With eight groups of four teams and 64 World Cup matches in total this month, it can be hard to keep track of it all! Luckily, we’ve got you covered. Here’s the scenario for every team to reach the knockouts.
We’ve got the standings for every group, with the results and fixtures sorted by groups too.
If you want to see the fixtures and results by date instead, click here.
DECIDING FACTORS FOR PROGRESSION
The top two teams from each group reach the knockouts.
If points are level, it is decided by goal difference, then by goals scored, then by head-to-head record, head to head goal difference, head to head goals scored, and so on until coming down to fair play record (aka yellow and cards conceded).
After that? The drawing of lots. Let’s hope we don’t see that!
WHICH TEAMS ARE THROUGH?
Switzerland (A), Norway (A), Spain (C), Japan (C), Sweden (G)
WHICH TEAMS ARE OUT?
New Zealand, Philippines, Ireland, Costa Rica, Zambia, Vietnam
FULL GROUP STANDINGS: CLICK HERE
ABSURD CAICEDO WORLDIE ROCKS SFS | 00:48
GROUP A
Switzerland and Norway have progressed on five and four points respectively.
A 0-0 draw with Switzerland on the final day meant New Zealand finished on four points, but were knocked out due to goal difference – with Norway thrashing debutants Philippines 6-0 on the final day to leapfrog NZ.
For the Philippines, their first appearance at the tournament also delivered their first win, a 1-0 victory over co-hosts New Zealand.
But they nevertheless finished fourth in the group on three points.
Group A fixtures, results, and scorers
20 July: New Zealand 1-0 Norway (Hannah Wilkinson 48’)
21 July: Philippines 0-2 Switzerland (Ramona Bachmann 45’ pen, Seraina Piubel 64’)
25 July: New Zealand 0-1 Philippines (Sarina Bolden 24’)
25 July: Switzerland 0-0 Norway
30 July: Norway 6-0 Philippines (Sophie Roman Haug 6’, 17’, 90+5, Caroline Graham Hansen 31’, Alicia Barker 48’ OG, Guro Reiten 53’ P)
30 July: Switzerland 0-0 New Zealand
GROUP B
Ireland’s debut journey at the Women’s World Cup has come to an end after a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Canada. They are now unable to make the knockouts, but the other three teams all have a chance.
For each of Canada, Nigeria and Australia, a win in their final games will ensure progression to the knockouts.
Canada can get through to the knockouts with a draw against Australia, while Nigeria can get through to the knockouts with a draw against Ireland.
But for Australia, a draw would only be enough if Ireland beat Nigeria.
If Ireland beat Nigeria by two or more goals and Australia draws, Australia will progress.
If Ireland beat Nigeria by one goal, it comes down to goals scored, meaning Australia must score more goals (than Nigeria) in its draw with Canada.
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Group B fixtures, results, and scorers
20 July: Australia 1-0 Republic of Ireland (Steph Catley 52’ pen)
21 July: Nigeria 0-0 Canada
26 July: Canada 2-1 Republic of Ireland (Megan Connolly 45+5’ OG, Adriana Leon 53’; Katie McCabe 4’)
27 July: Australia 2-3 Nigeria (Emily van Egmond 45+1’, Alanna Kennedy 90+10’; Uchenna Kanu 45+6, Osinachi Ohale 65’, Asisat Oshoala 72’)
31 July: Canada vs Australia
31 July: Republic of Ireland vs Nigeria
GROUP C
Japan has remarkably finished top of the group with a perfect record of three wins, 11 goals scored, and none conceded.
They beat Spain 4-0 in the final matchday of the group, with both teams having secured progression before the game.
Spain go through thanks to wins over Costa Rica and Zambia.
Zambia finish third after the debutants secured a first-ever World Cup goal and win, beating Costa Rica 3-1.
