November 22, 2022 coverage of the World Cup

France teammates celebrate after the match against Australia on November 22.

After a slow start, France delivered a dominating performance as Les Bleus dispatched the Socceroos 4-1.

Australia struck first as Craig Goodwin scored in the 9th minute to give the underdogs a surprise 1-0 lead.?

In the 26th minute, France responded. Adrien Rabiot found the back of the net with an equalizer. And five minutes later, Les Bleus took the lead as Rabiot threaded a ball to striker Oliver Giroud who made it 2-1 France.?

In the second half, it was all France.

After getting close on several occasions, French forward Kylian Mbappé finally scored in the 67th minute to give his team a 3-1 lead.

Just three minutes later, Giroud found the net again to give France a commanding 4-1 lead. After being held scoreless in World Cup 2018, the French forward put away two in France’s opening match of the tournament.

Giroud now ties Thierry Henry to become France’s joint all-time goalscorer at 51.

With three points after the win, France sits atop Group D.

Next up for France is Denmark on Saturday. Australia will face Tunisia.

France's forward Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring against Australia on November 22.

We needed a spark to liven up this match and we got it through Kylian Mbappé.

The superstar looks like he means business at Qatar 2022 and has been unstoppable all night.

He finally got his name on the scoresheet and then added a wonderful assist for Olivier Giroud’s second goal of the night.

The 23-year-old took on the Australian defense with ease before teeing up his strike partner with a perfectly weighted cross.

Mbappe knew how good that assist was. Afterward, he stood with his arms aloft in front of the French fans.

It also helped Giroud pull level with Thierry Henry as France’s joint all-time top scorer with 51 goals.

France's Olivier Giroud scores their fourth goal?during a match against Australia on November 22.

Olivier Giroud finds the net again in the 70th minute to give France a commanding 4-1 lead.

After being held scoreless in World Cup 2018, the Les Bleus forward now has two in France’s opening match of the tournament.

Giroud now ties Thierry Henry to become France’s joint all-time goalscorer at 51.

Kylian Mbappe of France celebrates after scoring their team's third goal during the match against Australia on November 22.

After getting close on several occasions, Kylian Mbappe finally scored for France with a goal in the 67th minute of the match against Australia.

Ousmane Dembélé gave Mbpappé the chance after the relentless French attack did not let up in the second half of the game.

France leads Australia 3-1.

You know the atmosphere isn’t great when you can hear the players talking to themselves on the pitch.

France’s dominance since going ahead in the first half has all but silenced the Aussie supporters, who seem a bit shell-shocked.

Maybe it’s the late kickoff time or the colder temperatures, but this match hasn’t really got going for the neutral fans.

There were fears that fewer fans would travel to this World Cup given the issues off the pitch, and tonight’s atmosphere appears to have suffered.

A small pocket of fans on the French end is trying to galvanize the crowd – but they get nothing more than a quick round of applause in response.

We need something or someone to ignite the atmosphere in this stadium.

Les Bleus and the Socceroos are back on the field for the second half of their match, with Australia looking to equalize the goal score. Fans perhaps will see Kylian Mbappé get the goal that’s eluded him so far in the match.

France leads Australia 2-1.

Argentina's Lionel Messi is seen during the match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia on November 22.

Argentina star Lionel Messi said his team has “no excuses” after they were defeated 2-1 by relative footballing minnows Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium in Group C of the FIFA World Cup.

Messi was asked about morale in the group after the chastening defeat. “The truth? Dead,” he admitted. “It’s a very hard blow because we did not expect to start in this way.”

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner urged calmness from his team and fans alike in the wake of the upset.

“Things happen for a reason. We have to prepare for what is coming,” Messi said. “We have to win, and it depends on us.”

“My message to the supporters is to have faith. We won’t leave them stranded,” the player added.

Argentina faces Mexico on Saturday, while Saudi Arabia meets Poland. Poland and Mexico drew 0-0 on Tuesday to leave Saudi Arabia atop the group after one match each.

Australia fans are seen in the stands during a match between Australia and France on November 22.

With Saudi Arabia beating Argentina earlier in the day, it felt like something could be in the waters at this World Cup when Australia went up 1-0 in the ninth minute against the reigning world champion.

Aussie fans inside the stadium were starting to believe in miracles. But after France responded with two goals to take the half-time lead, they’ve since slumped back in their seats as reality hits them hard.

Since falling behind, France looked every bit the dominant side that many expected here in Qatar.

Kylian Mbappé has been particularly sharp and Australia’s defense can’t seem to get close to him.

The French superstar should have put his side up 3-1 in the closing minutes – but despite all the skills he possesses, he managed to skew an effort over the bar when it looked easier to score on a pass from Antoine Griezmann.

The French fans have been quiet so far tonight but pockets are beginning to wave those iconic red, white and blue flags.

It was an exciting first 45 minutes in the France?vs Australia match.

Australia struck first as Craig Goodwin opened the scoring for the Socceroos with a goal in the 9th minute to take a 1-0 lead.

After going down early, France picked up the pace and began to pressure?the Aussies.?Adrien Rabiot restored French hopes in the 26th minute with an equalizing goal for Les Bleus.

Just five minutes later, France took the lead when Rabiot threaded a ball to striker Oliver Giroud who found the back of the net.

France 2, Australia 1 at the half.

France's Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring a goal with their teammate Ousmane Dembele during a match against Australia on November 22.

