The knockout rounds of the Women’s World Cup are raising pulse rates around the planet like never before. As more countries make serious investments in women’s soccer, they have hammered away at the disparities that had put the United States and a couple of other teams head and shoulders above the rest.
In the round of 16, France and the U.S. had to scratch out a pair of nervous 2-1 wins — the French getting a goal late in overtime to defeat Brazil, and the Americans needing two penalty kicks to put away Spain — setting up their marquee quarterfinal match at noon Friday, June 28. The winner will advance to a July 2 semifinal against either England or Norway.
Despite the lofty expectations of the No. 1–ranked U.S. women, there is no guarantee they will be in the July 7 final. A stumble here, a bad break there, and their opponents are capable of making them pay for it. The World Cup would survive without them.