December 1, 2022 World Cup news and highlights

It was an incredible match.

Spain had expectedly dominated the ball in the first half, keeping Japan on the chase and then, striker Alvaro Morata had secured the opening goal for Spain early in the match too.

But Japan stood up a phenomenal campaign against La Furia Roja getting two goals one after the other in the 48th and 51st minutes. Spain was just unable to reply throughout the second half.

The Blue Samurai’s triumphant advance to the Round of 16 atop Group E is especially spectacular give the stats: the team only had possession of the ball for less than 20% of the entire match, and lesser attempted shots at the Spanish goal too.

Spain also squeaked through to the knockout round as Costa Rica failed to defeat Germany.

Correction: An earlier version of this post misstated the nickname of Spain’s team. It is La Furia Roja.

We have a final at Al Bayt Stadium, with Germany winning 4-2.

The Germans roared back in the second half and scored two late goals for a commanding victory. But to no avail.

Ultimately, the action determining whether Germany could advance to the Round of 16 was taking place in the other Group E match, where Japan defeated Spain 2-1, assuring both those teams will advance.

Germany has scored again, making it 4-2 late against Costa Rica.

But the Germans can’t do much to control their fate. They need Spain to mount a comeback against Japan. Spain trails 2-1 in stoppage time.

Germany is back ahead, leading Costa Rica 3-2 late in the second half.

Kai Havertz scored the goal off of a cross from midfielder Serge Gnabry in the 85th minute.

It was Havertz’s second goal of the night – and positioned Germany to at least have a shot at advancing to the Round of 16.

It would need help from Spain, though, and Japan is still ahead 2-1 late in the other Group E match.

Minutes after Costa Rica took a 2-1 lead, Germany’s Kai Havertz equalized to make it 2-2.

Costa Rica has scored again and taken a 2-1 lead over Germany at Al Bayt Stadium.

Defender Juan Pablo Vargas found the net amid a scrum near the goal.

Germany and Spain are on the brink of elimination, as an improbable sequence of events plays out in Group E.

Costa Rica has tied up its match with Germany at 1-1 with a goal from Yeltsin Tejeda.

The midfielder pounced on a deflection from goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and drove the ball into the net in the 58th minute.

It was Tejeda’s first international goal.

Japan has a stunned with a swift second goal against Spain. Ao Tanaka helped capture the lead for the Blue Samurai in the 53rd minute of play.

At first, quick suspense followed because it was unclear if the ball was over the line — and hence out of play — before the goal happened, but it was allowed after a video assistant referee (VAR) review.

The tables have turned, and now it is Spain’s turn to even the score.

Where things stand: Japan 2, Spain 1

Japan has just scored its equalizer against Spain, and the team is still very much in the game, vying to go to the knockouts.

Stéphanie Frappart made history on Thursday as the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match.

Alongside assistants Neuza Back from Brazil and Karen Diaz from Mexico, the French referee is part of an all-female refereeing trio currently officiating Costa Rica vs. Germany in their Group E match.

In 2019, Frappart became the first female referee to take charge of a Ligue 1 match; in August 2019, the first to take charge of a major men’s European match; and in 2020, the first to officiate a men’s UEFA Champions League match.

Costa Rica will look to erase its 1-0 deficit against Germany in the second half.

As things stand in both Group E matches, Germany would currently move on to the Round of 16.

The Germans’ most direct path to the knockout stage is a Spain win against Japan and a victory of their own against Costa Rica.

The Costa Ricans are also rooting for a Spanish victory, but they’ll first need to pull ahead of Germany if they want a shot at advancing.

The Samurai Blue will look for an equalizer in this second half during their rescue campaign in these next 45 minutes (plus stoppage time).

Japan has been taking risks, trying to create some openings to score that first goal, but they’ve struggled to get possession of the ball, and so far, the team has only amassed three yellow cards.

Remember: If Japan loses, it will be eliminated from the World Cup.

Spain 1-0 Japan

It’s halftime for Costa Rica and Germany at Al Bayt Stadium.

The Germans lead 1-0, despite a few late chances for Costa Rica to equalize.

Japan has had to do a lot of chasing in the first half with Spain dominating possession of the ball for 77% of play time. La Furia Roja has also taken double the shots at the Samurai Blue’s goal.

Japan will go back to the locker room for a brainstorm on how they could score the equalizer after that header from Spain’s Álvaro Morata.

Spain 1-0 Japan

Striker Álvaro Morata headed the ball into the net after receiving a cross from defender César Azpilicueta to score an opening goal for Spain in the 12th minute of the game!

The Germans have pulled ahead in their Group E match against Costa Rica.

Midfielder Serge Gnabry opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a header – off a cross from David Raum – shortly after missing an almost identical attempt.

It’s 1-0, Germany.

Japan vs Spain is underway at Khalifa International Stadium and Costa Rica vs Germany has begun at Al Bayt Stadium.

These matches will decide who moves on to the knockout stage from Group E. Let’s go!

Spain faces Japan and Costa Rica faces Germany at 2 p.m. ET. They are all vying for two spots in the Round of 16.

Here’s how the scenarios could shake out:

Costa Rica and Germany compete for a spot in the knockouts at 2 p.m. ET. Here are their starting lineups.

Costa Rica

Manager: Luis Fernando Suárez

Goalkeeper: Keylor Navas

Defenders: Óscar Duarte, Kendall Waston, Juan Pablo Vargas

Midfielders: Keysher Fuller, Celso Borges, Yeltsin Tejeda, Bryan Oviedo, Brandon Aguilera, Joel Campbell

Forward: Johan Venegas

Germany

Manager: Hansi Flick

Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer

Defenders: Antonio Rüdiger, Niklas Süle, David Raum, Joshua Kimmich

Midfielders: İlkay Gündoğan, Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sané, Jamal Musiala

Striker: Thomas Müller

Japan and Spain will face each other at 2 p.m. today. Here are the starting lineups

Japan

Manager: Hajime Moriyasu

Goalkeeper: Shuichi Gonda

Defenders: Maya Yoshida, Shogo Taniguchi, Ko Itakura, Miki Yamane

Midfielders: Junya Ito, Hidemasa Morita, Ao Tanaka, Yuto Nagatomo

Forward: Daizen Maeda, Daichi Kamada, Takefusa Kubo

Spain

Manager: Luis Enrique

Goalkeeper: Unai Simón

Defenders: César Azpilicueta, Pau Torres, Alejandro Balde, Rodrigo Hernández (Rodri)

Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Gavi, Pedri

Forwards: Nico Williams, Álvaro Morata, Dani Olmo,

Roberto Martinez will step down as coach of Belgium’s national soccer team, the Royal Belgian Football Association announced Thursday, after the Red Devils were eliminated from the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Considered a European heavyweight, Belgium needed a win to advance to the knockout stage. But the draw rested their fate on the match between Morocco and Canada. When Morocco won 2-1, it ended the World No. 2’s campaign in this tournament, denying them from competing in the Round of 16.

“That was my last game with the national team and it’s emotional, as you can imagine. It has been amazing,” a tearful Martinez said following the defeat. “Everything you want to do in a club, we have been able to do it in a national team. It makes me extremely proud. This team have given everyone incredible joy. But now it’s time to accept that this is my last game.”

Martinez took charge of Belgium in 2016 and helped the Red Devils to a third-place finish in the 2018 World Cup.

After a poor start to its World Cup campaign, Germany is now staring down the barrel of elimination heading into its last Group E game at Qatar 2022.

Their shock defeat to Japan on the opening day put the Germans in a difficult position, but they rallied in their second game against Spain to earn a hard-fought draw.

It means the 2014 world champion, which sits bottom of the group on one point, now needs to beat Costa Rica on Thursday and hope Spain beats Japan in order to progress into the knockout stage of the competition.

A draw in the group’s other game could be enough for Germany, but its fate would then depend on goal difference.

Speaking after the vital draw against Spain, Germany manager Hansi Flick said he hoped his team would gather some confidence for the crunch match at the Al Bayt Stadium after a more positive performance against Spain.

“Maybe, it is the spark we need,” Flick said. “The team fought hard and I am very satisfied with their mentality. These are the things we want and we know that we did take the first step.

Team USA soccer star Christian Pulisic said he is taking his pelvic injury “day-by-day” ahead of the crucial Qatar World Cup clash versus the Netherlands on Saturday.

“I’m taking it day-by-day for now and I will do everything in my power to work with this medical team and make sure I can play,” Pulisic said during a news conference at US training camp, adding that his pelvic contusion was painful but improving.

Pulisic noted, “I didn’t get, like, hit in the balls, but, like, it’s not like. I’m alright. I’m alright. It was very painful, and that bone is there for a reason to protect you, I think. And I hit it well, and it was sore, but like I said, I’m getting better.”

