Morocco and Colombia come into the decisive Group H finale with their strongest possible teams. Morocco is led by its first ever World Cup goalscorer Ibtissam Jraïdi and Colombia is spearheaded by teenage sensation Linda Caicedo.
Morocco starting XI:
Goalkeeper: Khadija Er-Rmichi
Defense: Zineb Redouani, Nouhaïla Benzina, Nesryne El Chad, Hanane Aït El Haj
Here's where things stand in Group H going into the final day of group play
From CNN staff
On Thursday, South Korea takes on Germany and Morocco faces Colombia to decide who will advance to the final 16 from Group H.
Colombia is on the brink of a spot in the knockout stages thanks to a surprise victory over Germany in its second group game. A draw or better against Morocco in its final group game will see it top Group H.
The second qualification place looks set to go down to the wire with both Germany and Morocco level on three points.
Germany may need to beat South Korea in its final group game to guarantee a place in the last 16.
10 min ago
Colombia is on the verge of winning Group H thanks to a stunning victory over Germany
From CNN's Ben Morse
Colombia's midfielder Manuela Vanegas, left, celebrates scoring her team's second goal during the match against Germany at Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney on July 30, 2023. Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images
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.
The winning goal, which officially came in the 97th minute, secured Colombia its biggest win to date and inflicted on Germany its first World Cup group stage defeat since 1995.
The world No. 25 was very much the underdog heading into the game against a Germany side ranked 2nd in the world and considered one of the pre-tournament favorites.
Here's where things stand in the group: With one round of fixtures left, Colombia is top of Group H with Germany in second, ahead of Morocco on goal difference.
2 min ago
Here's what happened yesterday at the Women's World Cup
From CNN's staff
Brazil's forward Marta waves after the match, serving as her final World Cup game, against Jamaica at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, on August 2, 2023. William West/AFP/Getty Images
As the group stage at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup winds down, Wednesday proved to be yet another dramatic day at the competition.
The Reggae Girlz from Jamaica earned historic qualification to the knockouts, sending Brazil crashing out of the tournament. While France beat Panama 6-3 in a high-scoring affair in Sydney.
Here are more of the headlines from yesterday's action down under:
Jamaica's manager calls team's knockout round qualification "one of the best feelings I’ve had in my life": The Reggae Girlz reached the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time in the country's history thanks to a gutsy draw against Brazil, a game which manager Lorne Donaldson called a "war." The result, coupled with the other Group F game between France and Panama, meant the team advanced as runner-up and will face the winner of Group H in the next round.
Brazil's greatest female footballer played in her final World Cup: Brazilian striker Marta, now 37, has concluded what will be her sixth and final World Cup. She is considered by many – perhaps even most – to be the greatest female footballer of all time. On Wednesday, Jamaica sent Brazil home with a stunning 0-0 draw in the teams' final group-stage match. Prior to the tournament Brazil's all-time record goal scorer said this would be her final World Cup appearance for her country.
France tops Group F with goals galore in win over Panama: It looked a bit shaky at the beginning, but France overcame any issues to book its place in the last 16 of the Women's World Cup with its 6-3 victory over Panama. Marta Cox's stunning free kick put Panama upearly on, but France recovered quickly by scoring five unanswered to take control of the match. Kadidiatou Diani was the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick to become the first female French player to do so at the World Cup.
South Africa and Italy played out a thriller: South Africa and Italy played arguably the game of the tournament so far, featuring end-to-end action, a bizarre own goal and a stoppage-time winner. South Africa's 3-2 victory saw the team finish second in Group G and reach the knockout stages for the first time ever thanks to Thembi Kgatlana's late goal. Italy, meanwhile, would have progressed in the tournament with a win or a draw, but instead goes home in heartbreaking fashion.
Sweden advances to face the US next round: Sweden eased to a 2-0 win over Argentina, setting up a clash with the US on Sunday. The US women were inches away from being knocked out of the tournament in a huge World Cup scare for the Americans against Portugal earlier this week.
21 min ago
It's the last day of the group stage at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
From CNN staff
It's the final day of the group stage at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup!
Group H is the last group left to settle which teams will move on to the knockout rounds.
Here are the matches set to kick off from down under on Thursday:
South Korea vs Germany (6:00 a.m. ET)
Morocco vs Colombia (6:00 a.m. ET)
Last day of group stage: Thursday is the last day of group stage football at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. Today's matches feature the teams from Group H.
