The expanded 48-team format made this group stage unlike any other in tournament history. With 12 groups of four, only the top two finishers in each group were guaranteed automatic passage to the knockout rounds, while the remaining eight slots went to the best third-placed teams across the entire competition.

Among the headlines from the group stage, Argentina, France, and co-hosts Mexico all finished with a perfect nine points from nine, sending an early statement to the rest of the field. However, teams like Germany, Brazil, and Spain also enter the knockout rounds as serious threats, each having shown that they can also be called title contenders.

The race for the third-place spots produced some of the tournament’s most dramatic storylines. Ecuador, Sweden, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Paraguay were among the first to punch their tickets, while Senegal, Ghana, Argelia, and DR Congo held their nerve in the closing matchday to round out the group of eight survivors.

2026 World Cup knockout stage schedule

With every group finalized, here is the complete schedule for the Round of 32, running from June 28 to July 3:

Sunday, June 28

• South Africa vs Canada — Los Angeles Stadium

Monday, June 29

• Germany vs Paraguay — Boston Stadium
• Netherlands vs Morocco — Monterrey Stadium
• Brazil vs Japan — Houston Stadium

Tuesday, June 30

• France vs Sweden — New York New Jersey Stadium
• Ivory Coast vs Norway — Dallas Stadium
• Mexico vs Ecuador — Mexico City Stadium

Wednesday, July 1

• England vs DR Congo — Atlanta Stadium
• USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina — San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
• Belgium vs Senegal — Seattle Stadium

Thursday, July 2

• Portugal vs Croatia — Toronto Stadium
• Spain vs Austria — Los Angeles Stadium
• Switzerland vs Algeria — Vancouver Stadium

Friday, July 3

• Argentina vs Cape Verde — Miami Stadium
• Colombia vs Ghana — Kansas City Stadium
• Australia vs Egypt — Dallas Stadium

Colombia only needed to avoid defeat against Portugal to seal top spot, and that’s exactly what they got, playing out a 0-0 draw in Miami to close out the group stage unbeaten. Los Cafeteros finished Group K with seven points, having also beaten DR Congo and Uzbekistan earlier in the competition.

On the flip side, Portugal had to settle for second place after failing to find a way past a well-organized Colombian defense. The Selecao finished on five points, a tally still good enough to comfortably secure their spot in the knockout stage behind Colombia.

DR Congo finished third in the group with four points after securing a crucial 3-1 win against Uzbekistan, a result that keep them alive as one of the tournament’s eight best third-placed teams. On the other hand, Uzbekistan finished bottom of the group and are eliminated from the tournament.

Round of 32 venues and potential matchups

By virtue of winning Group K, Colombia will play their Round of 32 match on July 3 at Kansas City Stadium, against one of the wild-card third-place finishers emerging from Groups D, E, I, J, or L.

Depending on how the wild-card picture settles, Colombia’s path could open up against the likes of Ghana, Algeria, or Sweden, among other third-place contenders still waiting to learn their fate.

As for Portugal, the European side will take the pitch for its knockout opener on July 2 at Toronto Stadium. Their opponent will be Croatia, as they finished as the runner-up from Group L, after defeating Ghana in their own group finale.

For their part, DR Congo would be securing a historic qualification to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in their history, where they could potentially run into a big nation like England on July 1 at Atlanta Stadium.

Group K standings

Algeria have shown plenty of fight after a rough start, recovering from a 3-0 defeat to Argentina with a battling 2-1 comeback win over Jordan. That result leaves the Fennecs on three points, level with Austria but trailing on goal difference heading into the decider.

For Austria, the picture is similarly tight. Das Team opened with a 3-1 win over Jordan before running into a more disciplined Argentina side in a 2-0 defeat. These results leave them also on three points but with the superior goal differential, meaning a draw would be enough to send Ralf Rangnick’s side through as group runners-up.

Whoever finishes second will face Spain in the Round of 32, while the loser will be left hoping their numbers are good enough to sneak through as one of the tournament’s eight best third-placed teams.

Algeria confirmed lineup

Vladimir Petkovic will stick largely with the same setup that overcame Jordan, with Amine Gouiri continuing to lead the line after his match-winning strike last time out.

Algeria’s confirmed starting XI: Oussama Benbot; Rafik Belghali, Aissa Mandi, Ramy Bensebaini, Jaouen Hadjam; Houssem Aouar, Nabil Bentaleb, Ibrahim Maza; Riyad Mahrez, Amine Gouiri, Fares Chaibi.

Austria confirmed lineup

Rangnick’s side arrives with a clean bill of health and little reason to change much after a controlled performance against Argentina despite the loss. Marko Arnautovic will return to the starting team, with Romano Schmid and Marcel Sabitzer offering support from out wide.

Austria’s confirmed starting XI: Alexander Schlager; Stefan Posch, Philipp Lienhart, David Alaba, Phillipp Mwene; Nicolas Seiwald, Xaver Schlager; Romano Schmid, Konrad Laimer, Marcel Sabitzer; Marko Arnautovic.

Despite Messi entering the match as the tournament’s leading scorer with five goals, coach Lionel Scaloni has opted to start him on the bench for Argentina’s group finale. Stepping into the lineup in Messi’s place will be Nico Paz, who made his World Cup debut earlier in the tournament after coming on as a substitute against Algeria.

The decision comes down to a combination of timing and squad management rather than any fitness concern. Argentina have already secured top spot in Group J regardless of the result against Jordan, and with nothing left to play for in terms of the standings, Scaloni is using the match to reward squad members who have featured less throughout the group stage.

Scaloni was upfront about the decision when asked directly. “Leo is going to start on the bench” the Argentina coach confirmed to reporters during a press conference ahead of today’s clash. The Argentine added that “Messi will most likely play the second half” as part of a plan to manage his workload while still giving him valuable minutes before the knockout rounds begin.

Argentina’s lineup to face Jordan

For this Matchday 3 clash, Scaloni will give several players the chance to log minutes at this World Cup, making multiple changes compared to the lineup that faced Austria.

Argentina’s confirmed lineup: Emiliano Martínez; Giuliano Simeone, Nicolás Otamendi, Marcos Senesi, Nicolás Tagliafico; Leandro Paredes, Exequiel Palacios, Giovani Lo Celso; Nico Paz; Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez.

Argentina’s Round of 32 clash with Cape Verde is set

Regardless of how the Jordan match unfolds, Argentina already know exactly where their World Cup title defense continues. The result of Group H, sealed by Spain’s win over Uruguay, confirmed Cape Verde as the second-place finisher in that group, setting up a Round of 32 showdown between La Albiceleste and the World Cup debutants.

The match is scheduled for Friday, July 3 at Miami Stadium, a venue with personal significance for Argentina as they claimed the Copa America title against Colombia in 2024 in that stadium.

For Argentina, the matchup represents a clear opportunity to continue their push for back-to-back titles, but Scaloni’s side will be wary of a Cape Verde team that has already proven capable of frustrating much higher-ranked opposition, advancing without losing a single match.

Despite this being a meaningful match where a win would lift Portugal into first place, the Spanish coach has opted to rest the PSG midfielder from the opening whistle. Stepping into the starting lineup in place of Neves is Ruben Neves, who joins Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes in central midfield.

The decision comes down to qualification math rather than tactics. Portugal have already clinched their spot in the Round of 32 regardless of the result against Colombia, after Cape Verde’s result in Group H confirmed their place among the competition’s best third-placed teams even in a worst-case scenario.

With qualification already secured, the only thing left to play for against Colombia is first place in Group K, something Portugal can still claim with a win. But unlike a true must-win scenario, that incentive was not enough to keep Martinez from rotating one of his most important midfielders.

Portugal’s potential Round of 32 rivals

If Roberto Martinez’s side beats Colombia and finish first in Group K, it would stay in the United States for a Round of 32 clash at Kansas City Stadium against a third-placed team from Group D, E, I, J, or L.

Should Portugal settle for second place in the group, their path would instead lead to Toronto Stadium, where they would face Croatia, as they finished as runner-up of Group L.

Either way, Portugal’s reward for getting through the group stage is a guaranteed change of scenery for the knockout rounds, with the exact opponent set to come into focus once today’s full slate of fixtures wraps up.

