Australia dominates Canada 4-0 to win Group B at Women’s World Cup

Australia's defender Stephanie Catley, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's fourth goal from the penalty kick during the match between Canada and Australia at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, in Melbourne, Australia, on July 31.

All eyes were on host nation Australia today and the Matildas certainly came through.

After a disappointing start to the tournament, the co-host announced itself as a possible title contender with a superb 4-0 demolition of Canada.

Elsewhere in Group B, Nigeria was held to a 0-0 draw against the Republic of Ireland but still qualified for the last 16 as the runner-up.

It’s a brilliant outcome for the African nation which celebrated its achievement in style after full-time.

Elsewhere on Monday, Zambia recorded its first win ever at the Women’s World Cup after defeating Costa Rica 3-1, while Japan thrashed Spain 4-0 to continue its impressive, undefeated start to the tournament.

Tuesday’s action:

The United States Women’s National Team will look to secure its place in the knockout round when it faces Portugal at 3 a.m. ET.

Vietnam, which is already out of the tournament, will face the Netherlands at the same time.

Attention then turns to Group D where England faces China and Denmark takes on Haiti at 7 a.m. ET.

Thanks for joining us today, we’ll see you tomorrow for Tuesday’s riveting matches!

The dominating 4-0 performance from Australia, which sent the Matildas waltzing into the knockouts as Group B winners, was celebrated by local fans in Brisbane.

Matildas fan Vanessa Spagen was beaming after the Australia 4-0 victory over Canada.

“It’s awesome! We needed that score,” Vanessa Spagen told CNN.

She said she was confident going into the match despite Australia’s 3-2 stumble against Nigeria in its previous game.

“I was hoping Sam [Kerr] would play, but the girls did well without her.”

How does Spagen fancy the Matildas’ chances going forward?

“They’ve got a good chance, like everyone else I guess. I think they’ll be fine as soon as they get [the country] behind them and keep going forward.”

With star striker Kerr coming back from a calf injury in the knockout stage, who’s to say the locals won’t be celebrating in the days to come?

A brilliant result for the co-host which is met with huge applause from the home support.

The pressure was on and the Matildas certainly delivered to top Group B.

Canada was punished for a lack of imagination and can’t have any complaints at being knocked out of the competition.

Australia surges into the last 16 where it will play the runner-up in Group D – one of England, China, Denmark or Haiti.

Read the full match report here.

Icing on the cake for Australia with a goal from the penalty spot in the 93rd minute.

Steph Catley dispatches the spot kick after VAR spotted a foul inside the box.

Salt in the wound for a lackluster Canadian team.

It’s all over in Brisbane and it’s finished goalless between the Republic of Ireland and Nigeria.

Both teams showed plenty of attacking intent as they came forward in waves of attacks, but neither could find that goalscoring touch.

Paired with Australia’s win over Canada, it’s a result that means Nigeria finishes second in Group B and will face the winner of Group D – likely England – in the last 16.

Onome Ebi of Nigeria enters the pitch to warm up prior to the match between Ireland and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, on July 31.

The game might not be the most thrilling, but there has been one moment of note for Nigeria.

Onome Ebi was substituted on in the 83rd minute and, in doing so, the 40-year-old became the first African footballer to play in six World Cups.

A monumental achievement and display of longevity.

Australia didn’t particularly impress in its first two matches of the tournament, but the co-host has turned up the quality when it mattered here.

Despite all the pressure, the Matildas have looked sharp and have outplayed Canada for much of this match.

The team still has talismanic striker Sam Kerr to come back into the startling lineup once she’s fully recovered from a calf injury picked up before the opening fixture.

Kerr is on the bench today but, given the scoreline, you can’t imagine she’ll play any part of this match.

Promising stuff for Australia as the knockout stage beckons.

Medical students Christina Hu and Brandon Law are at the Brisbane fanzone but are supporting different teams

Hu is rooting for Australia despite being American – she does admit that she may switch allegiances if there’s an Australia vs. USWNT final – while Law is supporting Canada.

Given the comfortable lead Australia has over Canada, Law is considering switching allegiances right now. He had his head in his hands after the last Australia goal, but also adds hopefully: “There’s a lot of game left.”

Christina Hu (left) and Brandon Law (right) in the Brisbane fanzone for the Australia vs. Canada game at the Women's World Cup.

Mary Fowler of Australia scores her team's third goal during the match against Canada, in Melbourne, Australia, on July 31.

