The 2023 World Cup quarterfinals kick off Friday in New Zealand and Australia (9 p.m. ET Thursday in the United States), and there are sure to be fireworks. One of the most closely watched games will be Japan vs. Sweden, and not just because the winner will go on to play whoever wins the matchup between Spain and the Netherlands.

Japan midfielder Hinata Miyazawa is currently leading the race for the World Cup Golden Boot award, with five goals scored in the tournament. Sweden defender Amanda Ilestedt, meanwhile, is in a seven-way tie for third place with three goals.

There is a three-way tie for second place, with France forward Kadidiatou Diani, Netherlands midfielder Jill Roord, and Germany forward Alexandra Popp with four goals apiece.

All eyes will be on Miyazawa on Thursday to see if she can extend her lead, but don’t expect her to boast if she does.

“I was happy to score two goals, but this was a team effort,” she said after Japan’s 4-0 win over Spain in the group stage. “The defense did its job and I was given with the right pass at just the right time. This is what enabled me to put the ball in the net.”

Megan Rapinoe, the legendary U.S. women’s national team forward, earned the Golden Boot at the 2019 World Cup in addition to the Golden Ball, given to the top player in the tournament.

Golden Boot Tracker

Here are all the top scorers of the teams remaining in the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

5 goals

Hinata Miyazawa, Japan

4 goals

Kadidiatou Diani, France
Jill Roord, Netherlands

3 goals

Eugénie Le Sommer, France
Hayley Raso, Australia
Alba Maria Redondo Ferrer, Spain
Aitana Bonmati, Spain
Jennifer Hermoso Fuentes, Spain
Lauren James, England
Amanda Ilestedt, Sweden

2 goals

Catalina Usme, Colombia
Esmee Brugts, Netherlands
Rebecka Blomqvist, Sweden
Stephani Catley, Australia
Tanaka Mina, Japan
Ueki Riko, Japan
Linda Caicedo, Colombia
Fridolina Rolfo, Sweden

Just a day after France women’s national team coach Corinne Diacre vowed to remain at the helm despite the departures of key players, the national federation dismissed her from her post.

The French Football Federation pointed to the “fracture” in her relationship with the players in its announcement of the decision Thursday. The “very significant divide” within the team “has reached a point of no return,” the FFF said.

Three top French players had refused to play for their country in this summer’s World Cup under the “current system,” they announced on Feb. 24.

France captain Wendie Renard and star forwards Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani all cited issues with Les Bleues management in their decisions to step away from the national team. Both Katoto and Diani called for “necessary changes” as a prerequisite for their return.

Yet Diacre pushed back against the criticism of her leadership.

“I have been the subject of a smear campaign that is astonishing in its violence and dishonesty,” she said in a statement Wednesday.

The FFF executive committee cited “irreversible” dysfunction in its decision to part ways with the 48-year-old coach. A four-person panel commissioned by interim FFF president Philippe Diallo had reviewed Diacre’s tenure in the wake of the players’ departures.

Diacre had coached the France senior national team since 2017. She was involved in a number of controversies during her tenure. She stripped Renard of her captaincy in 2017 before reinstating her as captain in 2021, and she left Katoto off the 2019 World Cup squad.

The four-person panel has been charged with finding a replacement coach “as soon as possible” as the team, No. 5 in FIFA’s world rankings, continues its preparations for the World Cup.

France women’s national team coach Corinne Diacre has vowed to remain at the helm despite the departures of several top players.

Three top French players have refused to play for their country in this summer’s World Cup under the “current system,” they announced on Feb. 24.

France captain Wendie Renard and star forwards Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani all cited issues with Les Bleues management in their decisions to step away from the national team. Both Katoto and Diani called for “necessary changes” as a prerequisite for their return to the team.

Yet Diacre plans to stay on as coach through the World Cup, she said in a statement released Wednesday. She also pushed back against criticism of her leadership.

“I have been the subject of a smear campaign that is astonishing in its violence and dishonesty,” she said.

Diacre has coached the France senior national team since 2017, but she has been involved in a number of controversies during her tenure. For example, she stripped Renard of her captaincy in 2017 before reinstating her as captain in 2021. She also left Katoto off the 2019 World Cup squad.

“My detractors have not hesitated to attack my personal and professional integrity without bothering with the truth,” Diacre said. “I will not let myself be affected by this destabilization operation, which does not take into account my sporting record, and whose only objective is a personal settling of scores.”

French Football Federation president Noël Le Graët resigned in February, which brought a temporary halt to the FFF’s consideration of Diacre’s fate. Her future will be discussed at a meeting of the FFF executive committee on Thursday, per reports.

Three of the biggest stars on the France women’s national team are stepping away from international duties ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

France captain Wendie Renard, Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani all cited issues within the national team in their decisions, which they announced Friday via social media.

Renard wrote in her statement that she “can no longer support the current system, which is far from the requirements of the highest level,” so she would “not be playing in this World Cup in such conditions.” The 32-year-old defender has played for the national team since 2011.

Katoto and Diani pointed to issues with Les Bleues management, though they did not cite coach Corinne Diacre by name. Both forwards called for “necessary changes” as a prerequisite for their return to the team.

The World Cup is set to kick off on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand.

France won the title at the round-robin Tournoi de France earlier this week, beating Denmark 1-0 and Uruguay 5-1 and playing to a 0-0 draw against Norway. Renard started all three of the matches, Diani two of them. Katoto is recovering from an ACL tear she sustained last July.

“My face can hide the pain, but my heart hurts and I don’t want to hurt anymore,” Renard wrote in her statement. “Thank you for your support and respect for my decision.”