Lionel Scaloni’s side wrapped up top spot in the group well before kickoff, cruising through the first two matchdays with a 3-0 win over Algeria followed by a 2-0 victory over Austria, a performance in which Lionel Messi scored twice to surpass Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history. That run leaves the defending champions on a perfect six points, already through as Group J winners regardless of what happens against Jordan.

Jordan, meanwhile, arrive at this fixture with their tournament already over. The World Cup debutants opened with a 3-1 loss to Austria before falling 2-1 to Algeria, leaving them on zero points and eliminated heading into the final round of group games.

Because both teams’ fates are already sealed, the result of this match will have no bearing on who advances out of Group J. The real stakes for second and third place rest entirely on the simultaneous Algeria vs Austria clash in Kansas City, which will decide the group’s runner-up.

What happens if Argentina beat Jordan?

A win for Argentina would close out the group stage with a perfect nine points, the best possible send-off for Scaloni’s side ahead of the Round of 32 clash against Cape Verde at Miami Stadium.

What happens if Argentina and Jordan draw?

A draw would leave Argentina on seven points, still comfortably the group winners and unaffected in terms of seeding, since their place atop Group J was already mathematically locked in. For Jordan, a draw would mean ending their World Cup debut with a single point on the board.

What happens if Argentina lose to Jordan?

Even a loss would not threaten Argentina’s position, since their six-point cushion from the first two matchdays guarantees them top spot in Group J no matter the result against Jordan.

For Jordan, an upset win would provide a respectable note to end their historic first World Cup campaign on, lifting them to three points, but it would still leave them well short of catching either Algeria or Austria in the race for third place, ending their tournament at the bottom of Group J.

By scoring three times against Norway, Dembélé became only the fourth player in the entire history of the World Cup to score a hat trick while reigning as the Ballon d’Or holder.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward joins a highly exclusive circle of soccer royalty, alongside Eusébio, who scored four goals against North Korea in 1966, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who struck a hat trick against Chile in 1982, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who famously did the same against Spain in 2018.

The commanding victory allowed France to clinch top spot in Group I, leaving Norway in second place. In the Round of 32, Les Bleus will play on June 30 at New York New Jersey Stadium, where they will face Sweden.

Dembélé joins the Golden Boot race

Beyond the historic individual milestone, Dembélé’s hat trick also catapults the forward into the thick of the Golden Boot conversation. The Frenchman’s treble against Norway, added to his earlier goal against Iraq, lifts his tournament tally to four goals, pulling him level with Vinícius Júnior, Erling Haaland, and his own teammate Kylian Mbappé.

Sitting just above that group is Lionel Messi, who continues to lead the race with five goals through Argentina’s group-stage campaign, a tally that has already pushed him past Miroslav Klose for the most goals scored across all World Cups in history.

With the group stage now wrapping up and the knockout rounds looming, the Golden Boot picture remains wide open. Dembélé’s surge means France could realistically have two legitimate contenders for the award, giving Les Bleus added incentive to go deep into the tournament.

Belgium finally found their attacking spark when it mattered most, putting together a commanding 5-1 victory over New Zealand to seal top spot in the group. The Red Devils finish Group G with five points, recovering from a pair of underwhelming draws against Egypt and Iran to close out the group stage in style.

On the flip side, Egypt settled for a 1-1 draw against Iran, a result that was still enough to lock down second place and an automatic spot in the knockout stage. The Pharaohs finished on five points as well, but a slightly inferior goal differential left them just behind Belgium in the final reckoning.

Iran finished the group in third place, keeping their tournament alive as they await the final wild-card standings to see if they advance as one of the tournament’s best third-place teams, while New Zealand exited the tournament at the bottom of Group G without a single point to their name across three matches.

Round of 32 venues and potential matchups

By virtue of winning Group G, Belgium will play their Round of 32 match on July 1 at the Seattle Stadium. The Red Devils will square off against one of the wild-card third-place finishers emerging from Groups A, E, H, I, or J.

Depending on how the wild-card picture settles, Belgium’s path could open up against the likes of South Korea or Scotland, among other third-place contenders still waiting to learn their fate.

As for the North African nation, Egypt will take the pitch for their knockout opener on July 3 at Dallas Stadium, and their opponent will be Australia, as they finished at second place in Group D.

Group G final standings

The clinching moment arrived courtesy of Spain’s 1-0 win over Uruguay in Group H. That result confirmed Cape Verde as Group H’s second-place finisher on three points, which in turn settled the qualification threshold for third-placed teams across the entire tournament: any side finishing third in their own group with four points or more was now mathematically guaranteed a spot among the competition’s eight best third-place qualifiers.

Both Portugal and England entered their Matchday 3 fixtures already sitting on four points, meaning the Group H result was enough to put their qualification beyond doubt regardless of how their final group games played out.

For both nations, the news arrived as a relief rather than a surprise, with Portugal and England able to focus their final group matches purely on improving their position rather than fighting for survival.

In their final group match, Ronaldo’s side will look to beat Colombia in order to finish top of the group, while a win for Kane and England against Panama would also secure first place for them. A draw would also leave England in first place, though a win for Ghana or Croatia in the other match would push them down into second.

Ghana, Paraguay and Egypt also confirmed

Portugal and England were not alone. Ghana and Paraguay also had their places in the Round of 32 confirmed by the same wave of results, both having the four-point safety net regardless of what unfolds elsewhere in the group stage.

Egypt completed the group of newly confirmed qualifiers, and the timing could not have been more dramatic. Sitting on four points, the Pharaohs are currently in action against Iran in their own Matchday 3 finale, meaning their place in the knockout rounds was locked in before the match began.

New Zealand have shown plenty of fight without much reward, opening the tournament with a 2-2 draw against Iran before suffering a 3-1 defeat to Egypt. That result leaves the All Whites bottom of the group on just one point, meaning Darren Bazeley’s side face the biggest match in their World Cup history.

For Belgium, the path has been frustratingly stagnant rather than disastrous. The Red Devils were held to a 1-1 draw by Egypt before a second straight stalemate, this time a goalless draw against Iran, leaving Rudi Garcia’s men on two points and in need of three more to guarantee qualification out of Group G.

For this crucial game, Jeremy Doku will be back in the starting team. The Manchester City winger briefly left the Belgium camp earlier in the tournament for the birth of his first child but has since rejoined the squad.

New Zealand confirmed lineup

The only doubt for Darren Bazeley comes at left-back, where Liberato Cacace has not completed a full 90 minutes since returning from a long injury layoff, leaving the door open for Ben Old or Francis de Vries to come in.

New Zealand’s confirmed starting XI: Max Crocombe; Tim Payne, Finn Surman, Tyler Bindon, Liberato Cacace; Joe Bell, Marko Stamenic; Ryan Thomas, Sarpreet Singh, Elijah Just; Chris Wood.

Belgium confirmed lineup

Garcia is forced into at least one change at the back, with Nathan Ngoy suspended after picking up a red card against Iran. Zeno Debast would ordinarily be the natural replacement, but fitness concerns mean Arthur Theate is instead tipped to slot in at center back.

Belgium’s confirmed starting XI: Thibaut Courtois; Timothy Castagne, Brandon Mechele, Arthur Theate, Maxim De Cuyper; Hans Vanaken, Youri Tielemans; Leandro Trossard, Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku; Charles De Ketelaere.

In the 57th minute, manager Marcelo Bielsa made the surprise decision to substitute captain Federico Valverde, a move that sparked debate among Uruguayan fans.

After the match, the Argentine coach was asked on the field about the reasoning behind the Valverde substitution. “I wanted the team to have more of a presence in attack,” Bielsa said, bringing on forward Federico Viñas in his place.

Amid the controversy, the manager made the decision to pull goalkeeper Fernando Muslera at halftime, following a catastrophic blunder that helped Alex Baena to score the game-winning goal for Spain.

However, after the game, Bielsa revealed a stunning twist: he didn’t bench Muslera. Instead, it was the goalkeeper himself who voluntarily asked to sub out, step aside, and hand the reins to Sergio Rochet for the second half.