The 24-year-old team USA forward, also known as Captain America, was taken to hospital due to an abdominal injury he suffered while scoring the game-winning goal for the United States in its crucial 1-0 win over Iran at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

He was later diagnosed with a pelvic contusion, but was not hospitalized.

Despite his injury, Pulisic was full of praise for the players around him.

“It feels great to be where we’re at right now, but there’s still more to come,” he said.

Pulisic described his confusion after being hurt as he bundled the ball in against Iran in the United States’ final group game, and then his tension as he followed the second half via a trainer’s telephone while receiving treatment.

“It was like the hardest thing. I think they were checking my blood sugar and everything, and I was flying through the roof. But it wasn’t because of anything. It was just me stress-watching the game. But once I got through that and the final whistle blew, I was obviously very happy,” Pulisic said. 

Teammate Timothy Weah, who has also grabbed one goal in Qatar so far, said the United States were not underestimating the challenge against the higher-ranked Dutch team despite the strong start.

“I think we all know that Netherlands is a big team, with a lot of quality players,” he said, adding that he hoped his side were raising the profile of the sport in the United States where basketball, baseball and American football dominate.

“I think everyone back home is realizing that their team has talent. It’s up to us to take it as far as we can go and make a statement.”

CNN’s Kevin Dotson and Matias Grez contributed to this report.

Group leader Spain needs just a point against Japan to ensure progression into the round of 16 – it can even afford to lose the match depending on what happens in Germany’s game with Costa Rica.

Spain coach Luis Enrique is determined for his squad to enjoy their experience in Qatar and has defended his streaming sessions online in which he talks to fans.

“The only goal I set for my players … before this training camp 16 days ago, I told them we need to have fun, fun,” he told reporters.

“We need to enjoy this because you have to have joy in your job.”

It’s a philosophy that seems to be working, with Spain’s young side producing impressive displays on the world stage.

For Japan, which stunned Germany in its first game, it now needs to produce another shock result by beating Spain after losing to Costa Rica in its last match.

“Tomorrow is going to be a high-pressure game for all players, but we must believe in ourselves,” Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu told reporters on Wednesday.

“They must believe in themselves, they must. They must believe in their teammates in order to fight against our opponent. Hopefully, they will be at their best and the result will follow.”

Teams in Group E are competing at 2 p.m. ET in two matches. All are vying for a spot in the knockout rounds. Here’s who is playing and who is already through to the Round of 16.

Germany vs Costa Rica: Germany, the 2014 world champion, needs to beat Costa Rica on Thursday and hope Spain beats Japan in order to progress into the Round of 16.

A draw in the group’s other game could be enough for Germany but its fate would then depend on goal difference, the standings tiebreaker.

Spain vs Japan: Spain, meanwhile, needs just a draw against Japan to ensure progression into the knockouts – it can even lose, depending on what happens in Germany’s game with Costa Rica.

Japan needs to beat Spain after losing to Costa Rica in its last match.

Meanwhile, these teams are already through to the knockout stages:

Group A: Netherlands, Senegal

Group B: England, USA

Group C: Argentina, Poland

Group D: France, Australia

Group F: Croatia, Morocco

Group G: Brazil

Group H: Portugal

When a referee generates column inches, it is normally some indictment of their performance; the result of an uproar after a controversial decision.

But Stéphanie Frappart’s traditional anonymity has been broken for a different reason – she will make history on Thursday as the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match.

Alongside assistants Neuza Back from Brazil and Karen Díaz from Mexico, the Frenchwoman will form part of an all-female refereeing trio officiating Costa Rica vs. Germany in their Group E match.

Six female match officials have been officiating at this World Cup – referees Frappart, Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga and Japan’s Yoshimi Yamashita as well as assistant referees Back, Diaz and Kathryn Nesbitt of the US.

Read the full story:

DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 22: Referee Stephanie Frappart of France looks on prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Mexico and Poland at Stadium 974 on November 22, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Maja Hitij - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Related article 'It's now only a question about competency': Stéphanie Frappart to make history as the first woman to referee a men's World Cup match | CNN

An unexpected result of the US Men’s National Team reaching the knockout round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar is that the US Women’s National Team will get its largest collective payday, equally splitting $13 million in winnings with the men.

It’s a big deal for American women who have long sought pay equity, and it amplifies the extreme sliding scale of women’s rights around the globe.

