USMNT’s youth and talent bodes well for 2026 World Cup

Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates with teammates after scoring the first goal of the match against Australia on Saturday, December 3. Argentina’s 2-1 victory set up a quarterfinal match against the Netherlands.

Australian fans in Sydney on Sunday celebrate their team’s goal during the Socceroos’ 2-1 defeat by Argentina.

Tyler Adams sinks to the ground after the US Men’s National Team’s 3-1 defeat by Netherlands and exit from the World Cup on Saturday.

Brenden Aaronson of the USMNT and the Netherlands’ Frenkie de Jong battle for the ball during their last-16 match on Saturday.

Switzerland’s Remo Freuler, right, celebrates with Ricardo Rodriguez after scoring the third and decisive goal in the 3-2 victory over Serbia on Friday, December 2. With the win, Switzerland advances to the next stage of the World Cup.

Players argue during the Serbia-Switzerland match. Serbia was eliminated with the loss.

Switzerland’s Manuel Akanji heads the ball during the Serbia match.

Dušan Vlahović scores Serbia’s second goal on Friday.

Bremer heads the ball for Brazil during the match against Cameroon on Friday. Cameroon came out on top 1-0, but Brazil still won Group G thanks to two earlier victories.

Bremer controls the ball against Cameroon.

Cameroon’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting tries to bring the ball down between Fabinho and Éder Militão.

South Korea’s Hwang Hee-chan celebrates Friday after his team’s 2-1 victory over Portugal clinched a spot in the next round. Hwang scored the game-winning goal in second-half stoppage time.

South Korea’s Son Heung-min slides for a tackle against Portugal’s João Mário. Portugal lost the match but still won Group H.

Portugal’s Ruben Neves, left, heads the ball against South Korea.

Uruguay’s Giorgian de Arrascaeta scores his second goal in the 2-0 victory over Ghana on Friday. Uruguay finished Group H with the same amount of points as South Korea, but the South Koreans advanced because they scored more goals in the group.

Uruguay’s Luis Suarez, foreground, looks to head the ball against Ghana.

Ghana’s Inaki Williams leaps for a kick against Uruguay.

Wataru Endo celebrates with teammates after Japan’s victory.

Spain’s Alejandro Balde tries to hold up Japan’s Ritsu Doan.

Germany’s Thomas Müller hugs Antonio Rüdiger after their 4-2 win over Costa Rica on Thursday. Despite the win, Germany was eliminated from the tournament because Japan defeated Spain.

German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer punches a ball clear against Costa Rica.

Belgium players react after their 0-0 draw against Croatia meant that they would be eliminated on Thursday. Belgium finished third at the last World Cup in 2018.

Belgium’s Leandro Trossard, left, and Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol compete for a ball. Croatia finished second in Group F to advance to the tournament’s knockout stage.

Croatia’s Borna Sosa heads the ball near Belgium’s Thomas Meunier.

A Belgium supporter looks dejected after the match against Croatia.

Morocco head coach Walid Regragui is lifted into the air by his team after a 2-1 victory over Canada on Thursday. Morocco finished first in Group F.

Canada’s Alistair Johnston tries to head the ball into Morocco’s net on Thusday.

Youssef En-Nesyri celebrates after scoring Morocco’s second goal against Canada.

Argentina’s Julian Alvarez is put in a headlock by teammate Enzo Fernandez after scoring against Poland on Wednesday, November 30. Argentina won 2-0 to finish first in Group C and advance to the knockout stage. Poland qualified as well despite the loss.

Argentina star Lionel Messi is hit in the face by Poland’s Wojciech Szczesny in the first half Wednesday. A penalty was given after video review, but Szczesny saved Messi’s shot.

Messi and Poland’s Bartosz Bereszynski compete for the ball.

Mexico’s Orbelín Pineda, left, and Saudi Arabia’s Mohamed Kanno go for a header during their match on Wednesday. Mexico won 2-1.

Mexico’s Henry Martín scores the first goal against Saudi Arabia.

A fan wears La Catrina-style makeup at the start of the Mexico-Saudi Arabia match.

Australia’s Mathew Leckie, left, celebrates after scoring the only goal in the 1-0 win over Denmark on Wednesday. The win advanced the “Socceroos” to the knockout stage.

A Denmark supporter reacts to Australia’s goal on Wednesday.

Australia’s Riley McGree shields the ball from Denmark’s Mikkel Damsgaard.

Tunisian players mob teammate Wahbi Khazri after his goal against France on Wednesday. Tunisia won 1-0, but it was not enough to advance to the knockout stage. France still won Group D.

Tunisia’s Issam Jebali heads the ball next to France’s Aurélien Tchouaméni.

American star Christian Pulisic scores the only goal in the match against Iran on Tuesday, November 29. With the victory, the United States advanced to the tournament’s knockout stage.

Iran’s Ramin Rezaeian heads the ball during the match against the United States.

Shaq Moore slides in for a tackle against Iran’s Abolfazl Jalali.

