Vlatko Andonovski, the United States’ head coach, has resigned following the team’s poorest performance in a Women’s World Cup.

The four-time champions were eliminated on penalties by Sweden in the tournament’s final 16 this year.

It was the team’s earliest exit from a World Cup, after finishing at least third in every previous edition.
Twila Kilgore, the national team’s current assistant coach, has been chosen temporary head coach.

Andonovski’s record with the squad was 51 wins, five draws, and nine losses, with three victories, two draws, and five loses at big tournaments.

He took over as coach in October 2019 after Jill Ellis, who guided the team to back-to-back World Cup victories in 2015 and 2019, stepped down.

Andonovski’s tenure began smoothly, as he set a record for the best start for a US coach with 11 straight victories.

But a poor performance at the Olympics in Tokyo, where the US won bronze, put Andonovski under pressure.
The attention increased when the United States lost three consecutive games against England, Spain, and Germany in 2022, the team’s worst losing streak in 29 years.

The United States began the World Cup with a 3-0 victory over Vietnam, but a 1-1 tie with the Netherlands and a goalless draw with Portugal meant they placed second in their group. It was the first time in their history that they had failed to win at least two group games.

The United States was chastised for their efforts in the group stage, but they fared better against Sweden.

They were thwarted, though, by an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Zecira Musovic, who made 11 saves in 120 minutes to send the game to penalties.