After falling behind in the ninth minute, France responded with two goals to take the lead in the first half.

Adrien Rabiot, who scored the first goal, provided the assist for goalscorer Olivier Giroud.

Australia 1, France 2

France's Adrien Rabiot scores their team's first goal during a match against Australia on November 22.

Les Bleus scored an equalizing goal in the 26th minute! Juventus player Adrien Rabiot restored French hopes during this exciting first half.

Australia 1-1 France

What a treat for the ears!

As Australian fans celebrate scoring the opening goal against France, the familiar tune of Men at Work’s “Down Under” gets blasted around the stadium.

It only whips up the crowd more, with the small group of Aussie fans sitting behind the goal singing and dancing along.

The same fans then boo France forward Kylian Mbappé who is looking sharp in the early stages. The Aussies might regret riling up one of the best-attacking talents on the planet.

Australia's Craig Goodwin celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during a match against France on November 22.

Socceroo Craig Goodwin just opened the account for Australia with a goal in the 9th minute of the match.

Australia 1, France 0.

The final match of the day between defending World Cup champs France and Australia has begun.

Hours after many had left the Lusail Stadium, Saudi Arabia fans were still celebrating their most unlikely win over Argentina.

The result was one of the biggest – if not the biggest – shocks in World Cup history, and supporters were rightly making the most of it.

While leaving the venue, CNN heard fans joking with volunteers and FIFA officials, asking them if they had seen Lionel Messi “after he went missing all game.”

Supporters then took the Metro back into downtown Doha and kept up the singing until their voices started to break.

Others on the Metro were reliving the experience on their phones, watching highlights of the goals and looking at footage of celebrations from back home in Saudi Arabia.

Unfortunately for France, and the competition as a whole, star striker Karim Benzema will miss the World Cup due to a last minute injury.

This year’s Balon D’or winner – the award given to the world’s best player – had been suffering with a muscle problem and left the squad just three days ago.

But fans arriving for tonight’s match might take a double-take at this particular fan.

Iven Achourida has travelled to Qatar with his friend Rayan Benabdelkader, and the pair have been trying to fool fans. Achourida has styled his look on his hero Benzema and is wearing a France shirt with the Real Madrid forward’s name on.

Iven Achourida (left) has travelled to Qatar with his friend Rayan Benabdelkader (right)

Both are excited to watch France in its opening match of Qatar 2022, but both said they wished Benzema was here for real.

The France vs Australia match kicks off at 2 p.m. ET. Here’s a look at the squads:

France

Australia

French team training session on November 21, in Doha, Qatar.

Only two teams in World Cup history have managed to successfully defend their crown.

Given the plethora of talent that head coach Didier Deschamps has to pick from,?Les Bleus?were considered by many during the current World Cup cycle as favorite to lift the trophy in Qatar and become just the third national team to do so.

However, France has struggled for form recently and has been beset by injury woes in the lead up to the tournament.

The team managed to win just one of its six UEFA Nations League games, finishing below Croatia and Denmark, and will be without a number of key players in Qatar.

Already missing the midfield duo of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kanté, who both started in the final four years ago, France was recently rocked by the news that defender Presnel Kimpembe, forward Christopher Nkunku and, most recently, Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema would also miss the tournament through injury.

Despite these considerable setbacks, France’s embarrassment of footballing riches means there will still be no team at Qatar 2022 relishing the prospect of facing Deschamps’ men.

Led by superstar Kylian Mbappé, France can still call on Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembélé and Olivier Giroud to lead the line, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni to command the midfield and Ibrahima Konaté and Jules Koundé to marshall the defense.

The Al-Janoub Stadium is seen on November 20.

The futuristic Al Janoub Stadium plays host to the last game of an action-packed Tuesday.

The venue design is based on the historical dhow boats that were once used in Qatar, and it sits 40 kilometers (about 25 miles) south of Doha in a region where people once dived for pearls.

Getting here on public transport, though, isn’t quite as romantic.

The closest metro station is a 15-minute drive away, and supporters have to get a shuttle bus for the final leg. This is causing big queues at the station exit with friendly volunteers instructing the crowds with what look like mini light-sabres – red for stop, green for go.

Supporters are making the most of it, using the time packed together to sing songs and share stories about their adventures in Doha so far.

It’s the coldest night of the World Cup so far but it’s perfect for soccer. Both teams have arrived at the stadium and fans are starting to fill up the seats inside, while a DJ tries to get the atmosphere going.

Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa reacts after saving a penalty shot?during the match against Poland on November 22.

Mexico’s goalkeeper Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa was 21 years old when he was selected to go to his first World Cup. He was called up as a substitute goalkeeper in the 2006 cup in Germany.

Now, at 37 years old, the Mexican is playing at his fifth World Cup as a consolidated goalkeeper and one of the most outstanding figures of the Mexican team.

In the team’s match Tuesday against Poland, the goalkeeper stopped Robert Lewandowski’s penalty goal attempt, helping the team keep a 0-0 score.

Ochoa made his professional soccer debut almost twenty years ago with Club América and has been with the Mexican national team for 15 years. His perseverance has earned him an almost indisputable presence in the friendly and official matches of El Tri.

His participation in World Cups throughout the years has been outstanding. In Russia in 2018, he was the goalkeeper who made the most saves in the tournament, according to a technical study by FIFA. For Qatar 2022, the starting goalkeeper returns as the main rival.

