2010 World Cup | featured news

The dramatic ending to the World Cup match between the U.S. and Algeria on Wednesday could set a new record for internet traffic.

South Africa went out with heads high on Tuesday, despite being the only hosts ever to exit the World Cup's first round, but France headed home in shame and Latin American giants Argentina cruised into the second round.

Has the World Cup referee who hosed the U.S. been benched? Maybe.

Portugal put on the most dominant performance of the World Cup on Monday, knocking in a flurry of second-half goals and routing North Korea 7-0, a win that puts Portugal on the brink of advancing to the round of 16 and means the Koreans won't make it out of group play.

Cameroon became the first team to be eliminated from the World Cup in South Africa after Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Denmark, which made the Netherlands the first team to reach the second round following an earlier 1-0 victory over Japan.

Algeria held England to a 0-0 draw at the World Cup on Friday, leaving Group C wide open headed into the final game of first-round play.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup is now the most popular event in Web history. Record usage began last Friday before the wins and losses. Not since Obama's election day victory has the Web swayed under a greater burden of Internet-connected hope.

The United States rallied from a two-goal halftime deficit on goals by Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley to tie Slovenia 2-2 in their Group C match Friday.

Milan Jovanovic scored one minute after Germany striker Miroslav Klose was ejected Friday, giving Serbia a 1-0 upset win over the three-time World Cup champions.

Baby-faced Javier Hernandez and ageless Cuauhtemoc Blanco came off the bench early in the second half and combined for two goals, giving Mexico a clutch 2-0 win over punchless France on Thursday in chilly Polokwane, moving El Tri a giant step closer to a berth in the the second round of the World Cup.