Australia looks home and dry now after Mary Fowler makes it 3-0 in the 58th minute.

The goal came from a wonderful ball down the line to Caitlin Foord who drives at the Canadian defense.

After some great work, Foord squares the ball to Fowler who sightly miskicks the ball over the line, off the post. A scruffy end to some brilliant build-up play from Australia.

Canada looks to be heading out of the tournament, minus some sort of miracle.

That will go down as one of the saves of the tournament!

A stooping header from Uchenna Kanu looked to be heading in for the opening goal of the game, but a strong glove from Courtney Brosnan remarkably tipped the ball onto the bar.

The game somehow remains goalless.

Back underway in Melbourne and Canada has it all to do.

Australia 2-0 up and currently heading through to the last 16. Canada needs at least two goals here.

The Republic of Ireland and Nigeria are back on the pitch and the second half is underway with Nigeria knowing it will qualify for the last 16 if results stay as they are.

When Barbra Banda slotted home from the penalty spot against Costa Rica at the Women’s World Cup on Monday, it held particular significance.

Not only did it help propel Zambia to its first ever World Cup victory, but it was also the competition’s 1,000th ever goal.

To commemorate the landmark score, let’s look back at some of the other milestones:

And breathe…

It’s been a frantic first half in Melbourne but what a spectacle to watch.

Australia started and ended the first period brilliantly and now take a 2-0 lead into the break.

Canada had looked to use its experience to wrestle back control of the game at one point but has failed to cope with Australia’s intensity in attack.

Canada is currently heading out of the Women’s World Cup unless it can stage a second-half comeback.

As it stands, Australia will qualify for the last 16 as the Group B winner.

While the vast majority of eyes in Australia are on the co-host’s game against Canada, a few have chosen to watch the other match happening at the same time.

With a packed fanzone just meters away cheering on the Matildas, three men have their choice of seats to watch the Republic of Ireland take on Nigeria.

Fans watch the Republic of Ireland's game against Nigeria at the Women's World Cup.

Unfortunately for these three, while the venue might be a more comfortable viewing experience, the goalless match certainly isn’t as thrilling as Australia’s 2-0 first-half performance.

Hayley Raso, second from left, celebrates with teammates after scoring Australia's second goal during the match against Canada at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, on July 31.

Hayley Raso with the brace to put the co-host up 2-0!

Just minutes after Australia had a second goal disallowed, it goes and scores again in the 39th!

Raso was on hand again to supply the finish. Canada in real trouble now.

A confusing one, this.

Mary Fowler looked to have given Australia a 2-0 lead, but VAR spotted an apparent offside in the build-up.

It was very tight.

Nigeria's Asisat Oshoala misses a chance at a goal against Ireland during the match at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, on July 31.

After a cagey first 10 minutes, Asisat Oshoala had an excellent chance to open the scoring for Nigeria but has put it just wide.

Capitalizing on some sloppy passing from Republic of Ireland defender Louise Quinn, Oshoala was played through on goal with just the goalkeeper to beat.

But just when it looked like ball was going to nestle in the far corner, the Barcelona star’s effort flashed past the post. A big let off for the Republic of Ireland.

Australia has been electric at the start of this game and almost has a second.

This time, Hayley Raso’s effort is brilliantly stopped by Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.

Canada is all over the place at the moment and its players need to settle down. As it stands, The Canucks are heading out of the Women’s World Cup.

They might be vastly outnumbered - and their team down 1-0 - but this group of Canadians at Brisbane’s Fan Festival remained hopeful for the final group game of the tournament.

They’re all third- and fourth-year dentistry students studying at the University of Queensland.

Unofficial group spokesman Youssef Chahrour says they’re all there for a good time, and they’re not banking on a Canada win too early.

“There’s a lot riding for both countries,” he said.

Canada fans are pictured ahead of their team's clash against Australia.

Elsewhere, another group of Canadians stood for the country’s national anthem ahead of kickoff.

Mauricio Mora, Sheveen Sidhu, Fatima Amershi and Sakina Janoowalla appeared confident of a positive result for Canada, although Janoowalla started backpedaling because she “didn’t want to jinx the team.”

“I hope each of them has a fighting chance,” added Sidhu, predicting a close 3-2 win for Canada.

Canada fans stand for the country's national anthem at a fan park in Brisbane before the game against Australia.