Spain and Cape Verde secure qualification

Following their win, Spain secured qualification to the Round of 32 as group winners, where they will face the runner-up of Group J, which could be Austria or Algeria.

The result of the match at Guadalajara Stadium also worked in Cape Verde’s favor, sealing a historic qualification to the Round of 32 in their World Cup debut. The Africans will take on Argentina in the next round on Friday, July 3 at Miami Stadium.

For long stretches, this looked destined to finish level. Luis de la Fuente’s side dominated the ball from the opening whistle, racking up 74% possession in the first half alone, but Uruguay’s defense stood firm and gave up almost nothing in the way of clear chances.

Rather than settling for a stalemate, Spain kept pushing, and their patience paid off right before the break. Alex Baena met a cross inside the area and fired off a shot that Fernando Muslera failed to deal with cleanly, the goalkeeper’s poor response allowing the ball to squirm in and hand La Roja a 1-0 lead at the interval.

The second half saw Uruguay come out with far more purpose, pushing numbers forward in search of an equalizer that would have kept their World Cup hopes alive. Bielsa’s side created enough pressure to test Spain’s resolve, but they were unable to find the breakthrough they needed.

Spain will now turn their attention to the Round of 32, where they will face the runner-up of Group J, which could be Austria or Algeria, while Uruguay’s 2026 World Cup campaign comes to a close.

Spain head into this one in pole position after their dramatic turnaround. La Roja opened the tournament with a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde but responded emphatically on Matchday 2, beating Saudi Arabia 4-0.

For this crucial game looking to secure a spot in the next round, Lamine Yamal will start, as the forward returned to the lineup against Saudi Arabia after being eased back from injury.

Uruguay, meanwhile, arrive under considerably more pressure. Marcelo Bielsa’s side has been unable to turn good performances into wins, playing out a 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia before another leveled match, this time 2-2 against Cape Verde.

With just two points to their name, La Celeste know a win is the safest route into the knockout stage, while anything less leaves their fate tangled up with the simultaneous Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia game in Houston.

Spain confirmed lineup

Luis De la Fuente looks set to stick with the same approach that overwhelmed Saudi Arabia, only making one change as Alex Baena will replace Nico Williams on the front.

Spain’s confirmed starting XI: Unai Simón; Marcos Llorente, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodri, Mikel Merino, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Alex Baena.

Uruguay confirmed lineup

For this game, Marcelo Bielsa decided to use Darwin Núñez ahead of Federico Viñas, who struggled to make an impact in the draw with Cape Verde. With everything on the line, Bielsa will turn to his most clinical finisher from kickoff.

Uruguay’s confirmed starting XI: Fernando Muslera; Guillermo Varela, Sebastián Cáceres, Mathías Olivera, Juan Manuel Sanabria; Federico Valverde, Manuel Ugarte, Rodrigo Bentancur; Agustín Canobbio, Darwin Núñez, Maximiliano Araújo.

Luis de la Fuente’s squad endured a shock start to their campaign, playing out a goalless draw against Cape Verde in their opener. However, the European champions roared back on Matchday 2, dismantling Saudi Arabia 4-0 behind goals from Lamine Yamal, a Mikel Oyarzabal brace, and a late own goal.

That statement win leaves Spain with four points and a healthy +4 goal differential, putting them firmly in control of Group H heading into the final round of fixtures. Uruguay, meanwhile, arrive at this one in must-win territory.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side has been unable to find a win through two matches, opening with a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia before being held again, this time 2-2 by Cape Verde. That leaves La Celeste on just two points and level on goal difference with Cape Verde, who face Saudi Arabia in Houston at the exact same time this match kicks off.

What happens if Spain beat Uruguay?

If Spain defeat Uruguay at Guadalajara Stadium, they will win Group H outright, regardless of the result in Houston, and advance to the Round of 32 as the group winners.

For Uruguay, a loss would be catastrophic. It would leave them on two points with little to no realistic path through as one of the tournament’s eight best third-placed teams, given how crowded that picture already is across the other groups.

What happens if Spain and Uruguay draw?

A draw would be enough for Spain to clinch top spot in Group H, since their +4 goal differential cushion is effectively insurmountable for Cape Verde unless the African debutants beat Saudi Arabia by an enormous margin.

For Uruguay, a draw would push them to three points, potentially finishing in either second or third place depending on the result of the other match. A draw in Houston would leave the South Americans level on points with Cape Verde, with whom they would also share the same goal difference.

In that scenario, second place would likely come down to goals scored, and if still level, the team conduct (fair play) score, with Uruguay’s superior FIFA ranking serving as the final tiebreaker.

However, a win for either Cape Verde or Saudi Arabia would see Uruguay cede second place in the group and drop to third, leaving them to hope for a path through to the Round of 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams.

What happens if Spain lose to Uruguay?

A win for La Celeste would send Uruguay through to the Round of 32 regardless of what happens between Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, lifting them to five points and likely the top of the group unless Cape Verde also win by a wide enough margin to overturn the goal-difference gap.

Spain, even in defeat, would still very likely advance. Sitting on four points with a strong goal differential cushion, the Europeans would only drop to third place if Cape Verde manage a win over Saudi Arabia, since the other two possible results would leave the 2010 champions in second.

Despite losing 3-2 to Turkiye on the final matchday, the tournament co-hosts finished the opening phase with six total points. However, the Americans had already mathematically clinched the top spot in the group on Matchday 2, courtesy of back-to-back victories over Paraguay and Australia.

On the other side of the group, Paraguay faced a strict must-win scenario against Australia to jump them in the standings for second place. However, a scoreless draw ultimately favored the Socceroos, who safely secured the runner-up spot thanks to a superior goal differential.

Despite failing to find the back of the net against Australia, the South Americans finish the opening phase with a respectable four points. Thanks to that healthy point tally, La Albirroja are in an excellent position to progress to the Round of 32 as one of the tournament’s eight best third-place wild cards.

Venues and potential rivals for the USMNT and Australia

By virtue of capturing the top spot in Group D, the USMNT will play their high-stakes Round of 32 knockout opener on Wednesday, July 1, at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As for Australia, the second-place finish sends the Socceroos to Dallas Stadium on Friday, July 3. Their Round of 32 opponent will be the runner-up emerging directly from Group G, a highly competitive zone consisting of Belgium, New Zealand, Iran, and Egypt.

Writing on his official accounts, Schweinsteiger questioned his country’s lack of attacking identity. Despite Germany successfully advancing to the Round of 32 as the top seed in Group E, their final performance of the opening round left a bitter taste in the mouths of fans and pundits alike.

“Congratulations to Ecuador. They consistently followed through on their game. At the DFB, I missed clarity and dominance on the ball today. Against such a compact opponent, you need more depth, better running lanes – and in such pitch conditions, also the courage for the long ball,“ Schweinsteiger posted.

Germany looked thoroughly overwhelmed by Ecuador’s high press for large stretches of the match. Although the Europeans managed to strike early with a quick opening goal, they failed to generate any sustained danger afterward, allowing Sebastian Beccacece’s relentless squad to mount a dramatic comeback and secure the historic victory.

With this triumph—Ecuador’s first-ever victory over Germany—the South American side finishes the group stage with four points, putting themselves in an excellent position to advance to the knockout rounds as one of the tournament’s best third-place wild cards.

Germany’s potential Round of 32 opponents

Having already locked up first place in Group E prior to the final whistle, Germany will officially kick off their knockout stage campaign on June 29 at Boston Stadium.

According to FIFA’s tournament seeding rules, their Round of 32 opponent will emerge as a third-place wild card from one of the following groups: Group A (South Korea), Group B (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Group C (Scotland), Group D (Paraguay), or Group F (Sweden).

Meanwhile, should Ecuador successfully punch their ticket to the Round of 32 via the wild-card standings, projection models from The Athletic indicate a high probability that they will be funneled into a blockbuster matchup against co-hosts Mexico. Other mathematically viable, though less likely, opponents for the South Americans include England and Switzerland.

After a brutal start to the tournament—suffering a heavy 4-1 loss to the USMNT in their opener—Paraguay showed immense character to bounce back on Matchday 2, grinding out a vital 1-0 victory over Turkiye to keep their World Cup ambitions fully alive.

