The 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand has reached the Round of 16 stage.
The 32 qualified national teams participating in the group stage have been trimmed to 16 for the next phase of the tournament as the battle for glory begins to intensify for those still in the running.
The entire bracket is already predetermined by FIFA ahead of the tournament with only the slots needed to be filled in by the final group stage finishes. From the Round of 16 onwards there will be no second chances, as the tournament becomes a straight knockout battle — win or go home.
The Sporting News lays out all you need to know about the Round of 16.
MORE: FIFA Women’s World Cup schedule, tables, and match times 2023
Women’s World Cup Round of 16 fixtures
The pairings in the Round of 16 were predetermined with teams slotting into each position based on whether they finished in first or second place in their respective groups.
World Cup Round of 16
| Date | Match | Time (Local / ET / BST) | City |
| Sat, Aug. 5 | Switzerland 1-5 Spain |
Highlights | Auckland (NZL) |
| Sat, Aug. 5 | Japan 3-1 Norway | Highlights | Wellington (NZL) |
| Sun, Aug. 6 | Netherlands 2-0 South Africa |
Highlights to follow | Sydney (AUS) |
| Sun, Aug. 6 | Sweden 0-0 USA (5-4 on pens) |
Highlights to follow | Melbourne (AUS) |
| Mon, Aug. 7 | England vs. Nigeria (2B) |
5:30 p.m. / 3:30 a.m. / 8:30 a.m. | Brisbane (AUS) |
| Mon, Aug. 7 | Australia (1B) vs. Denmark (2D) |
8:30 p.m. / 6:30 a.m. / 11:30 a.m. | Sydney (AUS) |
| Tue, Aug. 8 | Colombia (1H) vs. Jamaica (2F) |
6 p.m. / 4 a.m. / 9 a.m. | Melbourne (AUS) |
| Tue, Aug. 8 | France (1F) vs. Morocco (2H) |
8:30 p.m. / 7 a.m. / 12 p.m. | Adelaide (AUS) |
MORE: Women’s World Cup top goal scorers 2023
World Cup quarterfinals schedule
The teams that advance from the Round of 16 are slotted into specific slots in the quarterfinal round.
Here’s the updated schedule:
| Date | Match | Time (AEST) |
Time (ET) |
City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Aug. 11 | QF1: Spain vs. Netherlands | 11 a.m. | 9 p.m. (Aug. 10) |
Wellington (NZL) |
| Fri, Aug. 11 | QF2: Japan vs. Sweden | 5:30 p.m. | 3:30 a.m. | Auckland (NZL) |
| Sat, Aug. 12 | QF3: Australia/Denmark vs. France/Morocco | 5 p.m. | 3 a.m. | Brisbane (AUS) |
| Sat, Aug. 12 | QF4: England/Nigeria vs. Colombia/Jamaica | 8:30 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. | Sydney (AUS) |
How does the Round of 16 work in the Women’s World Cup?
The Round of 16 is the start of what is commonly referred to as the knockout rounds because every match is single elimination from here on out.
There are no points earned. There are no standings. There’s simply a winner and a loser.
The Round of 16 pairings pit group winners against group runners-up.
MORE: Top 10 players at the Women’s World Cup
What happens if knockout matches finish tied?
There has to be a winner on the day for each Round of 16 match and for subsequent knockout-round matches (quarterfinals, semifinals, third-place match, final).
So if teams are tied after 90 minutes of regulation, the match goes into a 30-minute period of extra time.
If the deadlock persists after those 30 minutes of extra time, then a penalty shootout will determine the team that moves on to the quarterfinals.
MORE: Top 5 potential World Cup breakout stars
How teams advance at World Cup 2023
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is the first edition of the tournament which includes 32 teams from across the world. All 32 qualified teams were divided into eight groups (A through H) and their finish in the group determined their path to the knockout stages.
Group Stage
The top two teams from each group progressed into the knockout stage, beginning with the Round of 16.
The group stage consisted of typical round-robin group play with each team playing the other three once. Three points were awarded for every win in the group stage, one for a draw, and zero for a loss.
If teams were tied on points, the first tiebreakers were goal difference and then goals scored.
MORE: Full list of World Cup 2023 group tiebreakers
Sixteen teams qualified for the knockout rounds, and 16 teams were eliminated following the group stage.
| Grp A | 1. Switzerland-Q | 2. Norway-Q | 3. New Zealand-E | 4. Philippines-E |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grp B | 1. Australia-Q | 2. Nigeria-Q | 3. Canada-E | 4. Rep. of Ireland-E |
| Grp C | 1. Japan-Q | 2. Spain-Q | 3. Zambia-E | 4. Costa Rica-E |
| Grp D | 1. England-Q | 2. Denmark-Q | 3. China-E | 4. Haiti-E |
| Grp E | 1. Netherlands-Q | 2. USA-Q | 3. Portugal-E | 4. Vietnam-E |
| Grp F | 1. France-Q | 2. Jamaica-Q | 3. Brazil-E | 4. Panama-E |
| Grp G | 1. Sweden-Q | 2. South Africa-Q | 3. Italy-E | 4. Argentina-E |
| Grp H | 1. Colombia-Q | 2. Morocco-Q | 3. Germany-E | 4. South Korea-E |
MORE: When is the next Women’s World Cup in 2027?
Knockout Rounds
Beginning with the Round of 16 through to the final, every match is single elimination.
Teams advance from the Round of 16 to the quarterfinals, then to the semifinals, and lastly to the final or third-place match.
As explained above, if teams are tied at the end of the 90 minutes of regulation, they play 30 minutes of extra time followed by a penalty shootout, if necessary.