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Luis Paez-Pumar

Caitlin Foord of Australia celebrates after scoring her team's first goal with teammates during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between Australia and Denmark at Stadium Australia on August 7, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

Root, Root, Root For The Host Team

Kelley O'Hara, Alyssa Thompson, Megan Rapinoe, and Alyssa Naeher of the USA are dejected after their team was defeated in the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between Sweden and USA at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on August 06, 2023 in Melbourne / Naarm, Australia.

The USWNT Lived By An Inch And Died By A Millimeter

Manuela Vanegas of Colombia celebrates after scoring her team's second goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group H match between Germany and Colombia at Sydney Football Stadium on July 30, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

The 16 Teams Left In The Women’s World Cup, Ranked By Coolness

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

A photo of Christen Press and Tobin Heath as they sit on the set of their show, the RE-CAP show, and discuss the USWNT tie with Portugal.

Tobin Heath And Christen Press Offer A Dose Of Sanity This World Cup

Sofia Bouftini and Morocco players celebrate advancing to the knock out stage after the 1-0 victory in the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group H match between Morocco and Colombia at Perth Rectangular Stadium on August 03, 2023 in Perth, Australia.

Group H Gave This Group Stage The Astonishing Send-Off It Deserved

Billy Haisley

The players of Jamaica celebrate after winning the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group F match between Jamaica and Brazil at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on August 2, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia.

Jamaica Showed How Much Not Losing Can Mean


<p>Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


Diana Moskovitz

A general view of the outside of Stadium Australia with the official FIFA Women's World Cup logo ahead of the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Australia and Ireland at Stadium Australia on July 20, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

Try Watching This World Cup In Spanish

Patrick Redford

2-time FIFA World Cup Winner and investor in NJ/NY Gotham FC emcees the World Cup Send Off for the players going to represent their countries in the 2023 FIFA World Cup after the National Women's Soccer League Match between the Chicago Red Stars and NJ/NY Gotham FC at Red Bull Arena on June 25, 2023 in Harrison, New Jersey.

Carli Lloyd Somehow Finds Invalid Criticism For Team That Did Everything Wrong

Netherlands' forward #22 Esmee Brugts (centre L) scores her team's sixth goal during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup Group E football match between Vietnam and the Netherlands at Dunedin Stadium in Dunedin on August 1, 2023.

Esmee Brugts Only Scores Absolute Firecrackers

Tom Ley

Ana Capeta #21 of Portugal sends a shot off the post during the second half of the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia Auckland, New Zealand.

The USWNT Stayed In The World Cup By An Inch

Mary Fowler of Australia celebrates after scoring a goal with her teammates that was later cancelled as a result of VAR consultation during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Canada and Australia at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne, Australia on July 31, 2023.

Canada And Spain Ate Shit And Deserved It

Justin Ellis

New Zealand's defender #07 Ali Riley (L) and New Zealand's midfielder #12 Betsy Hassett (R) greet supporters at the end of Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup Group A football match between Switzerland and New Zealand at Dunedin Stadium in Dunedin on July 30, 2023.

New Zealand Waited For Another Goal That Would Never Arrive

Ray Ratto

Colombia Made The Ground Shake And Stunned Germany

Lauren James of England in action during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 match between England and Denmark at Sydney Football Stadium on July 28, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

Lauren James Is The Burgeoning Star Of The New England

Rasmus Hojlund of Atalanta BC celebrates after scoring the team's third goal during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Hellas Verona at Gewiss Stadium on May 20, 2023 in Bergamo, Italy.

Window Shopping: Is Rasmus Hojlund Ready For Primetime?

Asisat Oshoala of Nigeria celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's third goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Australia and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium on July 27, 2023 in Brisbane, Australia.

Nigeria Was Ready For Its Moment

David Roth

Sophia Smith lines up a shot in the US Women's National Team's game against the Netherlands in the Women's World Cup on Wednesday night.

Podcasts

How Much Vlatko Is Too Much Vlatko, With Abigail Segel

Lindsey Horan #10 of the United States celebrates scoring during the second half against the Netherlands during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group E match at Wellington Regional Stadium on July 27, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand.

Lindsey Horan And The Power Of Rage Saved The USWNT From Itself

Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe at amid heavy rain during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Group B match between Republic of Ireland and Canada at Perth Rectangular Stadium in Perth, Australia.

It’s Too Bad Canada Was Better Than Ireland

Mary Wilombe of Zambia post game despair after the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group C match between Spain and Zambia at Eden Park on July 26, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Zambia Learns How Unforgiving The World Cup Can Be

Albert Burneko

Kylian Mbappé alone against a blue background

What The Hell Is Going On With Kylian Mbappé?

Sarina Bolden (R) of Philippines celebrates after scoring her team's first goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group A match between New Zealand and Philippines at Wellington Regional Stadium on July 25, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand.

While You Were (Probably) Sleeping, Group A Got Real Hectic

Linda Lizeth Caicedo Alegria of Colombia celebrates after scoring her team's second goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group H match between Colombia and South Korea at Sydney Football Stadium on July 25, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

Linda Caicedo Is The Future

Bia Zaneratto of Brazil celebrates after scoring her team's third goal during during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group F match between Brazil and Panama at Hindmarsh Stadium on July 24, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia.

Brazil’s Quintessentially Brazilian Goal Is Soccer At Its Finest

Germany's forward #11 Alexandra Popp (R) celebrates scoring her team's first goal during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup Group H football match between Germany and Morocco at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, also known as AAMI Park, in Melbourne on July 24, 2023.