“He’s at the top of the list of opponents that attackers don’t want to face in the World Cup,” FIFA described him this year in a video recalling his best saves during the world championships.

Lee la nota completa en espa?ol aquí.

Cristiano Ronaldo?is leaving?Manchester United?with immediate effect, the English Premier League club announced on Tuesday.

In a brief statement, United said the decision, which comes a week after Ronaldo?gave an explosive TV interview?about his frustrations at the club, was made by mutual agreement.

“The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances, and wishes him and his family well for the future,” the statement said.

“Everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team’s progress under Erik ten Hag and working together to deliver success on the pitch.”

Ronaldo is currently with the Portugal national team in?Qatar for the World Cup?and said on Monday that the timing of his recent comments about United wouldn’t affect the concentration of his Portuguese teammates.

In an interview with Piers Morgan for TalkTV released just before the start of the World Cup, Ronaldo explained how he felt United had betrayed him and that he has no respect for manager ten Hag.

Ronaldo’s departure from United brings the 37-year-old’s second spell at the club to an acrimonious and disappointing end having scored just once in 10 Premier League appearances this season.

He has largely been used as a substitute by Ten Hag and last month refused to go onto the pitch against Tottenham Hotspur, instead walking down the tunnel with minutes of the match still remaining.

This is likely to be Ronaldo’s last appearance at a World Cup, and beyond that it is unclear which club will sign him for the second half of the season.

Mexico and Poland draw 0-0 in their opener. It was a tight affair with both teams struggling?to create many exciting chances.

The moment of the match came early in the 2nd half when Poland was awarded a penalty after striker?Robert Lewandowski went down in the box. The foul was not initially given but after a check by the video-assisted referee (VAR), the official changed his mind.

Lewandowski, one of the world’s most prolific?goalscorers, stepped up to the spot. But El Tri’s keeper Guillermo Ochoa kept Lewandowski out with a diving save that preserved the tie score.

It was the second?straight match at World Cup 2022 to end nil-nil. Earlier, Denmark and Tunisia finished 0-0 in Group D. However, there were fireworks on Tuesday when Saudi Arabia shocked Argentina, defeating them 2-1 to go atop the group.

Poland will face the Saudis on Saturday in Group C. While next up for Mexico is?wounded?Argentina.

We have one more match today: France takes on Australia at 2 p.m. ET.

Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa blocks the penalty shot of Poland forward Robert Lewandowski on November 22.

Poland missed the chance to score a goal after they were awarded a penalty in the 56th minute. Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa stopped Poland’s record goalscorer Robert Lewandowski’s attempt.?

What a loss in a game that’s been 0-0 so far with Mexico on the attack.

The second half the Mexico-Poland match is underway.

The teams are locked 0-0 after a first half that saw Mexico dominate possession but fail to find the back of the net on a couple of decent chances.

Mexico's forward Alexis Vega, top right, heads the ball towards the goal during the match between Mexico and Poland on November 22.

It’s all square at 0-0 at the halfway point between Mexico and Poland.

In the first half, most of the attack came from El Tri, with Poland seeming?content to let Mexico have the majority of the ball.

Mexico’s best chance came in the 27th minute with an Alexis Vega header from inside the box that narrowly missed the target and drifted by the post.

Earlier in the day in Group C, Saudi Arabia pulled off the most?unlikely of upsets over heavy favorite Argentina. If this stalemate holds between Mexico and Poland, the Saudis would end the?day atop the?group with 3 points.

Mexico 0, Poland 0.

Fans traveling to Qatar might be wondering where they stand with the rest of the host country’s local laws and customs.

Drinking: In Qatar, it’s illegal to be seen drunk in public and those who violate this could face legal consequences.Two days before the first match, soccer’s world governing body FIFA confirmed that no alcohol would be sold at the eight stadiums hosting the matches. Alcohol will only be served in designated fan parks and other licensed venues around Doha, FIFA said in a statement. Still, supporters can purchase a Match Hospitality package, with prices ranging from $950 to $4,950 per match, for varying services and including alcohol.

PDA, sex and sexual orientation: Sex outside of marriage is illegal in Qatar, and intimacy in public between men and women can result in arrest. Sex between men is also illegal and punishable by up to three years in prison in the country. A Qatar government official recently told CNN in a statement that the World Cup host was an inclusive country. “Everyone is welcome in Qatar,” the statement read, adding: “Our track record has shown that we have warmly welcomed all people regardless of background.”

Dress codes: Winter in Qatar is a relative term with temperatures still likely to be around 30 degrees Celsius (around 86 degrees Fahrenheit). Despite the heat, all visitors to Qatar should show “respect for local culture by avoiding excessively revealing clothing in public,” according to the country’s tourism authority, adding that it’s recommended that both men and women should cover their knees and shoulders.

Drugs: Using illegal drugs in Qatar can result in heavy fines and long jail sentences, according to the US State Department – this includes possession of marijuana/THC, CBD products and vape products. But there are also restrictions on some prescription drugs, like stimulants, anxiety medication and strong pain relievers, and visitors are advised to check the list of banned substances before they travel.

Freedom of expression: Qatar scores a paltry 25 out of 100 on a scale that combines access to political rights and civil liberties, according to Freedom House, the independent watchdog that gets funding from the US government. By comparison, Saudi Arabia scores a 7, Iran scores a 14, US scores an 83 and Canada scores 98.

