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USA men's soccer team coach Gregg Berhalter speaks during a news conference at the Qatar National Convention Center in Doha on Dec. 2, 2022.

Sports

It's knockout time at the World Cup for the U.S. and Netherlands — only one moves on

5:48pm December 02, 2022

by Tom Goldman

The pressure is high for both squads, but the United States already has relieved some of that tension by moving into the tournament's second round, an accomplishment some observers did not expect.

Japan played like they can beat anyone (and they did, topping both Spain and Germany). Brazil is still the favorite to win it all, even as they wait to see if their star striker Neymar can return from injury. And the U.S., led by team captain Tyler Adams, has looked better than expected.

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Previewing the World Cup's round of 16: Who's in, who's out and storylines to watch

4:26pm December 02, 2022

by Becky Sullivan

The group stage had it all: cheers, tears, penalties, pelvic contusions, VAR-assisted calls that came down to millimeters. Now, the World Cup is onto the knockout round. Here's our guide to the games.

Matt Turner of the United States celebrates the winning goal by Christian Pulisic against Iran at the World Cup on Tuesday.

U.S. men's success in the World Cup brings a windfall to the women's team

4:25pm December 02, 2022

by Bill Chappell

The success of the men's squad in Qatar will bring players on the women's team more money than they were rewarded for winning the 2019 tournament.

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What's in store for the World Cup's Round of 16

4:22pm December 02, 2022

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks to ESPN host and analyst Luis Miguel Echegaray about the latest round of matches in the World Cup and what to expect from the U.S. team Saturday.

Anish Adhikari, now 26, worked construction jobs in Qatar for 33 months in the lead-up to the World Cup. In this 2021 photo, he poses inside the new Lusail stadium, which he helped build and which will host the World Cup final on Dec. 18. Adhikari says the Nepali agent who got him the job misled him about working conditions in Qatar: "They sell a dream that's not reality."

Death and dishonesty: Stories of two workers who built the World Cup stadiums in Qatar

10:45am December 02, 2022

by Lauren Frayer

Vinod Kumar of India and Anish Adhikari of Nepal are among the many migrant workers who helped build the stadiums. Adhikari says he was misled about working conditions. Kumar died on the job.

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Members of security, right, speak with two Iran supporters as they take away a flag reading "Woman life freedom" prior to the match between Wales and Iran on Nov. 25.

Some clothing choices have caused a stir at the World Cup

10:16am December 02, 2022

by Halisia Hubbard

Qatar warned about clothing restrictions for this year's World Cup, and fans are finding out that officials weren't bluffing — but some controversial outfits have slipped into stadiums.

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Clint Smith of 'The Atlantic' on 'What we ask of Black American athletes'

6:46am December 02, 2022

NPR's A Martinez talks to Clint Smith about the captain of the U.S. national soccer team, who was pointedly asked about racism in America this week at a news conference in Doha.

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For many in the Latino community, soccer is a unifying force

4:37pm December 01, 2022

by Eileen Rodriguez

A large part of the Latino community has been religiously watching the FIFA World Cup since it started.

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The first all-female referee team makes history at the World Cup

4:35pm December 01, 2022

History is made as the first all-female referee team officiates the World Cup match between Costa Rica and Germany.

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Merritt Paulson, the owner of the Portland Thorns, announced Thursday he is putting the women's professional soccer team up for sale.

The Portland Thorns will be sold, the latest fallout from scandals in women's soccer

3:40pm December 01, 2022

by The Associated Press

Merritt Paulson's decision to sell the Thorns comes after a pair of team executives were dismissed for their roles in systemic abuse and misconduct in the National Women's Soccer League.