The U.S. women’s national team will have its knockout fate determined in its Group E finale against Portugal on Tuesday in New Zealand.
With the game kicking off in the early morning hours back home in the USA, the USWNT will look to keep their perfect knockout qualification record alive, having reached the knockout stage of every single Women’s World Cup to date, winning their group on all but one occasion.
It will require only a point to achieve that goal, but victory against Portugal will still be of critical importance, knowing that anything less will likely see them finish behind the Netherlands in the final Group E standings, handing the U.S. a much tougher route to the World Cup final.
Portugal need victory to escape the group in their first-ever Women’s World Cup appearance, and such a massive accomplishment will require a massive upset. Defeat for the U.S. will almost certainly leave them on the outside looking in, unless the Dutch are also similarly stunned by Vietnam.
MORE: All scenarios for the USWNT to reach the knockout stage of the 2023 Women’s World Cup
The Sporting News is following the USA vs Portugal match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
USA vs Portugal live score
Score (1H)
Goal scorers
USA
0
—
Portugal
0
—
Starting lineups:
USA (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Naeher (GK) — 23. Fox, 8. Ertz, 4. Girma, 19. Dunn — 16. Lavelle, 17. Sullivan, 10. Horan — 20. Rodman, 13. Morgan, 11. S. Smith.
Portugal (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Pereira (GK) — 9. Borges, 15. C. Costa, 19. D. Gomes, 2. Amado — 11. T Pinto, 14. Dol. Silva, 8. Norton — 10. J. Silva, 20. Nazareth, 16. Dia. Silva.
Women’s World Cup Group E live standings
Team
PTS
GP
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
1. Netherlands
7
3
2
1
0
7
1
+6
2. USA
5
3
1
2
0
4
1
+3
3. Portugal
4
3
1
1
1
2
1
+1
4. Vietnam
0
3
0
0
3
0
6
-6
USA vs Portugal live updates, highlights, commentary
USA vs Portugal: First Half
43rd min: Sophia Smith hacks down Ana Borges and is whistled for a foul. Somehow, that’s not a booking given Lavelle earned one for less not five minutes before. Entirely inconsistent officiating so far.
Meanwhile, the Dutch score a fifth against Vietnam, and the distance for the U.S. to go to win this group feels cavernous now.
39th min: Rose Lavelle is booked for a foul in midfield, and earns a booking, which means she’s suspended for a potential Round of 16 match. It’s, in truth, a dicey call from the official, who had let a ton go before that moment.
Lavelle being suspended is huge, considering the U.S. very well may finish second in the group, which leaves them with a likely game against Sweden in the knockout stage.
Rose Lavelle will be suspended for the #USWNT’s next match. If there is a next match.
— Doug McIntyre (@ByDougMcIntyre) August 1, 2023
37th min: English official Rebecca Welch has let a LOT of physicality from Portugal go without blowing her whistle. Emily Fox and Crystal Dunn both felled without a call. Can’t be long until the USWNT players get frustrated by that. Dunn is slow to get up, but it looks more like she’s trying to make a point than she’s truly in pain.
The U.S. have spent the better part of the last 10 minutes in their own defensive half. They can’t get anything going up front.
33rd min: Everything is just so incredibly sloppy for the U.S. Emily Fox, under no pressure whatsoever on the right flank, just loses the ball over the touchline. Yikes.
30 minutes in and I have a report: 👎
— scuffed (@scuffedpod) August 1, 2023
28th min: Portugal push forward into the attacking third again, and come close to creating an opportunity. They are finding lots of joy down the right flank.
For the second straight match against a European opponent, the U.S. is being out-possessed through the first half-hour of the game. The midfield has not had any influence over the game, with Andi Sullivan again invisible at the No. 6 spot.
According to FIFA stats, passes completed so far:
Portugal: 97
U.S.: 55
— Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) August 1, 2023
#USWNT No. 6 Andi Sullivan has 5 touches through the first 20 minutes.
