team’s success, guiding them to a pair of Women’s World Cup titles (2015, 2019).
“Just devastated. It feels like a bad dream,” Morgan said after the game. “The team put everything out there tonight. I feel like we dominated, but it doesn’t matter. We’re going home and it’s the highs and lows of the sport of soccer. So, yeah, it doesn’t feel great. I’m just ready to get back to San Diego and get back to work.”
Sweden will face Japan in a quarterfinal match at 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 11, aired on Fox.
