World Cup 2026 live updates: South Bay once again electrified by World Cup as Team USA advances

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.

Team USA is set to play in the Bay Area for the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup on July 1, bringing excitement to local fans.

Team USA is set to play in the Bay Area for the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup on July 1, bringing excitement to local fans - and steep ticket prices for those still hoping to attend.

If tickets were not purchased earlier, fans now face paying thousands of dollars on resale sites to get into the game. Still, many say they are making plans to gather at watch parties across the region to cheer on the team.

"It's one of the best things that could ever happen. Having USA here at Levi's? What more do you want?" said Jose Cardenas of San Jose.

But the surge in demand has driven prices up sharply. Victor Matheson, a sports economics professor at the College of the Holy Cross, said the matchup's significance is reflected in the cost.

"You finally got a really premier game. And guess what? Along with that premier game comes premier prices," Matheson said.

With original tickets sold out, fans are left to search resale markets, where the lowest prices were around $3,000 as of Saturday.

"That's, steep but there's so much, excitement behind the US people I think will pay it," said soccer fan Steven Evans.

Matheson said prices could dip slightly just before kickoff if sellers get desperate.

"In cases where people may have been hanging on to tickets specifically in hopes to resell them, and if they don't get their price, then they dump them right at the last minute," he said.

For those unable to secure tickets, watch parties throughout the Bay Area offer another way to take part in the moment.

"So much excitement in the air. I mean to host it since 1994. It's been a long gap and we believe we can go all the way," Evans said.

Fans say whether inside the stadium or watching from afar, the opportunity to support Team USA on soccer's biggest stage is something they do not want to miss.

The excitement around the World Cup continues in the Bay Area.

The excitement around the World Cup continues in the Bay Area.

And with it, heavy traffic and congested commuter lines.

"I hate it. I hate it so much. I think that's why the Caltrain is the best option," said Romulo Nunez.

Ahead of Tuesday night's game in Santa Clara, ABC7 Eyewitness News was outside the stadium as thousands of excited fans arrived on the VTA's light rail system.

VTA spokesperson Stacey Hendler Ross says Tuesday's ridership broke its all time record for the third time this year after transporting nearly 40-thousand riders.

"Last game was Saturday. We had 37,000 riders and prior to that our biggest ridership was for the Super Bowl in February and that was 31,000," said Hendler Ross.

One of those 40-thousand was Kitshia Zambrano Meza, who took BART down to the South Bay before hopping on the light rail.

"We knew it was going to be chaotic driving and parking and all of that. So we knew that BART was for sure the better option," she said.

Amid the surge in passengers, a number of commuters took to the internet to complain following Tuesday's game.

Some people say it took them over an hour to get on the VTA.

But Hendler Ross says they cleared the platforms outside the stadium within 90 minutes...well within their goal given the huge number of people.

"It's equivalent to moving a small city when you have that many people coming out of a stadium at once after a major event," she said.

A major event that will eventually come to an end.

And when it does, public transit agencies say they hope some commuters continue to ride.

"We think that people are learning the more people ride the system they understand how efficient it is, how affordable it is and it certainly helps keep them out of traffic and keeps them from having to pay large parking fees," said Hendler Ross.

The Bay Area's next World Cup game will take place on June 19.

Editor's Note: This story originally aired on Wednesday, June 17