Sorry, that’s just not enough influence from the DM position at a possessionally dominant team. The result is a massive gaping hole in midfield.
Ertz HAS to play here moving forward. https://t.co/8lYh59a6qk
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) August 1, 2023
23rd min: A second U.S. corner is defended very well by Ines Pereira who punches away under heavy traffic. Then, Emily Fox wins a free-kick in a dangerous position at the top of the attacking third, but it’s again bravely punched away by Pereira who takes a thumping from Alex Morgan and needs treatment.
Meanwhile, it’s a fourth goal for the Dutch against Vietnam, and the U.S. now surely need to win by multiple goals to have a shot at winning the group.
19th min: Sophia Smith is clattered in midfield, a dangerous tackle from Dolores Silva, who is lucky not to be booked. That gives Vlatko Andonovski a chance to have a chat with some players to discuss tactics, while Smith receives treatment. She’s fine to continue.
16th min: Chance, Portugal! Look out! A sensational through-ball completely slices open the U.S. midfield and defense in one fell swoop, sending Jessica Silva clean through on goal! The Portugal striker does not have the composure necessary to finish the chance, however, and she takes the shot far too early, scuffing it well wide. Alyssa Naeher gave it a dive, but it’s out of her reach and out for a goal kick. Wonder if she heard footsteps, real or imagined.
Meanwhile, the Dutch have scored AGAIN and it’s 3-0 over Vietnam. The U.S. now need a 2-0 victory here to win the group.
Jéssica Silva tries her luck but her effort goes just wide 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/5SKIKZrqEF
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 1, 2023
14th min: Chance, USA! The best chance for the U.S. so far is created by Sophia Smith, who latches onto a vertical ball down the left and lofts it deep into the penalty area to the far post. Lynn Williams is wide open, and heads it across to Alex Morgan, but Ines Pereira gets to the feed before Morgan can reach it. Good goalkeeping; had Morgan got there, it’s a tap-in goal.
Watch in USA:
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 1, 2023
12th min: Andi Sullivan is thumped in midfield by 20-year-old Francisca Nazareth. The USWNT expected a physical battle from Portugal.
Netherlands score again, and goal differential could be a very big story here if they continue to pour on more vs. Vietnam.
Watch Netherlands goal vs. Vietnam in USA:
It’s been an absolutely dream start for the Netherlands ⚽️⚽️
It’s Katja Snoeijs with the clinical finish to double the advantage! pic.twitter.com/imGspGzIyn
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 1, 2023
9th min: The Portuguese have a decent spell of attacking possession, and it ends with Andreia Norton blasting a shot miles over the bar.
The Dutch have already gone in front of Vietnam, and they now lead Group E as it stands, with still lots of time remaining for that to change.
Watch Netherlands goal vs. Vietnam in USA:
THERE IT IS!
Lieke Martens finds the back of the net with a wonderful chip and becomes the first player to score in three FIFA World Cups for Netherlands 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/owhgTKhmsc
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 1, 2023
3rd min: It’s Alex Morgan in front of goal again who provides another half-chance, with a Lynn Williams cross meeting Morgan at the near post. Morgan’s attempted flick with her back to goal is defended, but it wins a corner.
Rose Lavelle, in her first start, is the set-piece specialist for the U.S. and her delivery is perfect, right to the head of Williams, but the angle is too tight and Ines Pereira can collect.
Watch in USA:
Alex Morgan with a good opportunity for the @USWNT at the near post 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/F4M6am8IRh
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 1, 2023
1st min: The U.S. have a decent chance right from kickoff as Lindsey Horan gets on the ball wide and sends a cross to Alex Morgan. The USWNT striker gets up for the header, but can’t get on it with two opportunities.
Sophia Smith latched onto a ball down the left but lost it out of touch. Lynn Williams has already lost a boot.
Kickoff: The final Group E matches at the 2023 Women’s World Cup are off and running! We’ll keep an eye on the Netherlands vs Vietnam game as well, but it’s expected that game will result in three points for the Dutch. If the U.S. win, goal differential could come into play, so it’s worth keeping an eye on proceedings in that game as well.
