As the U.S. women’s national team prepares for the 2023 World Cup, Just Women’s Sports is taking a look at its opponents — including its three group-stage adversaries and its potential matchups in the knockout rounds.

Next up is a team that’s been something of an Achilles heel for the USWNT in the past: Sweden.

Manager: Peter Gerhardsson

Peter Gerhardsson has led the Swedish women’s national team since 2017, succeeding former USWNT manager Pia Sundhage following the 2017 Euros. Before that, he coached in Swedish professional leagues and served as head coach of Sweden’s U17 men’s squad.

Under Gerhardsson, Sweden placed third at the 2019 World Cup and won silver at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, losing to Canada in the final.

Key player: Fridolina Rolfö

Barcelona star Fridolina Rolfö is one of many threatening players Sweden boasts on its roster. With 25 goals in 77 appearances for Sweden, Rolfö has made her name as one of the best players in the world. The 29-year-old forward headlines a group that also includes world-class players Sofia Jakobsson, Anna Sandberg, Stina Blackstenius and Kosovare Asllani.

World Cup history

Sweden has played in every World Cup since 1999, when they made the quarterfinals in their first-ever tournament. In 2003, they advanced all the way to the final before losing to Germany. Sweden has also appeared in two World Cup semifinals in 2011 and 2019.

Group Stage schedule

Sweden will play in Group G alongside South Africa, Italy and Argentina. Take a look at the schedule below, or check out the full World Cup schedule.

  • Sunday, July 23 – 1 a.m. (FS1)
    • Sweden vs. South Africa
  • Saturday, July 29 – 3:30 a.m. (FS1)
    • Sweden vs. Italy
  • Wednesday, Aug. 2 – 3 a.m. (FOX)
    • Sweden vs. Argentina

Keys to beat the USWNT

Play to their strengths. This is an experienced team that knows how to beat the USWNT in big moments.

Most recently, Sweden defeated the U.S. 3-0 in their group-stage opener at the Tokyo Olympics. The Swedes also famously knocked the USWNT out of the 2016 Olympics, sending them home without a medal. It was the first three-goal loss for the USWNT in a major tournament since the 2007 World Cup semifinals. In both of those Olympic Games, Sweden finished with the silver medal.

The No. 3 team in the world, according to the FIFA rankings, Sweden has experience on its side. While defender Hanna Glas is absent from the World Cup with a knee injury, Magdalena Eriksson, Linda Sembrant and Nathalie Björn fill out the backline. Midfielder Caroline Seger is the anchor of this team, with over 230 appearances in what will likely be her final World Cup.

Familiar faces like Jakobsson, Blackstenius and Lina Hurtig all provided a boost against the USWNT in Tokyo and could do so again at the World Cup. Sweden has all the tools to beat the USWNT — it’s just a matter of if they can put all the pieces together and stay healthy.

As Women’s World Cup qualifying continues in Europe through September, three teams have already qualified for the 2023 tournament: Spain, Sweden and France.

Sweden booked its ticket as the UEFA Group A winner after a 1-1 draw against Ireland on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso scored twice in a 2-0 victory over Scotland to clinch a spot as the winner of Group B. Spain will be making its third World Cup appearance. France won Group I following a 1-0 win against Slovenia to seal its fifth World Cup berth.

With the three qualifications, a total of eight guaranteed spots remain for European teams in next year’s tournament, plus one spot that will be determined by a playoff tournament.

Both Germany and Norway could make a strong case, with Norway recently returning Ada Hegerberg to its national team. England will also hope to qualify in front of a hometown crowd at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 tournament this summer.

A total of 10 teams have qualified for next year’s World Cup out of a field of 32.

Australia and New Zealand have automatically qualified as hosts while China, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam have all qualified from Asia.

Sweden defeated Italy on Tuesday 6-5 in penalty kicks to win the 2022 Algarve Cup.

The annual tournament held in Portugal hosted Sweden, Italy, Portugal, Norway and Denmark for this year’s iteration. Both Sweden and Italy went undefeated to set up a winner-take-all final.

In the final, Italy struck first with Valentina Giacinti notching a goal in the 18th minute.

Caroline Seger got one back for Sweden in the 71st minute to pull even. From there, the game would eventually advance to penalties. Every Swedish player scored on their penalty kick, including goaltender Hedvig Lindahl, who scored the winning kick.

Italy’s Annamaria Serturini’s shot was then blocked by Lindahl to secure the win.

The USWNT’s Olympic journey is off to a shaky start.

Sweden snapped the team’s 44-game unbeaten streak on Wednesday, besting the USWNT 3-0 in the squad’s first group stage match in Tokyo.

Sweden dominated the game for all 90 minutes, governing the midfield and running at the U.S. backline.

After a handful of solid chances early on, Sweden finally capitalized on the game’s lopsided momentum, converting off a corner kick in the 25th minute. Stina Blackstenius nodded in a near-post header to give Sweden a 1-0 lead.

Blackstenius struck again in the 54th minute, beating Alyssa Naeher at close range off a rebounded corner kick to double Sweden’s lead.

Sweden put the game out of reach in the 72nd minute, when Lina Hurtig headed in a cross from Hanna Glas to make it 3-0.

The USWNT will look to get back to its winning ways against New Zealand in the team’s second group stage game on Saturday.