Australia's Hayley Raso, left, celebrates with teammates Katrina Gorry, center, and Ellie Carpenter after scoring her team's first goal during the match between Canada and Australia at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, on July 31.

It’s an opener for Australia!

Hayley Raso with a composed finish in the 9th minute, but there is plenty of confusion surrounding the goal.

Most people inside the stadium, including some of the players, assumed there was an offside in the buildup and the goal was originally disallowed.

But referee Stephanie Frappart consults with the video assistant referee (VAR) and the goal stands!

Australia has started brightly and the crowd is loving every minute.

A packed stadium in Melbourne to watch these two sides face off.

It’s practically a must win game for Australia and its fans are certainly doing their bit by creating a brilliant atmosphere as the national anthem is blared out.

Can the Matildas cope with the nerves and find a way past their experienced opponents?

Let’s find out.

The atmosphere is building and fans are getting ready for Australia’s vital must-win clash against Canada.

Amongst those include Pia in Brisbane, who is dressed for the occasion in a scarf that’s longer than she is.

Ami Aminza and Faiq Arif with their daughter Pia in Brisbane before the beginning of Australia's game against Canada.

Pia’s parents, Ami Aminza and Faiq Arif, are from Malaysia but have lived in Australia for 10 years. They say they are confident that the Matildas will get the necessary victory, adding that Pia is the “only Australian” amongst them as she was born in the country 18 months ago.

“I have faith because Sam Kerr is playing, so our chances are good,” Aminza says.

In Sydney, the pre-match festivities include fans dancing up a storm in a jam-packed fan zone.

Fans dance at a fanzone in Sydney ahead of Australia's game against Canada at the Women's World Cup.

It’s all to play for and the atmosphere is intense!

Yarna Felton (right) got a tattoo to pay tribute to Australia defender Alanna Kennedy. She's nervous to watch the Matildas play Canada with her two friends, Eva James (left) Liz Hoskin?(center).

How’s this for commitment?!

After the Matildas’ last outing on Thursday, Yarna Felton felt a tattoo was a fitting tribute to star player Alanna Kennedy.

The defender scored a late goal in the 10th minute of added time at the end of Australia’s 3-2 defeat to Nigeria.

Asked if she’d get another one if Kennedy scores again, Felton said: “There’s plenty of room!”??

The friends are backing the Matildas to use the grit and determination they’ve shown in the past to find a way past Canada.

They describe themselves as “nervous but confident,” leaning more towards the former.

This group of Irish fans - who dubbed themselves the "Goalden Girls" - traveled all the way from Ireland to see the Girls in Green compete at the Women's World Cup. “The stars aligned and it was meant to be,” said Majella Egan,?bottom right.

Their team may be out of the tournament, but Ireland’s fans are still loving the Women’s World Cup.

This group of college friends started a 40th birthday travel pot when they turned 30, with plans to go somewhere exciting.

They considered Las Vegas, Mauritius, the Maldives and a Botox party, but when Ireland qualified for the country’s first ever Women’s World Cup, the pin dropped on Australia.??

“The stars aligned and it was meant to be,” said Majella Egan.

Laura McDonnell says all of them play or coach soccer, so the decision was easy, though she said it was “not often women decide to go away to support a team.”??

The friends are “devastated” the Girls in Green haven’t qualified for the next round, but they credit them with inspiring millions of Irish girls back home to take up the sport.??

Canada’s starting XI:

Goalkeeper: Kailen Sheridan

Defense: Jayde?Riviere, Kadeisha?Buchanan, Vanessa?Gilles, Ashley Lawrence

Midfield: Quinn, Julia?Grosso, Adriana?Leon, Jessie?Fleming, Jordyn?Huitema

Forward: Christine?Sinclair

Australia’s starting XI:

Goalkeeper: Mackenzie?Arnold

Defense: Ellie?Carpenter, Clare?Hunt, Alanna?Kennedy, Steph Catley

Midfield: Hayley?Raso, Katrina?Gorry, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Emily?van Egmond

Forward: Mary?Fowler, Caitlin?Foord

Christine Sinclair of Canada is seen in action during the match between Nigeria and Canada at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on July 21, in Melbourne, Australia.

Canada’s Christine Sinclair has her name etched in the record books — ahead of soccer luminaries such as Abby Wambach, Mia Hamm and Cristiano Ronaldo — as the all-time leader for international goals scored by both men and women.

