World Cup 2022 summary, Friday 25 November: game and team updates, USMNT and Mexico latest news
World Cup 2022 live: Day 6
World Cup headlines: Friday, 25 November 2022
- Hosts Qatar eliminated after Netherlands and Ecuador draw
- Ecuador's Enner Valencia scores third goal of 2022 World Cup
- Qataris beaten 3-1 by Senegal earlier today
- What do Group A teams need on matchday three?
- England will reach last 16 with win over USMNT - join Joe for live coverage
- Neymar to miss rest of group stage, Globo reports
- Iran boost last-16 hopes with 2-0 win over Wales
- Race for the Golden Boot in Qatar
- Watch the World Cup live on Fubo (free trial available)
Browse our latest World Cup 2022 articles:
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The Saudi Arabian players are getting a significant addition to their garages for their win over Argentina.
We're just over 20 minutes away from kick-off at Al Bayt Stadium, where England and the United States face off in Group B. The Three Lions will qualify for the last 16 with a win... but were unable to beat the US in the sides' two previous meetings at the World Cup.
Join Joe for the build-up and live-text commentary of the game.
Qatar make unwanted history
Qatar have become the first host nation ever to be knocked out of the World Cup after just two games of the group stage.
After the draw between the Netherlands and Ecuador, AS USA's William Allen takes a look at who needs what in Group A on matchday three.
It ends all square between Netherlands and Ecuador - and Qatar are out!
It has ended 1-1 between the Netherlands and Ecuador, with Enner Valencia's second-half leveller preventing the Dutch from qualifying with a game to spare.
The draw at means that hosts Qatar, who lost to Senegal earlier today, are officially out of their World Cup.
Join Andy for the reaction to the game at Khalifa International Stadium.
Valencia scores again to level for Ecuador
It's all square between Netherlands and Ecuador - Enner Valencia scored his third goal of the tournament a short while ago to equalise for the South Americans.
There's just under half an hour to go at Khalifa International Stadium. Join Andy for live-text coverage of the action.
"Diego is immortal, he is with us. We not only need to pay tribute but to celebrate also Diego. I would like that from now on, at every World Cup we would take one day to celebrate Diego Armando Maradona, because he made so many people fall in love with our sport, football. I am Italian and an Inter supporter. I am not Argentinian nor a Napoli supporter, and of course Diego made Inter and Italy cry many times, but we love him".
We also have live coverage of England vs the USMNT in Group B - a game in which the Three Lions will qualify for the last 16 if they win.
My colleague Joe is currently building up to that clash - join him!
Netherlands lead Ecuador at half time
The half-time whistle has just gone at Khalifa International Stadium, where the Netherlands lead Ecuador 1-0 thanks to a fine Cody Gakpo strike.
The Ecuadorians thought they had levelled just before the break, but Pervis Estupiñán's goal was ruled out for offside.
As things stand, the Dutch are going through and Qatar's elimination will be confirmed.
Netherlands out to book last-16 spot against Ecuador
Today's second Group A game, between the Netherlands and Ecuador, will be getting underway shortly - kickoff is at 11am ET/8am PT.
After Qatar lost to Senegal earlier, the Dutch will book their spot in the last 16 if they win. And unless Ecuador beat the Netherlands, the Qataris' elimination from the World Cup will be confirmed.
Join Andy for live-text coverage of the game at Khalifa International Stadium.
(Photo: Shaun Botterill - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Neymar to miss rest of group stage - report
Globo reports that Neymar is to miss Brazil's final two group-stage games - against Switzerland and Cameroon - after suffering an ankle sprain in the Seleçao's 2-0 win over Serbia on Thursday.
The Brazilian media outlet says defender Danilo will also sit out the rest of Group G after sustaining the same injury.
Leo Messi got off the mark at Qatar 2022 but will need to up his average to become Argentina’s all-time top scorer at the World Cup. Where does he stand in the ranking?
FT: Qatar lose again could be knocked out today
It's all over at Al Thumama, where Senegal have beaten hosts Qatar 3-1, courtesy of goals by Boulaye Dia, Famara Diédhiou and Bamba Dieng.
If Ecuador fail to beat the Netherlands in today's second Group A game, the Qataris will be unable to qualify for the last 16.
Senegal have moved provisionally level on points with the Ecuadorians and the Dutch, and have significantly boosted their hopes of reaching the knockout stages.
(Photo: Gonzalo Arroyo - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Hosts Qatar heading for second straight defeat
Qatar had given themselves hope against Senegal when Mohammed Muntari's 78th-minute goal cut a 2-0 deficit to 2-1, but the tournament hosts' optimism was short-lived.
Bamba Dieng has re-established the Africans' two-goal advantage, and with time running out at Al Thumama Stadium, Qatar are heading for a second defeat in two.
England fans face stadium ban over crusader costumes in Qatar
England fans will be barred from Friday' match in Qatar against the United States and future World Cup games if they wear crusader replica costumes which are considered culturally insensitive in a Muslim country, FIFA has said.