For Australia, the path was exactly reversed. The Socceroos kicked off their campaign in style with a convincing 2-0 win over Turkiye, but subsequently fell by the same 2-0 scoreline to the United States, setting up this winner-take-all finale.

Because of how the group has unfolded, this closing match functions as a strict must-win scenario for Paraguay. A draw would ultimately benefit Australia, who currently hold the upper hand in the standings thanks to a superior goal differential.

Paraguay confirmed lineup

Argentine manager Gustavo Alfaro will be forced to alter his starting XI due to a massive tactical blow as Miguel Almirón is suspended after picking up a red card against Turkiye. In his absence, Paraguay will lean heavily on the explosive creative talents of Julio Enciso and Gabriel Avalos to spearhead the attack.

Paraguay’s confirmed starting XI: Orlando Gill; Juan José Cáceres, Gustavo Velázquez, Gustavo Gómez, Omar Alderete, Alexandro Maidana; Diego Gomez, Andrés Cubas, Matías Galarza, Julio Enciso; Gabriel Avalos.

Australia confirmed lineup

Despite holding the statistical advantage in the qualification race where a draw suffices, Australia has no intention of playing defensively. Manager Tony Popovic is set to field a highly aggressive, attack-minded side spearheaded by teenage sensation Nestory Irankunda.

Australia’s confirmed starting XI: Patrick Beach; Aziz Behich, Alessandro Circati, Harry Souttar, Lucas Herrington, Jordan Bos; Jackson Irvine, Aiden O’Neill; Connor Metcalfe, Cristian Volpato; Nestory Irankunda.

Gustavo Alfaro’s squad endured a nightmare start to their campaign after suffering a heavy 4-1 defeat at the hands of the USMNT in their opener. However, the South Americans showed immense resilience on Matchday 2, grinding out a vital 1-0 victory over Turkiye.

That gutsy triumph revived Paraguay‘s tournament, leaving them with three points and a golden opportunity to lock up a second-place finish. To do so, however, they must overcome an Australian side sitting in the exact same position.

The Socceroos kicked off their Group D run with a solid 2-0 victory over Turkiye, but subsequently hit a roadblock against the tournament co-hosts, falling 2-0 to the United States. As a result, this final group fixture stands as a virtual playoff, with the winner guaranteed to progress behind the USMNT.

What happens if Paraguay beat Australia?

If Paraguay defeat Australia at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, La Albirroja will automatically punch their ticket to the Round of 32, securing the group’s second-place seed right behind the United States.

What happens if Paraguay and Australia draw?

Should the match end in a stalemate, Australia will claim the second-place spot in Group D by virtue of a superior goal differential. Nevertheless, all hope would not be lost for the South Americans.

A draw would leave Paraguay with four points, giving them an incredibly strong chance to advance to the knockout rounds as one of the tournament’s eight best third-place wild cards.

What happens if Paraguay lose to Australia?

A victory for the Socceroos would see the oceanian side advance directly into the Round of 32 as the second seed out of the group. Under this scenario, Paraguay would be left in a precarious position with just three points, leaving their qualification hopes hanging entirely on the final third-place wild-card tiebreakers.

Yet, for fans tuning in across North America and around the world, his background sparks a natural curiosity: Why does a player with deep African roots born in Kigoma, Tanzania represent Australia?

The roots of his journey trace back to the mid-1990s, when a violent civil war tore Burundi apart. The escalating conflict forced his parents, Gideon and Dafroza Irankunda, to flee their homeland for their own safety. They eventually crossed the border into Tanzania, finding shelter in a refugee camp in Kigoma, where Nestory was later born.

When Nestory was just three months old, his family was granted resettlement in Australia through a humanitarian program. The family initially touched down in Western Australia before permanently relocating and planting roots in Adelaide.

Irankunda’s soccer journey

Growing up in the northern suburbs of Adelaide, Nestory initially started playing soccer as a central defender. However, his raw athleticism, blistering pace, and thunderous shooting ability quickly caught the eye of local scouts, prompting coaches to push him further up the pitch into an attacking role.

The explosive winger rose rapidly through the ranks of local youth side Adelaide Croatia Raiders before signing with A-League club Adelaide United. His spectacular, highlight-reel performances in the domestic league eventually earned him a high-profile dream transfer to European soccer, where he signed with Bayern Munich in 2023.

However, after spending most of his initial European stint with Bayern Munich’s reserve squad, the Australian winger was sent on loan to Swiss top-flight club Grasshopper Zurich to gain valuable senior experience. Following his spell in Switzerland, he was permanently transferred to English side Watford, where he currently features in the EFL Championship.

Eligibility and international allegiance

Because of his background, Irankunda was technically eligible to represent three different nations on the international stage, holding the option to choose between Tanzania, Burundi, and Australia.

Ultimately, the dynamic forward chose to commit his international future to Australia—the country that welcomed his family, raised him, and provided him with the developmental tools to blossom into a professional athlete.

Irankunda progressed entirely through Australia’s national team development pathway, starring for the U-17 squad before making his highly anticipated senior debut for the Socceroos in June 2024.

Despite suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat to Ecuador on the final matchday, Germany’s position at the top of the table remained secure. Die Mannschaft clinched the top spot with six points, courtesy of back-to-back victories over Curacao and the Ivory Coast in their opening two matches.

On the flip side, the Les Éléphants delivered a commanding 2-0 victory over Curacao to lock down second place in the group, automatically booking their spot in the knockout stage.

Meanwhile, Ecuador’s impressive upset over Germany saw them finish third in the group with four points, keeping their tournament alive as they await the final wild-card standings to see if they advance as one of the tournament’s best third-place teams. Curacao finishes at the bottom of the group, heading home with just a single point.

Round of 32 venues and potential matchups

By virtue of winning Group E, Germany will play their Round of 32 match on June 29 at Boston Stadium. The European giants will square off against one of the wild-card third-place finishers emerging from Groups A, B, C, D, or F.

As for the Ivory Coast, the African nation will take the pitch for their knockout opener on June 30 at Dallas Stadium. Their opponent will be the runner-up from Group I, a spot currently projected to be claimed by either powerhouse France or Norway.

The outlook is a bit more unpredictable for Ecuador. Should they successfully slip into the Round of 32 as one of the eight best third-place teams, their exact placement will be determined by FIFA’s tournament bracket draw.

Depending on how the final wild cards shake out, La Tri could find themselves lined up against heavyweight opponents like England, Switzerland, or co-hosts Mexico, among others.

Ronald Koeman’s squad currently controls the top of the table and is safe from a last-place finish. The Oranje bounced back from a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Japan in their opener with a resounding 5-1 thrashing of Sweden on Matchday 2.

However, they are currently tied on points with Japan. While both nations share the exact same goal differential, the Netherlands holds a slight advantage courtesy of having scored one more goal than the Asian side. Because of this razor-thin margin, the Dutch will be hunting for a decisive victory to secure the first-place seed heading into the knockout rounds.

For Tunisia, the outlook is bleak. The African nation enters the final matchday with zero chance of reaching the next round. Having suffered defeats in both of their previous matches, the Eagles of Carthage have been mathematically eliminated from even contesting a third-place wild-card spot.

The Netherlands confirmed lineup

For this final group fixture, manager Ronald Koeman is will stick with Brian Brobbey as his central striker. The forward is in excellent form after netting a brilliant brace during the 5-1 routing of Sweden.

The Netherlands’ confirmed lineup: Bart Verbruggen; Denzel Dumfries, Jan Paul van Hecke, Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake; Ryan Gravenberch, Frenkie de Jong, Tijjani Reijnders; Donyell Malen, Brian Brobbey, Cody Gakpo.

Tunisia confirmed lineup

Tunisia head coach Herve Renard, who was parachuted in as manager mid-tournament following an opening-match coaching change, has a fully healthy squad at his disposal. Despite his team already being eliminated, Renard will look to field his strongest side to salvage pride and hunt for all three points.

