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:
Ronaldo, Neymar finally hit the pitch Thursday
Thanksgiving and football always go hand-in-hand in the United States, but the World Cup will provide a little different take on Thursday.
World Cup fans will be thankful to finally see Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar take the pitch on the final day of opening matches.
Ronaldo can change the focus back to playing on the field for Portugal after news emerged this week he has parted ways with Manchester United. Neymar, meanwhile, leads the oddsmakers' favorite, Brazil, in Group G.
Here are the matches Thursday:
Belgium beats Canada 1-0
Alphonso Davies stood at the penalty spot with a chance to give Canada its first goal in World Cup history and a lead against favored Belgium in the 10th minute. But a diving save from Thibaut Courtois cut both dreams short.
Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi would sink a goal in the 44th minute and the No. 2 ranked team in the world held on for a 1-0 win in their opening match.
Canada played well in its first appearance in the World Cup since 1986, however, and lost out on a second penalty kick on a controversial no-call in the first half.
Spain looks like Cup contender with rout of Costa Rica
Spain, one of the oddsmakers' favorites to hoist the World Cup trophy next month, did nothing to dissuade those picking the 2010 champs to win another title.
Spain defeated Costa Rica 7-0 in the most lopsided game of the tournament so far. Costa Rica had zero shots on goal in the match.
Ferran Torres had two goals, while Dani Olmo, Marco Asensio, Gavi, Carlos Soler and Alvaro Morata each had one.
It was the most goals scored by Spain in a World Cup game, topping the six they scored against Bulgaria in 1998. Spain next plays Germany on Sunday, with the German side facing elimination with a loss.
Japan shocks Germany with 2 goals in final 15 minutes
Germany controlled possession throughout the first half and appeared ready to cruise to a opening game victory. Then Japan turned it on in a shocking final 15 minutes to steal the win.
German Ilkay Gundogan scored on a penalty kick in the 33rd minute, and thought they had added a second late in the first half before a review took it off the board.
In the second, Ritsu Doan tied the game at 1-1 in the 75th minute after coming on the pitch just four minutes earlier. Eight minutes later, Takuma Asano gave Japan the 2-1 lead and held on for the win.
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.