Return to the Big Stage

On This Day in 2022, USA and Wales Share Points in Long-Awaited World Cup Opener

The roster announcement came on a crisp November Wednesday in New York, the culmination of four years, 56 matches and 88 player auditions. Gregg Berhalter, the tactician who inherited a program in crisis after the 2018 qualifying disaster, revealed his 26-man squad for Qatar with a mix of anticipated selections and one stunning omission: Zack Steffen, his longtime first-choice goalkeeper, wouldn't be making the trip.

"To tell him he's not going to be part of the World Cup team was heartbreaking for me," Berhalter admitted. The decision cleared the path for Matt Turner, Arsenal's backup keeper, to assume the starting role—a symbolic passing of the torch in a squad averaging just 25.5 years old, expected to be among the youngest in the 32-team field. Ricardo Pepi, who helped save Berhalter's job in Honduras, was also not included on the final roster.

This was Berhalter's team now, rebuilt from the wreckage of that October 2017 night in Trinidad when the program hit rock bottom. Tyler Adams, who joined the national team during that rudderless period in 2018, remembered it clearly: "We had no identity, no game plan. It was almost just like you were going to national team camp for fun." Berhalter changed that. The Columbus Crew alumnus arrived preaching possession-based soccer before adjusting to his young, athletic roster's strengths with a more direct, pressing approach.

The Americans drew Wales for their opener on November 21 at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan—a collision of drought-stricken programs. While the U.S. hadn't appeared since 2014, Wales was returning after 64 years away, having last played in 1958 when a teenage Pelé ended their run. The Welsh still had a trump card in 33-year-old Gareth Bale, their all-time leading scorer who'd just helped LAFC win the MLS Cup despite fitness concerns.

For American fans, especially Christian Pulisic—captured in that haunting image from Trinidad, head in hands amid the grass stains of failure—reaching Qatar meant everything. "He's one of the people that really felt the heartbreak back in 2017," Turner said. After four years of theorizing and character-building, Berhalter's blueprint would finally face its test.

The Americans emerged like they had something to prove. They controlled possession in the opening 10 minutes, pinning Wales deep with crisp passing and aggressive positioning. Josh Sargent flashed toward goal early, forcing Welsh keeper Wayne Hennessey into an awkward save. The U.S. looked nothing like the tentative team that had imploded in qualifying. But there were warning signs. Sergiño Dest and Weston McKennie picked up yellow cards in the 11th and 13th minutes for rough challenges on Neco Williams—bookings that would carry extra weight with suspension threats looming. Still, the Americans pressed forward.

The breakthrough arrived in the 36th minute, a sequence that captured everything Berhalter had built. Walker Zimmerman started the move, feeding Antonee Robinson, who found Pulisic. The Chelsea winger laid off a short pass to Yunus Musah, then accelerated through the center channel as Josh Sargent received and redirected the ball back to him. As Pulisic charged forward, dragging defenders with him, Tim Weah made a slashing run from the right wing. Pulisic's weighted pass arrived perfectly, and Weah needed just one deft touch with the outside of his boot to flick it past Hennessey.

"Playing with Christian is amazing," Weah said afterward. "Once he gets the ball, I just have to run behind them." Weah wheeled toward the corner flag and slid onto the turf as teammates engulfed him. In the VIP section, his father George—the former world player of the year who never got his own World Cup moment—watched alongside Secretary of State Antony Blinken, living the dream through his son.

The U.S. took that 1-0 lead into halftime, having controlled two-thirds of possession. But Wales manager Rob Page made a critical adjustment, inserting 6-foot-5 striker Kieffer Moore to target the American defense with direct play. The crosses started raining down, and the complexion changed entirely. Wales grew bolder in the second half, exploiting Dest's defensive limitations and peppering the American box with long balls aimed at Moore's towering frame. Turner made a crucial save in the 64th minute after Ben Davies headed a corner kick toward goal, then watched Moore drill the rebound over the crossbar. The Americans were holding on now, no longer dictating terms.

Berhalter shuffled his lineup, bringing on Brenden Aaronson for McKennie in the 66th minute, then making three substitutions eight minutes later: DeAndre Yedlin, Haji Wright, and Kellyn Acosta. But the elusive insurance goal never came, and in the 80th minute, disaster struck. Wales broke quickly from a throw-in, working the ball to Bale inside the penalty area. As he prepared to receive it, Zimmerman clumsily slid in from behind, his challenge catching Bale's legs and sending him tumbling. The defender lay sprawled on the turf, wagging his finger and screaming "No, no, no, no, no!" as the referee pointed to the spot. "I think it was one of those where he probably just puts his leg not for the ball but to try to get in the way of me hitting the ball," Zimmerman said later. "Clever move."

Bale stepped up two minutes later, standing before a sea of red-clad Welsh supporters. His left-footed blast flew into the right corner, past Turner's outstretched hands. Wales had its first World Cup goal in 64 years, delivered by the man who always seemed destined to provide it. The clock that had crawled while the U.S. led now seemed to sprint through nine minutes of stoppage time.

The final whistle brought relief to Wales and deflation to the Americans, who'd been 10 minutes from a perfect start. Pulisic, battered and bruised from absorbing punishment all night, could only shake his head. "Disappointing for sure after such a good start," he said. "We got the goal we needed, and I guess we just dropped off in the second half."

The draw left both teams with a single point, but only Wales felt like celebrating. For the Americans, it carried the sting of two points dropped despite dominating long stretches of their first World Cup match in eight years. "We're disappointed with the nature of how the game played out, having a great first half, getting the first goal, and being in a position with less than 15 minutes left to walk away with three points," Zimmerman said.

Yet perspective mattered. A point in the opener was better than none, and the performance—particularly that dominant first half—validated much of what Berhalter had been building. The second-youngest squad in Qatar hadn't looked overwhelmed on soccer's biggest stage. They'd controlled possession, created chances, and played the confident, forward-moving soccer their coach demanded.

The challenge now shifts to England, which demolished Iran 6-2 in its opener and will present an entirely different test on Friday. "It comes down to the smallest details in games like this," captain Tyler Adams told the Fox broadcast. The Americans had learned that lesson the hard way, unable to capitalize on their superiority before Wales found its footing.

For Pulisic, who'd given everything despite being knocked down repeatedly, the frustration was tempered by pragmatism. One match played. One lesson learned. The redemption tour Berhalter had orchestrated since 2018 would have to continue the hard way, with the Americans still controlling their destiny but knowing margins for error had grown razor-thin. The World Cup, they were reminded, rarely is.