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World Cup updates: Team USA looks forward to 2026

PHOTO: Head coach Gregg Berhalter and Christian Pulisic of United States react after their sides' elimination from the tournament during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Netherlands and USA on Dec. 3, 2022, in Doha, Qatar.
6:38
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
USMNT players talk about knock-out loss to Netherlands in World Cup
By Mark Osborne, Jon Haworth, Nadine El-Bawab, Patricio Chile, Kevin Shalvey, Alexandra Svokos, Kiara Alfonseca
Last Updated: November 29, 2022, 3:07 PM

After years of controversy around its location, the 2022 World Cup is underway in Qatar.

There have been allegations of payoffs to FIFA members to earn the bid, criticism of Qatar's laws against women and LGBTQ individuals, the deaths of migrants used to build the sparkling new stadiums and even last-second controversy over beer sales. The tournament was also moved from its usual summer timeframe to the holiday season to avoid Qatar's intensely hot weather.

MORE: Why the Qatar soccer World Cup is so controversial

But on the field, the best players in the world -- such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar -- are ready to go. And the U.S. is back with a hungry, young team after failing to qualify for the last World Cup.

Key headlines:

  • Team USA looks forward to 2026: ‘Really bright’ future
  • US defeated by Netherlands 3-1, out of the World Cup
  • US-Netherlands kicks off knockout round Saturday
Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.

Nov 29, 2022 3:07 PM

Netherlands-Qatar and Ecuador-Senegal underway

The first two matches of the day are underway in Qatar, including the final game for the home squad.

Qatar, which cannot advance to the next round after losses in its first two matches, faces the Netherlands, which currently stands atop Group A. The Netherlands would advance with a win.

PHOTO: Netherlands players line up for the national anthem prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Netherlands and Qatar at Al Bayt Stadium on Nov. 29, 2022, in Al Khor, Qatar.
Mohamed Farag/Getty Images
Netherlands players line up for the national anthem prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Netherlands and Qatar at Al Bayt Stadium on Nov. 29, 2022, in Al Khor, Qatar.
Mohamed Farag/Getty Images

In the second match, Ecuador and Senegal face off with the winner guaranteeing a spot in the knockout stage. A draw would also be enough for Ecuador to move on.

If Senegal-Ecuador tie and Netherlands loses, it will come down to goal differential to determine whether Netherlands or Senegal advances. Netherlands is currently plus-2 in goal differential on Senegal, so they are looking good.


Nov 29, 2022 2:56 PM

FiveThirtyEight gives US 38% chance of beating Iran

The odds of beating Iran are in the U.S.'s favor, but the overall chances of advancing to the knockout round are not -- at least according to FiveThirtyEight's World Cup predictions.

The U.S. has a 38% chance of winning, while Iran has a 31% chance, with a 31% chance of a draw. Only a win will put Team USA into the next round, so that means there's a 62% chance they won't advance to the knockout stage.

For those looking even further down the line, the U.S. has less than a 1% chance of winning the World Cup -- the same as Iran. For those looking on the bright side, the U.S. does have a 15% chance of making the quarterfinals.

FiveThirtyEight uses its Soccer Power Index ratings to determine the likely winner. The SPI draws from a database of international matches dating back to 1905. For a full explanation of how the rankings work, click here.


Nov 29, 2022 2:16 PM

Pandas predict a US win against Iran

Good news for the U.S. men's team – Qatar's psychic pandas Thuraya and Suhail have chosen the U.S. to beat Iran in today's must-win matchup.

PHOTO: It's good news for the US men's team today from Doha's "Panda House". Qatar's psychic pandas have chosen the US to win today's must win match up against Iran.
beIN Sports
It's good news for the US men's team today from Doha's "Panda House". Qatar's psychic pandas have chosen the US to win today's must win match up against Iran.
beIN Sports

The two pandas were gifted to Qatar from China to celebrate it as the host country of the World Cup. Every day, they are tasked with predicting which countries will win that day's matchups.

However, the pandas are not given the choice of a draw and they're not always correct.

The pandas also chose England over Wales, Senegal over Ecuador and Qatar over the Netherlands in today’s matches.



Nov 29, 2022 1:53 PM

Blinken denies ‘geopolitical’ nature of World Cup

When Secretary of State Antony Blinken was asked about the unrest in Iran and China as it related to the game between the U.S. and Iran at the World Cup later today, Blinken said “let's let the athletes do their thing,” expressing his belief that there are no geopolitical implications beyond a competitive game.

PHOTO: Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, holds a press conference with Romania's Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu in Bucharest, Romania, Nov. 29, 2022, during a meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in the Romanian capital.
Vadim Ghirda/Pool via AP
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, holds a press conference with Romania's Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu in Bucharest, Romania, Nov. 29, 2022, during a meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in the Romanian capital.
Vadim Ghirda/Pool via AP

“I'm certainly confident in [the athletes'] abilities to do well on the field. And I don't think there are any particular geopolitical aspects to this, other than that,” he added.

Affirming the right to protest, Blinken closed his answer, saying “protests that we're seeing in China, protests that we're seeing for different reasons, in Iraq, in other places — our position is the same everywhere, which is that we support the right of people everywhere to peacefully protest to make known their views, their concerns and their frustrations.”

-ABC News’ Noah Minnie


Nov 22, 2022 4:11 PM

Fans show off team pride with crazy costumes

Win or lose, you can always count on fans to show up -- often in the most outlandish outfits.

PHOTO: Iran supporters wait for the start of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match between England and Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 21, 2022.
Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images
Iran supporters wait for the start of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match between England and Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 21, 2022.
Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images

PHOTO: An Argentinian fan enjoys the pre match atmosphere prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium, Nov. 22, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.
Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
An Argentinian fan enjoys the pre match atmosphere prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium, Nov. 22, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.
Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

PHOTO: Fans attend the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group D football match between Denmark and Tunisia at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha, Nov. 22, 2022.
Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images
Fans attend the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group D football match between Denmark and Tunisia at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha, Nov. 22, 2022.
Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images

PHOTO: A Netherlands' supporter takes their seat for the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match between Senegal and the Netherlands at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha, Nov. 21, 2022.
Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images
A Netherlands' supporter takes their seat for the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match between Senegal and the Netherlands at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha, Nov. 21, 2022.
Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images

PHOTO: A Netherlands' supporter takes their seat for the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match between Senegal and the Netherlands at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha, Nov. 21, 2022.
Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images
A Netherlands' supporter takes their seat for the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match between Senegal and the Netherlands at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha, Nov. 21, 2022.
Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images

PHOTO: A fan of the team form Mexico watches during warm ups before the World Cup group C soccer match between Mexico and Poland, at the Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022.
AP Photo/Themba Hadebe
A fan of the team form Mexico watches during warm ups before the World Cup group C soccer match between Mexico and Poland, at the Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022.
AP Photo/Themba Hadebe

-ABC News' Moe Zoyari


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