What USWNT can expect from next World Cup opponent

Clearly, Sweden is not a team that's afraid of taking creative offensive chances. 

While it has performed well at this tournament, Sweden has sunk below the radar in a tournament that has featured Japan's clinical domination and Australia's heartwarming comeback. But make no mistake, the Swedes are a hellaciously difficult opponent for the United States, which has struggled against them in the past.

The USWNT has a 23-7-12 all-time record against Sweden, with the Americans having faced the country's national team at some point in each of the past six World Cups. That may look favorable for the U.S., but only Norway and China have beaten the USWNT more often and both required significantly more games to do it. The USWNT often struggles to break down the Swedes.

These teams last met at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, where things did not go well for the Americans, who lost 3-0 in the group stage to Sweden. The Swedes earned a silver medal while the U.S. took home a bronze in that tournament.

Sweden is notoriously strong on set pieces and often scores from corners and on free kicks. For a USWNT side that has struggled to close down attacks in the box at this World Cup, that unique strength should set off alarm bells. Sweden must be marked closely in the penalty box to blunt its offensive threat – and even then, their height means that it might still find a way to send headers toward goal.

The USWNT is ranked first in the world to Sweden's third. But if the USWNT plays like it did in the group stages, Sweden could win. It's a tight, competent and creative team that has found its groove after a slow opening to its World Cup journey. And it will relish the opportunity to put another win on the books in its head-to-head record against the U.S.

Sunday's game starts at 5 a.m. ET.