World Cup host, or even co-host, had never previously exited at the group stage but there is a first time for everything and New Zealand must now become reluctant bystanders at their own party.
While a desperately unadventurous Switzerland did just sufficient to secure the point that ensured they top Group A and will now face either Japan or Spain in the round of 16, Jitka Klimkova’s tearful side finished third.
So far so underwhelming from the Ferns but context is called for. After all, New Zealand did not have a full-time manager before Klimkova became their first professional head coach in 2021. Moreover, the former Czech international fulfilled her pre-tournament ambition of leading her adopted country to a first group stage win at a World Cup finals.
The 25-year-old became the first player to wear the Islamic headscarf at a senior tournament when Morocco beat South Korea earlier.
Muslim girls and women wear the hijab as a display of modesty, but it's not always been welcomed on the football pitch.
It was banned by the game's governing body Fifa until 2014, when they allowed players to wear it for religious reasons.
Birmingham, one of the only clubs geared towards Muslim women in the UK.
The 23-year-old says when she was younger she had no Muslim female football player to look up to.
"Little me is screaming 'oh my gosh', finally now a hijab at the level of the World Cup and being globally recognised," she tells BBC Newsbeat.
Australia will likely require a win to advance from Group B to the knock-out stages or hope the Republic of Ireland can upset Nigeria after a stunning defeat to the Africans last time out. Canada and Nigeria both know a draw will see them through, while the Republic cannot qualify. Elsewhere, Spain and Japan are already in the last 16 after winning both matches so far, meaning they face off to decide who will win Group C, while Costa Rica take on Zambia and play for pride.
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