FIFA Women’s World Cup: Portugal vs USA Odds
Draw Would be Enough for USA
Portugal One Win Away From First Knockout Stage
Women’s World Cup favorites USA drew 1-1 with the Netherlands in their last match. They head into the final group stage match in first place and take on a tricky Portugal side. In their Women’s World Cup debut, Portugal are a win away from the knockout stage, as a draw is very unlikely to be enough. In a highly consequential match, we’ll take a look at the Portugal vs. USA odds.
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Portugal vs. USA
Date, time:
Head-to-Head
The USA have historically dominated this fixture, but this is the first meeting on the World Cup match schedule. In ten previous matches, the USA have won all of them and haven’t even conceded a goal. They’ve outscored Portugal 39-0 in this fixture but the last match was close, as a 2021 friendly finished 1-0 USA.
Portugal Get First-Ever World Cup Win
- FIFA Women’s World Ranking: 21
- Last Match: 2-0 W vs. Vietnam
- Standings: 1-1, 3rd Group E
Portuguese striker Telma Encarnacao started on the bench for the World Cup-opening loss vs. the Netherlands but made the eleven vs. Vietnam. She made the most of her opportunity by scoring Portugal’s first-ever Women’s World Cup goal seven minutes in. Lucia Alves played in an enticing cross that Encarnacao finished off beautifully.
Just under 15 minutes later, Encarnacao set up Kika Nazareth for Portugal’s second goal of the match. Portugal finished the match with 11 big chances but the score remained at 2-0. Now, Portugal are in the knockout stage mix but likely need a win vs. the USA to make that a reality. The World Cup soccer rankings list Portugal as the third-ranked team in Group E, and that’s where they currently are in the standings as well.
Portugal coach Francisco Neto made seven chances from the first game to the second. It’ll be interesting to see if he tinkers with the lineup to face the world’s number-one-ranked team. As one of the most considerable talents Portugal has ever produced, expect 20-year-old Nazareth to be in the starting lineup. Should Portugal win here, they’ll become the first debutants at Australia & New Zealand 2023 to make the knockout stage.
USA Come Back and Get a Point
- FIFA Women’s World Ranking: 1
- Last Match: 1-1 D vs. Netherlands
- Standings: 1-1-0, 1st Group E
The USA fell behind for the first time all year in their match vs. the Netherlands. Jill Roord finished from the edge of the box as the Netherlands dominated in the first half. A second half dust-up between Lindsey Horan and the Netherlands’ Danielle van de Donk appeared to motivate Horan. She immediately headed in a corner to level the score. In one of the more interesting FIFA World Cup results, the USA drew 1-1 with the Netherlands in a rematch of the 2019 final.
The Portugal vs. USA odds price the USWNT as heavy favorites to win and advance to a ninth successive knockout stage. The USA have never been eliminated in the group stage and have reached the semifinals in all of their previous Women’s World Cup appearances. In their first match, the USA defeated Vietnam 3-0 and enter Tuesday in first place in Group E.
Although the USA didn’t put together a great performance vs. the Netherlands, there were some encouraging individual moments. Sophia Smith, who scored twice on her World Cup debut, looked dangerous once again. The rest of the team fed off of Horan’s energy and Alex Morgan continued to excel at setting up her teammates.
Match Analysis & Odds
Given their record vs. Portugal, it’s no surprise that the USA are 1.5-goal favorites in this one. Notably, the USA have scored three or more goals in just one of their last eight matches. The Portugal vs. USA odds price the USWNT as -385 favorites as they look to win the group. Plus, the USA come in at -125 odds to cover the spread and Portugal +1.5 shows -105 odds.
Portugal have never scored vs. the USA before and Portugal, under 0.5 goals displays -165 odds. The USA have also kept clean sheets in eight of their ten matches this year. Still, over 2.5 goals are priced at -125 odds for the match.
Portugal’s defense has been solid as of late as they haven’t conceded more than two goals in any match this year. They’ll have their hands full with an explosive USA front line, though.Bettors can take a shocking Portugal upset at +900 odds. Meanwhile, a draw, which would send the USA through to the last 16, sits at +475 odds.