Happening soon: South Korea takes on Germany and Morocco faces off against Colombia, both at 6:00 a.m. ET
Reggae Girlz make history: One day earlier,Jamaica earned a historic qualification to the knockouts, sending Brazil crashing out of the tournament.
US avoids huge shock: The US women were inches away from being knocked out of the tournament in a huge World Cup scare for the Americans.
Go deeper: View current standings, top scorers and more from the tournament here. See the best moments of the World Cup so far here.
Morocco and Colombia come into the decisive Group H finale with their strongest possible teams. Morocco is led by its first ever World Cup goalscorer Ibtissam Jraïdi and Colombia is spearheaded by teenage sensation Linda Caicedo.
Morocco starting XI:
Goalkeeper: Khadija Er-Rmichi
Defense: Zineb Redouani, Nouhaïla Benzina, Nesryne El Chad, Hanane Aït El Haj
On Thursday, South Korea takes on Germany and Morocco faces Colombia to decide who will advance to the final 16 from Group H.
Colombia is on the brink of a spot in the knockout stages thanks to a surprise victory over Germany in its second group game. A draw or better against Morocco in its final group game will see it top Group H.
The second qualification place looks set to go down to the wire with both Germany and Morocco level on three points.
Germany may need to beat South Korea in its final group game to guarantee a place in the last 16.
Colombia's midfielder Manuela Vanegas, left, celebrates scoring her team's second goal during the match against Germany at Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney on July 30, 2023. Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images
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.
The winning goal, which officially came in the 97th minute, secured Colombia its biggest win to date and inflicted on Germany its first World Cup group stage defeat since 1995.
The world No. 25 was very much the underdog heading into the game against a Germany side ranked 2nd in the world and considered one of the pre-tournament favorites.
Here's where things stand in the group: With one round of fixtures left, Colombia is top of Group H with Germany in second, ahead of Morocco on goal difference.
Brazil's forward Marta waves after the match, serving as her final World Cup game, against Jamaica at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, on August 2, 2023. William West/AFP/Getty Images
As the group stage at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup winds down, Wednesday proved to be yet another dramatic day at the competition.
The Reggae Girlz from Jamaica earned historic qualification to the knockouts, sending Brazil crashing out of the tournament. While France beat Panama 6-3 in a high-scoring affair in Sydney.
Here are more of the headlines from yesterday's action down under:
Jamaica's manager calls team's knockout round qualification "one of the best feelings I’ve had in my life": The Reggae Girlz reached the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time in the country's history thanks to a gutsy draw against Brazil, a game which manager Lorne Donaldson called a "war." The result, coupled with the other Group F game between France and Panama, meant the team advanced as runner-up and will face the winner of Group H in the next round.
Brazil's greatest female footballer played in her final World Cup: Brazilian striker Marta, now 37, has concluded what will be her sixth and final World Cup. She is considered by many – perhaps even most – to be the greatest female footballer of all time. On Wednesday, Jamaica sent Brazil home with a stunning 0-0 draw in the teams' final group-stage match. Prior to the tournament Brazil's all-time record goal scorer said this would be her final World Cup appearance for her country.
France tops Group F with goals galore in win over Panama: It looked a bit shaky at the beginning, but France overcame any issues to book its place in the last 16 of the Women's World Cup with its 6-3 victory over Panama. Marta Cox's stunning free kick put Panama upearly on, but France recovered quickly by scoring five unanswered to take control of the match. Kadidiatou Diani was the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick to become the first female French player to do so at the World Cup.
South Africa and Italy played out a thriller: South Africa and Italy played arguably the game of the tournament so far, featuring end-to-end action, a bizarre own goal and a stoppage-time winner. South Africa's 3-2 victory saw the team finish second in Group G and reach the knockout stages for the first time ever thanks to Thembi Kgatlana's late goal. Italy, meanwhile, would have progressed in the tournament with a win or a draw, but instead goes home in heartbreaking fashion.
Sweden advances to face the US next round: Sweden eased to a 2-0 win over Argentina, setting up a clash with the US on Sunday. The US women were inches away from being knocked out of the tournament in a huge World Cup scare for the Americans against Portugal earlier this week.
It's the final day of the group stage at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup!
Group H is the last group left to settle which teams will move on to the knockout rounds.
Here are the matches set to kick off from down under on Thursday:
