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.
Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Nov 30, 2022, 11:49 AM EST
The U.S. Played To Win Against Iran — And It Worked: FiveThirtyEight
Christian Pulisic nearly captured the entire story of the United States’ win-or-go-home match against Iran on Tuesday in the second minute, when he took off on a dangerous-looking run forward that came to nothing.
But after 37 minutes, seven shots and five chances that generated 0.42 expected goals but no actual goals (while allowing none, none and 0.00 to Iran), Pulisic truly exemplified America’s effort in this match: He put his body on the line to score the goal that would knock Iran out of the World Cup -- and send the U.S. to the knockout round.
Christian Pulisic of the United States scores his side's opening goal during the World Cup group B soccer match between Iran and the United States at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022
The Group D matches are underway Wednesday morning in Qatar with France taking on Tunisia and Australia facing Denmark.
France is already qualified for the knockout stages, so the other three teams are competing for a place alongside them. A win for Australia, currently sitting on 3 points, would automatically qualify them for the next round.
Australia fans inside the stadium before the match with Denmark on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022.
Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters
Denmark and Tunisia are sitting on 1 point each, so they need to win and get some help from goal differential to qualify for the next stage.
Nov 30, 2022, 9:08 AM EST
Christian Pulisic has pelvic contusion, status 'day-to-day': USMNT
U.S. forward Christian Pulisic was diagnosed with a pelvic contusion after colliding with Iran’s goalkeeper during a match on Tuesday, the U.S. men's national soccer team said.
Pulisic's "status is day-to-day," the team said in a tweet.
USA star player Christian Pulisic shared a photo from the hospital saying he would be ready to play Saturday after being injured in the win against Iran.
Christian Pulisic
"I’ll be ready Saturday don’t worry," Pulisic said earlier in a social media post accompanied by a photo of the superstar cheering from a hospital bed. A family friend of Pulisic confirmed the authenticity of the post to ABC News.
Pulisic, 24, was helped off the field shortly after scoring a goal in the 38th minute of the match. Pulisic collided with Iranian goalie Alireza Beiranvand during the play and remained on the ground for several minutes. He did not return to the game.
He was taken to the hospital for scans on his abdomen, the team said.
Nov 29, 2022, 5:35 PM EST
Lionel Messi's Argentina side highlights Wednesday's action
Argentina, led by the legendary Lionel Messi, faces a critical match with Poland as it attempts to qualify for the knockout rounds Wednesday.
Group C is tightly packed with Poland standing at 4 points, Argentina at 3 points and underdog Saudi Arabia at 3 points. Mexico is at the bottom of the table with 1 point, but it does have a chance of making the next round.
If Poland or Argentina wins outright, it will qualify for the next round. If Saudi Arabia defeats Mexico, it will also improbably make it to the knockout stages. But who advances otherwise gets more complicated from there.
Argentina's forward Lionel Messi takes part in a training session at the Qatar University in Doha on Nov. 29, 2022, on the eve of the Qatar 2022 World Cup football match between Poland and Argentina.
Juan Mabromata/AFP via Getty Images
Mexico needs to defeat Saudi Arabia if it wants to advance, but they still would need to get a helpful result in the Poland-Argentina match (either a Poland win or a draw and advantageous goal differential). A draw in both matches would put Argentina and Saudi Arabia tied at 4 points and come down to goal differential as well. Poland would win the group.
Group D is more clear. France has already qualified for the next round, so they may take it easy against Tunisia. Tunisia would need to beat France, get a draw in Australia-Denmark and win out on goal differential.
The Aussies would advance with a win against Denmark. Denmark can only advance with a win, though it would need a better goal differential than Tunisia if the African country upsets France.