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The U.S. women's national team are set to square off against the Netherlands Wednesday at Wellington Regional Stadium in New Zealand in a huge matchup. The match is the second of three group games for the USA as they continue their pursuit of a fifth World Cup title. No team has ever achieved a three-peat of cups and the USWNT are in prime position to be the first to do so. They'll have to get through the group, where all games take place in New Zealand and they include a 2019 final rematch against the Netherlands.

The Americans head into matchday two as Group E leaders after an opening-day victory against Vietnam. The USWNT defeated the Golden Star Women Warriors 3-0 on Friday. The Netherlands defeated Portugal 1-0 on Sunday. Their matchday two fixture is a battle for the top spot in the group with a win vastly increasing either team's chances of winning the group.

The group wraps up play on Tuesday, August first with the winner moving on to place the second place team from Group G in the round of 16, while the runner-up will face the Group G winner. With Sweden, Italy, Argentina and South Africa vying for the spots to face off against Group E. 

 Here's how you can watch the match and what to know:

Viewing information

  • Date: Wednesday, July 26 | Time: 9 p.m. ET
  • Location: Wellington Regional Stadium -- Wellington, New Zealand
  • TV: Fox | Live stream: fubo (try for free) and Fox Sports app 
  • Odds: USA: -145; Draw: +250; Netherlands: +400 (via Caesars Sportsbook)

USWNT group schedule

All times Eastern

Friday, July 21
USA 3, Vietnam 0

Wednesday, July 26
USWNT vs. Netherlands, 9 p.m. -- Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington

Tuesday, Aug. 1
USWNT vs. Portugal, 3 a.m. -- Eden Park, Auckland

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Storylines

USWNT: The Stars and Stripes are another step closer to the knockout rounds. They dominated nearly every game stat against Vietnam in their 3-0 victory, but now they have their biggest test of the group against Vietnam. Eight of the team's 14 World Cup debutants earned their first tournament minutes, and Sophia Smith earned player of the match honors with two goals and one assist. 

If the expectation of the group is for the U.S. to get their goals against debutant teams, then their match against the Netherlands is an opportunity for the defense to shine. The midfield will have their biggest challenge of the match, and Andi Sullivan and Lindsey Horan will have to lead the way if Julie Ertz is tabbed with consecutive starts at center back again.

Netherlands: The Dutch pulled off a narrow victory against Portugal to open the group stage but have an early opportunity to play spoiler against tournament favorites USA. They don't have a lengthy history of participation in the World Cup -- this is their third tournament -- and they have never missed out on the knockout rounds. They were 2019 World Cup runners-up, losing 2-0 to the U.S. in the final. 

They've had a short build-up with manager Andries Jonker, who was appointed in 2022 in response to the nation's poor performance at the European Championships under Mark Parsons. The Oranje are without star striker Vivianne Miedema with an ACL injury, but the team can still produce in the final third with Jill Roord and on set pieces. Danielle van de Donk will cause problems in the midfield, battling to dispossess, and she can be an extra option in between the channels in attacks. Victoria Pelova is an asset to the team on the right side as either a winger or wingback and can play out of tight spaces in a hurry. 

USWNT Starting XI

Naeher, Fox, Ertz, Girma, Dunn, Sullivan, Horan, DeMelo, Smith, Morgan, Rodman

USWNT vs. Netherlands prediction

This will be the game that may determine the group and the knockout round path. The USWNT will want to take care of business, so that will mean on both sides of the ball with an opportunity for the defenders to be the stars. Pick: USWNT 2, Netherlands 0.