Nov. 21, 2022 coverage of the World Cup

It’s all over in the Al-Rayyan Stadium and each team will take a point after the US Men’s National Team tied Wales 1-1 in Group B.

There was frustration for the US in its opening game of Qatar 2022 as Gareth Bale scored a late penalty for Wales. The US was dominant for much of the match, but as has so often been the case, it was LAFC star Bale who dug Wales out of a sticky situation as this Group B game ended with the teams splitting the points.

22-year-old Timothy Weah, son of soccer great George Weah, had put the US ahead in the first-half with a fine finish but this young US side – with an average age of 25 years and 175 days – was unable to maintain its dominance and allowed Wales to grow into the game and snatch a draw.

Wales' Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring a goal during a match against USA on November 21.

Gareth Bale is brought down very clearly by Walker Zimmerman in the US box and the referee whistles for a spot-kick.

And it’s Bale who takes the kick… and it’s a Welsh goal! Game on! USMNT 1 - Wales 1!

USA's Timothy Weah celebrates after scoring the first goal of the match against Wales on November 21.

Timothy Weah’s 36th minute goal for the USA might have you thinking, “Hmm, that last name sounds familiar.” That’s because the 22-year-old’s father is none other than George Weah, former Liberian soccer player and current president of the West African country.

George Weah had a prolific professional career, spending five seasons with AS Monaco — and winning the French Cup in 1991 — before heading to Paris Saint-Germain, who he led to the French Cup, league title and the semifinals of the 1995 Champions League. Weah moved to Italy and won the Scudetto twice with AC Milan, but he’s perhaps most famous for being the first and only African to date to win the Ballon d’Or, the award given to the best individual footballer in any given year.

Still, during his incredible career, Weah Sr. was never able to play in the World Cup. An achievement his talented son has been able to accomplish in the most incredible way in Qatar.

After scoring a goal in the first half, the USA is back on the field against Wales, which will be looking to level the score in this second half.

The US Men’s National Team is impressing in its first World Cup appearance in eight-and-a-half years with the team controlling play against Wales and deservedly leading 1-0 at the break after Timothy Weah’s 36th-minute goal.

A good second half awaits us as Wales will have to open up more to look for an equalizer, which could provide even more chances for the US.

USA's Timothy Weah scores the first goal of the match against Wales on November 21.

Goal! Timothy Weah receives a great through ball from Christian Pulisic in the 36th minute and makes no mistake slotting it home to make it 1-0 for the USA.

Off the field, in the stands, there could be a second competition going on: best American costume. Fans were spotted in comprehensive American-themes outfits, including the bald eagle and Elvis among others. Take a look:

USA fans stand for the national anthem prior to the match between USA and Wales on November 21.

A USA fan wearing an American-themed luchador mask waits in the stands ahead of the match against Wales on November 21.

Rock and roll! A USA fan is seen before the match between USA and Wales on November 21.

Two Elvis-themed fans are seen prior to the match between USA and Wales on November 21.

There’s a bet going on between US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and James Roscoe, the Deputy Head of Mission to the Embassy of the United Kingdom. And it all rests on who wins in the match between USA and Wales:

Kickoff is here! The US is looking to impress with a very young squad, eight-and-a-half years on from its last World Cup appearance, while Wales is ready for its first appearance in 64 years.

Wales fans cheer on the stands ahead of the match between USA and Wales on November 21.

It’s like a game of ping-pong inside the stadium with the two sets of fans grouped behind either goal.

The stadium announcer kicks things off by promoting the US contingent to chant that classic chant “USA, USA.”

The Welsh reply immediately shouting their country’s name at the top of their voice and serenading Doha with songs from back home.

United States fans show their support prior to the match between USA and Wales on November 21.

The sight of thousands of Welsh fans in their iconic red shirts and bucket hats is a sight to behold — a red wall willing their team on.

The US fans are more spread out across the stadium but the atmosphere is nonetheless deafening as the players walk out onto the field.

The inside of the stadium is seen ahead of the match between the United States and Wales on November 21.

There seems to be notably more empty seats inside the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium as we’re approaching 10 minutes until kickoff.

That could be because of the distance needed to travel for the two sets of fans or the fact this kicks off at 10 p.m. local time, which might put the locals off.

Despite the areas around the stadium feeling a lot quieter than usual, pockets of die hard Welsh and US fans are making their voices heard.

Alcohol may have been banned from outside stadiums for this World Cup, but it feels like a lot of the fans have found somewhere to enjoy themselves before this match. Definitely a smaller attendance but the atmosphere in the stadium is building nicely before kickoff. 

For the United States

Manager: Gregg Berhalter

Goalkeepers: Ethan Horvath, Sean Johnson, Matt Turner

Defenders: Cameron Carter-Vickers, Sergiño Dest, Aaron Long, Shaq Moore, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson, Joe Scally, DeAndre Yedlin, Walker Zimmerman

Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson, Kellyn Acosta, Tyler Adams, Luca de la Torre, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Cristian Roldan

Forwards: Jesús Ferreira, Jordan Morris, Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Josh Sargent, Tim Weah, Haji Wright

And for Wales:

Manager: Rob Page

Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey, Danny Ward, Adam Davies

Defenders: Ben Davies, Ben Cabango, Tom Lockyer, Joe Rodon, Chris Mepham, Ethan Ampadu, Chris Gunter, Neco Williams, Connor Roberts

Midfielders: Sorba Thomas, Joe Allen, Matt Smith, Dylan Levitt, Harry Wilson, Joe Morrell, Jonny Williams, Aaron Ramsey, Rubin Colwill

Forwards: Gareth Bale, Kieffer Moore, Mark Harris, Brennan Johnson, Dan James

Members of the United States Men’s National Team during a training session in Al Rayyan, Qatar, on November 20.