England supporters have used imitation chain-mail armour, plastic helmets and toy weapons as a fancy dress for games for years. But images of some fans dressed as crusaders at Monday's 6-2 win over Iran in the Qatari capital Doha were criticised online, prompting the sport's world governing body to crack down on the costumes.
"These costumes in an Arab or Middle Eastern context can be perceived as being offensive so that's the reason for them not being permitted in stadiums," a FIFA spokesperson said. For many Arabs, the word crusade summons up a painful history of violent invasion by Christians seeking to capture Jerusalem and nearby areas under Islamic rule in the 11th to 13th centuries.
Iran punish Wales in stoppage-time
Iran ignored the distractions that have overshadowed the team since they landed in Qatar to get their World Cup campaign up and running as they rallied to beat sloppy Wales 0-2 on Friday, giving themselves a chance of reaching the knockout stage.
Iran were thrashed 6-2 by England in their Group B opener but those two goals against the table-toppers gave them the confidence that they could compete with European sides as they arrived at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium with a point to prove. The Asian team has never got past the group stage at five previous World Cups but Carlos Queiroz's players will now fancy their chances after an impressive display as they punished a Welsh side that was reduced to 10 men late in the second half.
Leading strikers Sardar Azmoun and Mehdi Taremi both ply their trade in Europe and Queiroz, who had opted for just one forward against England, paired them up front to keep the Welsh defence pegged back and on their toes throughout the game. Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand missed the game after suffering a concussion and a broken nose against England and his replacement Seyed Hossein Hosseini was very much up to the task against Wales despite shipping six goals in the opener.
A cagey start saw Iran exploit gaps in Wales' midfield which had a numerical advantage but lacked discipline and was easily overrun when both Aaron Ramsey and Ethan Ampadu poured forward. Iran fired their first warning shot when they had the ball in the net in the opening half against the run of play when they pounced on a weak pass, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.
After a goalless first half, it was barely minutes into the second period when Iran burst into life as Azmoun and Ali Gholizadeh hit the woodwork within seconds of each other while Saeid Ezatolahi also had an attempt saved. That sowed panic in the Welsh side that was visibly tiring in the heat and it came to a head when goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey charged out of his box and took out Taremi with a high knee, as he received a red card for his troubles. The sending off opened up the game for Iran who burst forward with renewed vigour and, with nine minutes of stoppage time added on, they floored Wales with a deadly one-two punch to leave the Welsh fans in the stands in tears.
Roozbeh Cheshmi opened the scoring with a sublime long-range strike that had substitute keeper Danny Ward scrambling before Ramin Rezaeian doubled the lead with a neat chip on another counter-attack where they outnumbered their Welsh counterparts.
England can qualify for the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup when they face the USMNT on Group B matchday two on Friday. Will Allen weighs up the probabilities and analyses what odds the bookies have priced in for the match.
Richarlison has touch of genius, says Tottenham team mate Lloris
Brazilian striker Richarlison's spectacular second goal to secure a 2-0 victory over Serbia on Thursday was a stroke of 'genius' according to his club team mate Hugo Lloris. Richarlison has suffered a stop-start few months since joining the France keeper at Tottenham in July, but for Brazil he is currently unstoppable. His brace against Serbia on his World Cup debut, including a swivelling horizontal volley that screamed into the net, underlined why he is now Brazil's undisputed number nine.
France captain Lloris said he was not surprised to see the former Watford and Everton striker submit an early entry for the goal-of-the-tournament reel. "I'm happy for him. He's probably the least fancied player of the team but he is a fighter and showed yesterday the part of genius that is in him," Lloris told reporters on Friday ahead of world champions France's Group D game against Denmark.
Richarlison's brace took his tally for Brazil to 19 goals from 25 starts and nine in his last seven appearances for the national team, a remarkable strike rate at international level.
Iran players sing national anthem at World Cup match
Iran's national soccer team sang during the playing of their national anthem at their second World Cup match against Wales on Friday having refrained from doing so in their opening game earlier this week in apparent support of protesters back home.
Loud jeers were heard from Iranian supporters as the anthem played, with the team singing quietly as it played. Iranian authorities have responded with deadly force to suppress protests that have marked one of the boldest challenges to its clerical rulers since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Inside the stadium ahead of the match, a number of supporters had shown support for the protests. A woman with dark red tears painted from her eyes held aloft a football jersey with 'Mahsa Amini - 22' printed on the back - a reference to the 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman whose death while in the custody of morality police two months ago ignited the nationwide protests. A man standing next to her held a shirt printed with the words 'WOMEN, LIFE, FREEDOM', one of the main chants of the protests.
World Cup fever at Rhiwbeina Primary School in Cardiff, who are following the Group B match between Wales and Iran.
Germany look for great escape against Spain to avoid early exit
Germany are facing a second consecutive World Cup first-round exit when they take on Spain on Sunday with coach Hansi Flick working overtime to pick his players up off the floor after their shock 2-1 loss to Japan in their Group E opener.
