World Cup 2022 updates: Senegal fans celebrate team’s progression
All the updates from November 29, as they happened.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the World Cup 2022 on Tuesday, November 29.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the World Cup 2022 on Tuesday, November 29.
- It is day 10 of the World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
- Senegal won 2-1 against Ecuador, while the US beat Iran 1-0.
- England hammered Wales 3-0 to move on to the next round; already eliminated Qatar lost 2-0 to the Netherlands.
- It was Africa’s day yesterday, with Ghana overcoming Korea 3-2 and Cameroon fighting to a 3-3 draw with Serbia.
- So who’s in and who’s out? And what do teams still need to do? Find out here and here.
USA take on the Netherlands in the Round of 16
Christian Pulisic’s strike was enough to get the USA team into the knockout stages, where they will face a Netherlands side that has yet to find its form.
Read our post-match report here.
Chris Dowd from San Diego said while he is “glad” the US won, he wasn’t ecstatic about the game.
“We could and should have played so much better … I’m actually disappointed,” he told Al Jazeera.
Dowd said he felt less nervous but more annoyed during the close game, where he felt the USA allowed Iran to pressure them “consistently” in the second half.
“Let Saturday come … hopefully, a better and more attacking attitude against the Netherlands,” he said, before adding this was his fourth World Cup since Germany 2006.
Renard urges Saudi Arabian players to be remembered ‘forever’
Coach Herve Renard has called on his Saudi Arabia players to ensure they leave their mark on the World Cup in Qatar and are remembered “forever”.
Having beaten Argentina but then lost to Poland, Saudi Arabia need to beat Mexico on Wednesday in their final Group C match to guarantee a place in the knock-out rounds.
He recalled that the last time Saudi Arabia reached the second round was in 1994, 28 years ago.
“For our players, it’s a very good generation but if they want the fans to remember them they have to make history, otherwise everybody will forget in 20 or 30 years,” Renard said.
England beat Wales 3-0 to cruise into World Cup knockouts
England have advanced to the World Cup’s last 16 with a dominant 3-0 victory over Wales, sending their neighbours out of the tournament in the process.
Marcus Rashford’s second-half brace at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium guaranteed Gareth Southgate’s side will face Senegal in the knockout phase on Sunday.
Read the full match report here.
Courtois not happy with reports of Belgium in-fighting
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois denied reports of feuds among Belgian players following their shock defeat against Morocco, blaming social media and newspapers for the controversy.
Belgium opened their World Cup campaign with an unconvincing 1-0 win against Canada, followed by a shock 2-0 defeat against Morocco. They dropped from first to third in Group F and will play against 2018 World Cup finalist Croatia on Thursday, trying to avoid their earliest elimination since 1998.
“The problem is that there are too many lies nowadays outside, on social media”, said Courtois during a news conference at Belgium’s training ground. “Everything gets from one point to another and situations get created and they don’t exist.”
Their team has been knocked out of the World Cup without winning a single game, but Qataris are not letting it dampen their spirits.
Local families and groups of young men and women made their way to Souq Waqif to have a look at the festivities. It may be their back yard but it has been taken over by drum-beating Argentinians, dancing Moroccans and singing Saudis.
Turki, a Qatari resident of Saudi origin, has been taking photos and shaking hands with fans of all the nationalities he can find.
“I want to thank them for coming here, and bringing their culture with them. I tell them this is like Christmas for us,” he said.
Nearby, a group of Saudi fans has been warming up its vocals for tomorrow’s important clash against Mexico with loud renditions of their anthems and chants.
Turki said the Saudi team will not disappoint its fans.
“Saudi Arabia will now represent all Arab teams and take the Arab flag into the next round,” he said.
Rashford bags a brace
Manchester United and England forward Marcus Rashford has been in fine form this tournament and scored his second goal of the match so far, taking his total tally to three goals.
Follow here for more updates.
England lead 2-0 against Wales
Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden have scored in quick succession, ensuring England’s move to the knockout stage.
Follow our updates from the match here.
