World Cup updates: Team USA looks forward to 2026

The Americans lost 3-1 to the Netherlands in the knockout round.

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.

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:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Nov 23, 2022, 6:57 AM EST

Morocco and Croatia battle to 0-0 draw at halftime

Croatia controlled possession of the ball 51% of the time to Morocco's 36% in the first half of the Group F match at Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar.

Croatia had two corner kick opportunities but were unable to capitalize on those opportunities to score while Morocco had one less foul in the first half than the European side.

Nov 23, 2022, 5:08 AM EST

Match between 2018 World Cup runners-up and Morocco kicks off

Croatia, runners-up to France in the 2018 World Cup, have taken the field against the second-best team in Africa, Morocco, in Group F's first match of the tournament.

Morocco have not won a World Cup match since 1998 and have only ever emerged from the qualifying rounds in the tournament once, 36 years ago in 1986.

Nov 22, 2022, 4:23 PM EST

Soccer powers take the stage on Wednesday

Germany, Spain and Belgium take to the field on Wednesday as they each look to open the tournament with a win -- and deliver a message that they are in World Cup-winning form. Germany and Spain won the World Cup in 2014 and 2010, respectively, while Belgium is No. 2 in the FIFA world rankings.

Our neighbors to the north, Canada, also get their World Cup underway. This is just the second time Canada has appeared in the World Cup and certainly want to do better than that appearance in 1986 when they went 0-3 in the group stage.

Here's the schedule for Wednesday:

  • Morocco vs. Croatia, 5 a.m., FS1
  • Germany vs. Japan, 8 a.m., FS1
  • Spain vs. Costa Rica, 11 a.m., Fox
  • Belgium vs. Canada, 2 p.m., Fox

Nov 22, 2022, 4:07 PM EST

Defending champion France routs Australia

Just nine minutes into France's opening round match with Australia they trailed 1-0 behind a goal from Craig Goodwin.

But any thoughts of the defending World Cup champions stumbling to a loss in their opener -- like Argentina earlier in the day -- were erased by Adrien Rabiot in the 28th minute. Five minutes later, Olivier Giroud banged one home to take the lead.

France's forward Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group D football match between France and Australia at the Al-Janoub Stadium in Al-Wakrah, south of Doha on Nov. 22, 2022.
Anne-christine Poujoulat/AFP via Getty Images
France's Olivier Giroud celebrates after scoring during the World Cup group D soccer match between France and Australia, at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022.
Alessandra Tarantino/AP

The rout was on in the second half when 23-year-old French star Kylian Mbappe headed one home in the 68th minute. Giroud scored a brace with his second goal in the 71st minute. The goal tied him with legend Thierry Henry for the most international goals in French history.

France finished with 23 shots to Australia's four. The Aussies had just one shot on goal.

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