Tensions often run high at international football matches, and it’s not uncommon for scuffles to erupt between fans, both in and outside of stadiums, from rival countries – but swearing and making rude gestures are considered obscene acts in Qatar.

CNN’s Zachary B. Wolf and Ben Church contributed reporting

As the Mexico and Poland match gets underway, fans are showing their support from the stands.?

Fans of Mexico’s team — known as El Tri — are wearing green, red and white in creative ways.?Take a look:

A Mexico fan cheers while holding a replica of the World Cup trophy ahead of the match between Mexico and Poland on November 22.

Mexico fans wave country flags ahead of the match between Mexico and Poland on November 22.

Fans of Mexico cheer in the stands ahead of match between Mexico and Poland on November 22.

Fans cheer in the stands ahead of the match between Mexico and Poland on November 22.

Mexico supporters, wearing tattoo-inspired shirts, cheer ahead of the match between Mexico and Poland on November 22.

Mexico fans cheer before the match between Mexico and Poland on November 22.

To see more photos from the World Cup, click here.

Poland's forward Robert Lewandowski drives the ball during the match against Mexico on November 22.

The first half has begun in Mexico and Poland’s World Cup opener.

FIFA’s decision to ban European captains from wearing the “OneLove” armbands at the Qatar World Cup is “a big mistake that tears the heart of fans,” German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said Tuesday.?

The minister said that she will travel to Doha to discuss the issue.?

“I think it is important for us to discuss human rights with the decision-makers there,” she said.???

German sporting goods manufacturer Adidas said Tuesday that it will continue to sponsor the German national football team.??

“Sport provides a stage for important issues. It is essential to continue the discussion,” Adidas spokesperson Stefan Pursche told CNN.?

The captains of several European teams canceled plans to wear the rainbow armbands at the World Cup due to the danger of receiving yellow cards.

England, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and Wales were set to participate in the “OneLove” campaign to promote inclusion and oppose discrimination.

Saudi Arabia fans celebrate their team's first goal during the match against Argentina on November 22.

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ordered a national public holiday for a day on Wednesday after the national football team beat Argentina in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Andres Guardado of Mexico poses during the official FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 portrait session on November 18, in Doha, Qatar.

For the last 28 years, few national teams — if any — have been as consistent as Mexico at the World Cup.

El Tri?has reached the round of 16 at each of the previous seven editions, a run stretching back to USA 1994.

However, for a country that is football mad and has a rich history in the sport — not to mention a population of 130 million — that consistency is now seen as something of a disappointment.

So much so, some fans believe there is a curse on ‘el quinto partido,’ or the fifth game, at World Cups for the national team — in fact, Mexico has only ever reached a fifth game at a World Cup once, when it hosted in 1986.

Several of Mexico’s stars have spoken about the supposed curse in the lead up to the World Cup, with captain and stalwart Andrés Guardado desperate to put an end to the run in what he has said will be his last World Cup.

When asked if he would swap his career to play in a fifth game, the 36-year-old told Star+: “I don’t know if I would change my entire career because it has cost me a lot of work over many years.

However, Mexico is facing a serious challenge to even reach a fourth game in Qatar, with Argentina and Poland providing stiff competition in Group C.

The Mexico vs Poland kicks off at 11 a.m. ET. Here’s a look at the squads:

Poland:

Manager: Czes?aw Michniewicz

Goalkeepers: Wojciech Szcz?sny, ?ukasz Skorupski, Bart?omiej Dr?gowski

Defenders: Kamil Glik, Bartosz Bereszyński, Jan Bednarek, Artur J?drzejczyk, Matty Cash, Nicola Zalewski, Robert Gumny, Jakub Kiwior, Mateusz Wieteska

Midfielders: Grzegorz Krychowiak, Kamil Grosicki, Piotr Zieliński, Przemys?aw Frankowski, Sebastian Szymański, Damian Szymański, Szymon ?urkowski, Krystian Bielik, Jakub Kamiński, Micha? Skóra?

Forwards: Robert Lewandowski, Arkadiusz Milik, Krzysztof Pi?tek, Karol ?widerski

Mexico:

Manager: Gerardo Martino

Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa, Alfredo Talavera, Rodolfo Cota

Defenders: Jorge Sánchez, Kevin álvarez, Néstor Araujo, Johan Vásquez, Gerardo Arteaga, Héctor Moreno, César Montes, Jesús Gallardo

Midfielders: Erick Gutiérrez, Orbelín Pineda, Héctor Herrera, Andrés Guardado, Roberto Alvarado, Edson álvarez, Luis Chávez, Luis Romo, Carlos Rodríguez, Uriel Antuna

Forwards: Hirving Lozano, Rogelio Funes Mori, Henry Martín, Raúl Jiménez, Alexis Vega

Players react after the finale whistle of the match between Denmark and Tunisia on November 22.

Well … thank goodness that is over.

We’ve experienced a lot of injury time so far at this World Cup, but fortunately the referee blessed us with only five minutes in this drab encounter.

We’ve been spoiled with brilliant games so far, but it’s fair to say this was by far the worst of the lot.

There looked like there was going to be some late VAR drama as the referee reviewed a possible penalty to Denmark for handball, but he made the right decision and waved away the Danish appeals.

Both teams had chances to snatch a win and both will really feel as though this was an opportunity missed to take all three points.

