Category: World Cup 2022

Costa Rica defeats New Zealand to reach third straight World Cup

The Ticos have qualified for their third consecutive World Cup

Costa Rica has booked its place in the 2022 World Cup with a 1-0 win over New Zealand in the intercontinental playoff on Tuesday in Qatar.

Joel Campbell scored off a cross from 17-year-old Jewison Bennette in the third minute, and that goal stood up the rest of the match as the Ticos reached a third straight World Cup and fifth out of six.

Costa Rica finished fourth in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, reaching the playoff after Canada, the United States and Mexico all qualified automatically.

Luis Fernando Suárez’s side will now go into World Cup Group E alongside Spain, Germany and Japan.

The Ticos were beneficiaries of two major decisions in their favor after a VAR review.

First, Chris Wood’s equalizer for New Zealand five minutes before halftime was waved off due to a foul in the build-up.

Midway through the second half, New Zealand’s Kosta Barbarouses was shown a straight red card after a video review for a studs-up challenge on Costa Rica defender Francisco Calvo.

The 32-team field for the World Cup has now been finalized after three final spots were earned this month.

In Europe, Wales defeated Ukraine to seal the final UEFA spot, while Australia defeated Peru on Monday in the other intercontinental playoff.

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Australia and its meme-generating dancing goalkeeper are going to the World Cup

Don’t just beat them, entertain them too!

Australian goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne became a national hero and instant meme on Monday, as his flailing dance moves on the line during a shootout against Peru helped his country reach the World Cup.

Redmayne was brought on in the 120th minute of a scoreless match as the World Cup intercontinental playoff inevitably lurched toward a shootout to determine a spot in Qatar.

We’ve seen goalkeepers subbed on as penalty specialists before but the interesting thing about Redmayne is that … he isn’t even that good at saving penalties?

No matter! Because what Redmayne lacks in penalty saving skills, he makes up for with comical dance moves designed to delight, distract, intimidate and entertain.

Prior to every Peru penalty, Redmayne hopped back and forth across the goal line, flailing his arms and kicking his feet from side to side, apparently convinced that his opponents wouldn’t be able to handle how ridiculous he looked.

And he was kind of right! Redmayne saved two penalties, including a final stop in sudden death from Alex Valera, sending Australia to the World Cup.

Ecuador keep World Cup place after FIFA decision on Byron Castillo

Chile’s claims that Ecuador fielded an ineligible player eight times were shot down by FIFA.

Ecuador is still headed to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup after FIFA closed the door on Chile’s claims that defender Byron Castillo is only eligible to represent Colombia.

It’s a convoluted case, to say the least. Castillo appeared eight times in qualifying for Ecuador, who finished in the fourth and final automatic qualification spot in CONMEBOL. Chile, meanwhile, argued that Castillo was ineligible (and also, three years older than Ecuador says he is), and that all eight of those games should be awarded to the opponent as a 3-0 forfeit.

If that were true, Chile says they would climb from seventh place up to fourth, leapfrogging both Peru (who face Australia in an intercontinental playoff on Monday) and Colombia in the process.

However, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee offered a brief statement shutting down Chile’s bid, the key passage of which read as follows:

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has rendered its decision in relation to the potential ineligibility of the player Byron David Castillo Segura with regard to his participation in eight qualifying matches of the national team of the Ecuadorian Football Association (FEF) in the preliminary competition of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.

After analysing the submissions of all parties concerned and considering all elements brought before it, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided to close the proceedings initiated against the FEF.

According to The New York Times, Chile will appeal the Disciplinary Committee’s decision. In the meantime, Ecuador remains in Group A with Qatar, the Netherlands, and Senegal.

Wales head coach Rob Page says USMNT World Cup opener is ‘winnable’

The Welsh boss has earmarked the U.S. and Iran games as prime opportunities for three points

Wales head coach Rob Page has said his team’s World Cup opener against the U.S. men’s national team will be a winnable game.

Wales defeated Ukraine 1-0 in Sunday’s UEFA World Cup qualifying playoff final, sealing the final place in World Cup Group B alongside England, Iran and the USMNT.

The U.S. and Wales will both kick off their World Cup campaigns on November 21 at Al Rayyan Stadium, and Page has circled that match as well as the game against Iran as prime opportunities to pick up three points.

“We go with the confidence we have had going into any game,” Page told the BBC.

“We have played against the USA. We know they are a really strong outfit. We played against their European-based players in my first game (a 0-0 draw in a friendly in November 2020).

