In the knockout stage, if a match was level at the end of 90 minutes of normal playing time, extra time was played, where each team was allowed to make a fourth substitution. If still tied after extra time, the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. FIFA set out the following schedule for the round of 16:
In the round of 16, the four third-placed teams were matched with the winners of groups A, B, C, and D. The specific match-ups involving the third-placed teams depend on which four third-placed teams qualified for the round of 16:
Qualified teams
The top two placed teams from each of the six groups, plus the four best-placed third teams, qualified for the knockout stage.
Group
Winners
Runners-up
Third-placed teams
A
B
C
D
E
F
Bracket
Round of 16
Germany vs Nigeria
German captain Alexandra Popp opened the scoring for her side in the 20th minute after heading in Lina Magull's corner from close range. In the 26th minute, Germany were awarded a penalty after Evelyn Nwabuoku was judged to have fouled Magull in the box after missing a clearance. Sara Däbritz converted the resulting penalty by scoring low to Chiamaka Nnadozie's left. Nigeria missed a great scoring chance early in the second half, when substitute Rasheedat Ajibade's low cross was missed by Nigerian captain Desire Oparanozie. In the 82nd minute, Germany scored their third goal when Halimatu Ayinde's misjudged back pass played in Lea Schüller, who shot low to the far post to seal the game for Germany.
Norway vs Australia
Australia started the game fast, with Caitlin Foord's through ball finding Sam Kerr at the edge of the penalty area within 30 seconds. Kerr dribbled past Maren Mjelde, but shot just wide of Ingrid Hjelmseth's goal. At the half-hour mark, Karina Sævik's curling pass played in Isabell Herlovsen, who shot past Lydia Williams to give Norway the lead. Minutes before halftime, Australia were awarded a penalty after Maria Thorisdottir was judged to have handled Kerr's cross from the right. A subsequent VAR check revealed that Thorisdottir touched the ball with her shoulder and the penalty call was reversed. Kerr would have a goal ruled out in the 60th minute after she was judged to be offside. Elise Kellond-Knight equalized for Australia in the 83rd minute after her corner kick evaded all contact and bounced into the net at the far post. Caroline Graham Hansen almost won the game for Norway in stoppage time, when her curling strike from the edge of the penalty area struck the inside of the post and rolled along the goal line. The first period of extra time saw Williams make two strong saves to deny Norway, as well as Alanna Kennedy receive a red card after fouling Lisa-Marie Karlseng Utland. After a relatively tame second period of extra time, the match went to a penalty shoot-out. Hansen scored the first penalty for Norway, shooting low to Williams left after she dove the wrong way. Kerr went first for Australia but sent her shot high and wide of the goal. After Guro Reiten copied Hansen's method, Emily Gielnik saw her low effort saved by Hjelmseth, who dove to her right to make the stop. After both Maren Mjelde and Steph Catley scored their penalties, Ingrid Syrstad Engen slotted into the bottom right corner to send Norway into the quarter-finals.
England vs Cameroon
In the 12th minute, England were awarded an indirect free kick in Cameroon's penalty area after goalkeeper Annette Ngo Ndom was judged to have picked up a back-pass from Augustine Ejangue. English captain Steph Houghton scored from the free kick by shooting low into the bottom right corner. England doubled their lead in first half stoppage time, when Ellen White received a pass from Lucy Bronze just inside the penalty area, and sent a low left-footed shot past Ngo Ndom. Early in the second half, Ajara Nchout appeared to get a goal back for Cameroon after shooting a Gabrielle Onguéné cutback into the top corner, but the goal was disallowed when a VAR check showed Onguéné was offside in the build up to the goal. Alexandra Takounda missed a great chance just after being substituted into the game, when she collected Alex Greenwood's weak back pass in front of goal, but her effort was saved by Karen Bardsley. England added another goal in the 58th minute when Greenwood hit Toni Duggan's low driven corner into the net at the far post. The fixture attracted considerable controversy. The actions of the Cameroonian players, including delaying the restart after England's second and third goals, as well as what was perceived to be deliberately rough play, prompted a FIFA investigation into their actions. Match referee Qin Liang also received significant criticism for failing to punish several Cameroonian infractions, and was seen to have lost control of the game.
France vs Brazil
Spain vs United States
Sweden vs Canada
Italy vs China PR
Netherlands vs Japan
Quarter-finals
Norway vs England
France vs United States
Italy vs Netherlands
Germany vs Sweden
Semi-finals
England vs United States
With the win, the United States extended their winning streak in the Women's World Cupto eleven matches, breaking the ten match record of Norway set between 1995 and 1999, having last drawn against Sweden in the 2015 group stage. The U.S. also extended their undefeated streak to sixteen World Cup matches, breaking the record of fifteen set by Germany between 2003 and 2011, last losing against Sweden in the 2011 group stage.