FIFA: France’s Frappart to be first woman referee at men’s World Cup
Stephanie Frappart will become the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match when she takes charge of Thursday’s Group E match between Germany and Costa Rica, FIFA said.
The 38-year-old Frenchwoman will be joined by Brazilian Neuza Back and Mexican Karen Diaz as assistants.
USA takes the lead against Iran
USA captain Christian Pulisic scores!
More updates here.
UK minister sports ‘OneLove’ armband
Stuart Andrew, a sport minister for the United Kingdom’s government, has been pictured wearing the “OneLove” armband while attending tonight’s fixture.
Seven European teams, including England and Wales, abandoned plans for their captains to wear the rainbow-themed armband at the World Cup after FIFA threatened to issue yellow cards to any players who did so.
🚨 Stuart Andrew MP, the UK Sports Minister, is wearing the OneLove armband in Qatar. #NoPrideWithoutAll
(📸 Getty) pic.twitter.com/eBTnRDpqlN
— Pride in Football 🏳️🌈⚽️ (@PrideinFootball) November 29, 2022
Senegalese fans have started streaming into Souq Waqif and are getting warmed up for an after party.
Muhammad and Amin are struggling to speak after giving their vocals plenty of exercise at the stadium.
“We are ecstatic! We flew in from Paris to support our team and now we are staying until the final,” Muhammad said.
“Senegal won because they played as a team. Everyone said we won’t do well without Sadio Mane but the players have shown there is more than Mane to Senegal.”
Two wins out of the last two matches have shot the fans’ confidence in the Teranga Lions.
“We don’t care who we play in the next round. We’re going to win.”
Electrifying atmosphere
As the referees whistle blows, the noise is in Al Thumama Stadium can only be described as ear-splitting.
The Iranian fans seems to have every equipment on hand – whistles, vuvuzelas, trumpets – that could impair ones hearing capacity, as they shout “Iran, Iran” along with the very loud beating of the drums.
England vs Wales, Iran vs USA
It’s the last two matches of the day, where England takes on Wales and Iran plays the USA in a highly anticipated meeting.
Follow our live updates of both games.
Iran vs USA: Why is it hard to focus on just the football?
Tehran, Iran – It is Iran vs the United States in the Qatar World Cup 2022 on Tuesday.
There’s survival at stake. But for the majority of the millions tuning in across Iran, it will be difficult to focus on just the football. The reason is not just the sour political relations between the two countries.
The two sides last met during the 1998 World Cup in France. That was the first match they played against each other since Tehran and Washington cut ties after Iran’s 1979 revolution.
Read more here.
Despite all the politics surrounding the Iran vs USA match, not many Iranian fans were eager to speak on the political and social tensions back home.
Fans that Al Jazeera approached either just shrugged at questions related to the Mahsa Amini protests back in Iran, or simply said “no politics questions”.
Amini, 22, died in police custody in September after being detained for not following the country’s strict dress code for women, setting off massive protests against the government around the country.
When asked if her compatriots in Qatar and Team Melli should continue to show solidarity with demonstrations back home, Golnaz from Tehran simply said: “The Iranian team should be the global voice of the country.”
World Cup 2022: Who has progressed? Who is out?
The World Cup 2022 is heading towards the business end: the knockouts.
Teams who have qualified for the next round:
- France
- Brazil
- Portugal
- Netherlands
- Senegal
Click here to see a list of teams that have been knocked out.
Reaching round of 16 will be ‘major’ achievement, says US fan
There are plenty of US fans that have travelled from abroad to watch their country play in the world cup including Nelson Posada, 57, who hails from Miami, Florida.
“My and my friends have so far had a fantastic time here in Doha … now if we can just win today and advance to the round of 16, that will be a major achievement … the score will be 2-1 for the US,” he told Al Jazeera, saying he expects an “electrifying” atmosphere at the game.
Asked about the politics surrounding the game, he said the World Cup was like a “global family event” in which everyone should participate despite the political tensions in the world.
Qatar fans aren’t too pleased with what they saw on the field today.
They expected more, at least a draw.