“They [and Iran] are winnable games and, when you play against a home nations team, anything can happen. We will go toe to toe with anybody – bring it on. That’s the attitude we have got in that changing room.”

Wales makes history

With the win over Ukraine, Wales reached the World Cup for the first time since 1958.

On reaching Qatar, Page added: “It’s one of those surreal moments where you wake up and realize we are off to the World Cup. It is unbelievable.

“Even at the final whistle last night, I was thinking ‘is this a cruel dream that I am having?’ But then when you realize it’s reality, coming back to the hotel and celebrating with the players last night, then waking up this morning and having that realization again that we have done it.

“It’s such a proud moment for the nation.”

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Wales defeat Ukraine to qualify for 2022 World Cup

Heartbreak for Ukraine, but Wales qualify for the first time since 1958.

Wales is going to the 2022 World Cup, overcoming Ukraine 1-0 in the final UEFA playoff Sunday to qualify for the first time in 64 years.

Ukraine’s incredible story, attempting to qualify even as the Russian invasion of their country continues, ended in heartbreak as Gareth Bale’s powerful free kick was deflected in by Andriy Yarmolenko for the game’s only goal.

Wales will go into Group B with the U.S. men’s national team, England, and Iran. The Welsh will play the USMNT in their opening match in Qatar on November 21, marking their first appearance at a World Cup since 1958.

Ukraine seemed to have a stunning opener in the 3rd minute, with Oleksandr Zinchenko firing a free kick from 32 yards past Wayne Hennessey, but referee Antonio Lahoz pulled play back as he had not blown the whistle for play to start.

Wales were struggling to hold Ukraine off, but in their hour of need, Bale delivered. It took some good fortune, as Yarmolenko’s attempt to head the shot away only served to wrong-foot goalkeeper Heorhiy Bushchan, but it was enough to give the Welsh a lead they would not relinquish.

Ukraine were pinning Wales back, peppering Hennessey with shots, but a 76th minute sequence saw Welsh substitute Brennan Johnson smack a shot off the woodwork before Bale was denied by a strong Bushchan save in the aftermath.

At the other end, Hennessey capped off a stellar performance with an incredible save to rob Artem Dovbyk’s 84th minute header, which ended up being Ukraine’s last and best chance at an equalizer.

Watch the goal that sent Wales to the World Cup

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USMNT will face Wales in its World Cup opener

The Welsh defeated sentimental favorite Ukraine 1-0 in Cardiff, locking up the final spot in Group B

The U.S. men’s national team finally knows which team it will face in its World Cup opener: Wales.

The Welsh defeated sentimental favorite Ukraine 1-0 in Sunday’s UEFA World Cup qualifying playoff final, earning a spot in World Cup Group B alongside the USMNT, England and Iran.

Andriy Yarmolenko’s own goal in the first half off of Gareth Bale’s free-kick delivery was the difference at Cardiff City Stadium.

It will be just the second ever World Cup appearance for Wales, and its first since 1958.

After the match, U.S. Soccer released a statement on Twitter congratulating both Ukraine for the spirit shown during an incredibly difficult period for the country, and Wales for reaching the World Cup.

USMNT vs. Wales on World Cup opening day

The USMNT will face Wales on November 21 at Al Rayyan Stadium, on the first day of World Cup 2022. Kickoff will be at 2 p.m. ET.

Gregg Berhalter’s men will close out group play against England on November 25, and Iran on November 29.

The USMNT and Wales played most recently in November 2020, drawing 0-0 in a friendly in Swansea.

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World Cup playoffs 2022: Schedule, TV and streaming for final three spots in Qatar

Three spots are up for grabs as the field for the 2022 World Cup gets set to be completed

The 2022 World Cup draw is complete, but the final three spots in the tournament are still yet to be determined.

Three teams remain alive in Europe, with just one spot available in Qatar.

In Asia, two teams are battling for one spot in the intercontinental playoff, which will feature four teams facing off in two games, each with a World Cup berth at stake.

Here, Pro Soccer Wire breaks down the schedule, format and broadcast information as the World Cup field gets set to be completed.

UEFA World Cup qualifying playoffs

Scotland will take on Ukraine in a semifinal after the teams’ initial matchup in March was postponed due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The winner of that matchup will face Wales for a berth at the World Cup

Wednesday, June 1

Scotland vs. Ukraine; Hampden Park, Glasgow; ESPN2, ESPN Plus, TUDN; kickoff at 2:45 p.m. ET.

