A changing of the guard in women’s soccer but the US’ future can still be bright

The US had at least reached the semifinals of every previous Women’s World Cup.

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CNN
 — 

US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher stood alone holding the ball and inhaled deeply, her eyes wide in disbelief, as Sweden’s players raced pitchside to form a joyous heap of yellow on the grass. Some of her teammates were in tears. “Feels like a bad dream,” Alex Morgan would later tell Fox Sports.

The match was over, the US defeated by Sweden on penalties in the last 16, and gone were the dreams of making history. The team that had cleared the path for all others had been caught. This was a changing of the guard in women’s soccer.

It isn’t that the US has never lost a women’s soccer match, but it last suffered defeat at a World Cup 12 years ago and has never been knocked out of the tournament at such an early stage.

USA players comfort each other after being eliminated during the penalty shootout in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Melbourne Sunday, August 6, 2023.

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US knocked out of Women's World Cup after penalty shootout loss to Sweden

This is a country that had won four of the previous eight editions of the tournament and had always reached the semifinals. Now, it is out having failed to make it to the quarterfinals. It will take time for that to register with players and fans.

For decades, ever since that first World Cup win in 1991, the US has been the standard-bearer in women’s soccer, the dominant force on the pitch, its leading voice off it.

As First Lady Jill Biden wrote on social media, addressing her country’s defeated team: “You made this sport matter.”

Perhaps, in time, even those in the US will come to regard this loss as a positive development for the women’s game because no sport or competition thrives in a hegemony.

Three of the four former World Cup winners are no longer in the tournament, while the so-called underdogs have thrived. As the US team itself posted on social media after the match, “This year’s Women’s World Cup is a testament to the growth of women’s soccer on a global scale …”

The penalty shootout went to sudden death.

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But for all the gloss, of how the sport is more competitive than ever, more popular than ever, better funded than ever, questions will still be asked: how did this team fail so badly?

Four years ago, when the US won its second successive title, the team was undoubtedly the best in the world. With Megan Rapinoe in her pomp, the US was confident and ruthless. There was the record 13-0 win over Thailand, while France, England and the Netherlands were all dispatched on the way to the title.

Much has been written about the American squad’s struggles in this tournament, the tactics have been criticized as has coach Vlatko Andonovski’s substitutions.

There was just one victory in the group stage and a goalpost came to the team’s rescue against Portugal, preventing the Iberian nation from scoring a late winner which would’ve ended the US’ participation at the group stage. On the basis of the group stages, that the US did not end this tournament as the champion is not a surprise.

Plenty has been said about the mentality of the US this last week, too – former player Carli Lloyd was particularly vocal in her criticism following the draw with Portugal – but to put this defeat down to the disintegration of the country’s famed winning mentality would be too simplistic.

“That’s our secret sauce, it’s the insatiable desire to win,” Rapinoe told CNN Sport before the start of the tournament. But defeat doesn’t mean the team lacked the desire to win. It did, however, lack the killer instinct of old. For the first time in back-to-back World Cup games, the US had failed to score.

USA players comfort each other after being eliminated during the penalty shootout against Sweden in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Melbourne Sunday, August 6, 2023.

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Alex Morgan cries after USA was knocked out of the tournament after a penalty shoot out loss to Sweden.

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Sweden players celebrate the team’s victory through penalty shootout in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in the Round of 16 match eliminating defending champion USA in Melbourne on Sunday, August 6, 2023.

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Amanda Ilestedt and Fridolina Rolfo of Sweden celebrate their team’s victory through the penalty shootout eliminating defending champion Team USA.

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USA’s forward Lynn Williams, left, and Sweden’s defender Jonna Andersson, right, fight for the ball during the Women’s World Cup round of 16 football match between Sweden and USA in Melbourne on Sunday, August 6, 2023.

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Megan Rapinoe of USA takes a corner kick.

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USA’s forward Alex Morgan, center, heads the ball against Sweden.

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Alex Morgan of the United States goes up for a header with Amanda Ilestedt.

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Lindsey Horan of the United States grimaces in pain after a collision.

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United States’ goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, center, takes the ball in front of the goal.

