U.S. Ties Wales In First World Cup Match

Topline

The U.S. men’s national soccer team tied Wales 1-1 Monday afternoon in its first World Cup match in eight years, leaving the Americans’ hopes of advancing to the group of 16 uncertain as the team prepares for high-stakes matches against England and Iran.

Timothy Weah celebrates after scoring the first World Cup goal for the U.S. men’s team since 2014.

AFP via Getty Images

Key Facts

A goal from American forward Timothy Weah assisted by Christian Pulisic opened scoring 36 minutes into the contest.

An 82nd-minute penalty kick from Wales star Gareth Bale tied the score at one goal apiece.

What To Watch For

The U.S. next plays against England at 2 p.m. EST on Friday before concluding group play against Iran Tuesday. The two teams with the best record out of England, Iran, the U.S. and Wales will advance to the round of 16.

Key Background

The U.S. qualified for the World Cup in April after failing to reach the 2018 tournament and is looking to advance past the group stage for a third consecutive World Cup. The U.S. men’s team’s inability to dominate comes in strong contrast to the performance of the women’s team, which is the top-ranked national squad and winner of the last two World Cups. The 2022 squad features perhaps the highest-profile U.S. men’s group, featuring several starters on top European teams including Chelsea’s Pulisic and Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner. This U.S. team has an estimated transfer market value of nearly $290 million, more than 400% more than the value of the 2010 and 2014 groups, according to Axios’ analysis of Transfermarkt data. Pulisic is the most valuable American player according to Transfermarkt, worth about $39 million, and the 24-year-old became the most valuable American soccer player ever when Chelseas paid a roughly $70 million transfer fee for him in 2018.

Big Number

$892,000. That’s how much each of the 23 American players would earn should the U.S. go on an improbable run to its first World Cup title. Players will take home $206,000 should the U.S. bow out before the round of 16, with the bonus dependent on the stage of elimination.

Tangent

A dark cloud of criticism has clouded the 2022 World Cup, with detractors pointing to the millions in bribes FIFA accepted from Qatari officials to get the tournament, the thousands of migrant worker deaths associated with preparations for the even and Qatar’s treatment of historically marginalized groups (homosexuality is criminalized and women have limited rights).

Surprising Fact

Monday may have been a high point for American men’s soccer, but it’s been a tournament to forget for American beer: FIFA announced a ban on in-stadium alcohol sales Friday, a tough break for $75 million World Cup sponsor and the tournament’s exclusive beer provider Budweiser. “Well, this is awkward,” the American booze giant reacted in a now-deleted tweet, later announcing it would award the leftover beer to the winning country. Drinking in public is illegal in Qatar, though FIFA had previously announced holding zones outside of stadiums for drunk soccer fans to sober up and avoid legal consequences.