Saudi Arabia's Salem Al-Dawsari, second left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the match against Argentina on November 22.

Saudi Arabia defeated Lionel Messi’s Argentina 2-1 at the Qatar World Cup Monday, ending run of 36 matches without defeat for La Albiceleste, and did so with a team containing only locally-based players.

The Green Falcons lined up with 11 players based in the Saudi Pro League and even featured substitute Haitham Asiri who plays in Saudi Arabia’s second division.

Alongside host Qatar, Saudi Arabia is the only team to only have a squad made up of entirely domestically-based players.

Some of the players have ventured abroad before returning home including match-winner Nasser Al-Dawsari, who spent six months on loan at Spanish side Villarreal in 2018, only making one 33-minute appearance against Real Madrid.

With thousands of Saudi Arabians crossing the border into Qatar to watch the game, the majority of the 88,012 fans in attendance roared the Middle Eastern country to victory.

Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Saudi minister of sports, congratulated the team on Twitter.

“Thank God. A thousand congratulations to you champions. Congratulations to the nation and the leadership. An exceptional performance and an historic win. #Qatar2022 #WithYouGreens”

Saudi Arabia fan Faisal Alharbi tells CNN's Don Riddell about his glee at the shock Saudi win over Argentina.

For the thousands of Saudi fans that were inside the Lusail Stadium, the victory over Argentina will be a moment they remember for the rest of their lives.

Saudi Arabia’s 2-1 win will go down as one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history and for those lucky enough to witness it in person, it will be an “I was there” moment.

Speaking to fans inside the stadium after the full-time whistle, there was sheer elation but also a sense of disbelief at what they had just witnessed.

“This is a hysterical moment,” fan Faisal Alharbi told CNN’s Don Riddell. “I can’t believe I came all the way here thinking I’d be happy with a draw, but now I can’t explain my feelings.

“Against Lionel Messi with the best team ever, I cannot believe it. I am very thrilled that I am here.”

Saudi fan Yazid Aldakheel tells CNN's Don Riddell that the match against Argentina was "one of the craziest games I’ve seen in my whole life."

Very few people – if any – had given Saudi Arabia a chance against Argentina, the team ranked third in the world and undefeated for 36 matches, a run stretching back three years.

“I’m feeling very proud of my team,” Saudi Arabia supporter Yazid Aldakheel said.

“Playing in the World Cup is good, beating Argentina is something else, it’s a different world.”

If you’re only just tuning into Tuesday’s World Cup action, we have quite the story to bring you.

Saudi Arabia produced one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history, beating?Lionel Messi’s Argentina 2-1 in an astonishing?Group C match.

Many had expected the South American team, ranked third in the world, unbeaten for three years and among the favorites to win the tournament, to sweep aside its opponent, ranked 48 places below it in the world rankings.

All the pre-match talk focused on Messi, one of the greatest players ever who is playing in what is likely to be his last World Cup.

The Argentina captain scored an early penalty to put his side in the lead, but two second-half goals from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al Dawsari turned the game on its head.

Al Dawsari’s incredible winner from distance – and subsequent acrobatic celebration – will become one of the moments of this or any World Cup and undoubtedly, in time, an ‘I-was-there’ moment for fans.

According to sports data group Gracenote, which is a Nielsen company, Tuesday’s result was the biggest upset in the history of the competition.

“The most surprising World Cup win ever according to Gracenote was USA’s victory over England in 1950 with a 9.5% chance of victory for the US team, but Saudi Arabia’s chance of victory today was estimated at 8.7% so takes over at number one,” it said in a statement.

Other famous World Cup upsets include North Korea’s victory over Italy in 1966, Cameroon’s win over defending champion Argentina in 1990 and Senegal’s victory over holder France in 2002.

You can read the full match report from CNN’s Ben Church below:

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - NOVEMBER 22: Salem Al-Dawsari of Saudi Arabia celebrates with teammates after scoring their team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium on November 22, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Related article Saudi Arabia stuns Lionel Messi's Argentina in one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history

Cans of Budweiser beer are seen in Doha on November 18.

Qatar’s last-minute?decision to ban alcohol?at World Cup stadiums has left Budweiser with loads of beer left on its hands. The company has an innovative solution to offload it.

Budweiser will ship the unsold Buds to the country that wins the tournament, the?company said in a tweet.?The company confirmed the plans in a statement to CNN Business, writing that it “wants to bring this celebration from the FIFA World Cup stadiums to the winning country’s fans.”

“We will host the ultimate championship celebration for the winning country. Because, for the winning fans, they’ve taken the world. More details will be shared when we get closer to the finals,” an Anheuser-Busch InBev spokesperson said in a statement.

Qatar is a Muslim country that is considered to be very conservative, and it tightly regulates alcohol sales and usage. So last week, just a few days before the World Cup was set to begin, when Qatar announced that the?stadiums couldn’t sell alcoholic Budweiser, the company had tweeted, “Well, this is awkward.” However, the social media post was quickly deleted.

After a first half that saw no goals from either teams, Tunisia and Denmark have begun the second half at 0-0.

It’s been a bit of a back and forth between Denmark and Tunisia, with both teams having a couple of chances to break the deadlock, but it’s still 0-0 here going into halftime.

Denmark's Christian Eriksen kicks off during the match between Denmark and Tunisia at Education City Stadium on November 22.

