Nov. 26, 2022 coverage of the World Cup

By Adrienne Vogt and Matt Meyer, CNN

Updated 5:23 p.m. ET, November 26, 2022
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4:45 p.m. ET, November 26, 2022

We've wrapped up our live coverage. Read about Argentina's resilient performance here, or scroll through the updates below for more on today's action.

5:17 p.m. ET, November 26, 2022

Argentina wins critical match against Mexico 2-0

Argentina's #10 Lionel Messi celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Argentina and Mexico on Saturday.
Argentina's #10 Lionel Messi celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Argentina and Mexico on Saturday. (Markus Gilliar/GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)

Argentina has revived its World Cup hopes with a 2-0 victory over Mexico in front of a raucous crowd at Lusail Stadium in Qatar.

The match was scoreless entering the second half, but it was 35-year-old superstar Lionel Messi who made a superb goal in the 64th minute to break the tie.

Enzo Fernández punctuated the victory with a second goal for Argentina just before the end of regulation.

La Albiceleste was humiliated earlier this week when it threw away the lead to lose 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in its opening Group C match, immediately throwing the team's contention into doubt.

With the victory, Argentina moves into a second place tie with Saudi Arabia in Group C standings. Now it has a chance to decide its fate when the team takes on Poland on Nov. 30. A win can guarantee the team's advance to the Round of 16.

CNN's Homero De La Fuente contributed to this report.

3:56 p.m. ET, November 26, 2022

GOAL! Argentina makes it 2-0 against Mexico

Argentina's #24 Enzo Fernandez celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Argentina and Mexico on Saturday.
Argentina's #24 Enzo Fernandez celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Argentina and Mexico on Saturday. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images)

Enzo Fernández just scored another goal for Argentina, likely securing the team's victory in the 87th minute against Mexico.

3:32 p.m. ET, November 26, 2022

GOAL! Argentina takes the lead against Mexico

Argentina's #10 Lionel Messi kicks the ball during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Argentina and Mexico on Saturday.
Argentina's #10 Lionel Messi kicks the ball during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Argentina and Mexico on Saturday. (Manan Vatsyayana/AFP/Getty Images)

Lionel Messi just delivered a resounding goal for Argentina in the 64th minute, making the score 1-0 against Mexico in the second half.

The 35-year-old captain, widely considered one of the best players in the world, faced immense pressure entering this match with his country at the bottom of the Group C standings.

3:06 p.m. ET, November 26, 2022

The Argentina vs Mexico game is back from halftime

Both teams are looking to score in the second half. Let's see what happens!

3:03 p.m. ET, November 26, 2022

A loss would doom Argentina's World Cup hopes. Here's what's on the line for both teams

Argentina can't afford a loss in this match after they fell to Saudi Arabia earlier this week, shocking the soccer world.

While a defeat would surely eliminate Lionel Messi's squad from the tournament, Argentina would have an outside chance at moving on in the case of a tie.

A victory would obviously boost their chances further, but not guarantee them a trip to the knockout stage.

Poland is next up for Argentina on Nov. 30.

Mexico will not have its fate sealed in this game either way.

Win, loss or draw, the Mexican team's future in the tournament will be determined on Nov. 30 against Saudi Arabia.

Remember: During the group stage, World Cup teams are rewarded three points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a loss.

Ties in the standings are broken by goal difference, meaning the total number of goals a team scored minus the number of goals it conceded.

Heading into this match, Poland leads Group C with four points, followed by Saudi Arabia with three points, Mexico with one point and Argentina with zero.

Check out FIFA's full guide to qualification and elimination scenarios here.

5:23 p.m. ET, November 26, 2022

FIFA to investigate "hateful" flag displayed in Serbian locker room before World Cup match

From CNN's Homero De La Fuente

FIFA has launched an investigation against the Football Association of Serbia, after a photo surfaced of a flag inside the team’s locker room depicting the Serbian flag imposed over an outline of the independent country of Kosovo. 

The photo of the flag, reportedly from before Serbia’s World Cup match against Brazil on Thursday, shows the outline of Kosovo, which has been an independent state since 2008, filled in with the flag of Serbia and with the words “No Surrender” superimposed on it.

Kosovo’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Hajrulla Çeku called the image “disgraceful” in a tweet, saying it displayed “hateful, xenophobic and genocidal messages towards Kosova” while also exploiting the World Cup platform. 

The world football governing body said the proceedings were opened on the basis of Article 11 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 4 of the Regulations for the FIFA World Cup 2022, which covers infractions of “offensive gestures, signs or language” and “using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature.” 

Çeku and Kosovo’s soccer federation (FFK) filed a formal complaint to FIFA for the “aggressive action of the national team of Serbia.”

“FFK strongly condemns the aggressive action against the Republic of Kosovo shown by Serbia in the ‘Qatar 2022,’” FFK said in a statement on Friday. “The World Cup is an event of joy and unity and should send messages of hope and peace, not messages of hatred. We call FIFA to take action against such actions.” 

The Football Association of Serbia did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment. 

More background: Kosovo has been recognized as an independent state by more than 100 countries but not by Serbia or Russia. Kosovo declared independence in 2008, backed by the United States, Britain and most EU member states, but its membership of the United Nations is blocked by Russia, Serbia’s traditional ally.

Serbia, which lost 2-0 to Brazil on Thursday, is next scheduled to play on Monday against Group G opponent Cameroon. 

 

2:51 p.m. ET, November 26, 2022

It's halftime for Argentina vs Mexico

It's tied at 0-0 in the match between Argentina and Mexico as we go into halftime.

2:20 p.m. ET, November 26, 2022

Argentina vs Mexico match kicks off

Argentina's Angel Di Maria, center, controls the ball next to Mexico's Jesus Gallardo, left, during the World Cup group C soccer match between Argentina and Mexico, at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on Saturday.
Argentina's Angel Di Maria, center, controls the ball next to Mexico's Jesus Gallardo, left, during the World Cup group C soccer match between Argentina and Mexico, at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on Saturday. (Moises Castillo/AP)

The game between Argentina and Mexico has started at Lusail Stadium in Qatar.

Lionel Messi and his squad look for a vital win over Mexico after a stunning upset from Saudi Arabia earlier this week.