Germany Eliminated From Women’s World Cup Group Stage in Historic Result

The two-time world champions had never before missed the knockout stage at a Women’s World Cup.

In what will be considered one of the biggest events in women’s international soccer history, superpower Germany has been eliminated at the group stage of the 2023 Women’s World Cup. 

Germany, a two-time Women’s World Cup winner and eight-time European champion, failed to advance to the knockouts for the first time at a major tournament after a dramatic final day in group play that featured a 1–1 draw with South Korea combined with Morocco’s 1–0 win over Colombia. 

After a 6–0 rout of Morocco in its opening game, Germany’s form only declined with a 2–1 loss to Colombia followed by Thursday’s draw, giving it four points from three games. 

Against South Korea, Germany trailed early thanks to an early goal from Tottenham midfielder Cho So-hyun. While Germany star Alexandra Popp equalized in the 42nd minute, when the results at the time would have seen Germany advance, Morocco’s Anissa Lahmari scored in first-half stoppage time to give Morocco the lead over Colombia.

The score lines would end up holding, sending Colombia through to the knockouts as the Group H winner on goal differential over second-place Morocco with both teams finishing on six points. 

In soccer terms, it has been a nightmarish year for Germany. The men’s team crashed out of the group stage of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar for the second straight tournament. Then, the unthinkable happened for the women’s team in Australia, sending the No. 2 team in the FIFA world rankings home early. Eerily enough, it was also South Korea in the group finale of the 2018 men’s World Cup that would end Germany’s tournament early in a national catastrophe.