Having missed out on the World Cup last year, the US men’s national team is making its return to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Taking their best players to the Middle East, head coach Gregg Berhalter believes the US can beat anyone in the tournament, including a team that has never played in a World Cup.
The USMNT’s first match in the tournament was against Wales at the Al Rayyan Stadium. The USA led 1-0 at halftime, but Wales leveled the score in the second half with a late penalty from Gareth Bale. In the first half, Tim Weah scored the US’ first goal. In the second, Walker Zimmerman slid into Gareth Bale’s legs and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
Despite this, the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) finished fifth in the final group stage of CONCACAF qualifying. Head coach Gregg Berhalter has selected the 26 players he thinks are the best in the game, and he will bring them to the Middle East. He believes the USA can beat anyone in the tournament, and it’s his chance to prove it.
On 20 November, the USA will take on Wales in the opening match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The game will begin at 2 p.m. EST, or 11 a.m. PST.
The USMNT are in Group B, and will play Ecuador in the other match. Ecuador won the first game of the tournament, defeating Qatar 2-0. The hosts failed to sing the national anthem before the match began, and the Iranian players refused to participate.
The USMNT are not expected to be a major threat in the tournament, but they are still hopeful of making the Final on December 18. The team is ranked fifth in the CONCACAF rankings, and they will need to win their final two matches to qualify for the tournament. The USMNT’s average age is 25 years and 175 days.
Throughout the tournament, the USMNT will be supported by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He’s already in Qatar for bilateral talks, and he plans to watch the USMNT play Wales in the World Cup. He’s also going to wear a rainbow armband, known as a OneLove armband, in support of the LGBTQ+ community.
Other US fans are hoping President Joe Biden will travel to Doha to watch the USMNT. He has already met with the man responsible for feeding the team. In addition, the US flag has been redesigned to include a rainbow flag. It will also be featured in the opening ceremony.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup will take place in Qatar, and it’s expected to be the first ever winter tournament. It will be held from November 20 to December 18. It will feature the best national teams in the world. There are 32 teams participating in the tournament, and all hope to qualify for the Final on December 18. The opening ceremony will be held on November 20, and the FIFA World Cup will be played in Doha, Qatar, and other cities throughout the country.