Matchnight at Eden Park #uswnt pic.twitter.com/dbtP5d6wIa
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) August 1, 2023
USA vs Portugal: Pre-match commentary, analysis, stats, and more
15 mins to kick: There’s a big spotlight on Lynn Williams tonight after she earned the first World Cup start of her career. Jenny Taft of Fox reported on the pregame show that Vlatko Andonovski informed her she’d be starting this game the morning after the Netherlands draw.
Don’t forget, Trinity Rodman scored a brace off the bench against Wales in the USWNT’s World Cup tuneup friendly, and will be a dangerous late option here against tired Portuguese legs.
“I am excited and I am ready.”@JennyTaft on Lynn William’s reaction to her finding out about starting toady against Portugal 👏 pic.twitter.com/Lhz4cKN7nC
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 1, 2023
30 mins to kick: Yellow card suspensions start to become a reality at this stage of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
For the U.S. there are two players who would pick up a one-game ban with their next booking, that being midfielders Lindsey Horan and Rose Lavelle. Portugal have Ana Borges, Diana Gomes, and Jessica Silva all on the precipice.
Tomorrow’s players a booking away from missing the second round:
🇩🇰 Rikke Sevecke
🏴 Lauren Hemp
🏴 Georgia Stanway
🇭🇹 Melchie Dumornay
🇭🇹 Dayana Pierre-Louis
🇳🇱 Danielle van de Donk
🇵🇹 Ana Borges
🇵🇹 Jessica Silva
🇵🇹 Diana Gomes
🇺🇸 Lindsey Horan
🇺🇸 Rose Lavelle#FIFAWWC
— Rich Laverty (@RichJLaverty) July 31, 2023
45 mins to kick: Looking at the confirmed Portugal lineup, there are a few interesting calls by head coach Francisco Neto. He’s made a change in goalkeeper, with Ines Pereira returning to the fold in place of Patricia Morais, after the latter kept a clean sheet against Vietnam.
He has also brought Diane Gomes in along the back line, replacing Catarina Amado, plus a whopping three changes in midfield. This lineup is much more like the one that played the Netherlands in the opener, after rotating the side heavily against Vietnam.
Já temos 11 inicial!#PORUSA #FIFAWWC #Navegadoras pic.twitter.com/N5wiVgei95
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) August 1, 2023
1 hour to kick: A big spotlight will be on Andi Sullivan tonight. With Vlatko Andonovski selecting to leave Julie Ertz at center-back for a third straight match, it means Sullivan continues at the No. 6 spot despite her extremely poor performance against the Netherlands.
Sullivan was largely at fault for the Dutch goal, and she collected just 47 touches throughout the match, an extremely low total for the No. 6 on a possessionally dominant side. She needs a much better performance here to justify leaving Alana Cook on the sideline and playing Ertz out of position.
It must be really confusing to be Alana Cook right now #USWNT
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) August 1, 2023
1 hour 15 mins to kick: The USWNT lineup is out early. Rose Lavelle is IN the starting lineup, and while it’s unknown whether she is match fit for a full 90 minute performance, she will almost surely go at least 60 unless this is a blowout at halftime.
The biggest surprise is that Lynn Williams starts in place of Trinity Rodman, who was wasteful against the Netherlands. Julie Ertz remains at center-back, with Alana Cook still on the sidelines. Ertz was billed as an emergency CB option coming into the tournament, but has started all three group stage games.
The XI in Auckland 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Bq1S5R0sMt
— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) August 1, 2023
1 hour 30 mins to kick: Portugal playmaker Dolores Silva, who is the key individual for the U.S. to stop if they wish to keep the Europeans out of the net, is taking the World Cup head on, but remembers to appreciate how important this experience is for her country no matter the result.
Unlike many of her international teammates, who are with either Benfica or Sporting, Silva plays for domestic club Braga after a long journey playing in Germany and Spain. She’s as experienced and battle-tested as they come.
Silva was benched against Vietnam after a poor 65 minutes against the Netherlands, but could return here with Portugal knowing they must get goals to reach the knockout stage.
“I see a very proud group representing Portugal at the biggest competition.”
Portugal midfielder Dolores Silva is excited for her side’s historic debut at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/vIufr8eBLP
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 23, 2023
1 hour 45 mins to kick: Alex Morgan is a USWNT legend, but she is not the same player she once was. She has provided very solid hold-up play through the first two U.S. matches at this 2023 Women’s World Cup, but her threat to score has diminished significantly.
It’s no guarantee she starts tonight, or the rest of the tournament. If Vlatko Andonovski wishes for a more pacey, vertical attack, he could decide to bench Alex Morgan and start Lynn Williams, moving Sophia Smith to CF. He could also decide to sit Trinity Rodman as well, with Williams entering. Carli Lloyd believes Lynn Williams should be getting more minutes moving forward.
“Lynn Williams needs to start.”@CarliLloyd provides her insight as to why she believes the U.S. should start the Fresno native against Portugal 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ZJW2riDwva
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 29, 2023
2 hours to kick: The U.S. women have left the team hotel and are on their way to Eden Park! It’s roughly 5 p.m. local time in Auckland currently.
LET’S RIDE 🚌 pic.twitter.com/jnFge3D5aJ
— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) August 1, 2023
2 hours 15 mins to kick: World Cup behind-the-scenes content always hits. Here’s the latest from U.S. Soccer, as they get ready to take on Portugal in Auckland.
𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁: Eyes on the top of the table. The USWNT starts strong in the group stage in New Zealand.#USWNT x @vw pic.twitter.com/08olN1xgDk
— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) July 31, 2023
2 hours 30 mins to kick: English referee Rebecca Welch is in charge of this match between the U.S. and Portugal. It will be her second game at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, having officiated the 2-0 win for Colombia against South Korea in the first round of Group H play.
Welch was the first woman to officiate a men’s English Football League match in 2021, and shortly thereafter became the first woman to officiate a men’s FA Cup match. She is a Women’s Super League mainstay, regularly taking charge of big matches, including her appointment of a Manchester derby last season as well as three games involving title-winners Chelsea.
🇵🇹v🇺🇸 // Referee Rebecca Welch and assistant referee Natalie Aspinall will take charge of the #FIFAWWC Group E fixture between Portugal and USA on Tuesday, kick-off 8am UK time.
Good luck! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Tw8epLy7DK
— PGMOL (@FA_PGMOL) July 30, 2023
2 hours 45 mins to kick: Here’s the situation for knockout stage qualification, simplified: The U.S. are through with a win or draw, no questions asked. Lose, and they are out unless the Netherlands are upset by Vietnam, then Portugal win the group, and it will come down to goal differential between the U.S. and Dutch for second place.
Should the U.S. advance, they must beat the Netherlands result to win the group. If they equal the Dutch result, it comes down to goal differential (where they currently hold a +2 advantage) for the top spot. If the Dutch best the U.S. result, they win the group.
For Portugal, they MUST win to advance, and that’s it — if they win, they’re in, if they don’t, they’re out. Nothing else matters.
The @uswnt currently sits atop the Group E standings after its draw with the Netherlands 🔝🇺🇸
Who will finish atop Group E after it’s all set and done? pic.twitter.com/8uUtKpthA5
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 27, 2023
3 hours to kick: There are many questions about the USWNT lineup tonight after Vlatko Andonovski surprised everyone with his Starting XI against the Netherlands last time out, but there’s no bigger situation looming than Rose Lavelle’s status.
Lavelle is coming off a knee injury that kept her out for three months, and now requires build-up to full match fitness. She was rated for 45 minutes against the Netherlands, and thus came on at halftime, changing the game in favor of the U.S. If she’s now rated for even 60 minutes, she will likely start tonight, but the U.S. coaching staff has been very tight-lipped on her fitness availability all tournament.