England’s Phil Foden celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal in the 3-0 win over Wales on Tuesday. England won Group B.

Marcus Rashford scores England’s third goal against Wales. He had two goals in the match.

England’s Marcus Rashford scores their first goal from a free-kick past Wales’ Danny Ward.

Wales’ Connor Roberts stretches for a ball during the match against England.

Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr celebrates Tuesday after a 2-1 win over Ecuador secured his team’s spot in the next round of the World Cup.

Senegal’s Ismail Jakobs, left, tries to fend off Ecuador’s Enner Valencia on Tuesday.

The Netherlands’ Frenkie de Jong scores his team’s second goal in the 2-0 victory over Qatar on Tuesday. The Dutch won Group A. Qatar, the host nation, lost all three of its games.

Qatar’s Homam Ahmed leaps near the Netherlands’ Denzel Dumfries on Tuesday.

Portugal’s Bruno Fernandes celebrates after scoring his second goal in the 2-0 victory over Uruguay on Monday, November 28. The win clinched Portugal’s spot in the knockout stage.

Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo tries to head the ball toward goal in the second half of the Uruguay match. He appeared at first to nod in the first goal, but after review it was determined that he didn’t touch it and Bruno was credited with the goal.

Portugal’s Bernardo Silva, left, tries to keep the ball from Uruguay’s Mathias Olivera.

Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior performs a rabona during his team’s 1-0 victory over Switzerland on Monday. The Brazilians’ win ensured that they will be advancing from their group.

Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, front left, is mobbed by teammates after scoring against Switzerland.

Ghana midfielder Mohammed Kudus celebrates a goal during the match against South Korea on Monday. It was his second goal of the day, and it was the difference in Ghana’s 3-2 victory.

South Korea’s Kim Min-jae, left, and Ghana’s Andre Ayew, center, jump for a header during their match on Monday.

Ghana supporters celebrate victory on Monday.

Serbia’s Sergej Milinković-Savić celebrates a goal during a 3-3 draw with Cameroon on Monday.

Cameroon forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scores his team’s third goal against Serbia, tying the match in the second half.

Fans of Spain attend the team’s match against Germany on November 27. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Belgium’s Thorgan Hazard, left, and Morocco’s Selim Amallah compete for the ball on November 27. Morocco defeated Belgium 2-0. It was Morocco’s first World Cup win since 1998 — and its third-ever at the tournament.

Alphonso Davies celebrates after scoring Canada’s first-ever World Cup goal on November 27. The goal against Croatia came 68 seconds after kickoff and was the fastest at the 2022 tournament so far. But despite the early lead, Canada lost 4-1.

Costa Rica’s Yeltsin Tejeda and Keysher Fuller celebrate their 1-0 win over Japan on November 27. Fuller scored the winning goal.

Kylian Mbappé scores his second goal on November 26, leading France to a 2-1 victory over Denmark. The win ensured that France, the tournament’s defending champions, would be the first team to qualify for the knockout stage.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring the opening goal against Mexico on November 26. Argentina went on to win the match 2-0.

Fans in Doha, Qatar, watch the match between Poland and Saudi Arabia on November 26.

Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring Poland’s second goal in the 2-0 win against Saudi Arabia on November 26. This was Lewandowski’s first-ever World Cup goal.

Australia’s Jackson Irvine falls on Tunisia’s Aissa Laidouni as they battle for the ball on November 26. Australia won 1-0.

US star Christian Pulisic takes a shot against England in the first half of their World Cup match on November 25. The shot smacked off the crossbar, and the game would eventually end 0-0.

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford dives to make a save in the match against the United States.

Senegal players celebrate at the corner flag after Bamba Dieng scored the third goal in their 3-1 victory over host nation Qatar.

Mohammed Muntari, center, celebrates after scoring Qatar’s first-ever World Cup goal. Muntari headed home a cross in the 78th minute to cut Senegal’s lead to 2-1.

Senegal fans attend the match against Qatar. Senegal’s football team is nicknamed the Lions of Teranga.

The Netherlands’ Cody Gakpo is challenged by Ecuador’s Jhegson Mendez, bottom, during their teams’ 1-1 draw on November 25. Gakpo scored in the sixth minute for the Dutch.

Iranian players celebrate after Roozbeh Cheshmi scored late into second-half stoppage time to break a 0-0 deadlock against Wales on November 25. Iran added another goal to win 2-0.

Welsh players are dejected as Iran celebrates on Friday.

Richarlison scores a spectacular goal during Brazil’s 2-0 win over Serbia on November 24. Richarlison scored both of Brazil’s goals.

Brazilian superstar Neymar celebrates the first goal, which he helped create.

Rafael Leão smiles as his shot goes by Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi for Portugal’s third goal.

Ghana’s Andre Ayew, right, celebrates with Mohammed Kudus after tying the match at 1-1 shortly after Ronaldo’s penalty.

Ronaldo slams his penalty into the upper-left corner of the net.