The 40-year-old has a chance to add further records to her name as she leads Canada at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

She could become the first player of either gender to score in six World Cups — she became just the second to score in five editions in 2019, after Marta had done so. Ronaldo became the third to do so in 2022.

From becoming Canada’s youngest-ever player when she made her debut at age 16, to arguably soccer’s greatest ever goal-scorer, Sinclair has led quite the life. With this likely her last World Cup, she has one final opportunity to add “world champion” to her long list of achievements.

Read more about Sinclair here.

Australia's captain Sam Kerr applauds the fans after her team's loss in the match between Australia and Nigeria in Brisbane on July 27.

Even as a 15-year-old, Sam Kerr had the weight of a?nation?on her shoulders.

At age 15 and 150 days, a fresh-faced Kerr ran onto the Canberra?pitch?to make her international debut for Australia in 2009. She had already become the youngest?scorer?in the W-League, Australia’s top division, and been voted players’ player of the year. Expectations were high.

But Australia fell to an emphatic 5-1 defeat to Italy that day and Alyssa Mautz, Kerr’s teammate at Perth Glory and the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), believed Kerr experienced a lot of pressure early in her career. “She couldn’t enjoy the game as much as I think she would like at that age,” she told CNN.

Fast forward to 2023 and Kerr is one of best players in the game and a global star. She became the first female player to feature on the global front cover of the popular soccer video game, FIFA, in 2022.

But on Monday Australia’s captain and all-time leading scorer faces possibly her toughest test yet, to help keep Australia in the Women’s World Cup, the competition the country is hosting, by beating reining Olympic champion Canada in a must-win match for the Matildas. The expectations and pressure has arguably never been higher.

More force has been added onto the sizeable burden carried on her shoulders, though that may just drive the striker on to keep home hopes alive in this tournament.

Only a handful of players get to experience leading their nation at a World Cup on home soil. Kerr has had to wait longer than expected for the honor at this tournament having been forced to miss Australia’s opening two games because of injury.

Kerr declared herself fit for Monday’s crunch tie but remained coy over how head coach Tony Gustavsson might choose to use her, off the bench or from the start.

Read the full story here.

A photo of Sam Kerr doing a backflip is projected onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House on June 25, 2020, in Sydney, Australia.

The world turns upside down during Sam Kerr’s?trademark goalscoring celebration. She wheels away from the goal, cartwheels across the pitch and completes it with a backflip, soaking in the rapturous applause of the?crowd.

And when a photo of a backflipping Kerr was projected onto the famous sails of the Sydney Opera House to mark successful Australia’s bid for this year’s Women’s World Cup, it confirmed that women’s soccer Down Under has been turned upside down too.

Twenty years previously, the Matildas were so underfunded that they posed for and sold a?nude calendar?to raise money to help the team prepare for a home Olympics in Sydney.

It was a Disney documentary that detailed their build-up up to this year’s tournament, offering glimpses into the players’ lives outside football: Ellie Carpenter’s rehabilitation after she suffered an?ACL injury,?the sacrifices Kerr makes being in a long-distance relationship with her partner, as well as Katrina Gorry’s return to the field while juggling motherhood.

As one of the co-hosts, this year’s Women’s World Cup was supposed to be the culmination of all this change; a celebration of Australia’s most beloved team. But it hasn’t quite worked out like that.

Captain, talisman and star striker Kerr suffered a calf injury before the team’s first game, ruling her out for the first two group matches. A shaky 1-0 win against Ireland kicked off the Matildas’ tournament before disaster struck once more and they succumbed to a shock 3-2 defeat against Nigeria.

Now the Matildas teeter on the edge of a premature group stage exit at their own World Cup, requiring a win against Canada on Monday — on paper their toughest opponent in the group — to progress to the knockout stages.

Read the full story here.

Zambia holds on for a memorable win.

They may be out of the tournament, but the Copper Queens have made history.

The players secured their nation’s first ever Women’s World Cup win and scored their first ever World Cup goal.

Costa Rica showed fight in the second half but couldn’t make up for its dismal performance before the break – it finishes bottom of Group C.

Racheal Kundananji of Zambia celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's third goal during the match between Costa Rica and Zambia at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand, on July 31.

It’s surely all over now.

It has been all Costa Rica in this second half, but Zambia catches it on the break in the 93rd minute.

It was a clinical sweeping move, with Racheal Kundananji providing the finishing touch.

Minutes now from a famous Zambia win and the fans are loving every minute.