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US midfielder Lindsey Horan, right, heads the ball as Sweden forward Fridolina Rolfo challenges during the last-16 tie at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.

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Taken from a remote camera, Sweden goalkeeper Zecira Musovic dives in an attempt to save a Lindsey Horan header.

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Sweden’s Johanna Kaneryd, center, competes for the ball with the US’ Andi Sullivan, right, and Crystal Dunn.

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United States goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher in action during the crunch knockout match.

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US forward Megan Rapinoe, left, looks on from the substitutes’ bench.

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Captain Kosovare Asllani of Sweden talks to her teammates in the huddle prior to the last-16 tie in Melbourne, Australia.

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The Netherlands’ Jill Roord celebrates scoring their first goal against South Africa during the match at Sydney Football Stadium in Australia on August 6. Netherlands won 2-0 and will advance to the quarterfinals.

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Netherlands’ fans cheer in the stands before the start of the match against South Africa.

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South Africa’s Bambanani Mbane grimaces after colliding with Netherlands’ Lieke Martens. She was taken away with a stretcher shortly after.

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Risa Shimizu of Japan celebrates with teammates after scoring her team’s second goal during the match against Norway on August 5, 2023 at Wellington Regional Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand. Japan won 3-1.

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Ayaka Yamashita of Japan dives in vain as Guro Reiten of Norway (obscured) heads to score her team’s first goal.

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Japan’s Mina Tanaka, center up, and Norway’s Vilde Boe Risa challenge for the ball during the match.

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Aitana Bonmati of Spain celebrates after scoring her team’s first goal during the match against Switzerland at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, on August 5, 2023. Spain won 5-1.

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Spain’s Alba Redondo puts the ball past Switzerland’s goalkeeper Gaelle Thalmann to score her team’s second goal.

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Spectators show their support during the match between Spain and Switzerland.

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Morocco’s players celebrate advancing to last 16 after beating Colombia.

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Fans of Colombia watch their team’s Group H fixture against Morocco.

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Colombia’s teenage star Linda Caicedo, left, challenges Morocco’s Zineb Redouani during their final Group H match.

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Germany’s players react after crashing out of the Women’s World Cup.

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South Korea held Germany to a 1-1 draw but both side’s exited the tournament at the group stage.

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South Korea’s Cho So-hyun celebrates after giving her side the lead against Germany.

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Brazil’s Marta, right, competes against Jamaica’s Tiernny Wiltshire during a Women’s World Cup match on Wednesday, August 2. The two teams drew 0-0, but it was Jamaica that advanced to the knockout stage of the tournament. This was the last World Cup for Marta, the tournament’s record scorer and veteran of six tournaments.

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Jamaica’s Deneisha Blackwood celebrates with teammates after the draw with Brazil.

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Marta reacts after Brazil’s elimination.

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France’s Vicki Becho celebrates after scoring her team’s sixth goal against Panama on August 2. France won 6-3 to advance to the knockout stage.

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Panama players spend time with fans after the France match. This was Panama’s first year playing at a Women’s World Cup.

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France’s Maëlle Lakrar celebrates after scoring her team’s first goal against Panama.

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South Africa’s Linda Motlhalo celebrates her team’s 3-2 win over Italy on August 2. It was South Africa’s first-ever win at a Women’s World Cup, and it helped them clinch a spot in the next round. Italy was eliminated with the loss.

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South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana tries to hold off Italy’s Elena Linari.

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Italy’s Arianna Caruso celebrates after scoring against South Africa.

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Sweden’s Elin Rubensson celebrates after scoring from the penalty spot against Argentina on August 2. Sweden won 2-0.

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Sweden’s Rebecka Blomqvist heads the ball for a goal against Argentina.

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Argentina’s Florencia Bonsegundo lies on the pitch after getting injured against Sweden.

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England’s Chloe Kelly celebrates after scoring against China on Tuesday, August 1. England won 6-1 to advance to the tournament’s round of 16.

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England’s Rachel Daly, right, scores the sixth goal against China.

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Chinese forward Wang Shuang, left, celebrates with Yang Lina after scoring against England.

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Chinese defender Yao Wei, right, blocks a shot from England’s Lucy Bronze.