Group C fixtures, results, and scorers
21 July: Spain 3-0 Costa Rica (Valeria del Campo 21’ OG, Aitana Bonmati 23’, Esther Gonzalez 27’)
22 July: Zambia 0-5 Japan (Miyazawa Hinata 43’, 62’, Tanaka Mina 55’, Endo Jun 71’, Ueki Riko 90+11’ pen)
26 July: Japan 2-0 Costa Rica (Hikaru Naomoto 25’, Aoba Fujino 27’)
26 July: Spain 5-0 Zambia (Teresa Abelleira 9’, Jennifer Hermoso 13’, 70’, Alba Redondo 59’, 85’)
31 July: Japan 4-0 Spain
31 July: Costa Rica 1-3 Zambia
GROUP D
England are in the driver’s seat to secure qualification for the knockout stages thanks to back-to-back 1-0 victories over Haiti and Denmark.
The Lionesses now just need a draw at minimum in their final group game against China to progress to the Round of 16.
But the real intrigue now comes down to China and Denmark.
China face England while Denmark take on Haiti, who are yet to secure a point but have battled heroically in both of their games.
Both China and Denmark are level on three points and goal difference (0).
Although Denmark have the advantage in head-to-head thanks to a 1-0 win over China, the first port of call in separating the teams is goal difference, then it goes to most group goals scored and only then does it turn to their head-to-head record.
Group D fixtures, results, and scorers
22 July: England 1-0 Haiti (Stanway 29’ pen)
22 July: Denmark 1-0 People’s Republic of China (Vangsgaard 90+1’)
28 July: England 1-0 Denmark (Lauren James 6’)
28 July: People’s Republic of China 1-0 Haiti (Wang Shuang 74’)
1 Aug: People’s Republic of China vs England
1 Aug: Haiti vs Denmark
GROUP E
After two losses in as many games, Vietnam are unable to progress to the knockout stages.
But the battle for the top two spots is going to be a close-run thing in the final matchday.
The US and Netherlands are level on four points, with Portugal eyeing an upset on three points. For each of those teams, a win would guarantee progression.
For the US, a draw against Portugal would be enough to progress – but could cost them top spot if Netherlands beat Vietnam.
For the Dutch, a draw against Vietnam would be enough to progress regardless of the result between US-Portugal.
For Portugal, a draw could be enough – but only if Vietnam beat the Netherlands. If both matches are drawn, the US and the Netherlands finish on five points and Portugal on four, with Vietnam on one point.
Group E fixtures, results, and scorers
22 July: United States 3-0 vs Vietnam (Sophia Smith 14’, 45+7’, Lindsey Horan 77’)
23 July: Netherlands 1-0 Portugal (Stefanie van der Gragt 13’)
27 July: United States 1-1 Netherlands (Lindsey Horan 62’; Jill Roord 17’)
27 July: Portugal 2-0 Vietnam (Telma Encarnacao 7’, Francisca Nazareth 21’)
1 Aug: Portugal vs United States
1 Aug: Vietnam vs Netherlands
GROUP F
France and Jamaica are neck-and-neck at the top, with France only ahead currently thanks to scoring one more goal than the Reggae Girlz.
If France beat Panama – eliminated after two defeats – in the final game, they will progress. They will also progress with a draw, regardless of the other result (but would lose top spot).
Even a loss could be enough depending on the other result! If France lose to Panama and Jamaica beat Brazil, Jamaica would top the group and France would qualify second.
If France lose to Panama but Jamaica and Brazil draw, BOTH of the other teams would leap-frog France.
If France lose to Panama and Brazil beat Jamaica, Brazil would top the group and France or Jamaica would be only be split in the battle for second place by goal difference (and so on).
For Jamaica, a draw with Brazil would be enough for them to progress regardless of the other result. Even a loss offers a chance at progression – as I wrote above, if France lose to Panama and Brazil beat Jamaica, Brazil would top the group and France or Jamaica would be only be split in the battle for second place by goal difference (and so on).
For Brazil, a win guarantees progression. A draw would only be enough if Panama beat France.
