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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: December 1, 2022, 10:15 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.

Dec 01, 2022 10:15 PM

Portugal, Brazil tune up for knockout stage in Friday action

Brazil and Portugal, two of the favorites to win the World Cup, are already into the knockout stage, but they'll have a chance to tune up for the second round in their final group matches on Friday.

In Group G, Brazil faces Cameroon, which needs to win and get a loss from Switzerland to qualify or a draw and better goal differential than the Swiss. Switzerland is facing off with Serbia. Serbia would need to win and get a loss by Cameroon or have a better goal differential. The Swiss just need a win or draw to advance alongside Brazil.

PHOTO: South Korea's midfielder Son Heung-min attends a training session at Al Egla Training Site 5 in Doha on Dec. 1, 2022, on the eve of the Qatar 2022 World Cup football match between South Korea and Portugal.
Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images
South Korea's midfielder Son Heung-min attends a training session at Al Egla Training Site 5 in Doha on Dec. 1, 2022, on the eve of the Qatar 2022 World Cup football match between South Korea and Portugal.
Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images

In the other set of games Friday, Portugal faces off with South Korea and Uruguay faces Ghana. Portugal may rest its top players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, so South Korea will be looking to take advantage and grab an upset win. Tottenham star Son Heung-min and South Korea need to win and get a loss from Ghana, or, if that game ends in a draw, beat Ghana in goal differential.

Uruguay, sitting on 1 point just like Korea, needs a similar situation. They'll need to beat Ghana and get a loss from South Korea, or beat Korea out on goal differential if the Portugal-South Korea match ends in a draw.

Here's the schedule for Friday, the final day of group play:

  • Ghana vs. Uruguay, 10 a.m., FS1
  • South Korea vs. Portugal, 10 a.m., Fox
  • Cameroon vs. Brazil, 2 p.m., Fox
  • Serbia vs. Switzerland, 2 p.m., FS1


Dec 01, 2022 8:57 PM

Japan stuns Spain to win group, Spain advances on goal differential

Japan stunned perennial contender Spain with two goals early in the second half to win 2-1 and take the top spot in Group E.

Spain, thanks to a blowout victory over Costa Rica in their first game, advanced on goal differential over Germany. Germany defeated Costa Rica 4-2 in the other game in the group. Costa Rica had a chance to advance, but likely needed to win since the team was so far behind on goal differential.

PHOTO: Japan's Ritsu Doan celebrates scoring their first goal with Kaoru Mitoma and Ao Tanaka against Spain, Dec. 1, 2022.
Jennifer Lorenzini/Reuters
Japan's Ritsu Doan celebrates scoring their first goal with Kaoru Mitoma and Ao Tanaka against Spain, Dec. 1, 2022.
Jennifer Lorenzini/Reuters

Japan won on goals by Ritsu Doan in the 48th minute and Ao Tanaka in the 51st minute. Tanaka's goal was initially disallowed due to being offside, but it was reviewed and then allowed.

Japan had made the round of 16 in alternating years the last six World Cups until this year, now going back to back in 2018 and 2022. Japan will play Croatia in the next round while Spain will play Morocco.

Germany has now failed to get out of the group stage in two straight World Cups after winning in 2014 and finishing in the top 4 four tournaments in a row.


Dec 01, 2022 4:59 PM

Morocco, Croatia advance as Belgium shockingly goes home

The No. 2 team in the world, Belgium, is headed home after a scoreless draw against Croatia in the last match of Group F. Croatia advanced to the knockout stages with the draw.

Belgium had several opportunities to score in the second half, many from star Romelu Lukaku, but could not break through. Lukaku, who has been dealing with a hamstring injury, was subbed in at the half.

PHOTO: Belgium's Romelu Lukaku reacts to missing a goal against Croatia in the World Cup, Dec. 1, 2022.
Piroschka Van De Wouw/Reuters
Belgium's Romelu Lukaku reacts to missing a goal against Croatia in the World Cup, Dec. 1, 2022.
Piroschka Van De Wouw/Reuters

In the other game in Group F, Morocco defeated Canada, 2-1, to take the top spot in the group. Hakim Ziyech got the Moroccans on the board quickly in the 4th minute and Youssef En-Nesyri added a second goal in the 23rd minute. The only goal for Canada was actually an own goal by Morocco.

Canada, in its second World Cup ever, has still yet to win a match.



Dec 01, 2022 4:00 PM

Pulisic doing 'everything in my power' to play Saturday

U.S. star forward Christian Pulisic said Thursday he is ready to return to his team for training and is still hoping to play in the team's knockout round game against the Netherlands on Saturday.

"I'm gonna go meet now with the team and the medical staff and make a decision on [training] today," Pulisic said at a press conference. "Just kind of see how I'm feeling. Take it day-by-day right now, but doing everything in my power to be able to be out there on the field Saturday."

Pulisic suffered a pelvic contusion when crashing into the Iranian goalkeeper after knocking in the eventual game-winning goal Tuesday. He was checked out by trainers and eventually returned to the pitch before being substituted out at halftime.

PHOTO: USA forward Christian Pulisic reacts following a collision during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match between Iran and USA at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha on Nov. 29, 2022.
Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images
USA forward Christian Pulisic reacts following a collision during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match between Iran and USA at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha on Nov. 29, 2022.
Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images

He was taken to the hospital for a brief stay before returning to the hotel to greet the team returning after the win.

He said in a post on social media from the hospital that he would play on Saturday, a sentiment he echoed to Fox reporter Jenny Taft Thursday morning when he told her he'd play. Officially, he is still listed as "day-to-day."

PHOTO: Christian Pulisic of the United States attends a press conference before a training session at Al-Gharafa SC Stadium, in Doha, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022.
Ashley Landis/AP
Christian Pulisic of the United States attends a press conference before a training session at Al-Gharafa SC Stadium, in Doha, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022.
Ashley Landis/AP

The U.S. faces the Netherlands in the round of 16 on Fox at 10 a.m. Saturday. A U.S. team hasn't advanced past the round of 16 since 2002 when they defeated Mexico in the first knockout game before losing to Germany in the quarterfinals.


Nov 28, 2022 4:03 PM

Ghana defeats South Korea, Cameroon and Serbia tie

Ghana won over South Korea 3-2 in a high-intensity match that saw the momentum change several times over.

Ghana started strong, with Mohammed Salisu scoring 24 minutes in and Mohammed Kudus at 34 minutes, bringing the score to 2-0 by halftime.

But then Cho Gue-sung of South Korea scored twice, at the 58th minute and again just three minutes later. He scored both goals on a header from a cross, the second powerful strike followed by an exuberant team celebration as it tied up the game.

PHOTO: South Korea's Cho Gue-sung misses to score in overtime against Ghana's goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi during the World Cup group H soccer match between South Korea and Ghana, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Nov. 28, 2022.
Lee Jin-man/AP
South Korea's Cho Gue-sung misses to score in overtime against Ghana's goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi during the World Cup group H soccer match between South Korea and Ghana, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Nov. 28, 2022.
Lee Jin-man/AP

Ghana met the challenge just minutes later, with Kudus scoring once more to put Ghana back in the lead.

With 10 minutes of extra time, South Korea was not able to score again as the Ghanaian team successfully defended multiple goal opportunities.

Earlier Monday, in Group G, Cameroon and Serbia ended in a 3-3 tie.


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