 The winners and runners-up from each group qualified for the first round of the knockout stage, which began with the quarter-finals on 30 June 1999.Hosts and 1991 champions United States were placed in Group A alongside Denmark, who were undefeated in European qualification, Nigeria, champions of the African qualifying competition, and North Korea in their World Cup debut.The United States defeated Denmark 3–0 in the opening match, played on 19 June in front of a record 78,972 at Giants Stadium, with goals scored by Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, and Kristine Lilly.