That’s full-time in Wellington and it’s a huge, statement win for Japan – its first-ever against Spain.

The victory sees Japan top Group C with a flawless, three-from-three record and next play Norway, while Spain, despite the heavy defeat, heads through as runner-up to face Switzerland.

Two goals from the excellent Hinata Miyazawa and one each for Riko Ueki and Mina Tanaka completed the rout for the 2011 world champion.

Importantly, Japan is now set to potentially avoid facing the US Women’s National Team, the pre-tournament favorite and defending champion, until the semifinals at the earliest.

Mina Tanaka celebrates with teammate Miyabi Moriya after scoring Japan's fourth goal against Spain in Wellington, New Zealand, on July 31.

And in the 82nd minute comes the nail in the coffin for Spain in this contest.

Substitute Mina Tanaka has Japan’s fourth goal and it’s a brilliant finish – driving into the Spanish box and firing the ball into the top corner.

What a start to the tournament Japan has had, scoring 11 goals in three games without conceding.

Spain, now heading for its heaviest defeat since 2012, will need to regroup ahead of the knockout stages.

It’s been all Costa Rica this half and its players are pushing hard for that equalizer.

Zambia is defending well, so far, as it tries to cement its first ever win at a Women’s World Cup.

Around five minutes remaining of normal time. All eyes will be on the fourth official and the amount of time added on.

The match may be a dead rubber, but it certainly doesn’t feel like it.

After a frantic first 45 minutes, which saw Japan score three well-taken goals, the second half has been far more subdued.

Spain has had nine shots throughout the game but is yet to really trouble Japanese goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita. An inability to convert possession and pressure into goals will potentially be a cause for concern for manager Jorge Vilda as La Roja looks to progress in the tournament.

As things stand, Japan will finish top of Group C and play Norway in the knockout stages, while Spain will face Switzerland.

That was almost the equalizer!

After some sloppy defending from Zambia, Costa Rica has the ball in the back of the net in the 69th minute but Melissa Herrera is fractionally offside.

All of a sudden, it’s Zambia holding on.

Fabiola Villalobos of Costa Rica appeals to referee Bouchra Karboubi before a VAR check during the match between Costa Rica and Zambia at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand, on July 31.

Costa Rica almost had a penalty there.

After a loose back pass, Zambia’s goalkeeper Catherine Musonda clearly takes out the Costa Rican forward but, after a very long VAR check, the referee spots an offside in the build-up.

Zambia can count itself lucky. Las Ticas have come out in this second half on fire.

Japan's Hinata Miyazawa, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring during the match between Japan and Spain in Wellington, New Zealand, on July 31.

With her two first-half goals, Hinata Miyazawa leads the race for the Golden Boot as the top scorer at the Women’s World Cup.

She now has four goals, putting her ahead of several players all on three: Brazil’s Ary Borges, Sweden’s Amanda Ilestedt, Norway’s Sophie Haug, and Germany’s Alexandra Popp.

The second half is now underway in Wellington as Japan looks to build on its 3-0 lead.

Costa Rica's midfielder Melissa Herrera, right, scores against Zambia's goalkeeper, Catherine Musonda, center, during the match between Costa Rica and Zambia at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand, on July 31.

Play had barely gotten underway in the second half before Costa Rica halved the deficit.

Melissa Herrera?bundles the ball over the line in the 48th minute after Zambia fails to clear the ball properly and the game looks very different all of a sudden.

Not the prettiest goal but one that brings Costa Rica back in this match – it’s also the team’s first goal of this year’s World Cup.

Zambia may be the lowest ranked team at this World Cup, but it’s flexing its muscles against Costa Rica.

The world No. 77 could be out of sight already but has wasted a number of good opportunities in front of goal.

Costa Rica struggled to get to grips with the match but has shown a little more promise after going 2-0 down.

The Copper Queens will keep looking to get their talisman Barbra Banda on the ball after the break – she ran the game for much of the first half and looks a real threat.

Japan's Hinata Miyazawa, center, celebrates scoring Japan's third goal with Honoka Hayashi, left, and Risa Shimizu, as Spain's Olga Carmona, right, reacts during the match at Wellington Regional Stadium, in Wellington, New Zealand, on July 31.

Wow, this is ruthless from Japan.

Hinata Miyazawa has her second goal of the game in the 40th minute and Japan’s third as she fires into the top of the net.

