How teams can qualify from each Women's World Cup group
Group play in the Women’s World Cup is moving into its crucial stage, with nations now booking their places in the round of 16.
Here, we take a look at all eight groups and what’s needed to secure a passage to the knockout rounds — and who has already progressed.
– Women’s World Cup bracket and fixtures schedule
This article will be updated with the latest permutations as the group stage progresses.
QUALIFIED FOR ROUND OF 16: Japan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Australia, Nigeria, Netherlands, United States, England, Denmark
EMLIMINATED: Costa Rica, Zambia, Republic of Ireland, Vietnam, Panama, New Zealand, Philippines, Canada, Portugal, China, Haiti
TIEBREAKERS
– points
– goal difference in all matches
– goals scored in all matches
– head-to-head points between teams level on points
– head-to-head goal difference between teams level on points
– head-to-head goals scored between teams level on points
– fair play points (yellow card: -1 point; indirect red card: -3 points; direct red card: -4 points; yellow card and direct red card: -5 points)
– drawing of lots
GROUP A – COMPLETED
Sophie Roman Haug scored a hat trick as Norway put a turbulent two weeks behind them and squeaked into the knockout stages of the Women’s World Cup on goal difference with a 6-0 thrashing of the Philippines at Eden Park.
Winger Caroline Graham Hansen and Guro Reiten also scored to help the 1995 champions finish in second place in Group A above New Zealand with their first win of the tournament.
New Zealand and Switzerland played out an underwhelming 0-0 stalemate, sending the co-hosts out of the tournament and the Europeans through as Group A winners.
New Zealand, who stunned Norway in their opening match before losing to the Philippines in their second, became the first Women’s World Cup hosts to exit in the group stage.
GROUP B – COMPLETED
Hayley Raso scored a brace and Mary Fowler struck after the break as Australia crushed Canada 4-0 to storm into the round of 16 and send the Olympic champions spinning out of the tournament.
Steph Catley slotted a penalty in stoppage time as a relieved nation celebrated the co-hosts’ advance as group winners.
Canada bowed out at the group stage for the first time since 2011 and with some regret after having needed only a draw to go through.
Nigeria secured their place for just the third time in their history after a 0-0 draw with Republic of Ireland.
Debutants Ireland were already eliminated after two defeats but go home having earned their first-ever point at the World Cup.
GROUP C – COMPLETED
Hinata Miyazawa scored twice as Japan put on a counter-attacking clinic to beat Spain 4-0 and secure top spot in Group C. Both teams were already through ahead of the final game, but Japan showed no mercy to make sure they won the group.
Striker Riko Ueki also scored on the break as Japan cut through Spain’s high press three times in the first half before substitute Momoko Tanaka added the fourth with another quality strike eight minutes from time.
It was the first time Spain have conceded four goals in a single match for 11 years. Japan, winners of the 2011 World Cup and runners-up in 2015, remain in New Zealand’s capital to play Norway in the round of 16 on Saturday, while Spain will move north to Auckland to face Switzerland earlier on the same day.
In the other match, debutants Zambia claimed their first-ever victory with a 3-1 win over Costa Rica, although both teams were already out of contention for the knockout stage.
Defender Lushomo Mweemba scored the fastest goal of the tournament so far, with a spectacular volleyed effort at two minutes and 11 seconds, and captain Barbra Banda doubled the lead from the penalty spot just after the half-hour mark. Melissa Herrera reduced the deficit before, against the run of play, Racheal Kundananji scored from Banda’s cross in stoppage time to seal a historic win.
GROUP D – COMPLETED
Lauren James delivered two superb goals as England cruised to a 6-1 victory over China that sees them finish top of Group D.
England had earned a pair of close 1-0 wins to begin their World Cup campaign, but Sarina Wiegman’s side finally found their form in front of goal against China, with Alessia Russo, Lauren Hemp, Chloe Kelly, Rachel Daly and James all finding the scoresheet.
China’s lone goal came from a penalty from Wang Shuang on 57 minutes after Lucy Bronze was judged to have committed a handball. The Lionesses now face a round-of-16 clash against Group B runners-up Nigeria in Brisbane on Monday.
Denmark captain Pernille Harder converted a first-half penalty to register her maiden Women’s World Cup goal, setting up a 2-0 victory over Haiti and a spot for her side in the last 16. Substitute Sanne Troelsgaard sealed the result in stoppage time, and the Danes now meet Australia in Sydney.
GROUP E – COMPLETED
United States finished as runners-up in Group E after being held to a 0-0 draw by Portugal.
Vlatko Andonovski’s side was frustrated by a well-organized Portugal team that almost snatched victory in stoppage-time when striker Ana Capeta hit the post — a strike that, had it gone in, would have sent the USWNT crashing out of the tournament.
The USWNT will face the winner of Group G in Melbourne on Sunday in its first knockout match, likely to be Sweden which needs just a point against bottom-placed Argentina to confirm top place and the matchup.
Esmee Brugts netted two long-range stunners as Netherlands rediscovered their scoring touch in a crushing 7-0 win over Vietnam to take top spot.
The Dutch had only scored once in each of their two previous games but, knowing goal difference could decide the group winner, were 4-0 up inside 25 minutes.
Netherlands will travel to Sydney for their round of 16 tie on Sunday and are likely to face Italy, who sit in second place behind Sweden in Group G.
GROUP F
Wednesday, Aug. 2: Panama vs. France, Jamaica vs. Brazil
FRANCE: Need at least a draw against Panama to be sure to qualify for the knockout stages, but they could yet be eliminated if they are beaten by Panama.
If France beat Panama, they will top the group if Jamaica lose or draw. If both France and Jamaica win, top spot will be decided on group goal difference and goals scored between those two countries. At present, both have a goal difference of +1, and France are top having scored one more goal.