“When she’s on the field we can she how she impacts the game.”@JennyTaft asks Vlatko Andonovski on the @USWNT midfielder Rose Lavelle’s fitness levels and how she impacts the game when she steps on the pitch 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/FmZ5Y3Zg5g
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 31, 2023
3 hours 15 mins to kick: The United States women know that goal differential could come into play as Group E finishes up, and they will want to grab as many as they can against Portugal. If the U.S. beat Portugal and the Netherlands beat Vietnam, goal differential will decide the group winner. The USWNT hold a 2-goal differential advantage currently, but with the Dutch playing Vietnam, that will come under fire.
The @uswnt is 7-1 in its final group stage games 🙌 🇺🇸
Will they add another W to the list?
📺 Coverage starts July 31 at 10pm PT/August 1 at 1am ET on FOX! pic.twitter.com/7pSxW4A41o
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 31, 2023
3 hours 30 mins to kick: Portugal captain Ana Borges, the most-capped player in Portuguese women’s history with 151 appearances, is a winger converted to full-back, and even sometimes she can dropping further into defense. She is leading her nation in their first Women’s World Cup appearance, and while they have no illusions about the mountain they must climb, needing a win against the No. 1 team in the world to qualify for the knockout stage, they’re not backing down.
“We want to make history and leave the two-time world champions out,” Borges said before the match. Aim high — this is why they play the games, after all.
Ana Borges: “Queremos fazer história e deixar fora as bicampeãs do Mundo.” pic.twitter.com/AB6ERkJk5R
— Cabine Desportiva (@CabineSport) July 31, 2023
3 hours 45 mins to kick: Megan Rapinoe had an interesting perspective on the relatively disappointing performances through the opening two matches of the 2023 Women’s World Cup. She says that when you’re ranked No. 1 in the world, it’s almost impossible to live up to expectations, and the pressure of holding that mantle means perfection is expected even when unrealistic.
She’s right…to a point. The cold-hard truth is the USWNT hasn’t been great so far, and that’s worrying relative to what fans know they’re capable of. Rapinoe played that off as the U.S. “building into the tournament.” Which…sure, fine. Most top teams (think England, France, Germany) have struggled to live up to expectations early, but others, like Spain and Sweden, have. So the expectations for top teams aren’t unrealistic, as Rapinoe seems to suggest — just very, very high.
#USWNT Megan Rapinoe on whether it feels like the 2015 #FIFAWWC where the first two games of that tournament were not quite up to what the team had hoped they would be and what her message is to the younger folks on the team
q:@thegoalkeeper
📽️ :U.S. Soccer/Veritone pic.twitter.com/nRif7B8bYL
— Taylor Vincent (@tayvincent6) July 30, 2023
4 hours to kickoff: The United States women have a pristine record against Portugal, winning all 10 meetings by a combined 39-0 scoreline. Yet this is not the same Portugal side they’ve played in the past. The Europeans, in their first-ever Women’s World Cup showing, boast good talent in the prime of their careers.
Here’s the number you should pay more attention to: the United States have won all 11 Women’s World Cup matches against debutants in the competition. While the talent across the globe is spreading, experience is one thing today’s opponents lack, and that could play a big role.
10 – The @USWNT has won all 10 previous meetings with Portugal, outscoring them 39-0, the most games against a single opponent without ever conceding in team history. Shutdown. pic.twitter.com/sM5j0IFHEC
— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) August 1, 2023
USA vs Portugal lineups, team news
The U.S. forwards struggled mightily against the Netherlands in their last Group E match, so it felt inevitable that manager Vlatko Andonovski would make changes up front, and he does. Lynn Williams is rotated in, while Trinity Rodman sits on the bench after a wasteful performance against the Dutch.
It was expected that Rose Lavelle would start last time out against the Netherlands, but that was not the case, with Andonovski indicating that she was limited to 45 minutes of action. She came on at halftime and made a huge impact, and finally does earn her first start of the 2023 tournament here today.