When the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) walks onto the pitch in Qatar on Monday, it will be appearing at a men’s World Cup for the first time since 2014.

In the eight-and-a-half years since then, soccer has overtaken ice hockey to become the country’s fourth most watched sport with 13% of respondents marking it their favorite sport, according to a survey conducted by Statista in 2022, increasing from 4% in 2013, according to a Gallup poll.

So far, the US has been unable to translate this newfound popularity at home onto the world stage, though the core of its “golden generation” has shown its potential to outdo its predecessors and has received the presidential vote of confidence ahead of its opening match against Wales.

“I know you’re the underdog, but you’ve got some of the best players in the world on your team and you’re representing this country and I know you’re going to play your hearts out, so let’s go shock them all,” President Joe Biden told the players on a call.

The USMNT was one of the last teams to book its ticket to Qatar, stuttering its way through the qualifying stages, perhaps haunted by its failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup with a loss to Trinidad and Tobago in October 2017.

Injuries have hindered the USMNT’s cohesion. Christian Pulisic and other key members of the team – forward Gio Reyna, midfielders Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams, as well as defender Sergiño Dest – have played together in the same match just once, according to ESPN. It is indicative of the team’s relatively untested nature, compounded by its youth which is, in many ways, its defining feature. Just one player, defender DeAndre Yedlin, has prior World Cup experience.

The 26-player squad will have an average age of 25 years and 175 days when it plays Wales, while the team that qualified for the tournament was even younger with an average age of 23 across the starting lineups of its qualifying matches. Although it is a team lacking in World Cup experience, it has frequently shown its talent, utilizing a high-tempo, transition game that showcases its dynamism and athletic midfield.

Netherlands' Davy Klaassen celebrates scoring their second goal during a match against Senegal on November 21.

Memphis Depay shoots from far outside the box and has his ball stopped by Edouard Mendy, but the ball finds its way to Davy Klaassen, who puts it past a helpless Mendy in the 99th minute…

And that’s the final whistle! Three points to the Dutch in Group A, who now sit joint-first in the group with Ecuador.

A media shuttle bus stop for journalists is seen outside of a 2022 World Cup venue.

Hold the World Cup in a small country, they said. It will be easy to attend two matches in a day, they said…

Those in the media seem to be taking up the challenge — including this reporter — but it’s not quite as easy as it sounds.

After one match finishes, there is a race to listen to the press conference (which tends to run late) and then sprint outside to begin the search for where the media shuttle buses are parked.

Those leaving it late, like myself, can be seen sprinting past jubilant fans to hop onto the last one. It takes a while for the bus to leave as out-of-breath journalists try to jump on at the very last minute.

Once aboard, you’ve got to cross your fingers that traffic will be kind.

It’s really a sport within a sport.

Netherlands' Cody Gakpo scores the first goal of the match between the Netherlands and Senegal on November 21.

In the 84th minute, we finally have a goal! PSV Eindhoven winger Cody Gakpo runs into the box and heads the beautiful cross from Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong past Edouard Mendy to make it 1-0 late.

Qatar dismissed the ‘OneLove’ armband controversy as a matter between FIFA and international teams, and reiterated that “everybody is welcome” regardless of “orientation.”

“Everything that happens on the pitch is a FIFA matter,” the spokesperson of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), Fatma Al Nuaimi, told CNN in Doha. 

The SC, which since its formation in 2011, has been responsible for overseeing the infrastructure projects and planning for the World Cup.

The captains of England, Wales, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany and Denmark have said they will not wear ‘OneLove’ armbands at the Qatar World Cup, after world-football’s governing body FIFA made it clear the players would be yellow carded, the associations said in a joint statement on Monday.

“There’s nothing to comment about, I think it’s between … the teams and FIFA directly,” Al Nuaimi said. 

In response to players showing forms of protest, including England taking the knee and Iran players choosing not to sing the national anthem in support of protests back home, Al Nuaimi said the World Cup is “a platform” for people to express their “values and beliefs.”

After a 0-0 scoreline in the first half, the Netherlands and Senegal are back on the field looking for that elusive first goal.

Senegal fans have packed the stadium in full, colorful regalia. As the halftime break is upon us, here are some vibrant snapshots of the fanfare for the Lions of Teranga:

Senegal fans are seen inside the stadium before the match against the Netherlands on November 21.

A Senegal fan cheers in the stands before the match on November 21.

Senegal fans are seen before the match on November 21.

It was a hard-fought, back-and-forth first half between Senegal and The Netherlands in their group opener in Doha, but despite a couple of good chances for both sides, the score remains level at 0-0.

The Dutch look to have the slightly better form in the game, but it’s all to play for in the second half at the Al Thumama Stadium.