Team USA, FIBA World Cup and Zealand
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Wales' World Cup qualifying campaign ended in disappointing fashion with a 3-0 defeat by Uruguay in the fifth place play-off in Hyderabad, India. The South Americans opened the scoring with a penalty stroke in the second quarter, with Welsh goalkeeper Amy Hughes beaten by Teresa Viana.
Goals from Grace Balsdon and Elizabeth Neal did the job for England.
Expansion to 48 teams provides the best chance yet for smaller nations to reach the World Cup, including those who have never done so before.
The start of the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States is less than three months away. News is breaking every day about this summer's tournament and there is no better place to follow it all than right here at The Athletic.