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:
Uruguay and South Korea draw 0-0
Uruguay and South Korea did not score any goals in their first appearance in the 2022 World Cup, ending the game with a 0-0 draw.
The two other teams in the group, Portugal and Ghana, are also facing off today.
Uruguay takes on South Korea
The match between Uruguay and South Korea has kicked off in Al Rayyan, Qatar.
This match is the first one featuring teams from Group H, the last group not to have played yet in Qatar 2022. The other two teams, Ghana and Portugal, will play later today.
Switzerland defeats Cameroon 1-0
Cameroon-born Swiss star Breel Embolo scored the only goal of the match in the 48th minute shortly after the half as Switzerland defeated Cameroon in the first game of the World Cup for each squad in Group G.
Embolo, who plays for Ligue 1 club Monaco in France, refused to celebrate in what would be the only goal of the match and held up his hands after scoring before he was mobbed by his teammates in celebration.
Switzerland will next play Brazil on Monday while Cameroon will take on Serbia the same day.
Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon kicks off
The Swiss squad have not lost in their first match at a World Cup since 1966 -- a 5-0 defeat against Germany -- while Cameroon arrive at their eighth World Cup, the most among African nations.
The other two teams, Brazil and Serbia, will face each other at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar.
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.