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:
Team USA looks forward to 2026: ‘Really bright’ future
Members of Team USA are already looking ahead to 2026, when North America will host the next World Cup.
“The future’s really bright for this team,” defender Walker Zimmerman said on “Good Morning America” on Monday.
He added, “So many players from different backgrounds that creates a really unique mix of players. To have the youth that we have -- to have young players playing at high-level teams, we’re going to be coming back stronger in 2026.”
There were highs and lows in Qatar, he said, but it was the honor of a lifetime to play in the World Cup.
Midfielder Kellyn Acosta agreed, saying playing in Qatar had been a “childhood dream become a reality.”
Both said they’d watched footage of fans cheering them back on in the USA. “We appreciate the support,” Acosta said.
But, Zimmerman said, it’ll be nice to be on “home soil” in 2026.
Argentina heads to round of 8 after defeating Australia
Argentina is headed to the round of 8 after defeating Australia 2-1 in the knockout round.
The win sends Argentina to a quarterfinal match with the Netherlands on Friday. Whichever team wins will proceed to the semifinals.
US defeated by Netherlands 3-1, out of the World Cup
The U.S. is out of the World Cup after losing 3-1 to the Netherlands in Saturday's knockout round match.
U.S. player Haji Wright's goal in the second half was not enough to hand the team a win. The Netherlands will now move on to the final eight.
Argentina and Australia will face off later Saturday. The winner of that match will play against the Netherlands in the final eight.
Netherlands leads US 2-0 at halftime mark
At the halftime mark, the Netherlands leads the U.S. 2-0 in the knockout round match.
The winner of the match will move on to the final eight. The loser will go home.
Morocco, Croatia advance as Belgium shockingly goes home
The No. 2 team in the world, Belgium, is headed home after a scoreless draw against Croatia in the last match of Group F. Croatia advanced to the knockout stages with the draw.
Belgium had several opportunities to score in the second half, many from star Romelu Lukaku, but could not break through. Lukaku, who has been dealing with a hamstring injury, was subbed in at the half.
In the other game in Group F, Morocco defeated Canada, 2-1, to take the top spot in the group. Hakim Ziyech got the Moroccans on the board quickly in the 4th minute and Youssef En-Nesyri added a second goal in the 23rd minute. The only goal for Canada was actually an own goal by Morocco.
Canada, in its second World Cup ever, has still yet to win a match.