Ronaldo makes a face as he celebrates his goal with teammate João Félix.

Ghana fans cheer prior to the start of the match against Portugal.

South Korea’s Jung Woo-young competes for a ball with Uruguay’s Federico Valverde on November 24. Their match ended 0-0.

South Korean star Son Heung-min wears a protective eye mask against Uruguay after he suffered a fractured eye socket earlier in the month.

Switzerland’s Breel Embolo, second from right, shoots past Cameroon’s Andre Onana to score the only goal of their match.

Michy Batshuayi celebrates after giving Belgium a 1-0 lead over Canada in their World Cup opener on November 23. That ended up being the only goal of the match.

Belgian players insist there is no foul as Canada’s Richie Laryea tumbles over in the box.

Canada’s Alphonso Davies, left, reacts after missing a penalty early in the first half against Belgium.

Spain’s Ferran Torres, right, shoots past Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas to give his team a 4-0 lead in their opening match on November 23. Spain went on to win 7-0.

Costa Rica players watch the Spain match from the bench.

Media members work at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha for the Spain-Costa Rica match.

Japan midfielder Ritsu Doan, center, is mobbed by teammates after scoring the team’s first goal against Germany on November 23. Japan went on to win 2-1.

Germany’s Antonio Rüdiger, top right, is first to a header during the match against Japan.

Morocco’s Selim Amallah tries to dribble past Croatia’s Marcelo Brozovic, left, and Dejan Lovren during their 0-0 draw on November 23. Croatia was the runner-up in the last World Cup.

French players swarm Kylian Mbappé after he scored the team’s third goal on November 22. Mbappé was one of the leading stars of the team’s World Cup triumph four years ago.

French striker Olivier Giroud attempts a shot on goal during a match against Australia on November 22. Giroud scored twice as the defending champions won 4-1. His two goals tied him with Thierry Henry for most international goals by a Frenchman (51).

An overhead view of Al Janoub Stadium, in Al Wakrah, Qatar, before the start of the France-Australia match.

Poland striker Robert Lewandowski reacts after he missed a second-half penalty in his team’s 0-0 draw against Mexico on November 22.

Tunisia’s Yassine Meriah stretches to defend a header from Denmark’s Andreas Cornelius during their 0-0 draw on November 22.

Argentina superstar Lionel Messi reacts during the match against Saudi Arabia. Messi opened the scoring with a 10th-minute penalty, but the Saudis rallied with two goals in the second half.

US forward Timothy Weah celebrates after scoring a first-half goal against Wales on November 21. The match ended 1-1.

US fans stand for the national anthem prior to the Wales match.

Walker Zimmerman fouls Wales’ Gareth Bale in the box, conceding a second-half penalty that Bale would convert to tie the match at 1-1.

Welsh and American players walk onto the field.

The Netherlands’ Cody Gakpo celebrates his second-half goal that gave the Dutch a 1-0 lead over Senegal in their World Cup opener on November 21. The Netherlands added a second goal just before the final whistle to win 2-0.

Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr eyes the ball during a match against the Netherlands on November 21

The Senegal-Netherlands match kicks off at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha.

Senegal fans wait for the start of their team’s match against the Netherlands.

England players celebrate after Raheem Sterling scored a goal during their match against Iran on November 21. England won 6-2.

Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, center, celebrates England’s second goal with colleagues David Lammy, left, and Lucy Powell, right, in his parliamentary office at the Palace of Westminster in London.

Jude Bellingham scores England’s first goal against Iran.

England players take a knee before the start of the Iran match. England manager Gareth Southgate confirmed Sunday that the team would be making the symbolic gesture. “We think it’s a strong statement that will go around the world for young people in particular to see that inclusivity is very important,” Southgate said.

A light show is displayed over the skyline in Doha on November 20.

Enner Valencia, third from left, celebrates after scoring a second goal against host nation Qatar in the tournament’s opening match. Ecuador went on to win 2-0.

Spectators leave Al Bayt Stadium before the end of the Qatar-Ecuador match. No host country had lost a World Cup opener before.

Valencia slots a penalty kick past Qatari goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb to open the scoring in the 16th minute.

A fan attends the Qatar-Ecuador match on November 20. Qatar is the first Islamic country to host a World Cup.

Qatari fans enjoy the pre-match atmosphere at Al Bayt Stadium on November 20.

A family watches the opening match from their home in Doha.

People watch as fireworks go off before the start of the opening match.

People dance in Al Bayt Stadium during the opening ceremony.

A girl waves a Qatari flag at a fan zone in Doha.

Actor Morgan Freeman and Qatari YouTuber Ghanim al Muftah take part in the opening ceremony on November 20.

A performer plays drums during the opening ceremony.

People watch the opening ceremony from a cafe in Baghdad, Iraq.

South Korean singer Jung Kook performs at the opening ceremony.

Dancers light up the ground during the opening ceremony.

A view inside Al Bayt Stadium during the opening ceremony.