Soccer World Cup

Nadeshiko to Face U.S. Conquerors Sweden

AP
Sweden’s national team celebrates after defeating the United States in a penalty shootout in Melbourne on Sunday during the Women’s World Cup.

By Yu Hirasawa / Yomiuri Shimbun Sportswriter

17:56 JST, August 7, 2023

AUCKLAND — Nadeshiko Japan’s next match at the Women’s World Cup won’t be against the United States, their opponents in the 2011 and 2015 finals. Instead, the national team’s quarterfinal opponent will be world No. 3 Sweden, which knocked off the top-ranked U.S. team on penalties Sunday night in Melbourne.

Japan’s quarterfinal will be at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday.

World No. 11 Nadeshiko, which defeated Norway 3-1 in the round of 16 on Saturday in Wellington, traveled to Auckland on Sunday. The team had a light workout to adjust to their conditions.

The winner of the Japan-Sweden match advances to the semifinals to face the winner of the Spain-Netherlands match also on Friday.

Nadeshiko won the Cup in 2011 by defeating the U.S. on penalties. The United States, which won back the Cup from Japan in 2015 and won the 2019 tourney as well, could not finish off a three-peat this year during the tournament jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.