USA defeats Bosnia-Herzegovina, first World Cup knockout win since 2002

ByABC13 Digital Team KTRK logo
Last updated: Thursday, July 2, 2026 2:46AM GMT
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HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The FIFA World Cup is here, and Houstonians are expected to swarm fan events and local businesses as the soccer event seizes the summer.

H-Town is hosting seven matches, but fans will have plenty of other things to enjoy in the Bayou City.

ABC13 has live updates to keep all Houstonians, from soccer aficionados to commuters looking to dodge traffic, informed throughout the multi-country event.

For the latest breaking news, weather, and traffic, ABC13 is now live on Disney+. Always on, always under the live tab on Disney+ and everywhere you stream.

KTRK logo
Jun 11, 2026, 7:35 PM

What FIFA World Cup matches will take place in Houston?

H-Town will host seven of the World Cup games. Five of them will take place during the group stage, one of them during the round of 32, and the last during the round of 16. See below for the matches.

  • June 14 - Germany vs. Curacao
  • June 17 - Portugal vs. Congo DR
  • June 20 - Netherlands vs. Sweden
  • June 23 - Portugal vs. Uzbekistan
  • June 26 - Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia

  • June 29 - Japan vs. Brazil (Round of 32)
  • July 4 - Morocco vs. Canada (Round of 16)

All the matches will be held at Houston Stadium.

Visit FIFA's website for more information.

KTRK logo
Jun 11, 2026, 9:56 PM

FIFA Fan Festival Houston: What you need to know

FIFA described its fan experience as the ultimate destination for World Cup fans in Houston, and ABC13 got a first look at some of the featured experiences before it opened to the public.

The festival is located just east of downtown Houston, next to Shell Energy Stadium. It will be open every day of the World Cup and is a first-come, first-served venue where fans can watch all the matches for free.

FIFA said there are several experiences fans can partake in at the festival, and since it's taking place in the Houston heat, organizers say there will be misting zones, water stations, and shaded areas.

SEE ALSO: Questions about security ahead of FIFA World Cup in Houston

ByETHAN WILCOX AP logo
Jun 30, 2026, 10:59 AM GMT

Morocco sends Netherlands to its earliest World Cup exit; will play in H-town for Round of 16 July 4

Ismael Saibari scored the decisive goal in a penalty shootout, and Morocco sent the Netherlands to its earliest World Cup exit, eliminating the Dutch 3-2 after a 1-1 draw on Monday night.

With the shootout tied at 2-all after four rounds, Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made a strong save of Crysencio Summerville's attempt, batting it away with his left hand. Saibari then sent the winner into the low left corner as goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen went the other direction. The midfielder tore off his shirt and screamed with joy as he was mobbed by teammates.

Earlier in the shootout with Morocco trailing 1-0, Verbruggen appeared to have stopped an attempt by Soufiane Rahimi, but the goalkeeper couldn't secure the ball and deflected it over the line with the back of his leg.

"We know when we do everything on the pitch, it's God that gives something back to us as well," Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi said. "We give all the energy that we have on the field. Rahimi's goal could have not been a goal, but it went in thankfully."

The Netherlands had reached at least the Round of 16 in 11 previous World Cups, including a quarterfinal appearance four years ago in Qatar, when Morocco made a breakthrough run to become the first team from Africa to reach the semifinals. In this year's expanded tournament, 32 teams reached the knockout stage for the first time.

Morocco moves on to face co-host Canada in the Round of 16 on Saturday in Houston. The Atlas Lions previously beat Canada 2-1 in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup.

Morocco was on the front-foot for major stretches of the game Monday. The Netherlands instead focused on counterattacking.

"I think Morocco has gained everybody's respect now," said Ouahbi, who took over as head coach in March. "I saw (the Netherlands' style of play) as a form of respect."

ByKYLE HIGHTOWER AP logo
Jun 30, 2026, 10:59 AM GMT

Paraguay stuns Germany in a penalty shootout for the biggest upset of the 2026 World Cup

José Canale wasn't in the starting lineup in either of his previous two appearances for Paraguay in this World Cup.

He made his first start a memorable one.

Canale scored on the first sudden-death penalty kick, Orlando Gill made two key saves in the shootout, and Paraguay beat Germany 4-3 on penalties Monday to earn the biggest upset of the 2026 World Cup.

Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill (12) makes a save during a penalty shootout during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Germany and Paraguay. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill (12) makes a save during a penalty shootout during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Germany and Paraguay. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

It was a major triumph for the landlocked South American country of 7 million people that's surrounded by soccer giants like Argentina and Brazil. And it was the latest surprising exit by Germany, a four-time champion that has struggled at the World Cup since it last lifted the trophy in 2014.

"I think we deserved one more game and to be honest, considering everything that was said, everything we went through," Canale said. "What I want to highlight from our team is how united we are. ... Today was a game we really needed to show our true colors."

Paraguayans celebrated in the streets of the capital, Asunción, screaming, jumping and hugging when the match ended. Some cried and dropped to their knees in disbelief, with the familiar beat of the team's song "Soy Albirrojo" reverberating through the crowd.

Paraguay became the first team to defeat Germany in a penalty shootout at the World Cup. The Germans missed three of six penalty tries, the last by Jonathan Tah, who blasted his attempt high over the crossbar in the first sudden-death round, setting up Canale for the winner. Tah's miss followed a save by German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer of Fabian Balbuena's attempt that would have won it for Paraguay.

Tah also thought he had the go-ahead goal in extra time. He headed in a corner kick by Nathaniel Brown in the 102nd minute, but officials concluded after a video review that Waldemar Anton has pushed Gill to the ground before the shot and the goal was disallowed.

The Round of 32 match ended 1-1 after extra time. Paraguay took the lead when Julio Enciso scored on a header late in the first half, but Kai Havertz equalized in the 52nd minute for Germany.

KTRK logo
Jun 29, 2026, 9:00 PM GMT

Video shows fans assist in cleanup after Japan-Brazil World Cup match at Houston Stadium

Video shows Japanese soccer fans cleaning up trash after Japan's Round of 32 match loss to Brazil at Houston Stadium on Monday afternoon.

In a video posted by NRG Park, social media influencer iShowSpeed assisted other fans with the cleanup after Monday's game.

AP logo
Jun 29, 2026, 7:44 PM GMT

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

Gabriel Martinelli scored the winning goal late in injury time to give five-time champion Brazil a 2-1 win over Japan in the round of 32 at the World Cup on Monday.

Martinelli, who had come on as a second-half substitute, scored in the sixth minute of stoppage time as the match appeared to be headed to extra time.

Brazil will next face either the Ivory Coast or Norway on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in the round of 16.

Casemiro had earlier equalized on a header in the 56th minute off an assist from Gabriel Magalhães after just missing another chance two minutes earlier. The shot sailed just out of reach of the outstretched hand of Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and into the net.

Kaishu Sano stole a misplaced pass at midfield and took it down the field before a right-footed shot from above the half circle put Japan ahead in the 29th minute.

Vinícius Júnior, who has scored four goals so far in this year's tournament, had a chance to put Brazil on top in the 58th minute but his shot from the left box was deflected by Suzuki and went off the far post.

Casemiro left in the first minute of second-half stoppage time with what appeared to be a leg injury.

Brazil had two chances to even the score early in the second half before breaking through. On the first one, Suzuki blocked a header from Bruno Guimarães in the 52nd minute. Soon after, Casemiro's header bounced off a defender's head and Suzuki's face. Suzuki finished with four saves.

Japan has never won a knockout match at the World Cup.

The win was Brazil's 12th in 15 games against Japan. The teams have also played to two draws while Japan got its first win in the series in a friendly in Tokyo in October.

This was a matchup between two countries with deep ties, with Brazil being home to about 2.7 million Japanese descendants, which is the largest Japanese population outside of Japan.

Those ties extend to soccer where Brazil superstar Zico moved to Japan in 1991 to play for Kashima Antlers and help build Japan's professional soccer network. He coached the Japan national team from 2002-06, leading the team to the World Cup in 2006.

That team lost to Brazil 4-1 in the only previous meeting between the teams at the World Cup.

Brazil won Group C after a draw with Morocco and victories over Haiti and Scotland. Monday's victory came on the anniversary of their first World Cup championship in Sweden in 1958, when a 17-year-old Pele scored two goals in the final against the host country.

Japan reached the round of 32 as runner-up in Group F after a draws with the Netherlands and Sweden and a win over Tunisia. The loss snaps a 10-game unbeaten streak dating back to a 2-0 loss to the United States in September.