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Pernille Harder celebrates after scoring the first goal of Denmark’s 2-0 victory over Haiti on August 1. The win, coupled with China’s defeat against England, meant Denmark would advance to the knockout stage and face co-host Australia.

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Denmark’s Amalie Vangsgaard shields the ball from Haiti’s Ruthny Mathurin.

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Haiti fans cheer their team at the stadium in Perth, Australia.

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Haiti’s Melchie Dumornay, left, gets tangled with Denmark’s Simone Boye.

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US forward Sophia Smith heads the ball during the goalless draw against Portugal on August 1. The result meant that the Americans, the two-time defending champions, would advance to the round of 16.

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Megan Rapinoe consoles Portugal’s Jessica Silva following the draw, which knocked Portugal out of the competition.

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US forward Alex Morgan collides with Portuguese goalkeeper Inês Pereira in the first half.

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US fans show their support ahead of the Portugal match.

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US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher collides with the post.

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Referee Rebecca Welch shows a yellow card to US midfielder Rose Lavelle.

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Dutch midfielder Wieke Kaptein takes a selfie with fans after the Netherlands defeated Vietnam 7-0 and advanced to the knockout stage.

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Vietnamese players Trần Thị Thu Thảo, left, and Dương Thị Vân react after the loss to the Netherlands.

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Dutch forward Katja Snoeijs celebrates her team’s first goal, which was scored by Lieke Martens.

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The Netherlands’ Sherida Spitse, top, and Vietnam’s Nguyễn Thị Thanh Nhã compete for the ball.

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Australian defender Stephanie Catley, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring her team’s fourth goal against Canada on Monday, July 31. Australia won 4-0 to book a spot in the round of 16.

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Australia fans in Melbourne celebrate after the Canada match.

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Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan makes a save against Australia. Canada was eliminated because of the loss and Nigeria’s goalless draw against Ireland.

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Australia’s Hayley Raso, right, celebrates after scoring her side’s second goal against Canada.

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Ireland’s Lily Agg, right, battles for the ball with Nigeria’s Uchenna Kanu during a 0-0 draw on July 31.

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Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala, center, misses a chance against Ireland.

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A fan shows support for the Nigerian team during the match in Brisbane, Australia.

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Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie and Ireland’s Kyra Carusa react after a collision.

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Japanese players celebrate at the end of their 4-0 victory over Spain on July 31. Both teams are advancing to the round of 16.

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Fans of Japan help clean after the match in Wellington, New Zealand. Japan’s fans have become known in recent years for their efforts to clean stands after matches.

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Japan’s Hikaru Naomoto, top, and Spain’s Ona Batlle compete for the ball.

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Japan’s Hinata Miyazawa, second from left, celebrates scoring the team’s third goal with Honoka Hayashi, left, and Risa Shimizu.

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Costa Rican players appeal to referee Bouchra Karboubi before a VAR check on July 31. Zambia beat Costa Rica 3-1. It was Zambia’s first-ever win at a Women’s World Cup.

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Zambia’s Barbra Banda celebrates after scoring her team’s second goal from the penalty spot.

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Costa Rican midfielder Melissa Herrera, right, scores her team’s lone goal.

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Costa Rica’s Fabiola Villalobos, left, takes a shot at goal as Zambia’s Racheal Kundananji attempts to block.

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Colombia’s Manuela Vanegas celebrates her team’s winning goal against Germany on Sunday, June 30. The goal came in the final seconds of the match and lifted Colombia to a 2-1 victory.

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Germany’s Alexandra Popp and Colombia’s Jorelyn Carabalí battle for the ball.

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Vanegas marks Germany’s Jule Brand.

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Germany fans attend the match against Colombia.

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Linda Caicedo celebrates after scoring Colombia’s opener against Germany.

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Norway celebrates a goal in its 6-0 victory over the Philippines on July 30. The victory helped Norway clinch a spot in the knockout stage.

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The Philippines’ Dominique Randle, center, consoles a teammate after the loss to Norway. The Philippines, playing in its first Women’s World Cup, was eliminated with the loss to Norway.