Tunisia’s confirmed lineup: Aymen Dahmen; Rani Khedira, Montassar Talbi, Amine Ben Hmida; Yan Valery, Ellyes Skhiri, Hannibal Mejbri, Ismael Gharbi, Ali Abdi; Anis Ben Slimane, Hazem Mastouri.

Ronald Koeman’s squad currently controls the top of the table. The Dutch bounced back from an opening-day 2-2 draw against Japan with a dominant 5-1 thrashing of Sweden on Matchday 2.

Despite sitting in pole position, the Europeans are not entirely out of the woods. Depending on the outcome of the parallel fixture between Japan and Sweden, the Netherlands could still drop to second or even third place by the end of the day.

For Tunisia, the tournament is effectively over. The African nation has been mathematically eliminated from knockout stage contention. After suffering back-to-back defeats against Japan and Sweden, tournament tiebreaker rules make it impossible for them to climb out of the basement.

What happens if the Netherlands beat Tunisia?

A victory over Tunisia would push the Netherlands to seven points. However, they will still have to keep a close eye on the Japan vs Sweden match to officially claim the group title.

A draw or a loss for Japan automatically hands the Netherlands first place. However, if the Samurai Blue secure a blowout win, they could potentially snatch the top spot away from the Dutch on goal differential or total goals scored.

What happens if the Netherlands and Tunisia draw?

Should the match end in a stalemate, the Netherlands will finish the group stage with five points. Their ultimate seeding will then hinge entirely on the other group fixture. A Japan victory would relegate the Dutch to second place, whereas a draw or a loss for the Asian side would secure first place for the Netherlands.

What happens if the Netherlands lose to Tunisia?

A shock defeat to Tunisia would only drop the Netherlands into third place if Sweden simultaneously defeats Japan. Under any other circumstance in the parallel match, a Dutch loss would see them advance into the Round of 32 as the second-place seed out of Group F.

With El Tri comfortably leading 2-0 in the 77th minute, manager Javier Aguirre made the sentimental decision to substitute starting goalkeeper Raúl Rangel, allowing Ochoa to step onto the pitch and log minutes in what will be the final World Cup cycle of his iconic career.

When asked by a reporter after the match what headline he would give to Mexico‘s commanding victory, Aguirre didn’t hesitate: “It was Memo Ochoa’s night,” the manager stated, adding that the veteran shot-stopper deserved every bit of the thunderous affection raining down from the stands.

By stepping onto the pitch, Ochoa marked his 12th career appearance in the tournament, moving him into a tie for third place on Mexico’s all-time World Cup appearances list alongside Héctor Moreno and Javier “Chicharito” Hernández.

Ochoa reflects on a historic moment

There is no doubt this was a uniquely emotional milestone for Ochoa. He entered the 2026 tournament accepting a backup role behind Rangel and likely wouldn’t have seen action under normal circumstances barring an unexpected injury.

However, with the victory fully secured, Memo got his moment in the spotlight to play in his final World Cup on home soil. “So many years running through my head, so many stories. My first match here, lifting trophies on this pitch, defining moments with the national team, and the love of the fans,” Ochoa said in a post-match on-field interview.

The veteran goalkeeper was also deeply emotional as he expressed his gratitude for being able to experience these milestone moments one final time. “I am incredibly grateful to the fans, to my teammates, and to my coach for letting me experience this final moment,” he added.

By finding the back of the net against Scotland, Vinicius brought his tournament tally to four goals, having already punished Morocco and Haiti earlier in the opening phase. With this feat, he becomes only the fifth Brazilian player in World Cup history to score at least one goal against every single opponent in a single group stage.

The dynamic winger joins a highly exclusive circle of Seleção royalty, alongside Jairzinho (Mexico ’70), Romário (USA ’94), and the legendary duo of Ronaldo and Rivaldo (Korea/Japan 2002).

Crucially for Brazilian fans, history sides with this achievement: every single time a Brazilian player has accomplished this group-stage sweep in the past, Brazil went on to lift the World Cup trophy.

Vinicius is enjoying a sensational run in North America. He currently leads Brazil’s scoring charts with four goals, putting him in a second-place tie with Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe for the tournament’s Golden Boot race, trailing only Lionel Messi (5 goals).

Carlo Ancelotti about Vinicius’ role

Following the emphatic victory, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti praised Vinicius’ world-class performance, shedding light on how the team’s tactical structure is designed to maximize the forward’s explosive energy.

“He is in fantastic physical condition. I think the team’s shape allows him to catch his breath when we don’t have possession. He doesn’t have a high defensive workload without the ball, but that keeps him significantly fresher for when we win it back,” Ancelotti noted during his post-match press conference.

The Italian tactician also emphasized the massive tactical advantage Vinicius provides by being able to seamlessly shift between playing centrally and out wide. “The fact that he works on his positioning, whether on the wing or playing inside, is a major asset for him. If he receives the ball out wide to score, he often has to take five or six touches. When he operates inside, a single sharp movement is enough to put it away,” Ancelotti added.

Despite this being a decisive fixture where only a win can keep Czechia‘s knockout hopes alive, coach Miroslav Koubek has made the bold decision to relegate Schick to the substitutes’ bench.

Stepping into the starting lineup in place of the Bayer Leverkusen striker is Adam Hlozek, who previously featured as a substitute in the opening-day defeat to South Korea before getting the nod to start in the 1-1 draw against South Africa.

In addition to the Czech striker’s absence, Koubek also opted to leave Tomas Soucek out of the starting lineup. The West Ham midfielder started in the tournament opener but was relegated to the bench for the second match.

What Czechia needs to qualify for the Round of 32

Czechia find theirselves in an incredibly precarious position heading into the final matchday of the group stage, facing a strict must-win scenario at Mexico City Stadium to keep their knockout stage dreams alive.

To have any hope of advancing to the Round of 32, Czechia must pull off an upset victory against Mexico while simultaneously cheering for South Africa to defeat South Korea in the parallel fixture. This combination would blow the group wide open, allowing them to vie for either second or third place in Group A.

Anything less than three points spells immediate elimination. A draw would leave the Czechs with a total of two points; while that could mathematically mirror a third-place finish depending on other results, a two-point tally will not be enough to advance via the tournament’s eight best third-place wild-card spots.

Despite suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to co-hosts Mexico on Matchday 2, South Korea remain in an excellent position to advance. Their opening-day 2-1 victory over Czechia means the Taegeuk Warriors control their own destiny.

For this South Korea’s crucial game, Son Heung-min won’t feature in the starting lineup, where a draw will be enough to officially guarantee their place in the next round.

The path ahead is significantly steeper for South Africa. The Bafana Bafana have accumulated just one point in the group standings, courtesy of a dramatic, late equalizer against Czechia on Matchday 2. Consequently, South Africa face a non-negotiable must-win scenario to keep their World Cup journey alive.

South Africa confirmed lineup

With a victory being the only avenue to secure a spot in the Round of 32, manager Hugo Broos is expected to field his absolute strongest XI to spearhead the attack and hunt for all three points.

South Africa’s confirmed lineup: Ronwen Williams; Khuliso Mudau, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Ime Okon, Aubrey Modiba; Thalente Mbatha, Sphephelo Sithole; Thapelo Maseko, Relebohile Mofokeng, Oswin Appollis; Evidence Makgopa.

South Korea confirmed lineup

Manager Hong Myung-bo faces late fitness tests on two key starters. Defender Kim Min-jae and midfielder Bae Jun-ho are both racing against the clock after picking up ankle knocks, meaning they could potentially start on the bench.

South Korea’s confirmed lineup: Kim Seung-gyu; Han-Beom Lee, Kim Min-jae, Gi-Hyuk Lee; Young-woo Seol, Paik Seung-ho, Hwang In-beom, Lee Tae-seok; Lee Kang-in, Hwang Hee-chan; Oh Hyeon-gyu.

For Mexico, the match carries no real danger. The tournament co-hosts have already secured a safe passage into the Round of 32 and mathematically locked up the top spot in Group A, regardless of the outcome of this match or the parallel fixture between South Korea and South Africa.

Back-to-back victories in their opening matches against South Africa and South Korea allowed El Tri to secure the group crown early. However, the outlook is entirely different for Czechia.

