World Cup updates: Team USA looks forward to 2026

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

ByMark Osborne, Jon Haworth, Nadine El-Bawab, Patricio Chile, Kevin Shalvey, Alexandra Svokos, and Kiara Alfonseca
Last Updated: November 28, 2022, 4:29 PM EST

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 28, 2022, 4:29 PM EST

Portugal cruises to win over Uruguay, clinches spot in knockout stage

Portugal dispatched Uruguay on Monday, taking its second win of the tournament and guaranteeing superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will see the knockout stage in what is almost certainly the 37-year-old's last World Cup.

Portugal won 2-0 behind two goals from Bruno Fernandes. The Manchester United star -- briefly Ronaldo's teammate before Man U dismissed the star -- scored the match's first goal in the 54th minute and then added the clincher in the 93rd minute on a penalty kick.

Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo and midfielder Bruno Fernandes celebrate after they won the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group H match between Portugal and Uruguay at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on Nov. 28, 2022.
Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images

Pepe of Portugal celebrates after the 2-0 win during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group H match between Portugal and Uruguay at Lusail Stadium on Nov. 28, 2022, in Lusail City, Qatar.
Francois Nel/Getty Images

Portugal will play South Korea on Friday, but will likely rest some players to get them ready for the knockout stage.

Nov 28, 2022, 1:03 PM EST

Brazil tops Switzerland

In the Group G competition Monday, Brazil beat Switzerland 1-0 with a late-game goal by Casemiro.

With that, Brazil has won both its matches so far in the tournament and sit atop the group.

Nov 28, 2022, 11:03 AM EST

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.

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.

Nov 27, 2022, 3:59 PM EST

Germany, Spain tie

Germany and Spain ended their high-energy match in a 1-1 tie Sunday.

Both goals came late in the game, with Spain's Álvaro Morata scoring at 62 minutes and Germany's Niclas Füllkrug at 83 minutes.

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