MELBOURNE, Australia — A U.S. women’s national soccer team entering unfamiliar straits will encounter a familiar adversary Sunday in the World Cup round of 16. Given the tumult of the group stage — and of coming within a whisker of being eliminated at an unfathomable early point — perhaps colliding with a frenemy is just what the Americans need to climb out of their funk.
See full coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
“It wouldn’t be a major tournament if we weren’t facing Sweden,” midfielder Lindsey Horan said with a grin.
“We know them very well,” forward Alex Morgan added.