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: December 2, 2022, 4:07 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.
Dec 02, 2022, 4:07 PM EST

Switzerland clinches last spot in knockout rounds

Switzerland picked up a 3-2 win over Ghana to advance to the knockout stage of the World Cup as the second-place team in Group G.

Brazil, which lost to Cameroon 1-0, had already qualified for the knockout stage with wins in their first two games. The win by Switzerland moved them into a tie with Brazil at 6 points, but the perennial favorites took the group on goal differential.

Still, the loss was the first for Brazil in a year and a half. They also hadn't lost in a group stage in their last 17 World Cup games. Cameroon's Vincent Aboubakar scored in the 92nd minute to get the win. He immediately removed his shirt in celebration, which earned him his second yellow card of the match and elimination from the match.

Neymar, still recovering from injury, did not play for Brazil. The team also started its backup goalkeeper.

Switzerland's Ruben Vargas celebrates after his teammate Remo Freuler scored his side's third goal during the World Cup group G soccer match between Serbia and Switzerland, at the Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.
Petr David Josek/AP

Switzerland trailed 2-1 briefly in a heated match that even broke into an altercation in stoppage time. For the Swiss, Xherdan Shaqiri scored in the 20th minute, Breel Embolo scored in the 44th minute and Reemo Freuler scored in the 48th minute.

Brazil will face South Korea in its first knockout game, while Switzerland will face Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal.

Dec 02, 2022, 1:34 PM EST

Christian Pulisic cleared to play against Netherlands

American star Christian Pulisic, who was injured scoring against Iran in the final group match, has been cleared to play against the Netherlands in the first knockout match of the tournament.

Pulisic had been listed as "day-to-day" since suffering a pelvic contusion on Tuesday. He was helped to the sidelines after crashing into Iran's goalkeeper, but later came back on the field. He was eventually substituted out at the half.

The U.S. takes on Netherlands at 10 a.m. on Fox.

Dec 02, 2022, 12:09 PM EST

South Korea shocks Portugal in extra time, advances to knockout stage

South Korea's Hwang Hee-chan scored in the 91st minute to give his team a shocking, come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Portugal and move them into the next round.

Portugal scored just five minutes into the match, but Korea's Kim Young-gwon tied it up in the 27th minute.

Despite the loss, Portugal was already assured of making the knockout stage and they took the opportunity to sub out star Cristiano Ronaldo in the 65th minute.

South Korea's Hwang Hee-chan celebrates after scoring his side's 2nd goal during the World Cup group H soccer match between South Korea and Portugal, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.
Hassan Ammar/AP
Portugal's defender Pepe fights for the ball with South Korea's forward Cho Gue-sung during the World Cup Group H football match between South Korea and Portugal at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on Dec. 2, 2022.
Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images

Uruguay defeated Ghana 2-0 in the other game in the group, but South Korea finished tied with Uruguay at 4 points in the group. The teams were also tied on goal differential and tied head-to-head, so they went to total goals scored to give the edge to Korea.

Several players on Uruguay angrily shouted and gestured at the referees as they left the field, drawing post-match yellow cards. Uruguay missed a penalty kick earlier in the game and were angry about not getting another penalty later in the game.

Portugal goes down as the winner of Group H with South Korea in second. That likely means a meeting with Brazil in the next game for South Korea.

PHOTO: Ghana's defender Daniel Amartey, Ghana's defender Mohammed Salisu and Uruguay's defender Mathias Olivera fight for a header during the World Cup football match between Ghana and Uruguay in Al-Wakrah, south of Doha on Dec. 2, 2022.
Ghana's defender Daniel Amartey, Ghana's defender Mohammed Salisu and Uruguay's defender Mathias Olivera fight for a header during the Qatar World Cup Group H football match between Ghana and Uruguay at the Al-Janoub Stadium in Al-Wakrah, south of Doha on Dec. 2, 2022.
Raul Arboleda/AFP via Getty Images

Dec 01, 2022, 5:16 PM EST

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.

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

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