An emotional return to a major international football tournament for Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen, just a little over a year since his cardiac arrest on the field at Euro 2020.

The Danes will be looking to grab an important three points in Group D, which features the defending World Cup champion, France. Tunisia, meanwhile, will look for inspiration from Saudi Arabia’s massive upset over Argentina to try to pull its own shock in the group.

Here we go!

Denmark

Manager: Kasper Hjulmand

Goalkeepers:?Kasper Schmeichel, Oliver Christensen, Frederick R?nnow

Defenders: Simon Kj?r, Joachim Andersen, Joakim M?hle, Andreas Christensen, Rasmus Nissen Kristensen, Jens Stryger Larsen, Victor Nelsson, Daniel Wass, Alexander Bah

Midfielders: Thomas Delaney, Mathias Jensen, Christian Eriksen, Pierre-Emile H?jbjerg, Christian N?rgaard

Forwards: Andreas Skov Olsen, Jesper Lindstr?m, Andreas Cornelius, Martin Braithwaite, Kasper Dolberg, Mikkel Damsgaard, Jonas Wind, Robert Skov, Yussuf Yurary Poulsen

Tunisia

Manager: Jalel Kadri

Goalkeepers: Aymen Dahmen, Mouez Hassan, Bechir Ben Said, Balbouli

Defenders: Ali Abdi, Mohamed Drager, Ali Maaloul, Wajdi Kechrida, Nader Ghandri, Yassine Meriah, Bilel Ifa, Dylan Bronn, Montassar Talbi

Midfielders: Ellyes Skhiri, Ghaylène Chaalali, A?ssa La?douni, Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, Ferjani Sassi, Hannibal Mejbri

Forwards: Youssef Msakni, Seifeddine Jaziri, Naim Sliti, Issam Jebali, Yassine Khenissi, Anis Ben Slimene, Wahbi Khazri

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken responded to reports that several European teams will not wear the “OneLove” armbands at the World Cup in Qatar due to the danger of receiving yellow cards.

“One of the most powerful things about football, about soccer, is potential to bring the world together,” Blinken told reporters while speaking in Doha on Tuesday alongside Qatari Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

“It’s always concerning from my perspective when we see any restrictions on freedom of expression. It’s especially so when the expression is for diversity and for inclusion. And in my judgment, at least, no one on the football pitch should be forced to choose between supporting these values and playing for their team,” Blinken said.

England, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and Wales were set to participate in the “OneLove” campaign to promote inclusion and oppose discrimination. But those countries’ associations said in a statement on Monday that the armband – which features a striped heart in different colors to represent all heritages, backgrounds, genders and sexual identities – would not be worn in Qatar.

“FIFA [football’s global governing body] has been very clear that it will impose sporting sanctions if our captains wear the armbands on the field of play,” the joint statement read.

Denmark's midfielder Christian Eriksen gives a press conference at Al Sailiya SC in Doha, Qatar, on November 19.

On June 12, 2021, Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed on the pitch during his team’s match against Finland at Euro 2020.

Witnessed by millions around the world, it was one of the most shocking incidents ever seen at a major international tournament and understandably left his teammates shaken.

But Denmark performed heroically in his absence, reaching the semifinals and only narrowly losing out to England after extra time.

Once Eriksen had completed his recovery, attention turned to whether he would be able to restart his football career, as legal issues meant he couldn’t play in Serie A for his then club, Inter Milan.

He eventually returned to football last season, signing for Brentford in the Premier League and has since gone from strength to strength, with his performances convincing Manchester United to offer him a contract for the current campaign.

Denmark, winner of Euro 1992, generally acquits itself well at major tournaments and, with Eriksen once again playing, will fancy itself to go far in Qatar.

German sponsor Rewe has with immediate effect ended cooperation with the German football association, DFB, because of what it says is FIFA’s “scandalous” ban on the ‘OneLove’ armband.

Lionel Souque, the CEO of major supermarket chain Rewe, called FIFA’s ban “scandalous” and “absolutely unacceptable“ in a press release Tuesday.

“We stand up for diversity — and soccer is also diversity. We live this attitude and we defend this attitude — even against possible opposition,” Souque was quoted in the statement.

“FIFA’s scandalous attitude is absolutely unacceptable to me as CEO of a diverse company and as a soccer fan,” he added.

The ‘OneLove’ armband bears a striped heart in different colors to represent all heritages, backgrounds, genders and sexual identities.

Rewe distances itself “in all clarity” from FIFA’s position and waives “its advertising rights from the contract with the DFB — especially in the context of the World Cup.”

The collector’s scrapbook with football pictures currently available at the Rewe grocery stores will be given away free of charge from now on, Rewe said. The revenue of the album’s proceeds so far will be donated.

Rewe informed the DFB of its decision on Tuesday, but did send good wishes to the German national team nevertheless. “We are standing by your side and are sharing the team’s excitement!” Souque said according to the press release.

Germany and several other nations whose captains had planned to wear the armbands did not do so after FIFA told them they would be booked if they did.

Saudi Arabia players celebrate the 2-1 win during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium on November 22, in Lusail City, Qatar.

It’s over!

We have just witnessed one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.

After leading 1-0 and seeing three first-half goals disallowed for offside, Argentina is stunned by two Saudi goals in five minutes early in the second period.

Argentina did put Saudi Arabia under sustained pressure once going a goal down, but a mixture of toothless attacking and brilliant defending from the Green Falcons meant an Argentina equalizer never really looked likely.

