Sweden has long been a power in the women’s game, while Spain is a relative newcomer to big matches. They meet in a World Cup semifinal where the less experienced Spaniards are solid favorites to make a World Cup final for the first time.
Spain has never been to a World Cup semifinal and had never won a knockout game at a World Cup before this tournament. This is only Spain’s third World Cup.
On the other side, Sweden has been to every Women’s World Cup and is making its fifth World Cup semifinal appearance. The Swedes made the final once, in 2003 (a 2-1 loss in extra time to Germany).
Spain is -210 (10-to-21) to advance with Sweden at +140 (7-to-5) on BetMGM.
All odds from BetMGM. Here’s where you can buy tickets to upcoming games.
Spain vs. Sweden
Kickoff time: 4 a.m. ET/9 a.m. BST Tuesday
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Both teams had dramatic, tight victories to get this far. Spain survived an added time equalizer from the Netherlands to win in extra time.
The Swedes needed Japan to hit a penalty off the bar to pull out a 2-1 win in that quarterfinal. Sweden’s win avoided a Group C rematch between Japan and Spain, something Spain might be happy to see after an ugly 4-0 loss to Japan in that one.
The path for these two teams to get here is a bit different. In the Round of 16, Spain blew past Switzerland, a team that like Spain had never won a knockout World Cup match going in. In the quarterfinals, Spain edged past Netherlands, which despite making the 2019 final is another relative newcomer to the upper tiers of the women’s game.
Meanwhile, Sweden took out the two most recent champions in its knockout matches. The Swedes escaped a wild penalty shootout against the two-time defending champion Americans in the Round of 16 and then beat 2011 champion Japan.
A major talking point for Spain is the status of two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas. Putellas hasn’t scored yet in this World Cup and came off the bench in the two knockout matches. She is coming off an ACL injury so she didn’t enter the World Cup at her best, but she has seen her role with this team diminish as the tournament has gone on.
This is the first meeting between these two teams at a World Cup. They did meet in group play in Euro 1997, a game Sweden won 1-0.
More from the 2023 World Cup
Sweden’s confidence grows as ‘bumblebee’ approach pays off against Japan
History-making Spain continue to break barriers at World Cup after turbulent year
How Sweden overcame Japan to reach the semifinal: Clever shape and midfield dominance
(Photo of Stina Blackstenius and Amanda Ilestedt: Michael Bradley / AFP via Getty Images)
