England vs USA LIVE World Cup 2022: Team news, kick-off time and updates

11/25/2022

World Cup 2022: England vs USA

Jordan Pickford is hoping England get fair treatment from officials after boss Gareth Southgate said he was “worried” that his side had been used as an example during pre-World Cup referee meetings.

England were denied what looked like a clear spot-kick when Harry Maguire was grabbed by Rouzbeh Cheshmi early on in their 6-2 win over Iran on Monday.

The VAR decided not to intervene but later alerted the referee to a tug on a shirt in the England box which resulted in Mehdi Taremi scoring a last-gasp penalty, while a similar offence resulted in a spot-kick in Argentina’s shock defeat to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

Jordan Pickford hoping England get ‘fair’ treatment from referees

Harry Maguire was denied a penalty in the opening win over Iran

World Cup 2022: England vs USA

England and six other federations feared that their captains could have been issued a red card, and that there was essentially “unlimited liability”, had they worn the OneLove armband in their opening World Cup matches.

There wouldn’t even have been the prospect of an iconic photo, as any sanction would have been administered before the teams set out onto the pitch. It was for this reason that the federations were keen to take the decision out of the players’ hands, and not put them under any pressure.

The relatively small gesture of the armbands – a protest against Qatar’s laws and attitude to LGBTQ+ groups – has become one of the biggest issues in a hugely controversial World Cup. The German federation have already accused Fifa of “extreme blackmail” in discussions, and there was a genuine fear that it could have seen players such as Harry Kane, Virgil van Dijk and Gareth Bale suspended.

England feared red card for those wearing OneLove armband at World Cup

Gareth Southgate admits there is now a ‘risk’ with what comes next, with Germany making a statement with their team photo before the Japan match

World Cup 2022: England captain fit to play against USA after scan all clear

England boss Gareth Southgate has confirmed captain Harry Kane will return to training on Thursday ahead of the World Cup clash with the United States after his ankle scan came back all clear.

Kane suffered a knock to his right ankle after a clumsy challenge by Morteza Pouraliganji in England’s 6-2 win against Iran on Monday – the national team’s biggest ever win at the start of a major tournament.

The Spurs striker, who has a history of ankle problems, did play on for 25 minutes but was seen limping after the game and went for a precautionary scan.

But the 29-year-old received the green light to train on Wednesday, with the official England Twitter account sharing a photo of him in training accompanied by the caption “skipper” and a fist emoji.

Harry Kane fit to play against USA after scan all clear

Kane suffered a knock to his right ankle in England’s 6-2 win against Iran on Monday

World Cup 2022: England vs USA

Gareth Southgate has not ruled out his England team making a gesture to highlight human rights concerns at the Qatar World Cup but says they will not be pressured into doing so.

The German team covered their mouths for the team photo before their opening World Cup match against Japan on Wednesday, while the Australia squad released a video highlighting issues in the host country.

Seven European nations competing at the World Cup – including Germany, England and Wales – planned to wear OneLove anti-discrimination armbands during the tournament, but were dissuaded from doing so following the threat of sporting sanctions from Fifa.

Southgate, whose team face the United States in their second match on Friday, said: “I don’t think we should feel any pressure – I think we’ve spoken on these particular topics for over a year and we’ve supported all manner of good causes either as individuals or the collective.”

Gareth Southgate: England won’t be rushed into matching Germany protest

Southgate said his team would do something ‘if the timing’s right’

World Cup 2022: England vs USA

As England began to play the ball around against Iran, they felt something different.

“Definitely a click,” John Stones said of the 6-2 win. “Or a desire to put things right. We had come out of a bad period.”

They can now look through to the other side. England scored more goals against Iran than they did in the entire Nations League campaign. The reality, however, was that it was a step up from Gareth Southgate’s general style rather than just the last eight months.

“I guess people wouldn’t expect us to be like that having watched us for a couple of years and the style of football we play,” the manager acknowledged. “Maybe we regressed to the norm.”

The challenge now is to make it the norm, and illustrate it was not partly a product of the disarray that Iran are in; that England have announced their credentials.

Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney’s big match preview from Doha:

After turning a corner, England now look for World Cup momentum against the USA

England have calmed the mood following the 6-2 win over Iran in the opening game of Group B – but the USA possess a different threat and have a proud history against the Three Lions

World Cup 2022: England vs USA

As England’s teenage football hero Jude Bellingham returns to the pitch in Qatar on Friday, friends and neighbours in his hometown of Stourbridge in the West Midlands are bursting with pride.

And none more so than his former primary school caretaker, who used to fetch the player’s lost ball down from the roof when he was a boy.

“It seemed to be a daily occurrence,” Mark Williams tells The Independent. “You could tell then he was quite a good little footballer and he was destined to be.”

“He did seem to do that more than any other child. It became a joke. Every day the ladders were out. I kept them on standby because of that reason.”

He adds: “He was a very pleasant lad. He always asked you to get the ball down nicely.”

Bellingham, 19, scored the opening goal for England as the team kicked off the Qatar World Cup with a 6-2 win against Iran this week.

This made the midfielder only the second teenager – after Michael Owen – to score for the Three Lions at a World Cup.

Jude Bellingham’s hometown proud of the lad who practised so much he wore the grass out:

Hometown pride for ‘lovely’ Jude Bellingham who practised so much he wore grass out

‘He did wear the grass out,’ one neighbour says

World Cup 2022: Who is England vs USA official Jesus Valenzuela?

Jesus Valenzuela is the referee of England’s match against the USA at the World Cup tonight.

The Venezuelan is taking charge of his first match at the World Cup after being selected as one of 36 referees at the tournament in Qatar.

The 39-year-old is considered to be one of the top referees in South America – taking charge of matches in the Copa America, Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana and South American World Cup qualifiers.

He referees professional in Venezuela’s top flight, where he took charge of nine matches before the league paused for the World Cup.

In those matches, however, Valenzuela showed red cards in seven of them, as well as an array of yellow cards.

Who is the referee of England vs USA at the World Cup?

He is one of South America’s top referees

World Cup 2022: What time does England vs USA kick off today?

England know a second straight victory at the World Cup will see them qualified from Group B, following their clinical showing in the win over Iran.

Opponents this time are United States, who themselves drew with Wales – though Gregg Berhalter’s side will no doubt be ruing the fact they were so dominant in that game early on and failed to make their superiority count sufficiently to take all three points.

USA know that although a defeat would make matters difficult, they still have Iran to face in their final game – seemingly the weakest of the quartet, with four points potentially enough to go through depending on results elsewhere.

Bukayo Saka’s brilliant showing in the Three Lions’ opener surely means he’ll retain his place, with perhaps only injuries likely to see Gareth Southgate change his line-up.

When is England vs USA?

The Group B match will kick-off at 7pm on Friday, 25 November at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.

What time does England vs USA kick off today?

Everything you need to know ahead of the Group B clash

World Cup 2022: England vs USA

England will qualify for the World Cup knockout phase if they beat the United States on Friday.

Here is a closer look at the side standing in the way of Gareth Southgate’s men.

United States in focus: What awaits England in Friday’s World Cup clash?

A victory for Gareth Southgate’s side will secure qualification for the last-16.

World Cup 2022: England vs USA

England will qualify for the World Cup knockout phase if they beat the United States on Friday.

Ahead of the Group B clash in Al Khor, here are five of the main talking points.

England vs USA: Talking points ahead of Group B clash at World Cup

England can seal their place in the knockout stages with victory on Friday night

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