Sunday, June 5

Wales vs. Semifinal winner; Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff; ESPN2, ESPN Plus, TUDN; kickoff at 12:00 p.m. ET.

The winner of the final will go into World Cup Group B alongside England, the United States and Iran.

AFC qualifying playoffs

Two teams have reached the playoff round of Asia’s qualifying format, the United Arab Emirates and Australia, with the winner advancing to the World Cup intercontinental playoffs.

Tuesday, June 7

United Arab Emirates vs. Australia; Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar; Paramount Plus; kickoff at 3 p.m. ET.

World Cup intercontinental playoffs

In the intercontinental playoffs, four teams will battle for two spots in the World Cup.

The winner between the United Arab Emirates and Australia will face Peru for a berth at the World Cup.

In the other intercontinental playoff, Costa Rica will face New Zealand for a spot at the World Cup.

Monday, June 13

Peru vs. AFC winner; Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar; Telemundo; kickoff at 2 p.m. ET.

The winner will go into World Cup Group D alongside France, Denmark and Tunisia.

Tuesday, June 14

Costa Rica vs. New Zealand; Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar; Telemundo; kickoff at 2 p.m. ET.

The winner will go into World Cup Group E alongside Spain, Germany and Japan.

Female referees will be at men’s World Cup for the first time

Stéphanie Frappart, Salima Mukansanga, and Yoshimi Yamashita will help make history in Qatar

For the first time, there will be female referees at a men’s World Cup.

FIFA confirmed on Thursday that three female referees and three female assistant referees have been selected for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Stéphanie Frappart from France, Salima Mukansanga from Rwanda and Japan’s Yoshimi Yamashita were selected as referees, alongside assistant referees Neuza Back from Brazil, Karen Díaz Medina from Mexico and Kathryn Nesbitt from the United States.

“This concludes a long process that began several years ago with the deployment of female referees at FIFA men’s junior and senior tournaments,” said Pierluigi Collina, the chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee.

“In this way, we clearly emphasize that it is quality that counts for us and not gender. I would hope that in the future, the selection of elite women’s match officials for important men’s competitions will be perceived as something normal and no longer as sensational.”

Overall, FIFA selected 36 referees, 69 assistant referees and 24 video match officials for the tournament.

Americans refereeing at the World Cup

Of the 129 officials named by FIFA to work at the World Cup, there were four Americans.

Ismail Elfath, who has been refereeing in MLS for 10 years, was the only American selected to be a referee. It will be the first World Cup for the 40-year-old official.

Nesbitt and Kyle Atkins were selected as assistant referees, while Armando Villarreal was named a video match official.

Full list of 2022 World Cup referees can be found HERE.

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Ecuador’s World Cup spot in jeopardy as FIFA investigates potentially ineligible player

An investigation into allegedly falsified records could put Chile in the World Cup at Ecuador’s expense

FIFA has opened an investigation into Ecuador for allegedly falsifying documents in order to play defender Byron Castillo in World Cup qualification.

Last week Chile’s soccer federation filed an official complaint to FIFA alleging that Castillo was born in Colombia in 1995, rather than in Ecuador in 1998 as his birth certificate says.

Chile is hoping that FIFA will declare a forfeit in both of its matches against Ecuador in World Cup qualifying – an outcome that would see Chile reach the World Cup at Ecuador’s expense.

Castillo took part in eight World Cup qualifiers for Ecuador, which finished fourth in the CONMEBOL table and secured the final automatic berth at the 2022 World Cup.

In response to Chile’s complaint last week, Ecuador’s soccer federation released a statement emphatically denying the charges and insisting Castillo was an Ecuadorian citizen with all of the proper documentation necessary.

FIFA confirms investigation into Castillo and Ecuador

“As recently confirmed by FIFA, the Chilean Football Association has lodged a complaint with the FIFA Disciplinary Committee in which it made a series of allegations concerning the possible falsification of documents granting Ecuadorian nationality to the player Byron David Castillo Segura, as well as the possible ineligibility of the said player to participate in eight qualifying matches of the national team of the Ecuadorian Football Association (FEF) in the preliminary competition of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022,” read a FIFA statement.

“Bearing the above in mind, FIFA has decided to open disciplinary proceedings in relation to the potential ineligibility of Byron David Castillo Segura with regard to the above-mentioned matches. In this context, the FEF and the Peruvian Football Association have been invited to submit their positions to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.

“Further details will follow in due course.”

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