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The Philippines’ Hali Long makes a heart with her hands at the end of the Norway match.

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Philippines goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel fails to stop Norway’s Caroline Graham Hansen from scoring the third goal of the match.

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Norway’s Sophie Roman Haug is challenged by Jessika Cowart.

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Philippines fans cheer for their team before the match against Norway.

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Ali Riley and Katie Bowen hug after New Zealand was knocked out of the tournament on July 30. The co-hosts drew Switzerland 0-0, but they will miss the knockout stage because of goal differential.

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Bowen clears the ball in front of Switzerland’s Julia Stierli.

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Swiss forward Ramona Bachmann controls the ball against New Zealand.

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Moroccan players celebrate their 1-0 win over South Korea on July 30.

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Morocco’s Nouhaila Benzina, the first player to wear a hijab at a World Cup, is shown a yellow card by referee Edina Alves Batista.

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Morocco’s Ibtissam Jraidi controls the ball before shooting on goal.

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Panama’s Aldrith Quintero, right, reaches for the ball in front of Jamaica’s Deneisha Blackwood and Kameron Simmonds on Saturday, July 29. Jamaica won 1-0. It was Jamaica’s first-ever win at a Women’s World Cup.

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Jamaican players celebrate after Allyson Swaby scored against Panama.

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French coach Herve Renard kisses defender Wendie Renard on the forehead after her winning goal secured a 2-1 win against Brazil on July 29.

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Brazil’s Debinha celebrates her goal against France.

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Renard celebrates with teammates after scoring her team’s second goal.

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Sweden’s Amanda Ilestedt, center, heads the ball to score the opening goal against Italy on July 29. Sweden won 5-0 to clinch a spot in the round of 16.

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Sweden’s Rebecka Blomqvist celebrates after scoring her side’s fifth goal against Italy.

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Italy fans cheer before their team’s match against Sweden in Wellington, New Zealand.

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China’s Wang Shuang celebrates after scoring against Haiti on Friday, July 28. China won 1-0.

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Haiti’s Melchie Dumornay, left, collides with China’s Dou Jiaxing on July 28.

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England’s Chloe Kelly attempts a bicycle kick versus Denmark on July 28. England won 1-0.

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England goalkeeper Mary Earps makes a save against Denmark.

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Denmark’s Janni Thomsen, left, collides with England’s Alex Greenwood.

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Lauren James celebrates after scoring against Denmark.

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England’s Keira Walsh is stretchered off after sustaining an injury. Walsh, England’s midfield metronome, went down clutching her knee with no other player in her vicinity

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South Africa’s Bambanani Mbane slides in for a tackle against Argentina’s Mariana Larroquette on July 28. Their match ended in a 2-2 draw.

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Argentina striker Yamila Rodriguez has received criticism for her Cristiano Ronaldo tattoo, the rival of Argentina star Lionel Messi.

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South Africa’s Linda Motlhalo celebrates with teammates after scoring her team’s first goal against Argentina. South Africa led 2-0 before Argentina’s dramatic comeback.

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Onome Ebi, left, and Osinachi Ohale celebrate after Nigeria defeated Australia 3-2 on Thursday, July 27. The stunning result means Nigeria has a one-point lead going into its final group game against already eliminated Ireland, while co-host Australia faces a must-win match against Canada.

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Players from Australia and Nigeria compete for a ball in the air on July 27.

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese takes a selfie with fans before the Nigeria match in Brisbane.

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Portugal forward Jéssica Silva, right, watches a shot go wide during a match against Vietnam on July 27. Portugal won 2-0, eliminating Vietnam’s hopes of advancing in the tournament.

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Portugal’s Telma Encarnação reaches for the ball during the Vietnam match.

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Vietnam fans show their support before the Portugal match.

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Dutch goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar grabs the ball over the United States’ Julie Ertz during their 1-1 draw on July 27.

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US fans react during the Netherlands match, which was played in Wellington, New Zealand.

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US midfielder Lindsey Horan celebrates after scoring against the Netherlands. It was her second goal of the tournament.

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Horan’s header tied the match after the Dutch took an early lead.

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More than 27,000 fans attended the Netherlands-US match.