There are also questions about where Julie Ertz will play with Andi Sullivan struggling mightily at the No. 6 spot, but Ertz remains at center-back, leaving Alana Cook stuck on the bench and Sullivan in midfield.
Injuries hit the U.S. hard before the tournament, leaving Mallory Swanson, Becky Sauerbrunn, Christen Press, and Catarina Macario all unable to prove fit for World Cup duty.
USA starting lineup (4-3-3): Naeher (GK) — Fox, Ertz, Girma, Dunn — Lavelle, Sullivan, Horan — Rodman, Morgan, S. Smith.
USA subs (12): Murphy (GK), Kingsbury (GK), Cook, Sonnett, Huerta, O’Hara, Mewis, Sanchez, DeMelo, Thompson, Rapinoe, Rodman.
Portugal head coach Francisco Neto made big changes to his lineup from the first to the second game, and against the U.S. he has rotated the side back to where they were against the Netherlands to open the tournament.
Playmaker Andreia Norton of Benfica starts at the No. 10 spot, hoping for a turnaround after going an unthinkable 2-of-22 on ground duels. Kika Nazareth, who picked up a goal against Vietnam and created three chances for her teammates, is one of the few from last match to retain her place, while Ines Pereira returns to goalkeeping duty in place of Patricia Morais.
Three Portugal players are on yellow card suspensions, meaning another booking for Jessica Silva, Ana Borges, or captain Diana Gomes would see them banned for a potential Round of 16 game should they qualify.
Portugal starting lineup (4-3-3): Pereira (GK) — Borges, C. Costa, D. Gomes, Amado — T Pinto, Dol. Silva, Norton — J. Silva, Nazareth, Dia. Silva.
Portugal subs (12): Morais (GK), R. Costa (GK), Amado, L. Alves, Rebelo, Marchao, Seica, Jacinto, F. Pinto, Mendes, Capeta, Encarnacao.
How to watch USA vs Portugal
TV channel
Streaming
USA
Fox, Telemundo
Fubo, Fox Sports site/app,
Peacock (Spanish),
Telemundo Deportes site/app
UK
IVT1, STV Scotland
ITVX, STV Player
Australia
—
Optus Sport
Canada
TSN1, TSN4,
TSN5
TSN+,
TSN site/app,
RDS site/app
India
DD Sports
FanCode
New Zealand
Sky Sport 1 NZ
Prime TV, Sky Sport NOW
Singapore
FIFA WWC CH01
StarHub TV+, meWATCH
Hong Kong
Now TV
Viu TV
Malaysia
—
FIFA+
Fans in select regions of the world can stream the Women’s World Cup live on FIFA+, including in Japan, Brazil, Indonesia and Thailand.
USA vs Portugal betting odds
The United States are the clear favorites in this match, but their poor attacking performances have muted expectations somewhat coming into this Group E finale.
Between the two sides failing to produce significant attacking pressure so far, and the knowledge that the U.S. need just a draw to advance into the knockout stage, the odds clearly favor limited scoring in this game.
MORE: Full betting preview for USA vs. Portugal in Group E finale at 2023 Women’s World Cup
USA
win
Draw
Portugal
win
Both teams
to score Y / N
Over / Under
2.5 goals
USA
-1.5
POR
+1.5
BetMGM
(USA)
-375
+450
+1000
+140 / -200
-135 / -105
-130
-110
Sports
Interaction
(Canada)
-400
+440
+1000
+131 / -208
-132 / -101
-127
-104
SkyBet
(UK)
2/9
9/2
11/1
6/4, 1/2
4/5, 10/11
—
—
Unibet
(Australia)
1.28
5.80
9.50
2.65 / 1.46
1.85 / 1.91
1.86
1.98
Dafabet
(India)
1.24
5.10
10.00
2.50 / 1.47
1.80 / 1.90
1.79
1.91
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