We look ahead to this crucial 2023 Women’s World Cup Group E fixture at Eden Park with our Portugal vs United States preview and prediction.
Portugal vs United States Stats: Quick Hits
- The Opta supercomputer has United States as heavy favourites to win, giving them a 72.5% chance of victory.
- Portugal will qualify with a win but will need Netherlands to lose to Vietnam if they draw. USA will advance if they avoid defeat.
- USA have won all 11 of their previous games against nations competing at their debut Women’s World Cup.
Match Preview
Following their draw against the Netherlands on Matchday 2, the United States find themselves needing a result to confirm their place in the knockout stage when they face Portugal at Eden Park.
Francisco Neto’s Portugal side earned their first ever Women’s World Cup win last time out against Vietnam, meaning they will qualify if they can beat USA, while a draw will be enough in the unlikely event the Netherlands lose to Vietnam.
USA usually finish strong, having won their final group game at seven of their previous eight Women’s World Cups, with the only exception being a 2-1 loss against Sweden in 2011, though they still went on to finish runners up that year.
After beating Vietnam 2-0, Portugal are aiming to become the first European debutant to win more than one game in a group stage at a WWC since Russia in 1999. They will also try to be the first European team to beat a reigning world champion in a group stage game (D2 L6).
USA would need to lose to be eliminated, so there will be confidence in the camp as they remain unbeaten in their last 19 Women’s World Cup matches (W15 D4), the longest run without a defeat in the history of the competition.
Portugal’s Telma Encarnação will be one for Vlatko Andonovski’s team to watch out for though, having scored and assisted in Portugal’s win over Vietnam, while she was also involved in 10 chances overall (seven shots attempted, three chances created).
Lindsey Horan will be hoping to keep up her knack for shining at the World Cup, having contributed to a goal in five of her six career starts at the tournament (four goals, one assist), including in each of her last four WWC starts.
Portugal vs United States Head-to-Head
Given it is Portugal’s debut Women’s World Cup, this will obviously be the first meeting between these two at the tournament.
They have faced one another on four previous occasions since 2018, all friendlies, all won by USA with Portugal still yet to score against them. Their most recent meeting came in June 2021 when USA won 1-0 in Houston, Texas thanks to a Sam Mewis goal.
Portugal vs United States Prediction
USA may not have particularly impressed so far in Australia and New Zealand, but they usually rise to the occasion when the pressure is on. They have won all 11 of their Women’s World Cup games against debutant teams as well, with each of the most recent four ending in a 3-0 success. That could be why the Opta supercomputer has them as strong favourites, with a 72.5% chance of victory.
Portugal will likely need to win to qualify from Group E but are given just a 10.4% chance of doing so. As mentioned, a draw will only be enough if Netherlands lose to Vietnam (which is given just a 4.7% chance), with a stalemate credited with a 17.1% chance.
Portugal vs United States Squads
Portugal: Inês Pereira, Catarina Amado, Lúcia Alves, Sílvia Rebelo, Joana Marchão, Andreia Jacinto, Ana Rute, Andreia Norton, Ana Borges, Jéssica Silva, Tatiana Pinto, Patrícia Morais, Fátima Pinto, Dolores Silva, Carole Costa, Diana Silva, Ana Seiça, Carolina Mendes, Diana Gomes, Francisca Nazareth, Ana Capeta, Rute Costa, Telma Encarnação.
United States: Aubrey Kingsbury, Casey Murphy, Alyssa Naeher, Alana Cook, Crystal Dunn, Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Sofia Huerta, Kelley O’Hara, Emily Sonnett, Savannah DeMelo, Julie Ertz, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, Kristie Mewis, Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit), Andi Sullivan, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Alyssa Thompson, Lynn Williams.
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