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:
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:
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
White House won't comment on Iran flag flap
The White House declined to comment on the Iranian flag flap created by the U.S. Soccer Federation's removal of the Islamic emblem from a photo on the U.S. men's national team's Twitter account.
National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the White House would not have comment during a White House press briefing Monday afternoon.
"This isn't the kind of thing that you would -- that the White House would -- comment on," Kirby said at the briefing. "USA soccer is a private entity, and they make their own decisions about those kinds of things, and we wouldn't comment on that. We wish them all the best tomorrow."
Kirby also said he wasn't aware of any conversations or consultations involving anyone from the U.S. government about the U.S. Soccer Federation's decision to alter the flag.
The logo was later added back to the flag in the team's Twitter header. The federation had said it was done to support protesters in the country currently demonstrating against the totalitarian regime and its treatment of women.
-ABC News' Sarah Kolinovsky