Remarkably, this is Argentina’s first defeat in 36 games, a run stretching back to a loss against Brazil three years ago, and it is just Saudi Arabia’s second win in World Cup history.

The Albiceleste were considered among the favorites to lift the World Cup given its recent form, but this result has just blown Group C wide open.

?Saudi?Arabia's Mohammed Al-Owais collides into Yasser Al-Shahrani.

We’ve had a lengthy stoppage here for an injury to Yasir Al Shahrani, who took a knee to the face in a brutal collision.

Goalkeeper Mohammed Khalil Al Owais was desperately calling for help — and looks in distress — as the referee bizarrely decided to play on.

Al Shahrani does eventually receive treatment and fans are relieved to see him give the thumbs up as he is stretchered off the pitch.

Saudi Arabia fans sing Lionel Messi’s name inside the Lusail Stadium.

Saudi Arabia cannot believe what is happening — and neither can Argentina.

In a space of just a few minutes, the atmosphere inside the Lusail Stadium has flipped entirely.

Saudi Arabia fans are singing and dancing in the stands as those in blue and white have their head in their hands.

Every Saudi tackle or pass is being cheered like a goal.

They’ve even started singing Lionel Messi’s name. Might they regret that?

Salem Al-Dawsari celebrates after scoring Saudi Arabia's second goal.

Unbelievable!

Two goals in the space of five minutes and Saudi Arabia leads against Argentina – and what a goal this is.

Salem Al Dawsari picks up the loose ball inside the penalty area, jinks inside two Argentine defenders and fires a brilliant curling effort into the far corner.

Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez gets a hand on it, but it’s not enough to keep it out.

Saleh Al-Shehri celebrates after scoring their team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium on November 22.

Wow … Saudi Arabia has equalized against Argentina!

Saleh Al-Shehri runs through the Argentina defense into the box and fires a quite brilliant finish past the lunging Cristian Romero and into the far corner.

After seeing three goals chalked off in the first half, Argentina’s players look stunned and will be wondering how this match is level.

The noise being made by Saudi Arabia’s fans inside the Lusail Stadium is deafening.

Argentina and Saudi Arabia take to the field again after the halftime break, with the 1-0 scoreline not reflecting the Albiceleste’s general dominance due to a number of offside calls.

Here we go into the last 45 minutes…

Argentina has put the ball into the back of the net four times in this first half, but still only leads by one goal.

After Lionel Messi’s penalty put the Albiceleste 1-0 up, the 35-year-old had another goal disallowed for offside.

Lautaro Martínez was then denied twice by the linesman’s offside flag, as Saudi Arabia somehow still finds itself in this game despite playing an incredibly risky high defensive line.

The Saudis have enjoyed a couple of decent spells in the opening period and will feel as though they can still get something from this game.

Saudi Arabia fans in the stands at the Lusail Stadium, Qatar, on November 22.

Saudi Arabia fans had all but given up after Lautaro Martínez appeared to have put Argentina 2-0 up.

Many fans around me, who had been excitingly chanting pre-match, were slumped back in their seats, head in hands.

But the decision to disallow the goal has breathed new life into them and they’re back believing in miracles again.

Just the rollercoaster nature of being a football fan.

Lionel Messi of Argentina scores a goal ruled offside during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium on November 22, in Lusail City, Qatar.

GOA … no!

Lionel Messi runs in behind the Saudi Arabia defense and slots the ball into the net … only to be met with the sight of the linesman’s offside flag as he wheeled away to celebrate.

Another warning for Saudi Arabia, which had just enjoyed its best spell of the game so far.

Lionel Messi takes barely any time at all to score his first goal of the tournament.

The referee is alerted to an incident in the penalty box by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) — and doesn’t take long to review the footage on the pitch-side monitor and award Argentina a penalty.

That was more WWE than football from Saud Abdulhamid, who hauls Leandro Paredes to the ground while defending a corner.

Messi makes no mistake from the spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. 1-0!

Argentina supporters show their support during the Group C match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at the Lusail Stadium on November 22.

The Argentine fans are in fine voice as the referee gets the match underway, signaling the beginning of Lionel Messi’s final World Cup.

Argentina is the overwhelming favorite for this match and it will take something extraordinary for Saudi Arabia to come away with anything.

The Lusail Stadium is the largest stadium at Qatar 2022.

The Lusail Stadium is one of the most striking stadiums at Qatar 2022.

It’s located just out of Doha city center and its design was inspired by the region’s iconic lantern.

It’s also the biggest at the tournament, able to accommodate 80,000 people and will play host to the final on December 18.

All four sides are very steep and very close to the pitch, creating a cauldron of noise as players finish their warmup.

It’s a perfect day in Doha, as well. Not a cloud in the sky and the temperatures have dropped slightly to a more manageable level.

The stage is certainly set and seats are being filled as we approach kickoff.

Lionel Messi of Argentina leads the team onto the pitch for warm ups prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium on November 22.

Just from traveling to the Lusail Stadium by Metro, you get a sense this match will have one of the best atmospheres of the World Cup so far.

It’s no surprise that Saudi Arabia’s fans are here in force, given the short distance between the two countries, but their numbers seem more than matched by those in Argentina shirts.