The four-time champions suffered their earliest tournament exist in more than 80 years in 2018 when they crashed out in the first round and now face a similar scenario in Qatar.
Holding a 1-0 lead after a dominant first half, Germany crumbled after the break, allowing Japan to score twice late in the game due to a string of individual mistakes, including from central defender Niklas Suele for the second goal.
While most of the discussion prior to their first game had focused on whether Flick would deploy a natural centre forward like Niclas Fuellkrug from the start, Germany's backline has long been a cause for concern and recent results highlight the need for immediate improvement.
They have conceded six goals in their last four internationals but now have to find a way to shut out Spain, who fired seven past Costa Rica in their group opener.
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"One of the nicest goals I have ever scored" - Richarlison
Brazil coach Tite admitted it was a tough call to pick a starting striker, but he was thrilled with the performance of Richarlison after netting both ofthe team's goals in their 2-0 victory against Serbia on Thursday.
Richarlison got the nod at number nine ahead of Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus and Flamengo's Pedro, and after a goalless first half, he was on hand to prod home the opener in the 62nd minute after Vinicius Junior's shot was parried into his path.
That would just be the appetiser, as just 10 minutes later he produced what will be a strong contender for goal of the tournament as he controlled Vinicius' shin-high cross with his left foot, popping it up in the air before acrobatically spinning and volleying it home over his shoulder with his other foot.
It was his 19th senior international goal, to go with 88 club goals in his career, and after the match he said he believes it could be his best. "It was a beautiful goal," he told reporters. "Probably one of the nicest in all of my career. It's the World Cup, it was a tough match… it was one of the nicest goals I have ever scored."
Gareth Bale set to break Wales caps record against Iran
Wales captain Gareth Bale will become their most capped player of all-time when he makes his 110th appearance in their second Group B game against Iran today. Bale will overtake team mate Chris Gunter, who is also on 109 caps but starts today's game on the bench for the game at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
Target man Kieffer Moore will start after he came on and changed the game in their opener against the United States, while midfielder Joe Allen is fit enough to return to the bench after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand misses the game after getting concussed and breaking his nose in their first game against England and is replaced by Seyed Hossein Hosseini. Iran striker Sardar Azmoun returns to the line-up after starting on the bench against England.
"I'm worried that mentally the team won't get out of this slump, this bad result [7-0]. Logically, that's the first thing I have to try to solve. We have to take responsibility for what happened [against Spain] but once we all talk about it, we need to forget about it".
Mexico's Ochoa in high spirits ahead of Messi test
Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa says he feels very motivated ahead of Saturday's World Cup match against Argentina, when he will come up against the "magic" of Lionel Messi.
Ochoa, playing in his fifth World Cup, was Mexico's hero on Tuesday when he saved a penalty from Poland striker Robert Lewandowski to earn his team a draw in their opening Group C match in Qatar.
His side could pull off an upset and knock out favourites Argentina if they take the three points after the South Americans suffered a shock 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia.
"We are ready to compete and stand up. Messi has that magic, he can do nothing and from one minute to the next he can solve things and score a goal," the 37-year-old Ochoa told reporters on Thursday.
"It's going to be a nice challenge. It's going to be very complicated, but what better stage than a World Cup against one of the best players in the world and history, Messi, if not the best."
The Mexican captain added that a World Cup was the ideal stage to test himself against the best.
Picture of the swollen ankle of Brazil's forward #10 Neymar / GIUSEPPE CACACE / AFP
Brazil expect Neymar to carry on in World Cup despite ankle injury
Brazilian striker Neymar should be fine to continue in the World Cup despite limping off with a swollen ankle during his team's 2-0 victory over Serbia on Thursday, coach Tite said.
"We are confident that Neymar will continue playing, he will continue playing in the World Cup," Tite told reporters, confessing that he was initially unaware of his striker's injury.
"I didn't see Neymar was hurt. And he had the capacity to overcome this, he even tricked me."
Team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said Brazil would wait 24-48 hours before assessing Neymar's injury.
Ecuador FA asks fans to avoid offensive chants
Ecuador's football federation urged its fans on Thursday to clean up their act after football's governing body FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings for homophobic slurs during the South Americans' opening World Cup game against Qatar.
Ecuadorean fans were heard insulting Chileans at Sunday's match, probably in response to Chile's claim that they had fielded an ineligible player in the qualifiers.
That cost Ecuador a fine and points deduction for the next qualifiers though they avoided expulsion from the Qatar tournament.
"The Ecuadorean Football Federation calls on Ecuador fans accompanying 'the Tri' in Qatar 2022 to avoid all types of offensive, insulting and discriminatory songs," it said in a statement.
"Just as our players give their all on the pitch, let's do our bit off it. Let's enjoy this football party with joy and respect."
LGBT rights have taken prominence during this World Cup, drawing protests, as homosexuality is illegal in Qatar.