The Europeans suffered a costly opening-day defeat to South Korea before fighting to a draw against South Africa on Matchday 2. Sitting in a precarious position, the Czechs have no choice but to hunt for all three points; a single point or another loss will leave them with an insufficient total to advance via the tournament’s third-place wild-card pool.

Czechia confirmed lineup

Faced with a non-negotiable must-win scenario, the Czech side is expected to roll out a highly aggressive tactical approach. Manager Miroslav Koubek looks poised to inject elite attacking quality into the starting squad by introducing Adam Hlozek from the opening whistle.

Czechia’s confirmed lineup: Matej Kovar; Tomas Holes, Robin Hranac, Ladislav Krejci; Vladimir Coufal, Lukas Cerv, Michal Sadilek, David Doudera; Pavel Sulc, Denis Visinsky; Adam Hlozek.

Mexico confirmed lineup

With the luxury of having the top spot completely locked up, Mexico manager Javier Aguirre is expected to implement notable squad rotations to preserve the physical fitness of his core stars while still fielding a formidable, highly competitive backbone.

Mexico’s confirmed lineup: Raúl Rangel; Jorge Sánchez, Israel Reyes, Cesar Montes, Mateo Chavez; Luis Romo, Edson Álvarez, Gilberto Mora; Roberto Alvarado, Guillermo Martinez, Julián Quiñones.

Despite becoming a central figure for the Mexican national team, Quiñones’ backstory is highly unique. The striker was not born in Mexico; instead, he was born and raised in Magüí Payán, Colombia, spending his childhood there before moving to Mexican soil to jumpstart his professional career.

In 2015, at just 18 years old, Quiñones signed with Liga MX giants Tigres UANL. Mexico quickly became his second home. Over the next eight years, the forward bounced between various Mexican clubs—including Venados, Lobos BUAP, and a historic back-to-back championship run with Atlas—before cementing his superstar status with Club América.

Having lived, worked, and excelled in the country continuously for nearly a decade, Quiñones officially checked all the legal boxes to seek Mexican citizenship. In October 2023, he received his naturalization papers, officially making him a Mexican citizen.

Quiñones earned his lock-solid spot on Javier Aguirre’s World Cup roster for one very concrete reason: his blistering goalscoring form. The forward closed out the 2025–26 Saudi Pro League season with an astonishing 33 goals in 31 matches for Al-Qadsiah, a spectacular tally that saw him win the Golden Boot ahead of elite world-class stars like Ivan Toney and Cristiano Ronaldo.

How did Quiñones become eligible for Mexico?

Under FIFA’s eligibility rules, holding a country’s passport is not always enough to represent them internationally. A player must also meet specific criteria regarding residency or lineage, and they cannot have played in a competitive, senior-level international match for another country.

Quiñones fit the bill perfectly. Because he lived in Mexico continuously for more than five years after turning 18 and never made a competitive appearance for Colombia’s senior national team, he cleared every FIFA hurdle required to change his international allegiance.

Quiñones rejected playing for Colombia

In the summer of 2023, the Colombian Football Federation reached out to Quiñones regarding a potential call-up to their senior squad. While the forward initially considered representing his birth country, he ultimately chose to commit his international future to Mexico—a decision he made as a profound token of gratitude to the country that gave him everything as a player.

The tournament co-hosts enter this final group match with their spot in the Round of 32 completely locked up, courtesy of an opening-day victory over South Africa and a decisive Matchday 2 win against South Korea.

Because the tournament’s primary tiebreaker is head-to-head record, Mexico are mathematically guaranteed the top spot in the group. Even if El Tri fall to Czechia and South Korea thrash South Africa, the Asians cannot overtake Mexico due to their head-to-head disadvantage.

For Czechia, the outlook is entirely different. The Europeans are in desperate need of a victory to keep their World Cup alive. A win could potentially vault them into second place if South Korea drop points, or at the very least, put them in a prime position to advance as one of the tournament’s best third-place teams.

What happens if Mexico beat Czechia?

A victory for Mexico would wrap up a perfect, nine-point group stage performance. However, it won’t alter their tournament path, as El Tri secured the top spot on Matchday 2.

The Mexican national team will play their Round of 32 matchup on June 30, squaring off against one of the wild-card third-place finishers emerging from Groups C, E, F, H, or I.

What happens if Mexico and Czechia draw?

If the match ends in a stalemate, Mexico will close out the group stage with seven points. On the flip side, a single point would leave Czechia with a total of two points—officially eliminating them from the tournament, as two points will not be enough to advance via the third-place wild-card pool.

What happens if Mexico lose to Czechia?

A surprise defeat would do zero damage to Mexico’s standing since they have already clinched first place. It would, however, throw a massive lifeline to Czechia.

A victory would allow the Czechs to finish second if South Africa manage a favorable result against South Korea, or give them a fighting chance to sneak into the Round of 32 as one of the eight best third-place teams.

The Argentine confirmed he has asked the Madrid club’s executives to negotiate a transfer, stating he believes a move is best for all parties involved. However, his comments have reportedly gone down incredibly poorly with his current employers.

According to reports published by insider Fabrizio Romano and Spanish outlet As, an Atletico Madrid source took aim at Barcelona‘s front office, warning them that the club will not sell the player to them and that meeting his release clause is the only alternative.

“There is no amount of money for which Barca can buy Julian Alvarez. He will not be transferred to Barcelona. Either they pay the release clause for €500m or there is no deal,” the Atletico source stated. The club made it clear they will only let the Argentine leave if his €500 million ($535 million) buyout clause is met in full—an impossible figure in modern soccer.

What did Julian Alvarez say?

Following Argentina’s convincing win over Austria, Alvarez spoke with Argentine media in the mixed zone, where he revealed his desire to be transferred away from Atletico Madrid.

“I don’t think it’s the right time to talk about this, but I can’t hide or pretend otherwise either. I try to be an honest person. I spoke with the people at the club, with those I needed to talk to,” Alvarez said. “I think a transfer is best for everyone, and I want to fulfill my dream“.

Atletico Madrid snub Julian Alvarez on social media

Once the final whistle blew, the Madrid club’s official English-language social media account posted a message congratulating Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada for their performances. “Good win for our Argentines. Happy for your 60 games with Argentina, Moli,” the club wrote alongside an image of the two players who started the match in Dallas.

However, it was highly conspicuous that the club made absolutely no mention of Alvarez, who also saw minutes coming off the bench. Notably, the club’s post was published shortly after the forward’s bombshell media availability confirming his intent to force an exit.

Following a tough 3-0 defeat to Argentina in their opening match, the North Africans are backed into a corner where another loss would prematurely end their hopes of advancing to the next round.

On the other side of the pitch, Jordan are in a mirroring situation. Having suffered a 3-1 opening-day loss to Austria, this head-to-head clash could serve as an early tournament farewell for whichever nation falls short.

With Argentina’s recent 2-0 victory over Austria—featuring a historic brace from Lionel Messi to surpass Miroslav Klose as the World Cup’s all-time top scorer—the reigning champions have officially punched their ticket to the Round of 32.

Consequently, only one qualifying spot remains up for grabs in the group, although there is also the possibility of qualifying as one of the best third-place teams.

What happens if Algeria beat Jordan?

A victory is exactly what Algeria need to put theirselves back in a favorable position. Should they defeat Jordan, the Fennec Foxes will head into the final matchday controlling their own destiny, setting up a winner-take-all showdown against Austria for the final spot in the Round of 32.

What happens if Algeria and Jordan draw?

A stalemate would leave Algeria’s hopes on life support. With just one point to their name, they would be forced into a absolute must-win scenario against Austria on the final matchday, while relying heavily on goal differential and other results to slip through.

What happens if Algeria lose to Jordan?

If Algeria lose, they will find theirselves at the bottom of the table with zero points and on the brink of elimination. Their only hope would be to defeat Austria on the final matchday and aim to qualify for the Round of 32 as one of the eight best third-place teams.

Following a tough 3-0 defeat to reigning world champions Argentina in their tournament opener, Algeria sit at No. 29 in the live FIFA World Rankings. They now face a stiff uphill climb in a competitive group that features Argentina (No. 1), Austria (No. 22), and Jordan (No. 68).