Consider that this payday for US women was won when the US men’s team defeated Iran, a country where authorities are brutally tamping down protests by women who want basic human rights. 

The US Women’s National Team excels at soccer and fought hard for years for equal pay.

The earnings they’ll split with the American men could grow if the men continue to advance in the World Cup.

It’s the result of an unprecedented equal pay agreement finalized earlier this year. Read more about the prize money.

FIFA pays bigger awards to the men’s tournament, which draws in more revenue to the international soccer governing body, than to the women’s. The agreement between the US men and women is unique.

“To everyone, it should indicate how big the disparity is that FIFA has made between their value of women’s soccer and men’s soccer, and this is the only way that equity could be achieved, if all parties agreed – and they did,” said Briana Scurry, a former US goalkeeper, appearing on CNN Wednesday.

To read more, click here

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Security forces reportedly killed a man in northern Iran during public celebrations by anti-government protesters of the national football team’s defeat against the United States on Tuesday.

Norway-based rights group Iran Human Rights (IHR) said Mehran Samak was shot in the head by security personnel when he was out celebrating in Bandar Anzali Tuesday night. IHR said they confirmed the information through “several independent sources.”

“His name was #MehranSamak. He was shot in the head by state forces when he went out to celebrate the Islamic Republic’s loss at FIFA World Cup2022 in Bandar Anzali last night like many across the country. He was just 27 years old,” Iran Human Rights said Wednesday.

IHR and other activist groups had initially reported that authorities were holding Samak’s body and were refusing to hand it back to his family. IHR shared a video showing people gathered outside the state’s Forensic Medical Organization demanding the body be returned to his family.

Later on Wednesday, pro-reform news outlet IranWire shared video showing crowds at Samak’s funeral in Bandar Anzali chanting “death to dictator.”

After a 1-0 victory against Iran earned the US Men’s National Team a place in the World Cup knockout stages, the players insist their campaign is far from done.

Having failed to qualify for the last World Cup, the tournament in Qatar is the first time since 2014 that the USMNT has reached the last 16, which comes courtesy of hard-fought draws against Wales and England before Tuesday’s win against Iran.

The team is now setting its sights on loftier ambitions.

“We’re not finished yet,” defender Walker Zimmerman told CNN’s This Morning on Wednesday. “I think the narrative continues, we’re still going to try and do that and accomplish our goal of winning the World Cup. I think if we’re able to do that, we’re going to inspire a lot of young players, a lot of young Americans to pick up the sport and, hopefully, make them proud.”

The USMNT’s best performance at a World Cup in recent memory was reaching the quarterfinals in 2002 before losing to Germany.

Gregg Berhalter’s side goes into Saturday’s knockout game against the Netherlands as the underdog, eight places lower than its opponent in FIFA’s world rankings.

To read more, click here

“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

William Shakespeare had no idea that those same words would apply to one of today’s ongoing terminology rivalries stretching across the Atlantic – the debate of association football versus soccer.

Or as the Men in Blazers podcast once put it, soccer is “America’s Sport of the Future. As it has been since 1972.”

Nobody walked away with the bragging rights as the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) shared a goalless draw with England in their World Cup Group B match on Friday.

Football, or soccer, has been around for centuries with its roots dating back over 2,000 years ago, but it was not until 1863 that England’s Football Association (the FA) cemented the sport’s full name of Association Football when they established the game’s first rules.

Ebenezer Morley spearheaded the idea “that football should have a set of rules in the same way that the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) had them for cricket” … unifying the game under a consistent set of rules and regulations.

The addition of the word association was to prevent confusion with other popular forms of football played at that time, most notably rugby football.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, “linguistically creative students at the University of Oxford in the 1880s distinguished between the sports of rugger (rugby football) and ‘assoccer’ (association football).

By the time association football and its round ball made its way across the Atlantic, American Football was already the popular game claiming the name of football.

Unlike association football, American football is a game played mostly with one’s hands and uses an oval ball.

Fast forward to 1974 and the United States Soccer Football Association (USSFA) – the sport’s governing body in the US – distanced itself from the word football by changing its name to the United States Soccer Federation, commonly referred to as the USSF (US Soccer).

To read more, click here

No African country made it through to the knockout stage in the last FIFA World Cup. This time, there are already two: Senegal and Morocco.

Meanwhile, Cameroon and Ghana are yet to play their final group matches, and they have a shot at booking their berth to the Round of 16 as well.

