World Cup updates: Team USA looks forward to 2026

The Americans lost 3-1 to the Netherlands in the knockout round.

ByMark Osborne, Jon Haworth, Nadine El-Bawab, Patricio Chile, Kevin Shalvey, Alexandra Svokos, and Kiara Alfonseca
Last Updated: January 20, 2023, 10:53 AM EST

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:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Nov 22, 2022, 1:11 PM EST

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.

Poland's Robert Lewandowski reacts after having a penalty kick saved by Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa in their World Cup Group C matchup Nov. 22, 2002.
Hannah Mckay/Reuters

Mexico's Hector Moreno in action with Poland's Jakub Kaminski in World Cup Group C, Nov. 22, 2022.
Carl Recine/Reuters

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

Nov 22, 2022, 11:12 AM EST

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.

Iran supporters wait for the start of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match between England and Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 21, 2022.
Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images
An Argentinian fan enjoys the pre match atmosphere prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium, Nov. 22, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.
Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Fans attend the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group D football match between Denmark and Tunisia at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha, Nov. 22, 2022.
Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images
A Netherlands' supporter takes their seat for the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match between Senegal and the Netherlands at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha, Nov. 21, 2022.
Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images
A Netherlands' supporter takes their seat for the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match between Senegal and the Netherlands at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha, Nov. 21, 2022.
Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images
A fan of the team form Mexico watches during warm ups before the World Cup group C soccer match between Mexico and Poland, at the Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022.
AP Photo/Themba Hadebe

-ABC News' Moe Zoyari

Nov 22, 2022, 10:04 AM EST

Denmark, Tunisia settle for scoreless draw

Denmark, one of the sleeper picks to win the tournament, settled for a 0-0 draw with Tunisia in their first game in Group D. It was the first scoreless draw of the tournament and only the second draw -- after the U.S.-Wales on Monday.

The Danes are ranked 10th in the world, while Tunisia is ranked 30th.

Tunisia's Ali Abdi, left, and Denmark's Rasmus Kristensen challenge for the ball during the World Cup group D soccer match between Denmark and Tunisia, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022.
Hassan Ammar/AP
Tunisia's Ali Abdi, left, and Denmark's Rasmus Kristensen challenge for the ball during the World Cup group D soccer match between Denmark and Tunisia, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022.
Hassan Ammar/AP

Denmark held its collective breath in the 93rd minute when the referee was called over to look at VAR for a hand ball, but the ruling came back with no penalty.

Nov 22, 2022, 9:35 AM EST

World Cup's New High-Tech Ball Will Change Soccer Forever: FiveThirtyEight

When the 2022 World Cup made its debut on Sunday, it kicked off one of the most significant in-game uses of technology in sports history.

All tournament long, match balls will contain a sensor that collects spatial positioning data in real time -- the first World Cup to employ such a ball-tracking mechanism. This, combined with existing optical tracking tools, will make VAR (video assistant referees) and programs like offside reviews more accurate and streamlined than they’ve ever been.

Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen catches the ball during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group D match between Denmark and Tunisia at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on Nov. 22, 2022.
Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP via Getty Images

Combining these two forms of tracking has long been a holy grail of sorts in technology circles, and FIFA’s use of the ball sensor in particular will serve as a highly public test case over the next four weeks.

For more on the technology and how it will affect the World Cup, read FiveThirtyEight's in-depth investigation.

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