The U.S. women's national team has not accounted particularly well for itself in the Women's World Cup. In fact, one soccer pundit is referring to their playing style this tournament as "Midfield is Lava." But they've gotten to the first of possibly four knockout rounds, starting on early Sunday morning in the U.S. Then, on Sunday night, the Messi train rolls on to Frisco, Texas, as Inter Miami plays its first road match of the 2023 Leagues Cup.
Remarkably, those are the only two matches on this coming Sunday, with 16 1/2 hours spanning between the two. But they're big ones.
5 a.m. ET
Sweden vs. United States
Fox/Telemundo/Peacock
As the saying goes, keep your friends and the Swedish women's national team even closer.
Yes, there's a familiar feel to Sunday's Round of 16 clash between the USA and Sweden. It is the seventh-ever World Cup meeting between the two nations, and the sixth in consecutive tournaments.
The USA leads the series 4-1-1. However, all of their previous meetings in this competition were in the group stage. This time, it's do or die. There is a considerable amount of pressure in this one. Perhaps like never before.
Of the eight knockout matches in this round, finding a bigger heavyweight battle is hard. In terms of rankings, it's first versus fourth. In recent tournament form, you have the reigning World Cup winner and Olympic bronze medalist facing off with the 2019 World Cup third-place team and Olympic silver medalist.
While the USA is still the oddsmakers' favorites to advance, the Blågult arrive with better form at the 2023 World Cup. Sweden won all three of their group-stage outings, scoring nine goals in the process, while the USA limped to one win and two draws, scoring just four goals in three matches.
It feels like this one could be decided on who is more organized on set pieces. Six of Sweden's nine goals have come from corners. Center back Amanda Ilestedt currently leads the Europeans in scoring with three headed goals.
After a poor showing in front of goal against Portugal, has USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski had time to fix his offensive issues?
9:30 p.m. ET
FC Dallas vs. Inter Miami CF
Apple TV (MLS Season Pass)
So, getting the sense that you know what the Messi-led Miami has done this tournament ... three matches, three wins, Messi getting a goal contribution every 29 minutes. Match by match, potential obstacles are just peeling away, and if FC Dallas doesn't put a stop to El Tren de Messi in this match, it's very possible that we're headed to a Miami-Philly match in the semis that could be an epic battle of Barcelona West vs. Old-School MLS Roster Building.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves, though: Dallas has shown it's building depth, with goal-scoring contributions from Bernard Kamungo and Eugene Ansah. And as long as the Pirate of the Caribbean's in the FC Dallas lineup, they're a threat to score. And, really, Messi hasn't faced a goalkeeper in this tournament on quite the level of Maarten Paes.
But there's a narrative momentum building in this tournament, and it's not exactly FC Dallas getting second in its group and then progressing.