Morocco makes history: This is the first time since 1986 that the Atlas Lions have advanced past the group stage, and only the second time ever.

Belgium, a European football heavyweight that stands 2nd in FIFA rankings, is eliminated from the Qatar World Cup 2022 after ending the match with Croatia in a 0-0 tie.

They will not progress to the knockout stage.

The Red Devils needed to win this match. A loss would have also resulted in an elimination. But due to the tie, the match between Morocco and Canada mattered. Since Morocco won, that edged out Belgium.

It was a roller coaster of a match that gave the fans no goals, and it ended in a tie between Belgium and Croatia.

It was frustrating for Belgium, which had more attempts at the goal and failed to convert those despite desperately needing them.

This presumptively ends Belgium’s run in the World Cup, given they need Morocco to lose to Canada. However, the African wonder is maintaining its lead against Canada 2-1.

A milestone for Morocco!

The country’s 2-1 victory over Canada is its second World Cup win since 1998, and its fourth in the tournament’s history. Morocco upset Belgium on Sunday.

Morocco moves out of Group F along with Croatia. Canada and Belgium are out. 

This match looks completely different in the second half. Both Croatia and Belgium are virtually tied on ball possession and attempts on one another’s goals.

The stakes remain the same: Belgium is still in need of a goal to advance. Nothing else will do — not a draw, as long as Morocco is leading, and certainly not a loss. 

The second half has begun in Morocco vs Canada. Morocco leads Canada 2-1.

Croatia and Belgium are back on the pitch at 0-0, and the Red Devils face two big pressure points.

One, they need to win to advance to the knockouts, which is a tall order given how strong Croatia looks in this match — and overall in the tournament. Losing is not an option because it will eliminate them. Failing to secure a spot in the Round of 16 would be a major disappointment for the country that stands 2nd in FIFA rankings. 

Two, it looks like they cannot afford a draw at the moment. In the case of a tie, their fate rests on the outcome of the match between Morocco and Canada. They would need Morocco to lose, but currently the African wonder is leading Canada 2-1.

They are the masters of their own fate here with 45 minutes plus stoppage time to rescue their campaign. They need to score. Let’s see if they return from halftime with renewed attack and strategy for the second half.

Croatia will advance with a win or draw. In case of a defeat, they could also hope for a Canadian victory against Morocco. In that case, goal differential could break a tie in their favor.

Morocco leads Canada 2-1 at halftime.

Morocco forwards Hakim Ziyech and Youssef En-Nesyri each scored early in the first half, but their team’s lead was cut in half after a late deflection gave Canada its first goal just before halftime.

En-Nesyri scored again in stoppage time, but the goal was overturned after VAR declared Morocco was offside.

Morocco will be through to the next round with a win or draw. Defeat would leave the team needing Belgium to overcome Croatia, in which case goal difference would be required to determine if Morocco or Croatia progress to the last 16.

Canada is already eliminated after losing their opening two fixtures.

Croatia and Belgium are returning to their locker rooms tied 0-0, which could be alright for the Croatians but bad news for the Red Devils.

Here’s why: They need to win to advance, but a draw would mean they need Morocco to lose against Canada. And currently, it looks like that’s not happening. Morocco is leading Canada 2-1.

An unlucky deflection by Morocco’s Nayef Aguerd gives Canada its first goal of the match with just minutes left in the first half.

Morocco still leads 2-1.

Morocco has doubled its lead over Canada, 2-0. 

Youssef En-Nesyri scored his team’s second goal in the 23rd minute of the match. 

Croatia’s Luka Modric was set to take a penalty but a VAR ruling showed that Dejan Lovren was offside, leading the penalty kick to be canceled.

Big sigh of relief for Belgium that absolutely needs this win to qualify for the knockout stage of the World Cup.

Morocco’s Hakim Ziyech chips the ball over Canada’s goalkeeper for an early 1-0 lead.

What’s at stake: 

Morocco is through if with a win or draw. Defeat would leave the team needing Belgium to overcome Croatia, in which case goal difference would be required to determine if Morocco or Croatia progress to the last 16.

