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.


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Soccer powers take the stage on Wednesday

Germany, Spain and Belgium take to the field on Wednesday as they each look to open the tournament with a win -- and deliver a message that they are in World Cup-winning form. Germany and Spain won the World Cup in 2014 and 2010, respectively, while Belgium is No. 2 in the FIFA world rankings.

Our neighbors to the north, Canada, also get their World Cup underway. This is just the second time Canada has appeared in the World Cup and certainly want to do better than that appearance in 1986 when they went 0-3 in the group stage.

Here's the schedule for Wednesday:

  • Morocco vs. Croatia, 5 a.m., FS1
  • Germany vs. Japan, 8 a.m., FS1
  • Spain vs. Costa Rica, 11 a.m., Fox
  • Belgium vs. Canada, 2 p.m., Fox

  • Defending champion France routs Australia

    Just nine minutes into France's opening round match with Australia they trailed 1-0 behind a goal from Craig Goodwin.

    But any thoughts of the defending World Cup champions stumbling to a loss in their opener -- like Argentina earlier in the day -- were erased by Adrien Rabiot in the 28th minute. Five minutes later, Olivier Giroud banged one home to take the lead.

    The rout was on in the second half when 23-year-old French star Kylian Mbappe headed one home in the 68th minute. Giroud scored a brace with his second goal in the 71st minute. The goal tied him with legend Thierry Henry for the most international goals in French history.

    France finished with 23 shots to Australia's four. The Aussies had just one shot on goal.


    Mexico, Poland go scoreless after Lewandowski misses penalty

    Mexico and Poland, both teams hoping to advance to the knockout stage, finished 0-0 in their opening match after Polish star Robert Lewandowski missed a penalty kick in the second half.

    Mexican keeper Guillermo Ochoa came up with a big stop in the 58th minute Tuesday. Mexico, meanwhile, dominated possession -- 61% to 39% -- and had 11 shots but couldn't break through.

    Lewandowski, one of his generation's great forwards, has not scored a World Cup goal in four matches.


    Fans show off team pride with crazy costumes

    Win or lose, you can always count on fans to show up -- often in the most outlandish outfits.

    -ABC News' Moe Zoyari


    Pulisic doing 'everything in my power' to play Saturday

    U.S. star forward Christian Pulisic said Thursday he is ready to return to his team for training and is still hoping to play in the team's knockout round game against the Netherlands on Saturday.

    "I'm gonna go meet now with the team and the medical staff and make a decision on [training] today," Pulisic said at a press conference. "Just kind of see how I'm feeling. Take it day-by-day right now, but doing everything in my power to be able to be out there on the field Saturday."

    Pulisic suffered a pelvic contusion when crashing into the Iranian goalkeeper after knocking in the eventual game-winning goal Tuesday. He was checked out by trainers and eventually returned to the pitch before being substituted out at halftime.

    He was taken to the hospital for a brief stay before returning to the hotel to greet the team returning after the win.

    He said in a post on social media from the hospital that he would play on Saturday, a sentiment he echoed to Fox reporter Jenny Taft Thursday morning when he told her he'd play. Officially, he is still listed as "day-to-day."

    The U.S. faces the Netherlands in the round of 16 on Fox at 10 a.m. Saturday. A U.S. team hasn't advanced past the round of 16 since 2002 when they defeated Mexico in the first knockout game before losing to Germany in the quarterfinals.