The World Cup gods have given fans a treat in Group E, with the two finalists of the 2019 World Cup facing off for the Group E lead.
The Netherlands will be looking to pip the Americans for first place and avoid a clash with Sweden in the Round of 16. First place is up for grabs after the two contenders tied 1-1 in their head-to-head clash on July 27.
The USA are still the favourites to win a record third straight World Cup, while the Netherlands are not receiving the same consideration, especially without star striker Vivianne Miedema due to injury.
The presence of two debutant teams at the World Cup has added another unique dimension to the group, and both Portugal and Vietnam have played the two heavyweights tough and could still have a final say in the group finales.
MORE: Breaking down the USWNT 2023 World Cup squad
Group E standings and schedule
Women's World Cup Group E table & fixtures
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. USA | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | +3 |
| 2. Netherlands | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +1 |
| 3. Portugal | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 |
| 4. Vietnam-E | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | -5 |
- Q = Qualified / E = Eliminated
The four teams in Group E are playing a round-robin format with each nation facing the other three. Group standings are based on points from those three group-stage matches — three points for a win, one for a draw, none for a loss.
The top two teams from each group based on total points advance to the single-game knockouts. If teams are tied on points, goal difference is the first tiebreaker followed by goals scored. If teams are also tied in those categories, another set of tiebreakers is applied.
Group E match schedule
| Date | Match | Time (AEST) | Time (ET) | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, July 22 | USA 3-0 Vietnam | Highlights | Auckland (NZL) | |
| Sun, July 23 | Netherlands 1-0 Portugal | Highlights | Dunedin (NZL) | |
| Thu, July 27 | USA 1-1 Netherlands | Highlights | Wellington (NZL) | |
| Thu, July 27 | Portugal 2-0 Vietnam | Highlights | Hamilton (NZL) | |
| Tue, Aug. 1 | Portugal vs. USA | 5 p.m. | 3 a.m. | Auckland (NZL) |
| Tue, Aug. 1 | Vietnam vs. Netherlands | 5 p.m. | 3 a.m. | Dunedin (NZL) |
Who will win Group E?
Heading into the final matchday, the USA and the Netherlands are neck-and-neck to win Group E, with Canada's Sports Interaction giving the edge to the Dutch.
For Portugal to win the group, they would not only have to upset the No. 1-ranked USA, but they would also need the Netherlands to lose or draw against Vietnam, which is unlikely.
| USA | Netherlands | Portugal | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM (USA) | -120 | -120 | +6600 | — |
| Sports Interaction (Canada) | -127 | -112 | +6950 | — |
| SkyBet (UK) | 10/11 | 10/11 | 150/1 | — |
| Dafabet (India) | 1.80 | 1.90 | 67.00 | — |
| Unibet (Australia) | 1.84 | 1.84 | 71.00 | — |
*Odds as of Aug. 1
Who will qualify from Group E?
The Americans and the Dutch are widely expected to make it out of the group and into the knockouts, according to the betting market. The only thing left to be worked out is the position each will occupy.
For those believing in a Portugal shocker, they are getting odds from 6-to-1 to 10-to-1 at some sportsbooks.
| USA | Netherlands | Portugal | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM (USA) | -5000 | -25000 | +800 | — |
| Sports Interaction (Canada) | -2500 | -10000 | +596 | — |
| SkyBet (UK) | 1/20 | — | 10/1 | — |
| Dafabet (India) | 1.04 | 1.01 | 7.00 | — |
| Unibet (Australia) | — | — | — | — |
*Odds as of Aug. 1
Group E Round of 16 matchups
The top two teams of Group E will face a clash against one of the top two teams of Group G, which contains Sweden, Italy, Argentina and South Africa.
While Sweden would represent a difficult challenge and will most likely top that group, if it is the USA and Netherlands that progress, they will fancy their chances against the other three teams.
Potential path to final for Group E teams
Women's World Cup Round of 16
| Date | Match | Time (AEST) | Time (ET) | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Aug. 5 | 1A vs. 2C | 3 p.m. | 1 a.m. | Auckland (NZL) |
| Sat, Aug. 5 | 1C vs. 2A | 6 p.m. | 4 a.m. | Wellington (NZL) |
| Sun, Aug. 6 | 1E vs. 2G | 12 p.m. | 10 p.m. (Aug. 5) | Sydney (AUS) |
| Sun, Aug. 6 | 1G vs. 2E | 7 p.m. | 5 a.m. | Melbourne (AUS) |
| Mon, Aug. 7 | 1D vs. 2B | 5:30 p.m. | 3:30 a.m. | Brisbane (AUS) |
| Mon, Aug. 7 | 1B vs. 2D | 8:30 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. | Sydney (AUS) |
| Tue, Aug. 8 | 1H vs. 2F | 6 p.m. | 4 a.m. | Melbourne (AUS) |
| Tue, Aug. 8 | 1F vs. 2H | 8:30 p.m. | 7 a.m. | Adelaide (AUS) |
Women's World Cup Quarterfinals
| Date | Match | Time (AEST) | Time (ET) | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Aug. 11 | QF1: 1A/2C vs. 1E/2G | 11 a.m. | 21:00 (Aug. 10) | Wellington (NZL) |
| Fri, Aug. 11 | QF2: 1C/2A vs. 1G/2E | 5:30 p.m. | 3:30 a.m. | Auckland (NZL) |
| Sat, Aug. 12 | QF3: 1B/2D vs. 1F/2H | 5 p.m. | 3 a.m. | Brisbane (AUS) |
| Sat, Aug. 12 | QF4: 1D/2B vs. 1H/2F | 8:30 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. | Sydney (AUS) |
Women's World Cup Semifinals
| Date | Match | Time (AEST) | Time (ET) | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Aug. 15 | QF1 vs. QF2 | 6 p.m. | 4 a.m. | Auckland (NZL) |
| Wed, Aug. 16 | QF3 vs. QF4 | 8 p.m. | 6 a.m. | Sydney (AUS) |
Women's World Cup 3rd Place
| Date | Match | Time (AEST) | Time (ET) | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Aug. 19 | Semifinal losers | 6 p.m. | 4 a.m. | Brisbane (AUS) |
Women's World Cup Final
| Date | Match | Time (AEST) | Time (ET) | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Aug. 20 | Semifinal winners | 8 p.m. | 6 a.m. | Sydney (AUS) |