Group F fixtures, results, and scorers
23 July: France 0-0 Jamaica
24 July: Brazil 4-0 Panama (Ary Borges 19’, 39’, 70’, Beatriz Zaneratto 48’)
29 July: France 2-1 Brazil (Eugenie Le Sommer 17; Wendie Renard 83’; Debinha 58’)
29 July: Panama 0-1 Jamaica (Allyson Swaby 56’)
2 Aug: Panama vs France
2 Aug: Jamaica vs Brazil
GROUP G
Sweden are into the knockout stages thanks to a resounding 5-0 victory over Italy in their second Group G contest.
Although Italy remain in pole position for the other knockout spot in the group, the heavy loss has given their goal difference an almighty hiding.
Italy will make it to the Round of 16 if they can beat South Africa, who sit in last place on the ladder.
They could also draw against Banyana Banyana and qualify for the knockouts, but they’d have to rely on Sweden beating or drawing with Argentina in their final group game.
Argentina can still qualify for the Round of 16 if they beat Sweden and Italy either lose or draw with South Africa due to their superior goal difference.
As for South Africa, they could also sneak into the knockouts if they beat Italy and hope Sweden beat or draw with Argentina.
Group G fixtures, results, and scorers
23 July: Sweden 2-1 South Africa (Fridolina Rolfo 63’, Amanda Ilestedt 90’; Hildah Magaia 48’)
24 July: Italy 1-0 Argentina (Cristiana Girelli 87’)
28 Jul: Argentina 2-2 South Africa (Sophia Braun 74’, Romina Nunez 79’; Linda Motihalo 30’, Thembi Kgatlana 66’)
29 Jul: Sweden 5-0 Italy (Amanda Ilestedt 39’, 50’, Fridolina Rolfo 44’, Stina Blackstenius 45+1’, Rebecka Blomqvist 90+5’)
2 Aug: Argentina vs Sweden
2 Aug: South Africa vs Italy
GROUP H
After two matchdays, it is Colombia who lead the table with a perfect record of two wins and six points.
Heavyweights Germany, the world number two side, are second on three points after a win and a loss – level with Morocco on points but 10 ahead on goal difference.
South Korea are last with two losses from two games.
That sees the final matchday become incredibly fascinating.
Colombia face Morocco, where a win or a draw would guarantee progression and top spot for Colombia.
A loss could still see them progress depending on the result of the other match (South Korea vs Germany, if Germany lose or draw). A loss could also see them progress ahead of Morocco regardless of the other result so long as they do not lose by four or more goals.
For Germany, a win over South Korea would see them progress. A draw would be enough if Morocco lose or draw their match (thanks to goal difference).
For Germany, even a loss would see them progress thanks to their big goal difference advantage – Morocco would be out and South Korea has to beat Germany by five or more to leapfrog them into second.
For Morocco, a win would definitely see them progress so long as Germany don’t also win.
If Morocco and Germany both win, it will go down to goal difference, where Germany have a huge advantage and would almost certainly take top spot. Morocco would need to win by four or more to leapfrog Colombia.
For Morocco, a draw would be enough if Germany lose, but a loss would see them out.
South Korea need to beat Germany and see Morocco lose.
That would see Germany, Morocco, and South Korea all finish on three points behind Colombia on nine.
It would again come down to goal difference – South Korea is currently on -3, better than Morocco’s -5.
Group H fixtures, results, and scorers
24 Jul: Germany 6-0 Morocco (Alexandra Popp 11’, 39’, Klara Bühl 46’, Hanane Aït El Hag own-goal 54’, Yasmin Mrabet own-goal 79’, Lea Schüller 90’)
25 Jul: Colombia 2-0 Republic of Korea (Catalina Usme 30’ pen, Linda Caicedo 39’)
30 July: Republic of Korea 0-1 Morocco (Ibtissam Jraidi 6’)
30 July: Germany 1-2 Colombia (Alexandra Popp 89’ pen; Linda Caicedo 52’, Manuela Vanegas 90+7’)
3 Aug: Republic of Korea vs Germany
3 Aug: Morocco vs Colombia
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