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Canada’s Vanessa Gilles competes for a header with Ireland’s Niamh Fahey, bottom, and Louise Quinn during a match on July 26. Canada won 2-1.

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Ireland’s Katie McCabe applauds fans after the match against Canada.

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Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan can’t get to a McCabe corner kick that went directly into the goal to give Ireland a 1-0 lead. The incredible “Olimpico” goal came in just the fourth minute of play.

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Canadian forward Adriana Leon celebrates after scoring her team’s second goal against Ireland.

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Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso is thrown in the air by teammates as they celebrate their 5-0 victory over Zambia on July 26. With the win, Spain clinched a spot in the tournament’s knockout round.

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Hermoso, left, scores her first of two goals in the win over Zambia.

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Spain fans enjoy the Zambia match at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.

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Spain’s Alexia Putellas consoles Zambia’s Mary Wilombe after the match. Zambia still had one match to play, but it was not going to be able to advance to the knockout stage.

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Japan’s Hikaru Naomoto, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal in the 2-0 victory over Costa Rica on July 26. It was Japan’s second win in as many games, and it clinched a spot in the knockout stage.

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Japan’s Mina Tanaka heads the ball toward the Costa Rican goal.

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Japan fans react during the match against Costa Rica, which took place at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand.

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Costa Rican goalkeeper Daniela Solera is shaken up during a play against Japan. She was able to continue.

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Switzerland players, in red, defend their box during a match against Norway on July 25. The match ended in a 0-0 draw.

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Rain pours down during the Norway-Switzerland match.

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People in Indigenous dress perform during a welcome ceremony that was held before Norway-Switzerland.

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Philippines midfielder Sarina Bolden celebrates scoring against New Zealand on July 25. Bolden’s first-half header lifted her country to a 1-0 victory — its first win ever at a Women’s World Cup.

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New Zealand’s Hannah Wilkinson attempts to head the ball past Philippines goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel during their match on July 25.

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Bolden scores on New Zealand keeper Victoria Esson.

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Philippines fans show their support during the team’s first-ever win at a Women’s World Cup.

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Colombia’s Catalina Usme celebrates with teammates after scoring her team’s first goal against South Korea on July 25. Colombia won 2-0.

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South Korea’s Cho So-hyun, bottom left, competes for the ball against Colombia’s Jorelyn Carabali and Carolina Arias.

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Colombia fans show their support in Sydney.

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Usme tries to control the ball in front of South Korea’s Kim Hye-ri.

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Colombia midfielder Manuela Vanegas receives a yellow card from referee Rebecca Welch.

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Brazil’s Marta, left, heads the ball during a match against Panama on July 24. Brazil won 4-0.

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Brazil’s Ary Borges celebrates her third goal during the Panama. Her hat trick was the first of the tournament.

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Brazilian fans watch the match against Panama, which was held in Adelaide, Australia.

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Moroccan goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi tries to punch the ball away during a match against Germany on July 24. Germany dominated Morocco 6-0 in what was the biggest scoreline of the tournament so far.

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Germany’s Alexandra Popp celebrates scoring a goal against Morocco.

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Germany fans celebrate as their team gets off to a great start.

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Morocco’s Fatima Tagnaout runs during the match against Germany.

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Italy’s Cristiana Girelli celebrates after scoring a late winner against Argentina on July 24. Italy won 1-0.

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Italian goalkeeper Francesca Durante makes a save during the match against Argentina.

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Argentina coach German Portanova reacts during the Italy match.

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Italy’s Giulia Dragoni is challenged by Estefania Banini of Argentina. At the age of 16, Dragoni became the youngest player to represent Italy in the competition’s history.

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Jamaican players celebrate on July 23, after their 0-0 draw against France earned them their country’s first-ever point in the Women’s World Cup.

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Jamaica’s Atlanta Primus tugs the shirt of France’s Grace Geyoro.

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Jamaican goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer marshals her defense.

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Jamaica’s Khadija “Bunny” Shaw is sent off for a second bookable offense against France.

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France’s Estelle Cascarino, left, and Shaw battle for the ball.

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Portugal’s Ines Pereira dives in vain as the Netherlands’ Stefanie van der Gragt, not pictured, scores the only goal in the match on July 23.

