Soccer-United States' World Cup dynasty ends along with myth of supremacy

Soccer Football - FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Round of 16 - Sweden v United States - Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne, Australia - August 6, 2023 Megan Rapinoe of the U.S. and teammates look dejected as the United States are knocked out of the World Cup REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The United States came to the Women's World Cup bullish about their chances of winning an unprecedented third consecutive title but their round-of-16 exit at the hands of Sweden showed their campaign was built more on hope than substance.

After back-to-back World Cup triumphs under Jill Ellis in 2015-19, Vlatko Andonovski's efforts to regenerate the four-times champions will be judged a failure in the wake of their 5-4 loss on penalties in Melbourne on Sunday.