For the last week, the iconic blue and white jerseys have been spotted all over Doha and you get the sense they’re all here for one man: Lionel Messi.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is likely playing his last ever World Cup in Qatar and people have come from all over the world to see him play.

CNN spoke to fans from South Kerala, India, who have come to Doha to support the South American side purely because of the draw power of the diminutive Argentine.

“His posters are everywhere, he’s the best,” one said.

Messi led his team out for the warmup and those already in their seats erupted with applause as the 35-year-old waved to the crowd.

They’ve been singing his name ever since.

Saudi Arabia:

Manager: Hervé Renard

Goalkeepers: Muhammad Al-Owais, Muhammad Al-Yami, Nawaf Al-Aqidi

Defenders: Ali Al-Bulaihi, Hassan Al-Tambakti, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Abdullah Madu, Muhammad Al-Breik, Yasser Al-Shahrani, Sultan Al-Ghannam, Saud Abdulhamid

Midfielders: Nasser Al-Dawsari, Ali Al-Hassan, Abdulelah Al-Maliki, Mohamed Kanno, Riyad Sharahili, Abdullah Otayf, Sami Al-Najei, Salman Al-Faraj, Salem Al-Dawsari, Hattan Bahebri, Nawaf Al-abed, Abdulrahman Al-Aboud

Forwards: Saleh Al-Shehri, Firas Al-Buraikan, Haitham Asiri

Argentina:

Manager: Lionel Scaloni

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez, Gerónimo Rulli, Franco Armani

Defenders: Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Germán Pezzella, Nicolás Otamendi, Lisandro Martínez, Marcos Acu?a, Nicolás Tagliafico, Juan Foyth

Midfielders: Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister, Guido Rodríguez, Alejandro Gómez, Enzo Fernández, Exequiel Palacios

Forwards: ángel Di María, Lautaro Martínez, Julián álvarez, Nicolás González, Joaquín Correa, Paulo Dybala, Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi of Argentina poses during an official FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 portrait session on November 19, in Doha, Qatar.

After what has been one of the most glittering careers in football history, Lionel Messi will have one final attempt to win the only trophy that has so far eluded him: the World Cup.

On Tuesday against Saudi Arabia, Messi will begin his fifth World Cup campaign — and, at 35 years of age, it will almost certainly be his last.

Messi — considered by many to be the greatest football player of all time — and Argentina came closest to winning international football’s most coveted prize in Brazil eight years ago, but agonizingly lost to Germany in extra time.

Messi ended his international hoodoo with the?Albiceleste?back in 2021, beating Brazil 1-0 in the Copa ámerica final to win his first major tournament with the national team.

That victory was masterminded by manager and former Argentina international Lionel Scaloni, who has transformed the team’s fortunes since taking over as head coach in 2018.

Argentina’s style is unrecognizable when compared to the dismal performances in the previous World Cup cycle — a tournament they may not even have qualified for had it not been for Messi’s heroics — and the?Albiceleste?go into the tournament in Qatar among the favorites to lift the trophy.

People arrive at a fan village ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on November 19, in AI-Rayyan, Qatar.

As fans gather in?Qatar,?they’re understandably in holiday mode as they look forward to the prospect of a desert World Cup.

But where best to stay in a country that is geographically on a peninsula smaller than Connecticut and is the smallest World Cup host in history?

The scramble for accommodation is likely to be heated given Qatar is set to welcome an estimated 1.5 million fans over the month-long tournament, which began Sunday.

Jimmy and Kennis Leung were among the very first fans to arrive at the Fan Village Cabins Free Zone, one of the largest sites available to supporters, checking in on Thursday.

The Free Zone fan village is around 20 minutes by metro from downtown Doha but at the moment it’s a bit like entering a dystopian world.

There is precious little else around the village – one or two building sites and a main road – so staff quickly direct you to the reception, which is a 10-minute walk across a vast car park.

There is an endless line of portacabins, organized into different colors and mapped in alphabetical order, stretching into the distance, with large gazebos containing hundreds of empty tables and chairs.

To read more, click here.

The accommodation is in tents or prefabs, there’s no beer in the stadiums, the temperatures are uncomfortably hot and the whole event is mired in controversy over alleged human rights abuses.

While that’s not enough to deter hardcore football fans from traveling to Qatar to support their national teams in the World Cup, more surprisingly, it hasn’t been enough to deter even those whose country teams aren’t even in the competition.

Walk around the narrow streets of downtown Doha and you can’t help but get caught up in World Cup fever, with fans from all four corners of the globe meeting in squares and restaurants to celebrate their cultures with one another.

The evenings are particularly busy, with groups gathering together by country, singing their hearts out to the seemingly constant rhythm of drums that reverberate through downtown Doha.

One of the loudest groups in the days running up to kickoff was a pocket of England fans from India.

The group is fully coordinated, wearing the same shirt with the name of England captain Harry Kane on the back. They proudly sing songs associated with the English national team but they mix them with traditional chants from back home.

The supporters went viral last week, with people accusing them of being?“fake fans,”?used to create the impression of people enjoying a World Cup that, thanks to the controversy surrounding its Middle Eastern hosts, may lack the usual pizazz of the tournament held every four years.

Qatar 2022 organizers, as well as FIFA, rubbished the claims and a member of the group told CNN that he was surprised to see the headlines.

“We are a fan group from Kerala, in South India,” he said, too busy singing and dancing to give his full name.

To read more about the fans, click here