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Van der Gragt, left, and Portugal’s Jessica Silva battle for possession.

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Silva signs autographs for fans after the match.

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Sweden’s Amanda Ilestedt celebrates after scoring a late winner against South Africa on July 23. Sweden won 2-1.

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South Africa’s Hildah Magaia, who scored the opening goal, runs with the ball alongside Sweden’s Elin Rubensson.

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A South Africa fan shows support during the match.

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Danish players celebrate Amalie Vangsgaard’s late goal that gave them a 1-0 victory over China on July 22.

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China fans show their support prior to their team’s opening match against Denmark.

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China’s Zhang Linyan competes for the ball with Denmark’s Pernille Harder.

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China head coach Shui Qingxia gestures during the match.

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England’s Alessia Russo and Haiti’s Tabita Joseph fight for the ball during the two sides’ opening game on July 22. England’s Lionesses, the reigning European champions, earned a scrappy 1-0 victory over the tournament debutants.

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England’s Georgia Stanway converts the winner against Haiti from the penalty spot.

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Nicolas Delépine, Haiti’s head coach, instructs his team during the match.

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Haiti goalkeeper Kerly Theus jumps to make one of many impressive saves against England.

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Japan’s Jun Endo celebrates with her bench after scoring her team’s fourth goal in a 5-0 win against Zambia on July 22.

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Japan’s Mina Tanaka battles with Zambia’s Agnes Musase.

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Aoba Fujino of Japan is brought down by Zambian goalkeeper Catherine Musonda, resulting in a penalty to Japan. It was later overturned due to offside.

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Japan supporters react following their team’s emphatic victory over Zambia.

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US forward Alex Morgan is surrounded by Vietnam defenders during their opening match on July 22. The United States, the two-time defending champs, won 3-0.

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Lindsey Horan, left, celebrates with US teammate Megan Rapinoe after Horan scored the third goal against Vietnam.

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Players collide in the box as Vietnam goalkeeper Trần Thị Kim Thanh looks to clear the ball away.

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US forward Sophia Smith dribbles the ball against Vietnam. She scored the first two goals of the match.

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Fans cheer during the US-Vietnam match in Auckland, New Zealand.

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Spain’s Esther González wins a header against Costa Rica’s Mariana Benavides on July 21. Spain won 3-0.

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González scores her team’s third goal against Costa Rica.

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A Māori welcoming ceremony is held prior to the Spain-Costa Rica match.

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Switzerland’s Seraina Piubel scores her team’s second goal during its 2-0 victory against the Philippines on July 21.

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The Philippines’ Katrina Guillou takes a shot against Switzerland’s Gaëlle Thalmann. The goal was disallowed.

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A Philippines fan enjoys the pre-match atmosphere. This was the country’s Women’s World Cup debut.

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Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan punches the ball clear during a 0-0 draw against Nigeria on July 21.

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Nigeria’s Uchenna Kanu takes a selfie with fans after the Canada match.

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Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie clears the ball after saving a penalty by Canada’s Christine Sinclair.

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Australia’s Steph Catley, third from left, celebrates scoring her team’s only goal against Ireland on June 20. Australia won 1-0 in Sydney.

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Fans in Melbourne celebrate as they watch the match between Australia and Ireland.

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Ireland’s Heather Payne, left, tries to cross the ball past Australia’s Kyra Cooney-Cross. This was Ireland’s first-ever match in a Women’s World Cup.

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Supporters of both Australia and Ireland watch the match in Sydney. The second match of this year’s tournament set a new single-game attendance record for a women’s soccer match in Australia, with 75,784 fans watching.

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Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold makes a save.

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New Zealand’s Ria Percival and Katie Bowen, in black, compete for the ball with Norway’s Caroline Graham Hansen on July 20. New Zealand won the opening match 1-0. It was the country’s first-ever win at a Women’s World Cup.

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Norway star Ada Hegerberg reacts after a missed chance against New Zealand.

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New Zealand’s CJ Bott, left, and Norway’s Mathilde Harviken vie for the ball.

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New Zealand fans react during the match against Norway, which was played in Auckland, New Zealand.

