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Women’s World Cup Power Rankings: Re-ranking all 16 teams after the group stage

By Caden Charpentier

TOPSHOT - Japan's midfielder #07 Hinata Miyazawa celebrates with her teammates after scoring her team's first goal during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup Group C football match between Japan and Spain at Wellington Stadium, also known as Sky Stadium, in Wellington on July 31, 2023. (Photo by Marty MELVILLE / AFP) (Photo by MARTY MELVILLE/AFP via Getty Images)
TOPSHOT - Japan's midfielder #07 Hinata Miyazawa celebrates with her teammates after scoring her team's first goal during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup Group C football match between Japan and Spain at Wellington Stadium, also known as Sky Stadium, in Wellington on July 31, 2023. (Photo by Marty MELVILLE / AFP) (Photo by MARTY MELVILLE/AFP via Getty Images) /
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 31: Left Steph Catley of Australia celebrates after scoring her team’s fourth goal during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Canada and Australia at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on July 31, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Will Murray/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 31: Left Steph Catley of Australia celebrates after scoring her team’s fourth goal during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Canada and Australia at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on July 31, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Will Murray/Getty Images) /

No. 8: Netherlands

FIFA Ranking: 9

Andries Jonker and the Netherlands WNT took care of business like the USWNT should have in the first place. The Dutch used a 7-0 trouncing of Vietnam to finish atop Group E, ahead of the two-time defending world champions. With a new coach at the helm compared to the one that was in charge during the Euros, and plenty of experience playing deep into world tournaments, this Netherlands team is more than capable of going the distance.

Only Japan found the back of the net more frequently than Jonker’s team with its most potent striker in the front line. Jill Roord has been brilliant in front of goal while youngster Esmee Brugts has taken the opportunities she has been given. The 2019 finalists will reap the benefits of a competition filled with upsets. South Africa is next on tap for this in-form Dutch side that has completely run its opposition off the pitch in three out of the last four halves of football.

No. 7: Sweden

FIFA Ranking: 3

Once South Africa could not get the job done against them in the first match, there was nobody that was going to stop the Swedes. Peter Gerhardsson’s Sweden amassed a goal differential of eight, tied for second-best among the last 16, behind only the Japanese. Amanda Ilestedt, and Rebecka Blomqvist both have multi goals to their name heading into the knockout round. A 5-0 walloping of Italy put the rest of the pack on notice.

The Group G winners will take on the USWNT in the Round of 16, and if the defending world champions play the way they did against Portugal, Gerhardsson’s team should have no issues. Former Chelsea captain Magdalena Eriksson has been that steady force in the backline while wingers like Jonna Andersson have provided that consistent service into the forwards. Similar to many of the teams in the top eight or nine in this list, any one of them could lift the World Cup. The path may be one of the toughest, but its current form in addition to its history make this nation a team to beat.

No. 6: Australia

FIFA Ranking: 10

Talk about a decisive way to reach the last 16. While the first two matches were battles, Australia let the world know its true colors in game No. 3. The co-hosts were without Sam Kerr, the world’s most potent striker for the entire group stage. That didn’t matter to Tony Gustavsson’s team. After an awakening against Nigeria, the Matildas squashed the defending Olympic Gold Medalists Canada to clinch Group B.

https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1685978631904935937?s=20

Kerr made the bench against the Canadians, but the performance allowed the coaching staff to rest her for even longer. When they take on the Danish in the knockout round, No. 20 is more than likely going to be back into the lineup. In Kerr’s absence, Steph Catley took the captain’s armband, scoring two goals. Katrina Gorry have been sensational in the midfield for Australia while Hayley Raso is the only player on the team with two goals in the run of play. With the entire nation behind them, the Matildas seek to become the first host nation since the United States in 1999 to win the Women’s World Cup.

No. 5: Spain

FIFA Ranking: 6

The Spanish are quite an interesting side at the moment. Jorge Vilda, and Spain’s WNT cruised to two easy wins against Costa Rica and Zambia. When the European outfit clashed with Japan to conclude Group C play, it received a lesson in counter-attacking football. The Japanese had just 22 percent of the possession but managed to find the back of the net four times while putting five of their seven shots on target.

It was the first time the team conceded just one goal since April 6 when Norway scored twice in a 4-2 victory for the Spanish. The positive, Vilda’s team will not have to go head-to-head with Caroline Graham Hansen in the Round of 16. It is not the way you want to finish out group stage play, but the reality is, you may be in a better position than the team that finished above you. Vilda’s side is littered with world-class players. That display against the Japanese was a wake-up call. The Spanish are much better than that. With the number of world-class talents including Alexia Putellas in the squad, Spain is more than capable of rebounding.