Germany fell in the group stage, USA and Norway said goodbye after the round of 16 and Japan left the competition in the quarter-finals.

This means a new country will be at the top of the women's game at the conclusion of Australia and New Zealand 2023.

Spain, Sweden, Australia and England are the teams that have qualified for the semi-finals but have never won the Women's World Cup before. Below is how they made it.

Spain vs Netherlands

Spain beat the Netherlands 2-1 after extra time to reach Women's World Cup semi-finals for first time. Substitute Salma Paralluelo scored an extra-time winner to lift Spain to a nervy 2-1 victory over the Netherlands and into the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup for the first time.

Mariona Caldentey’s penalty after a VAR-reviewed handball decision looked to have won the match for Spain with just nine minutes remaining, but Stefanie van der Gragt – whose handball had gifted La Roja its penalty – drilled home a brilliant effort in the first minute of added time.

Spain players celebrate after progressing to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Wellington

In a tense period of extra time, teenage substitute Salma Paralluelo struck the winner after 111 minutes with a left-footed effort off the inside of the far post to make history for Spain.

Spain will play Sweden in the first semi-final on Tuesday, August 15 in Auckland.

Japan vs Sweden

Sweden also advanced to their second consecutive World Cup semi-final with an impressive win over Japan. A first-half goal from Amanda Ilestedt and Filippa Angeldal’s penalty stunned the Japanese in front of more than 43,000 fans in Auckland. 

It was the best performance of the tournament from Peter Gerhardsson’s side, who had scraped through against defending champions the United States on penalties in the previous round.

Filippa Angeldal (No.16) celebrates with teammates after putting Sweden 2-0 up against Japan from the penalty spot.

In the first-half, Sweden dominated possession and managed to be much more threatening in front of goal, with 11 shots, four on target. Japan, on the other hand, didn’t test Zecira Musovic once in the first 45 minutes.

Japan continued to threaten Sweden with ten minutes of play added on, but Sweden saw out the victory.

Sweden will now play Spain in the last four after Jorge Vilda’s side beat the Netherlands 2-1.

 England vs Colombia

Alessia Russo's second-half goal saw England beat Colombia 2-1 in the Women's World Cup quarter-finals, setting up a semi-final showdown with Australia.

England players celebrating their qualification to the semi-finals

England will play Australia in the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup. The game will be played on Wednesday, August 16 at the Accor Stadium in Sydney, which will later host the final on August 20.

A third-place play-off will be played the day before the final on August 19 in Brisbane.

Australia vs France

Co-hosts Australia beat France 7-6 on penalties to reach the last four of the Women's World Cup for the first time after their quarter-final finished goalless.

Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold saved three French penalties and missed one herself in a dramatic shootout, with Cortnee Vine stepping up to convert the decisive spot-kick and send Australia into a semi-final against England, who beat Colombia later on Saturday.

Australia players celebrate after Cortnee Vine scored the winning penalty in the shootout to beat France in the Women’s World Cup quarter-final