World Cup Viewer's Guide: US seeks repeat of 1950 upset

The hastily assembled American squad was a ragtag group that included a mailman, a grave digger, a dishwasher and a school teacher the first time the United States faced England at the World Cup. The 1-0 upset in 1950 is often likened to the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" win over the Soviet Union at the Lake Placid Olympics as being among the biggest moments in American sports history. The disparity between the two national soccer teams isn't nearly as wide 72 years later as England and the United States get set to play Friday in Group B. Wales plays Iran, Qatar faces Senegal and the Netherlands takes on Ecuador in other games.

Neymar injures right ankle during Brazil's World Cup win

Neymar sat crying on the bench and later left the stadium limping with a swollen right ankle after Brazil's 2-0 victory over Serbia at the World Cup. Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar says Neymar sprained his ankle. Lasmar says "there is no test scheduled for now but we will schedule it if needed. He will be under observation. We will know more tomorrow." Brazil coach Tite says he is "confident that Neymar will continue playing at the World Cup" but Lasmar says it is too early to comment on the extent of the injury.

2 brothers, 2 teams, 2 contrasting experiences at World Cup

The Williams brothers have managed to mark both sides of their heritage in the most incredible way at this World Cup in Qatar by playing for two different countries. They were both born in Spain but their parents are from Ghana. Young 20-year-old Nico was part of the Spain team that shone to beat Costa Rica 7-0 on Wednesday. Joy for the Williams family there. Big brother Iñaki played his first World Cup game for Ghana in a 3-2 loss to Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal a day later. Despair for the same family.

Neymar injured, Richarlison scores for Brazil at World Cup

Neymar injured his right ankle but Richarlison scored two goals to help Brazil beat Serbia 2-0 at the World Cup. The second came from a spectacular acrobatic kick just before an injured Neymar limped off the field. Richarlison used one touch to get the ball up in the air and then spun around and got off the ground before knocking the ball into the net with his right foot. Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar says Neymar sprained his right ankle but he declined to speculate on whether he would be available to play in the team's next match against Switzerland on Monday.

World Cup logs more than half the record of scoreless draws

The 0-0 draw between Uruguay and South Korea was the fourth scoreless game of this year's World Cup. That's already more than half the tournament record through the first set of matches. The record for scoreless draws in the World Cup is seven. It was done in 1982, 2006, 2010 and 2014. The 2018 tournament in Russia had only one 0-0 draw. The Mexico-Poland, Denmark-Tunisia, Croatia-Morocco and South Korea-Uruguay matches all went scoreless so far in Qatar.

Ghana coach slams ref after Ronaldo's record World Cup goal

Ghana coach Otto Addo has criticized the American referee who awarded the penalty that resulted in Cristiano Ronaldo's record goal at the World Cup. Addo called it "a special gift from the referee." Ronaldo won and converted the second-half penalty that made him the first male player to score in five World Cups. Portugal went on to beat Ghana 3-2. The tournament in Qatar is likely the 37-year-old Ronaldo's last World Cup.

Japan's Doan savors answering Germany jibes at World Cup

Japan midfielder Ritsu Doan had to grit his teeth when he heard people saying his team would be an easy opponent for Germany at the World Cup. Doan plays for German first-division team Freiburg. He says "I listened to their talks with a fake smile on my face and in my heart." On Wednesday the 24-year-old midfielder sparked a remarkable comeback and arguably the biggest result in Japan's World Cup history when he scored the equalizer in Japan's 2-1 win. Doan says "I thought it was the coolest thing I could do as a man to shut them up by winning."

Berhalter's messages go unseen ahead of World Cup match

Friendship only goes so far when buddies become rivals in sports. United States coach Gregg Berhalter considers himself a friend to England counterpart Gareth Southgate but communication between the two has been cut off recently with both leading teams at the World Cup. Berhalter says he has been sending Southgate messages on Whatsapp "but I haven't seen the blue checkmark." The Americans will face England in Group B on Friday. Southgate joked it wasn't possible to have a "real" friendship with a rival coach but came clean later. He says "you return to the friendship" after the competition ends.

Family of Katie Meyer files wrongful death suit vs Stanford

Katie Meyer's parents have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Stanford, saying the 21-year-old goalie was distressed about facing discipline over an incident from August 2021. Meyer took her own life in late February. The civil lawsuit was filed Wednesday in Santa Clara County Superior Court. USA Today obtained the lawsuit. The lawsuit says Meyer spilled coffee on a Stanford football player who allegedly had sexually assaulted a soccer teammate. It also said that Meyer received a formal written notice on the evening of Feb. 28 that charged her with a "Violation of the Fundamental Standard." A Stanford spokesperson told USA Today that the school "strongly disagreed" with the lawsuit's claim.

