Brazil advances to Round of 16 after eliminating Japan in a thriller at Houston Stadium

Gio Reyna scored an iconic goal to kick off the World Cup for the U.S. Vinícius Junior scored a dazzling one in Brazil's opener. Kylian Mbappé scored twice to become France's career goals leader. Harry Kane got two of his own to tie England's mark as he and his teammates try to bring the elusive trophy home.

What do they all have in common? Pink, of course.

Of all the colors of the rainbow at the World Cup taking place in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, pink is the star on soccer's biggest stage. Dozens of players are wearing pink boots that stand out against the green grass of the pitch after multiple shoe companies produced them ahead of this tournament with an eye on performance as well as visibility.

"Athletes associate this color with confidence and standing out, and that resonates," Nike Director of Global Footwear Odinga Nimako said.

Nimako pointed to Nike's silver, yellow and blue boots at the 1998 World Cup changing how people saw boots in the sport. Before that, black and white was the standard.

This time, Nike, Adidas, Puma, Skechers and New Balance all came out with pink boots.

Mbappé and Vinícius have the Nike swoosh on his feet, as does Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Norway's Erling Haaland. Reyna, England's Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice, Canada's Jonathan David, Spain's Lamine Yamal and France's Ousmane Dembélé wear Adidas.

Whenever Neymar Jr. plays for Brazil, he's expected to be in Puma pink like American Weston McKennie. U.S. teammate Timothy Weah is among those in New Balance. Kane and Sweden's Anthony Elanga are sporting Skechers at the World Cup.

Skechers Director of Technical Performance Alex Bardini said the inspiration came from the company's headquarters in southern California.

"The colorways reflect the breathtaking palette of an L.A. sunset: warm shades of pink and purple melting into white, with subtle tinges of orange," Bardini said.

From Los Angeles and Vancouver to Guadalajara, Houston, Miami and Boston, long before the World Cup is decided, pink has become a clear winner. When Sweden put up five on Tunisia in Monterrey, Mexico, three came from players in pink boots: two by Yasin Ayari and another in the 84th minute by Mattias Svanberg.

Pink itself does not make players perform any better, but shoe company executives consider it a mindset. Bardini said comfort and performance are at the core of what Skechers does, and Nimako said Nike wants players to feel more aerodynamic.

"That feeling is holistic," Nimako said. "It's the engineering, yes, but it's also how the entire product comes together. When an athlete puts on a Mercurial and it looks fast, feels locked in, and weighs next to nothing, that perception reinforces performance. Everything works together."

Elmo announced his support for Team USA on social media on Friday after he faced criticism during the NBA Finals.

In a video on his social media account, the famous "Sesame Street" character said he wanted to "set the record straight", stating that he hopes Team USA wins the FIFA World Cup.

Elmo did add that he still loves everybody, telling viewers, "Don't make this a thing."

This video comes after Elmo faced controversy earlier in June during the NBA Finals, when the furry red monster posted on social media that he wished both the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs well in their first matchup.

Elmo's neutral stance drew sharp criticism from Knicks fans online, ABC News reported, with many pointing out that the fictional Sesame Street is located in New York City.

For the first time in World Cup history, FIFA is mandating all soccer players take hydration breaks to protect them from the threats of extreme heat. But the new rule has sparked criticism from different groups.

Some experts have warned that this summer's World Cup - co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada - could be the hottest in the tournament's history. In response to concerns about extreme heat, FIFA implemented three-minute hydration breaks midway through each half regardless of temperatures or whether stadiums are enclosed or air-conditioned. But some critics say they're interrupting the game's flow and give coaches a chance to shift momentum in their team's favor, while some scientists have said the breaks are too short to make a significant impact on cooling and rehydration when conditions are sizzling.

FIFA said the mandatory breaks are to "ensure equal conditions for all teams, in all matches," and the rules draw upon the experiences of past tournaments, including the FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S. last summer, when temperatures soared.

Athletes pushing themselves physically in hot and humid conditions risk getting what's called exertional heat illness. It happens when the body gets too hot and is accompanied by significant strain on the heart, nerves, muscles, and central nervous system.

Symptoms include muscle cramps, extreme fatigue, impaired performance, headache, irritability, nausea, dizziness, cramping, and dehydration.

The three-minute mandatory hydration breaks are meant to protect players and referees from extreme heat illness and help them maintain their physical performance.

How much time a player needs to recover also varies. "Depending on your body, you might need more or less time. But those kinds of breaks are crucial so that your body isn't just being forced to keep trying to play catch-up... to keep trying to cool you down without any kind of rest or a break," said Bharat Venkat, director of the Heat Lab at the University of California, Los Angeles.

As our planet gets hotter, mandating hydration breaks and changing where, when, and how sports are played will be necessary.

"No matter what sport you play, there's going to be adjustments that have to be made in the face of climate change, " he said.

A sports reporter from the Czech Republic is covering the World Cup in Houston this month, and it's turned into a monthlong family reunion.

A sports reporter from the Czech Republic is covering the World Cup in Houston this month, and it's turned into a monthlong family reunion.

Frantisek Typovsky works for Czech TV and Czech Radio. The 29-year-old is covering his first World Cup in Houston as the Czech Republic returns to the tournament for the first time in over 20 years.

Typovsky is no stranger to the Houston area. He spent half of his junior year of high school living with his uncle in Katy while attending Taylor High School.

While in town for his World Cup coverage, Typovsky said he's staying with his cousin in East Downtown.

Typovsky said he's most surprised by Houston's wet, humid weather and the warm welcome he's received from Houstonians.