Spain, one of the pre-tournament favorites, didn’t concede a single goal in its first two games. Now, it looks stunned having let in three in a half.

Japan, meanwhile, is in complete control, currently heading into the knockout stages at the top of Group C.

Barbra Banda celebrates after scoring Zambia's second goal from the penalty spot during the match between Costa Rica and Zambia at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand, on July 31.

Zambia captain Barbra Banda doubles her team’s lead from the penalty spot in the 31st minute!

It’s a historic moment as well, being the 1,000th goal scored at the Women’s World Cup.

It’s nothing less than Zambia deserves, with the African nation in full control against Costa Rica.

Banda has been at the heart of everything good her team has done today and Costa Rica is holding on.

Japan's Riko Ueki celebrates after scoring her side's second goal during the match between Japan and Spain in Wellington, New Zealand, on Monday, July 31.

Another counter attack, another goal for Japan.

Hinata Miyazawa, the scorer of the first goal of the game, breaks into the Spanish half before finding Riko Ueki, who is able to double Japan’s lead in the 29th minute.

Her shot is deflected off defender Irene Paredes and flies beyond the reach of goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez. It’s slightly fortunate but Japan, now with a comfortable advantage at the top of Group C, won’t care one bit.

Not a bad way for Ueki to celebrate her birthday – she turned 24 on Sunday.

Japan's Hinata Miyazawa, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the match between Japan and Spain in Wellington, New Zealand, on Monday, July 31.

Japan, one of the most impressive sides at this year’s tournament, has taken an early lead to seize control of Group C.

It comes on the break as Hinata Miyazawa gets through on goal and rolls a shot calmly into the net.

As things stand, Japan will finish top of the group and face Norway in the next round, while Spain is currently set to face Switzerland.

That’s also the first goal Spain has conceded at the tournament.

Costa Rica's goalkeeper Daniela Solera concedes a goal during the match between Costa Rica and Zambia at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand, on July 31.

There’s been a piece of Women’s World Cup history early on in the game between Zambia and Costa Rica.

Both teams are playing for pride having lost their opening two games, but Zambia, making its debut at the tournament, finally has something to celebrate: a first Women’s World Cup goal.

Lushomo Mweemba gets the goal with a lovely volley from a corner inside the first three minutes. What a moment for Zambia!

The final games in Group C are now underway with Spain and Japan, both already qualified for the knockout stages, battling to decide which nation finishes top of the group.

They meet at the Wellington Regional Stadium in New Zealand, while Costa Rica and Zambia, both searching for a first-ever Women’s World Cup victory, face each other at Waikato Stadium.

Stay tuned for updates from both those games.

Players of Spain pose for a team photo prior to the Women's World Cup match between Spain and Zambia at Eden Park on July 26, in Auckland, New Zealand.

Nine players on Spain’s 23-member squad play their club football for giants FC Barcelona — with seven others representing their great rival Real Madrid.

Among Spain’s Bar?a contingent are key midfielders Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatti.

Barcelona, with 18 players across all the teams in the tournament, is the best-represented club at this year’s Women’s World Cup, according to organizers FIFA.

Spain and Japan face off in Wellington, New Zealand on Monday having both won their two previous group games, qualifying for the Round of 16 and impressing many with their performances.

Spain — the top scorers at the competition so far — knows a draw or win will see it top the group for the first time in its history.

Japan, on the other hand, is behind Spain on goal difference, so anything less than a win Monday means it will face Group A winner Switzerland in the knockout stages, rather than runner-up Norway.

Group C’s other game Monday will see two winless teams, Costa Rica and Zambia, go head-to-head in what will be a first senior competitive meeting between the two nations.

Although a dead rubber in terms of qualification, they have plenty of pride to play for with a first-ever World Cup win a possibility for both.

Khalida Popal reunited with the Afghan women's national team in Australia this week to attend the World Cup match in Brisbane, on July 27.

Half-time and thousands of tiny cellphone lights are swaying in time to Coldplay’s “A Sky Full of Stars” on a mild winter night at Brisbane Stadium for Australia’s World Cup match against Nigeria.

Sitting across two rows, not far from the pitch, are players from the?exiled Afghan women’s national team, who know what it’s like to represent their country and dream of doing so again — if only they were recognized as a national team by the sport’s governing bodies.

Khalida Popal, the team’s founder, flew in from Denmark to meet the players, who now live in Australia after fleeing the threat of death by the Taliban on an Australian military plane as United States troops pulled out in August 2021.