Thuram isn't burdened by his father's World Cup achievements

Marcus Thuram doesn't feel burdened by his father's achievements at the World Cup. The 25-year-old Thuram enjoys talking about his father's success. He was approaching his first birthday when Lilian Thuram helped Les Bleus win the World Cup for the first time in 1998. Two years later, Lilian Thuram  won the European Championship and also reached the 2006 World Cup final. He is also France's record holder with 142 games. But when asked about comparisons with his illustrious father, Marcus Thuram says he doesn't put himself under that kind of pressure.

World Cup draws record viewership to Telemundo and Peacock

The World Cup is drawing record viewership to Spanish-language broadcasts on Telemundo and Peacock. Mexico's match against Poland was the biggest weekday in total consumption on the digital streaming platform. Mexico's win on Tuesday was the most-streamed World Cup game in U.S. history with a total audience delivery of 4.6 million viewers. Streaming has comprised 29% of Telemundo's total viewership for the World Cup and Telemundo says it is averaging 2.5 million viewers across all broadcast and streaming platforms through the first eight matches.

World Cup fans put off by prices, beer limits commute by air

Travel at this World Cup was supposed to be easy in the tiny host nation of Qatar after fans had to take long flights between cities at the last three tournaments. The eight stadiums in Qatar are in or near the capital. So fans don't have to go too far to get to matches. The country billed its World Cup as environmentally sustainable in part because of how compact it is. But the reality is quite different. Tens of thousands of foreign fans are turning to shuttle flights between Doha and neighboring Dubai because of high hotel prices, a scarcity of accommodation and alcohol limits.

World Cup fans put off by prices, beer limits commute by air

Travel at this World Cup was supposed to be easy in the tiny host nation of Qatar after fans had to take long flights between cities at the last three tournaments. The eight stadiums in Qatar are in or near the capital. So fans don't have to go too far to get to matches. The country billed its World Cup as environmentally sustainable in part because of how compact it is. But the reality is quite different. Tens of thousands of foreign fans are turning to shuttle flights between Doha and neighboring Dubai because of high hotel prices, a scarcity of accommodation and alcohol limits.

Ronaldo makes World Cup history, Portugal beats Ghana 3-2

Cristiano Ronaldo has made World Cup history by becoming the first male player to score at five World Cups with his 65th-minute penalty in a 3-2 win over Ghana. Andre Ayew scored Ghana's equalizer eight minutes later but Joao Felix regained the lead for Portugal in the 78th and Rafael Leao added a third. Osman Bukari reduced Ghana's deficit in the 89th. The 37-year-old Ronaldo has now scored in every World Cup since his first in 2006. He was looking to showcase his talents to potential new clubs after having his contract terminated at Manchester United this week.

Ronaldo becomes 1st male player to score at 5 World Cups

Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first male player to score at five World Cups with a goal for Portugal against Ghana. The 37-year-old striker converted a penalty in the 65th minute to give Portugal a 1-0 lead. He has now scored in every World Cup since his first in 2006. He scored one goal at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, another at the 2014 tournament in Brazil and four in Russia in 2018. Ronaldo extended his men's record tally of international goals to 118. Brazil forward Marta has scored in five Women's World Cups.

Netherlands coach Van Gaal hugs reporter at World Cup

Netherlands coach Louis Van Gaal was taken by surprise at a World Cup news conference when a Senegalese reporter told the Dutchman he was a longtime admirer. Papa Mahmoud Gueye said "I don't have any question for you. It's just an opportunity to tell you I'm a fan since 3 years old. I love you." The 71-year-old Van Gaal is sometimes viewed as a stern figure in soccer but he broke into a smile before responding. Van Gaal said "I'm going to give you a big hug after this." Van Gaal kept his word. He left the stage and beckoned the reporter to join him in a warm embrace.

Iranian soccer player arrested amid World Cup scrutiny

Iran has arrested a prominent former member of its national soccer team over his criticism of the government. The arrest was reported by state-linked media on Thursday. It comes as authorities grapple with nationwide protests that have cast a shadow over the team's participation in the World Cup, where it will face Wales on Friday. The player was reportedly arrested for "insulting the national soccer team and propagandizing against the government." He had expressed sympathy for the family of a woman whose death in the custody of Iran's morality police ignited the latest protests. He also called for an end to a violent crackdown on protests in Iran's western Kurdish region, where he is from.

South Korea holds Uruguay to 0-0 draw at World Cup

South Korea and Uruguay started their World Cup campaigns with a 0-0 draw. The draw at Education City Stadium was yet another early World Cup match with the favored team stumbling. Argentina and Germany both lost their opening matches in major upsets. South Korea forward Son Heung-min was wearing a mask to protect a broken left eye socket and his team always looked the more likely to score against the more experienced Uruguayans. But Uruguay had best chances in a match with few clear scoring chances. Diego Godin hit the post in the 43rd minute and Federico Valverde hit it in the 89th.