The match between Canada and Morocco is underway. Here is a look at the squads

Canada

Goalkeeper: Milan Borjan

Defenders: Alistair Johnston, Steven Vitória, Kamal Miller, Sam Adekugbe

Midfielders: Alphonso Davies, Jonathan Osorio, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Tajon Buchanan

Forwards: Cyle Larin, Junior Hoilett

Morocco

Goalkeeper: Yassine Bounou

Defenders: Achraf Hakimi, Nayef Aguerd, Romain Saïss, Noussair Mazraoui

Midfielders: Azzedine Ounahi, Sofyan Amrabat, Abdelhamid Sabiri

Forwards: Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En-Nesyri, Sofiane Boufal

The match between Croatia and Belgium just kicked off. Here’s a look at the squads.

Croatia

Goalkeeper: Dominik Livakovic

Defenders: Josip Juranovic, Dejan Lovren, Josko Gvardiol and Borna Sosa

Midfielders: Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic, Mateo Kovacic

Forwards: Andrej Kramaric, Marko Livaja, Ivan Perisic

Belgium

Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois

Defenders: Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Leander Dendoncker

Midfielders: Timothy Castagne, Axel Witsel, Kevin De Bruyne, Thomas Meunier, Yannick Carrasco, Leandro Trossard

Forward: Dries Mertens

The matches featuring Canada vs Morocco and Belgium vs Croatia have begun.

Belgium, Croatia and Morocco can all still qualify for the knockout rounds in what promises to be a fascinating round of matches. Belgium and Croatia will play each other, while Morocco faces Canada – which is already out of the tournament.

Many Moroccans will still be recovering from an emotional victory against Belgium on Sunday, in what was the country’s first World Cup win since 1998 – and its third ever.

“If we get through to the knockout stage, I think we will be very dangerous going forward,” Moroccan manager Walid Regragui told reporters earlier this week.

Anything other than a place in the round of 16 will be a major disappointment for both Belgium and Croatia.

The latter was the defeated finalist in 2018 and needs just a draw against Belgium to ensure progression through the group.

But coach Zlatko Dalić says he refuses to entertain playing for anything but a win.

“We must not accept the option of having only one point to end the match with Belgium,” he told reporters. “There are no easy games. Belgium need a win but we will also aim for a win.”

Belgium, meanwhile, has struggled to find its feet in the tournament so far.

It was largely outplayed despite beating Canada in its opening game and suffered a confidence-knocking defeat to Morocco the last time out.

However, coach Roberto Martinez says his team will be ready for the showdown and hopes his star players, such as Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, can turn its fortunes around.

“We have to stay together now and become stronger. I know this group, we will be ready for Croatia,” he told reporters. “We haven’t been the best Belgium at this World Cup yet.”

Teams in Group F — Croatia, Belgium, Canada and Morocco — are playing today at 10 a.m. ET.

Canada is eliminated from the World Cup, but the stakes for the other three teams remain high as they compete to advance to the knockout stages.

Here are the scenarios that could shake out:

Today’s match between Costa Rica and Germany will feature an all-women refereeing team for the first time in men’s World Cup history.

Frenchwoman Stephanie Frappart will lead the refereeing team, making her the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match.

Frappart, 38, became the first woman to referee a men’s UEFA Champions League game in December 2020. She refereed the women’s World Cup final in 2019 between the USA and the Netherlands, and the men’s UEFA Super Cup final the same year.

After Frappart officiated that UEFA Super Cup Final, she told CNN, “I didn’t think about breaking barriers or making history, only doing my job and only that.”

On the pressure of making history, Frappart said: “So this pressure, I know the feeling. I know how I can manage it – I think it was the same as the final of the [2019] World Cup. I always say the pressure is [from the] outside, not on my side.”

Rwandan official Salima Mukansanga and Yamashita Yoshimi from Japan are also part of the officiating pool for the 2022 men’s World Cup.

Germany takes on Costa Rica at the Al Bayt Stadium at 2 p.m. ET.

Lionel Messi had a penalty saved but Argentina booked its ticket to the knockout phase of the 2022 World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Poland on Wednesday

Alexis Mac Allister’s scuffed effort 60 seconds into the second half broke the deadlock before Julián Álvarez’s brilliant curled shot sealed the three points as Argentina advanced as Group C winners.

The opener came after Messi, Argentina’s all-time top goalscorer, had his penalty saved by Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny.

Álvarez’s sublime finish midway through the second half capped off a nail-biting evening for Argentina, who will now face Australia.

Poland advanced to the knockout stages by the skin of its teeth, qualifying on goal difference.

The other Group C game was a thrilling affair, Mexico beating Saudi Arabia 2-1, but the win wasn’t enough for the Central American team and Poland will now play France in a last-16 match on Sunday.

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