Two years ago, she begged the international community for help to get the team out of Afghanistan, imploring the players to burn their kits, so Taliban fighters wouldn’t target them for daring to play competitive sport, which is now banned for women in the country.

Now, she’s urging FIFA, the sport’s highest authority, to allow the girls and women to run onto the pitch again to represent Afghanistan.

Read the full story here.

Japan’s starting XI:

Goalkeeper: Yamashita

Defense: Shimizu, Takahashi, Kumagai (captain), Minami

Midfield: Miyazawa, Naomoto, Nagano, Hayashi, Endo

Forward: Ueki

Spain’s starting XI:

Goalkeeper: Rodriguez

Defense: Paredes, Batlle, Carmona (captain), Galvez

Midfield: Abelleira, Putellas, Bonmati

Forwards: Caldentey, Hermoso, Paralluelo

It’s a clash of the top teams in Group C, with Japan taking on Spain. Meanwhile, Costa Rica and Zambia both look for their first points of the tournament.

Those games both start at 3 a.m. ET (8 a.m. BST).

Later Monday: Canada faces co-host Australia, with the two sides separated by just one point in the Group B standings. Nigeria, meanwhile, looks to maintain its surprising run atop the group when it takes on Ireland.

Kick-off is at 6 a.m. ET (11 a.m. BST) for both games.

How to watch: In the US, games will be aired on FOX Sports, while Telemundo will provide Spanish-language coverage.

Seven Network and Optus Sport are broadcasting matches in Australia and the BBC and ITV have the rights in the United Kingdom.

A full breakdown of media rights holders in each country is available on the?FIFA website.

Manuela Vanegas of Colombia celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's second goal during the match between Germany and Colombia in Sydney, Australia, on July 30.

Colombia produced one of the most dramatic?Women’s World Cup?upsets, scoring in the last minute to beat two-time world champion Germany 2-1 on?Sunday.

The South American side looked to have been denied a famous win after Alexandra Popp equalized for?Germany?from the penalty spot in the 89th minute, canceling out 18-year-old sensation Linda Caicedo’s wonderful opener at the start of the second half.

But, in the dying seconds, Manuela Vanegas scored with a brilliant header from a corner to spark frenzied celebrations inside the Sydney Football Stadium.

Here’s what else happened in key contests over the weekend:

Monday’s standout game comes from Melbourne as Australia play Olympic champion Canada.

Canada, after a win and a draw in its opening two games, sits level atop Group B with Nigeria, while Australia lies just a point behind after a disappointing loss in its last game against the Super Falcons.

Canada knows that a draw or victory will see it progress to the round of 16, while if Australia win, it will qualify for the next stage, regardless of the result in the other group game between the Republic of Ireland and Nigeria.

Australia could be bolstered by the return of captain and star player Sam Kerr who missed the Matildas’ opening two games of the tournament because of injury. Kerr declared herself fit for Monday’s crunch tie but remained coy over how head coach Tony Gustavsson might choose to use her, off the bench or from the start.

For Canada, avoiding defeat will be the aim of the game. Canada’s own star striker, Christine Sinclair, is still attempting to etch her name into the history books.

A goal for the 40-year-old at this year’s tournament would see her become the first player, either male or female, to score at six World Cups.

In Brisbane, Group B leader Nigeria will be playing the Republic of Ireland. Nigeria knows a draw will see it through to the knockout stage. Debutant Ireland has already been eliminated.

A combination mock-up picture shows the armbands that FIFA says team captains will be permitted to wear during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, in this undated handout image released on June 30, 2023.

As?Ali Riley?and her New Zealand team claimed a surprise victory over Norway in the opening match of the 2023 Women’s World Cup on Thursday, the Football Ferns captain could be seen sporting a white and blue?armband?emblazoned with the words “Unite for Inclusion.”

In contrast, Steph Catley — who captained Australia in the absence of regular skipper?Sam Kerr, who was injured — was wearing a similarly colored armband that said, “Unite for Indigenous Peoples” as the Matildas battled to a 1-0 win over Ireland in Sydney.

Those expressions represent two of the eight options that captains at the showpiece event can choose from after armbands became an unlikely talking point at the men’s event in 2022.

The eight different armbands each carry a “specific message” according to FIFA, falling under the governing body’s “Football Unites the World” campaign and in partnership with various United Nations’ agencies and the World Health Organization (WHO).

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