Dutch not expected to emulate Germany with World Cup protest

The Netherlands is not expected to emulate Germany by making a gesture to protest host nation Qatar's human rights record before Friday's World Cup game against Ecuador. Germany's players covered their mouths for the team photo ahead of their match against Japan on Wednesday to protest against FIFA for its clampdown on the "One Love" armbands. Seven European teams had planned to wear the item in a move seen as a rebuke to Qatar. Netherlands defender Denzel Dumfries says the players won't do anything on the field Friday because they feel they have done enough. He says "from now on we need to concentrate on football."

US firm agrees to buy stake in German soccer team Hertha

A U.S. investment firm has agreed on a deal to buy investor Lars Windhorst's majority stake in Bundesliga soccer club Hertha Berlin. Miami-based 777 Partners says it agreed to buy the 64.7 percent stake in Hertha's company structure from Windhorst's firm Tennor. The sale is subject to approval from Hertha's board and the league. Windhorst owns a majority share of the Hertha company but his voting rights are restricted under the Bundesliga's 50+1 rule to limit the influence of outside investors. The rule means club members must retain a majority of voting rights.

Mexico goalkeeper Ochoa wants more in his 5th World Cup

Mexico's stalwart goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa stopped Robert Lewandowski, one of the game's best strikers, on a second-half penalty kick that preserved a scoreless draw in El Tri's World Cup opener against Poland. Ochoa will face another challenge come Saturday when Mexico faces Lionel Messi and Argentina. At 37, Ochoa is playing in his fifth World Cup, and he's come up big before. But in Qatar he wants Mexico to play past the round of 16.

Embolo scores, doesn't celebrate as Swiss win at World Cup

Breel Embolo's goal lifted Switzerland to a 1-0 victory over Cameroon at the World Cup. Embolo kept his promise not to celebrate scoring against the country of his birth. The Switzerland forward scored in the 48th minute of a low pass from Xherdan Shaqiri. Embolo raised his hands in a gesture of apology as teammates rushed toward him near the penalty spot. The 25-year-old forward left Cameroon with his family when he was 5. Cameroon coach Rigobert Song says "I would have liked him to be on my side but that's not the way it went."

Promising Spain brings back the 'tiki-taka' at the World Cup

King Felipe VI was among those congratulating Spain after its 7-0 rout of Costa Rica in the World Cup opener as "La Roja" put on a masterclass of ball possession and efficient attacking to get off to a good start in its quest to win a second world title. The historic victory raised expectations about "La Roja's" chances of succeeding in Qatar and winning soccer's most coveted trophy for the first time since 2010. Spain plays Germany in their second Group E match on Sunday.

Empty streets, cranes: the city built for Qatar's World Cup

Less than a month before it is set to host the World Cup final, Lusail City is oddly quiet. The sleek district 20 kilometers north of Doha was built to accommodate World Cup fans and hundreds of thousands of host nation Qatar's residents. It is home to the golden, bowl-shaped stadium where the World Cup's final match will take place, but its empty streets are raising questions about how much use it will get once more than a million soccer fans leave the small Gulf Arab nation after the tournament.

French minister pushes for human rights gesture at World Cup

France's sports minister has encouraged her country's World Cup team to make a symbolic gesture in support of human rights, after FIFA's clampdown on the "One Love" armband. Amélie Oudéa-Castéra told French television channel Public Sénat Wednesday night that there is room for the team to "express its commitment to human rights." Her comments came after Germany's players covered their mouths for the team photo before their opening World Cup match on Wednesday. The gesture was a response to FIFA's effective nixing of seven European teams' plans to wear armbands that were seen as a rebuke to host nation Qatar and its human rights record.

Striker contest looming as Dutch face Ecuador at World Cup

The contest between Ecuador striker Enner Valencia and Netherlands forward Memphis Depay could decide who wins their match at the World Cup on Friday. The two forwards with different styles are equally important to their sides. A win for either team would move it onto six points and in command of Group A. Valencia scored both of his side's goals in the first half when it beat tournament host Qatar 2-0 in the opening game. Although he came off after taking a knock, coach Gustavo Alfaro says "Enner will play against the Netherlands." Depay sparked life into the Dutch attack after coming on as a substitute against Senegal and hopes to start and add to his 42 international goals.

Iran will have backup goalkeeper against Wales and star Bale

Iran goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand is likely sidelined after a scary injury in its World Cup opener and backup Hossein Hosseini will have a tall task against Wales and star Gareth Bale. Iran is in last place in Group B after a 6-2 loss to England and plays Wales on Friday. Hosseini took over when Beiranvand was stretchered off in the first half of the tournament-opening loss on Monday before England had opened the scoring. Iran head coach Carlos Quieroz was pragmatic following the rout. He says the defeat was a learning experience for his team.