The Fennec Foxes are currently making their fifth appearance at a World Cup, but they can no longer afford any slipups. A defeat against a gritty Jordan side would push them to the brink of a premature group-stage exit.

Algeria will target three vital points against their Asian opponents to put themselves in a favorable position heading into the final matchday, where they are scheduled to clash with Austria in what shapes up to be a direct shootout for a place in the knockout rounds.

Algeria’s dominant road to North America

The North African side is making its highly anticipated return to soccer’s biggest stage after a 12-year absence. They last competed at Brazil 2014, where they memorably advanced to the Round of 16 to secure the nation’s best-ever finish in tournament history.

Their qualifying path to the 2026 tournament was a masterclass in consistency, as they comfortably topped Group G in the CAF (African) Qualifiers.

Navigating a group that included Uganda, Mozambique, Guinea, Botswana, and Somalia, Algeria finished as lone leaders with 25 points—sitting a comfortable seven points ahead of their closest chaser.

They punched their ticket to North America on the back of an impressive qualifying campaign, racking up eight victories, one draw, and just a single defeat.

Following a tough 3-1 defeat to Austria in their tournament opener, Jordan slipped to No. 68 in the live FIFA World Rankings. They are the clear underdogs in a powerhouse group that also features reigning champions Argentina (No. 1), Algeria (No. 29), and Austria (No. 22).

This tournament marks Jordan’s first-ever historic appearance at a World Cup, but the debutants are already facing a do-or-die scenario. A defeat against Algeria would officially eliminate them from the group stage with one game left to play.

The Chivalrous are hunting for three vital points against the North Africans to set up a meaningful final matchday clash. That final group game will come against world No. 1 Argentina, who have already secured their place in the Round of 32.

Jordan’s road to a historic first World Cup appearance

Jordan’s presence at the 2026 World Cup represents an absolute milestone for the nation’s soccer history. They successfully qualified for soccer’s biggest stage for the first time ever after decades of heartbreak, cementing the peak of their current sporting cycle.

Their tickets to North America were punched following a stellar campaign in the AFC Asian Qualifiers. Jordan finished second in Group B during the third round, trailing only South Korea while beating out a heavily favored Iraq squad. They officially secured their spot on June 5, 2025, with a dominant 3-0 victory over Oman.

While the tournament’s expansion to 48 teams opened up more slots for the Asian confederation, Jordan’s success is no fluke. The squad has shown immense growth over the last two years, most notably during their fairytale run at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, where they shocked the continent by reaching the final for the first time in history.

Norway enter the game riding high after a dominant 4-1 victory over Iraq in their opener. That match featured a brilliant brace from Erling Haaland, who is fully fit and locked into the starting lineup once again as Norway hunt for the victory that would secure their spot in the Round of 32.

The outlook could not be more different for Senegal. Following a tough 3-1 defeat to France in their opener, the African side enters this match with their backs against the wall—a loss would officially eliminate them from the tournament.

Norway confirmed lineup

Manager Stale Solbakken has a completely healthy and available squad for this qualification clash, with no injury concerns or suspension worries carrying over from the opening match.

Norway’s confirmed lineup: Orjan Nyland; Julian Ryerson, Kristoffer Ajer, Torbjorn Heggem, David Wolfe; Martin Odegaard, Sander Berge, Fredrik Aursnes, Antonio Nusa; Erling Haaland, Alexander Sorloth.

Senegal confirmed lineup

For this must-win fixture, Senegal manager Pape Thiaw also boasts a full squad at his disposal. However, tactical adjustments are highly anticipated as he looks to bounce back from the opening-day loss to France.

Senegal’s confirmed lineup: Edouard Mendy; Krépin Diatta, Kalidou Koulibaly, Moussa Niakhaté, El Hadji Malick Diouf; Lamine Camara, Idrissa Gueye, Pape Gueye, Ismaïla Sarr; Nicolas Jackson, Sadio Mané.

Following a dominant 4-1 victory over Iraq—where Erling Haaland made his highly anticipated World Cup debut by netting a brilliant brace—Norway captured three valuable points to climb to the top of the group standings alongside France.

That opening victory puts the Europeans in a position to secure a spot in the Round of 32 with a win over Senegal. Meanwhile, the African side faces a incredibly difficult path after suffering a 3-1 defeat to France in their opener.

That loss dropped Senegal to the bottom of the table alongside Iraq, leaving them with absolutely no margin for error; another defeat would officially eliminate them from knockout contention.

What happens if Norway beat Senegal?

Should the Europeans secure a victory in East Rutherford, Norway will officially punch their ticket to the Round of 32. In that scenario, their final group match against France would serve as a straight shootout to determine who wins Group I.

What happens if Norway and Senegal draw?

If the match ends in a stalemate, Norway will move to four points in the standings, keeping them in an excellent position to advance. Under this outcome, a mere draw against France on the final matchday would guarantee their qualification.

What happens if Norway lose to Senegal?

If Senegal pull off the upset and defeat the Europeans, Norway’s road ahead becomes significantly more complicated. They would be forced to play for all three points against France in their final group match while hoping Senegal drop points against Iraq in theirs.

After locking up the top spot in the group and securing qualification to the next round, manager Lionel Scaloni spoke to the media and shared his thoughts on the field of contenders.

“There are a lot of national teams that can become world champions. There are at least seven or eight that are ready to compete,” Scaloni began during his post-match press conference. “The World Cup isn’t about favoritism; it’s about the psychological and physical aspects”.

The Argentine tactician went on to predict that one of soccer’s established powerhouses will ultimately lift the trophy in North America. “There are so many elite teams that I am sure one of the big nations will win the World Cup. We are going to be right there in that fight, but it’s going to be tough for everyone—both for them facing us, and for us facing them,” he added.

Scaloni breaks down Austria and draws parallels to Algeria match

Following the victory, Scaloni noted that Austria proved to be a difficult opponent boasting significant height and a highly physical style of play. While La Albiceleste faced moments of intense pressure, the manager praised his squad’s composure to see the game through.

“We suffered, but we know how to handle suffering. That’s a credit to this team, which knew exactly what to do,” Scaloni remarked. “They are a complicated opponent with a lot of height and physicality. I’m happy we qualified. It might have looked easy from the outside, but it wasn’t”.

The Argentine boss also drew comparisons between Austria and their opening-match opponent, Algeria, noting both teams’ ability to disrupt an opponent’s rhythm. “It was very similar, quite comparable. You are dealing with an opponent that has high-caliber players who feature for top clubs and know how to make life difficult for you,” Scaloni concluded.

There is, however, a stunning caveat to Room’s masterclass: while the former USMNT star needed 120 minutes of extra time to accumulate his 16 saves, the Curacao shot-stopper reached his 15-save mark in just 90 minutes of regulation.

Howard originally set the benchmark with his iconic performance during the Round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where the USMNT ultimately fell 2-1 to Belgium in overtime.

Room signaled early on that it was going to be a special night, denying Ecuadorian star Enner Valencia in a crucial one-on-one situation just two minutes into the match. The Netherlands-born keeper was an absolute wall at Kansas City Stadium, rightfully earning Man of the Match honors.

Ecuador unleashed a relentless barrage of 27 total shots, putting 15 on target—all of which were repelled by Room. The veteran keeper booked six saves in the first half before standing on his head in the second half to register nine more.

Room continues to headline Curacao’s historic milestones

This unforgettable night will live forever in the memory of Room and the entire island nation of Curacao, marking a monumental milestone on the world stage. Incredibly, this isn’t the first time the 37-year-old goalkeeper has orchestrated a historic record-breaking night for his country.

Back in 2019, Curacao shocked Honduras with a 1-0 victory to secure their first-ever win in Gold Cup history. The goalkeeper who stole the show that night with exactly 15 saves? None other than Eloy Room.

Just hours after the North African side’s devastating tournament debut, federation officials dismissed the 54-year-old manager, who ultimately lasted just five total matches in charge of the national team.

Forced into an emergency coaching search, Tunisia officially unveiled Renard on June 16—leaving the Frenchman with just five days to prepare for a critical Matchday 2 showdown against Japan, where a defeat would officially eliminate Tunisia from the competition.