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Norway players huddle before the match against New Zealand.

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Fireworks explode during the tournament’s opening ceremony, which was held before the New Zealand-Norway match.

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The roughly 10-minute opening ceremony celebrated both New Zealand and Australia’s indigenous heritage and culture, with Māori and First Nations dancers and singers taking to the center of the field.

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Dancers perform during the opening ceremony at Auckland’s Eden Park.

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Performers dance during the opening ceremony.

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A performer is pictured during the opening ceremony.

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Benee and Mallrat perform “Do It Again,” the official song of this year’s Women’s World Cup, during the opening ceremony. Benee is from New Zealand and Mallrat is from Australia.

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Dancers take the field during the opening ceremony.

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Children hold flags during the opening ceremony.

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The best photos of the 2023 Women's World Cup

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While the performance was poor against Portugal, the US was better than Sweden in Melbourne on Sunday and could’ve won handsomely. The US had 21 shots on goal, 11 on target which an inspired Sweden goalkeeper Zećira Mušović saved, accumulating the most saves by a keeper in a match at the competition to date.

US captain Lindsey Horan praised her team post-match for playing “beautiful football,” but it was the inability to score, the team’s toothlessness in attack, that meant the match had to be decided by penalties, which is ultimately a test of nerve and chance.

It was the cruelest of defeats. After the penalty shootout went to sudden death, the video assistant referee (VAR) determined that Lina Hurtig’s penalty had just crossed the line despite US goalkeeper Naeher initially appearing to save it; Naeher later told Fox Sports, “We just lost the World Cup by a millimeter.”

The truth is winning has become harder in women’s soccer and will become even harder. With the added weight of history on their shoulders, of trying to win a third consecutive world title – a feat that has not been achieved in the men’s or women’s game and is arguably close to impossible – the US faltered.

Lindsey Horan said the team played “beautiful football” against Sweden.

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The rest of the world has improved, but we knew that already: from the Tokyo Olympics when the US won bronze and lost to Sweden in the group stage, to when England beat the US 2-1 at Wembley last year.

Many countries are now relatively well funded, though there are still huge disparities within the women’s game itself and in comparison to men’s teams.

And the world’s traditional soccer powerhouses have leagues that can match the National Women’s Super League (NWSL) in the US for competitiveness – specifically England, France and Spain, countries currently still in the competition.

There were injuries to key players before the tournament – a particular miss was Becky Sauerbrunn in defense and Mallory Swanson in attack – but other countries had to deal with injuries too.

The management, the federation, and the players will be grilled over the coming days and plenty will be written about the team’s fall from the top of the pile. After all, the bigger the expectations, the more microscopic the focus on a team’s every travail.

But there is light to add to these dark days for US women’s soccer because this is a team which promises to have a better future.

Fourteen members of the squad were competing at a World Cup for a first time. Twenty-one-year-old Trinity Rodman was the best player on the pitch against Sweden until she was substituted, while the likes of 18-year-old Alyssa Thompson and 23-year-old Naomi Girma are undoubted talents who could be mainstays for years to come.

Naomi Girma’s performances at the FIFA Women’s World Cup have been a rare highlight of the otherwise underwhelming campaign so far.

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Inspired by Serena Williams, US soccer star Naomi Girma wants to spur on the next generation

There will be no Rapinoe at the next World Cup – the 38-year-old is playing her final season – and Julie Ertz said after the match that this would likely be her last for the US.

Yet, the foundations are there for further success, or to at least be better than they were in the four matches played in Australia and New Zealand.

There is still a wealth of talent in the collegiate system, while in the 2021/22 school year, soccer was the third-most popular girls’ program with 374,773 participants, according to the High School Athletics Participation Survey.

“Our genetic pool is rich with athletes,” former US coach Anson Dorrance told CNN Sport before the tournament.

Looking ahead to the future, Horan said, “Being able to come out of the group stage, where we didn’t play our best, and changing it into this kind of performance, this is what this team is going to be made of with so many young players coming through.”

But defeat at such an early stage is a warning. Stand still in this sport and the pain of a single loss can quickly turn to years of hurt.