“Very bad performance. We never took our chances. the Netherlands were very strong for us,” Mohd al-Abduljabbar said as he made his way out of the stadium.
“The players are not very experienced to perform at this level. They played very poorly,” he added.
Qatar were the first team to crash out of the World Cup and have lost all three group matches against Ecuador, Senegal and the Netherlands.
Senegal and the Netherlands through to knockout stages
The Dutch barely broke a sweat in their 2-0 win over Qatar at the Al Bayt Stadium, ending the hosts’ World Cup campaign with a third straight defeat.
And Senegal have also booked their place in the World Cup last 16 with a thrilling 2-1 win over Ecuador, sending the South American side out of the tournament in their wake.
Reza Ghafarzadeh, 50, is from Tehran and says he is “feeling good” about the upcoming Iran vs USA match.
“We have a real chance to make it to the group stages. Iran is definitely the better team – just a draw or win will enough,” said Ghafarzadeh, a businessman who lives in Doha. “I am very hopeful.”
Asked which player he thinks will get the job done for Team Melli, he said, “Football is a team game, it’s all about teamwork. You win as a team, you lose as a team.”
It is fairly quiet in the downtown Musheireb area of Doha, and it’s not because Qatar just lost its final match at the World Cup.
For a neighbourhood that was redesigned and renovated in line with the World Cup hosting plans, there is no place where fans of the home team can catch some football action without denting their pockets.
One large screen has been erected in the middle of the Barahat Msheireb courtyard but that, too, is only for restaurant patrons and a seat in front of the screen costs 425 riyals ($117), with food included in the cost.
The courtyard is barricaded and is being patrolled by security guards who ask people to move away so the patrons can enjoy their football in a peaceful manner.The Al Annabi Village, which was set up as a fan zone for the national team’s followers, is all but empty. A large screen stands in the middle of the fan zone but it is playing highlights of the Qatari football team’s achievements.
Photos: Palestinian flags fly high at the World Cup in Qatar
The Palestinian cause has received strong backing and recognition so far during the World Cup in Qatar, with many fans taking the opportunity to display the flag during matches.
With the whole world watching, Palestinians marked their presence by waving flags of all sizes at various venues and football matches. Arabs from other nationalities have also shown their solidarity by waving the Palestinian flag in matches and in the streets, showcasing Arab unity and solidarity amid Israel’s continuing brutal occupation of Palestinian territory.
Palestinians have told Al Jazeera that the tournament has given them a chance to raise awareness about the Israeli occupation, as well as to highlight Palestinian culture and history.
See more photos here.
Atmosphere building up at Al Thumama Stadium
The USA vs Iran is one of the most highly anticipated matches of the group stages – and it certainly feels that way here at Al Thumama Stadium a few hours before the game begins.
Walking around the 40,000-plus capacity stadium were several different groups of Iranian fans who have congregated, singing and screaming local football and nationalistic chants – including according to one Iranian, that the Iran team “will destroy them”.
Their opponents, however, were in fewer numbers, for now, and certainly less noisy of the two sets of fans. They, like the Iranians, took to sporting some colourful attire, including a Laeeb ghutra painted in US colours.
To get into full support mode, fans lined up outside the complimentary flag stall to buy some nation-themed merchandise, while others stood around a makeshift FIFA stage seen at nearly all games to enjoy some music and ongoing World Cup games.
Croatia charged after fans taunt Canadian World Cup player
A disciplinary case was opened against Croatia at the World Cup on after the team’s fans taunted a Canada player with Serbian family ties.
FIFA said the charge against the Croatian football federation was “due to the behaviour of its fans” and cited rules relating to discrimination and security at games.
Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan was born in an ethnic Serbian region of Croatia that was part of the conflict which split the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Borjan’s family left their hometown in 1995 when it was taken by Croatian forces amid stories that ethnic Serbs fled on tractors.
During Canada’s 4-1 loss on Sunday, one banner displayed by Croatia fans used a flag of tractor manufacturer John Deere and changed the marketing slogan to target Borjan.Following FIFA’s disciplinary case, the Croatian Football Federation has called on its fans to behave.