The United States and England tied 0-0 in their World Cup game Friday, marking another surprise in the Qatar World Cup.
The tie marks the second for the U.S. after the team tied with Wales in Group B’s first match of the international tournament. However, England needed the win to secure its advancement to the next round of the tournament.
WORLD CUP 2022: IRANIAN GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS HARASS REGIME PROTESTERS
Although England still leads the group with a tie, each team’s third match will play an important role, with Wales needing a win over England in its final match to advance. All four teams, including Iran, will compete in their final matches of the round on Tuesday, with the U.S. attempting to defeat Iran. Iran currently stands with one win and one loss.
England was favored to win Friday’s match, but the U.S. held the tie, marking the first time the team has kept a European country at a zero-goal tie in the World Cup since 1950. It is also the first 0-0 game in U.S. World Cup history, according to ESPN. Friday’s draw means the U.S. has a 2-8-2 all-time record against England.
Other surprises at the World Cup include Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo becoming the first player in World Cup history to score during five World Cup games and Iranian players showing solidarity with the protesters in its country during its first match against Wales by not singing the national anthem or celebrating any points being scored. Protesters in Iran are calling for the removal of the current regime after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died while in morality police custody. However, the Iranian team did sing and rejoice in its second match on Friday.
The host country of Qatar also upset fans at the tournament days before the competition began with a ban on alcohol being consumed at the venue. Although Qatar is a Muslim country, it had previously agreed to let fans buy alcohol in certain locations around the stadiums.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The tournament’s next round begins next week, with 16 teams set to compete after eliminating half of its 32 starting teams. So far, Qatar has been eliminated from the competition, marking the fastest time a host country has been eliminated in the World Cup and the second time a host country was eliminated in the group round, with the first being South Africa. Qatar lost both of its matches, with a loss against Ecuador in its first match and a loss to Senegal on Friday.