– If both teams win by the same scoreline (so both 1-0), France will win the group
– If both teams win by the same margin, but Jamaica score one more goal (so 2-1 and 1-0), it goes to head-to-head. As their group tie finished 0-0, placings would be decided on Fair Play points, and if level, random drawing of lots.
– If France win by a higher-scoring one-goal margin (so 2-1 to Jamaica’s 1-0), they top the group
– If either team wins by a greater margin (so France 2-0, and Jamaica 1-0), that team wins the group (France in this example)
If France lose and Jamaica win, France are through: 1. Jamaica, 2. France, 3. Brazil, 4. Panama
If France lose and Brazil draw, Brazil are guaranteed to finish second on goal difference. 1. Jamaica, 2. Brazil, 3. France, 4. Panama
If France and Jamaica both lose, the two teams will be level on four points so second place will be decided on group goal difference and goals scored between those two countries. It works in reverse to both teams winning.
– If both teams lose by the same scoreline (so both 1-0), France will finished second on goals scored
– If both teams lose by the same margin, but Jamaica score one more goal (so 1-2 Jamaica and 0-1 France), it goes to head-to-head. As their group tie finished 0-0, placings would be decided on Fair Play points, and if level, random drawing of lots
– If France lose by a higher-scoring one-goal margin (so 1-2 to Jamaica’s 0-1), they finish second
– If either team loses by a greater margin (so France 0-1, and Jamaica 0-2), the team that loses by the smaller margin finishes second
JAMIACA: Need at least draw against Brazil to be sure to qualify for the knockout stages. However, a defeat would leave their continued participation in jeopardy.
If Jamaica beat Brazil, they will top the group if France lose or draw. If both Jamaica and France win, the scenarios in the France section apply for top spot.
If Jamaica lose and France win, Jamaica are out: 1. France, 2. Brazil, 3. Jamaica, 4. Panama
If Jamaica lose and France draw, Jamaica are out: 1. Brazil, 2. France, 3. Jamaica, 4. Panama
If Jamaica and France both lose, both teams are tied on four points for second (see France section.)
BRAZIL: Go into the final group game in third, needing a result to stay in the competition.
Brazil are guaranteed to qualify with a win over Jamaica, and can top the group if France fail to win.
Brazil can only qualify with a draw if France lose, and in that scenario Brazil would definitely be second on goal difference.
PANAMA: Have been eliminated and must beat France and Brazil lose to Jamaica to have any chance of avoiding finishing bottom of the group.
GROUP G
Wednesday, Aug. 2: Argentina vs. Sweden, South Africa vs. Italy
SWEDEN: Have qualified and need a point to win the group. But with a goal difference advantage of 10 over second placed Italy, it would take a huge swing for Sweden not to take first place.
ITALY: Need a win over South Africa to be certain of going through, almost certainly in second.
Will only qualify with a draw if Argentina draw/lose. If Italy draw and Argentina win, the two teams will be level on four points and Argentina are guaranteed to finish second on goal difference.
Cannot qualify with a defeat.
SOUTH AFRICA: Must beat Italy to qualify, and will be guaranteed to finish second if Argentina draw/lose.
If Argentina and South Africa win, second place will be decided between the two countries on group goal difference and goals scored, which is equal at 1-1. That means the team with the biggest win will finish second.
If both teams win by the same scoreline, so finish with identical group goal difference, second place will be decided first on Fair Play (as the group game was a draw), and then by drawing of lots.
ARGENTINA: Must beat Sweden to qualify, and will be guaranteed to finish second if South Africa-Italy is draw.
If Argentina and South Africa win, second is decided as set out in the South Africa section.
GROUP H
Thursday, Aug. 3: South Korea vs. Germany, Morocco vs. Colombia
COLOMBIA: The South Americans only need a point against Morocco to secure top spot in the group — and while they could go out they would have to lose by 4+ goals.
Will still be guaranteed to go through with a defeat if Germany lose/draw.
If Colombia lose to Morocco and Germany win, the three teams will have six points and positions 1-3 will be decided on group goal difference and goals scored:
– Germany would be guaranteed to take one of the top two places, and would almost certainly win the group, due to their +5 GD
– Morocco would have to win by 4+ goals against Colombia to take second ahead of them
– Morocco would have to win by at least 11 goals to have a chance of topping the group ahead of Germany
GERMANY: A win will definitely be enough to send them through regardless of other results.
If Germany and Morocco both win, positions 1-3 with Colombia will be decided on overall group goal difference, with Germany guaranteed a top-two place (see Colombia section.)
If Germany and Morocco both draw, Germany will finish second on goal difference.
If Germany draw and Morocco lose, Germany finish second.
If Germany and Morocco lose, positions 2-4 with South Korea will be decided on overall group goal difference.
– Morocco cannot qualify due to their inferior goal difference
– South Korea would have to beat Germany by 5+ goals to overtake them for second
If Germany lose and Morocco draw or win, Germany are out.
MOROCCO: A victory will definitely earn a top two place as long as Germany do not win.
If Morocco and Germany both win, positions 1-3 with Colombia will be decided on overall group goal difference (see Colombia section) and Morocco would need to win by 4+ goals.
If Morocco and Germany both draw, Morocco are out.
If Morocco draw and Germany lose, Morocco finish second.
If Morocco and Germany lose, positions 2-4 with South Korea will be decided on overall group goal difference (see Germany section) and Morocco cannot qualify,
SOUTH KOREA: Can only qualify if they beat Germany, and Morocco lose. Positions 2-4 with South Korea would then be decided on overall group goal difference (see Germany section) and they would need to win by 5+ goals.