Renard brings wealth of World Cup experience to Tunisia

This will be far from the first time the French tactician roams the sidelines on soccer’s biggest stage. In fact, Tunisia marks the third different national team Renard has led into a World Cup tournament.

His first showcase came with Morocco at Russia 2018, where his squad managed just a single point in the group stage before an early exit. He followed that up with Saudi Arabia at Qatar 2022, stunning Lionel Messi and eventual champions Argentina with a 2-1 victory in the opening match.

By taking the helm for Tunisia in 2026, Renard has become only the second French manager in soccer history to coach at least three different nations at the World Cup. He trails only the legendary Henri Michel, who holds the record by managing four different countries: France (1986), Cameroon (1994), Morocco (1998), and the Ivory Coast (2006).

Hervé Renard’s coaching career

The French manager boasts an incredibly seasoned and diverse resume, featuring stints in Europe alongside highly successful tenures guiding multiple national teams across Africa and Asia.

The complete breakdown of Renard’s managerial journey:

• Cambridge United (England) – 2004
• AS Cherbourg (France) – 2005–2007
• Zambia National Team – 2008–2010 / 2011–2013
• Angola National Team – 2010
• USM Alger (Algeria) – 2011
• FC Sochaux (France) – 2013–2014
• Ivory Coast National Team – 2014-1015
• Lille OSC (France) – 2015
• Morocco National Team – 2016-2019
• Saudi Arabia National Team – 2019–2023 / 2024–2026
• Tunisia National Team – 2026-Present

Following a thrilling, dramatic 2-2 draw against the Netherlands—secured by a late, clutch equalizer from Daichi Kamada—the Samurai Blue are aiming for a victory at Guadalajara Stadium that would vault them to four points in the group standings.

Hajim Moriyasu’s squad has a golden opportunity against the group’s clear underdogs. Tunisia enter the match reeling from a devastating 5-1 thrashing by Sweden in their opener, a result that ultimately cost manager Sabri Lamouchi his job.

Hervé Renard will make his official debut on the Tunisian sidelines under immense pressure. He inherits a do-or-die scenario, as a defeat against Japan would officially eliminate the North African side from knockout contention.

What happens if Japan beat Tunisia?

Should Moriyasu’s side secure a victory over Tunisia, Japan would pull level with the Netherlands at the top of the group with four points. Under this scenario, a draw in their final group stage match against Sweden would be enough to officially punch Japan’s ticket to the Round of 32.

What happens if Japan and Tunisia draw?

If the match ends in a stalemate, the road ahead becomes significantly more complicated for Japan. A draw would leave them with just two points heading into the final matchday, making a win against Sweden an absolute necessity to guarantee their spot in the next round.

What happens if Japan lose to Tunisia?

If Tunisia pull off a massive upset and defeat Japan, the Asians would find themselves in the worst possible position. While they wouldn’t be mathematically eliminated, their backs would be completely against the wall.

Japan would be forced to win their final match against Sweden while relying heavily on the Netherlands to defeat Tunisia to have any hope of advancing.

Following a thrilling, late 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in their opener, Hajime Moriyasu’s squad enters Matchday 2 knowing a win would put them at four points and on the brink of qualification.

With the Netherlands coming off a dominant 5-1 thrashing of Sweden, a victory for Japan would draw them level on points with the Dutch, though they would likely sit in second place due to Oranje’s massive goal differential advantage.

On the other side of the pitch, Tunisia enters the match in absolute desperation following a brutal 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opener. That devastating result prompted the Tunisian federation to make a drastic managerial change, hiring Hervé Renard. Renard will make his official debut on the sidelines with the immense pressure of keeping his new team’s World Cup dreams alive.

A look at Japan’s rivals

The Netherlands remain the heavy favorites to win the group. Currently ranked No. 7 in the world, the Dutch have already racked up four points through two matches, scoring seven goals while conceding just three.

Sweden pose the other European threat in the group, boasting a dangerous Premier League frontline featuring Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak. Graham Potter’s squad are currently ranked No. 36 in the world and sit on three points after winning their opening match before falling to defeat on Matchday 2.

Finally, Tunisia rounds out the group as the clear underdogs. Ranked No. 54 globally, the North African side is reeling from their 5-1 opening loss. With the margin for error completely gone, another defeat would officially eliminate them from the tournament.

Ecuador thoroughly dominated the opening 45 minutes, but Room single-handedly kept the South Americans off the scoresheet by racking up six spectacular saves before the intermission.

The story remained unchanged in the second half. Ecuador manager Sebastián Beccacece threw every available attacking option onto the pitch in search of a winner.

However, they simply could not breach the unbreakable defense anchored by Room, who guided his country to a historic, golden point on the world stage.

Sebastián Beccacece’s Ecuador side suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to the Ivory Coast in their tournament opener. They now find themselves in urgent need of a victory to keep their dreams of advancing to the knockout rounds alive.

On the other side of the pitch, Curacao is looking to rebound after being dismantled 7-1 by Germany in their debut. The Caribbean nation will be aiming to pull off a massive South American upset to avoid an early exit from the world stage.

Ecuador confirmed lineup

In search of a spark, the Argentine manager is expected to shake things up significantly from the opening match. Beccacece could alter his tactical formation entirely to prioritize a highly aggressive, must-win approach.

Ecuador’s confirmed lineup: Hernán Galíndez; Alan Franco, Willian Pacho, Piero Hincapié, Jervis Estupiñán; Jordy Alcívar, Pedro Vite, Moisés Caicedo; Gonzalo Plata, Enner Valencia, John Yeboah.

Curacao confirmed lineup

Head coach Dick Advocaat has the luxury of a fully fit squad ahead of this matchup. Despite the heavy defeat to Germany, the Caribbean side escaped without any fresh injury concerns or disciplinary suspensions.

Curacao’s confirmed lineup: Eloy Room; Jurien Gaari, Armando Obispo, Sherel Floranus, Deveron Fonville; Leandro Bacuna, Livano Comenencia, Juninho Bacuna; Tahith Chong, Jurgen Locadia.

The Brazilian medical staff confirmed that the forward sustained a muscle injury to his right thigh. They noted that he will immediately undergo intensive treatment in hopes of getting him fit for the knockout stages.

While the exact recovery timeline was not detailed, the Barcelona winger has already been ruled out for the Matchday 3 clash against Scotland, where Brazil will look to officially lock up their spot in the Round of 32.

Meanwhile, Ancelotti confirmed that Neymar will be named to the squad facing Scotland. The plan is for the superstar to log some minutes and test his fitness on the pitch after a prolonged spell on the sidelines.

A familiar setback for Raphinha

This diagnosis marks the fifth time Raphinha has suffered an injury to that exact area just this season. The recurring issue previously forced the winger to miss critical matches with Barcelona, including a decisive Champions League clash against Atlético Madrid and the final stretch of their successful La Liga title run.

His most recent setback prior to this tournament occurred on international duty during the March FIFA window. In a friendly against France in Boston, he was subbed off at halftime after suffering a torn biceps femoris in his right thigh.

When could Raphinha return?

Although no official timeline has been released by the federation, Brazilian outlet GE Globo reports that the national team’s medical staff is targeting a potential return for the Round of 16 in two weeks, should Brazil advance.

“The imaging tests didn’t reveal anything severe, but the national team’s medical department will wait a few days to monitor the injury. Because the setback is so recent, fluid and swelling are currently making a more precise diagnosis difficult,” the outlet reported.

Under strict new regulations implemented by FIFA ahead of this World Cup, any player who intentionally covers their mouth while arguing with an opponent or an official is subject to an automatic red card. This marks the 2026 World Cup very first ejection under the newly ratified FIFA disciplinary guidelines.

The incident unfolded right before the halftime whistle, with the Albirroja holding a 1-0 lead courtesy of an opening goal from Matías Galarza. Following a hard foul that triggered a brief scuffle between both sets of players, Almirón exchanged words with a Turkish opponent.

In the heat of the argument, the Paraguayan midfielder brought his hand up to cover his mouth while speaking—instantly triggering the referee’s whistle and the historic red card.

What is the origin of the rule?

The mandate was originally introduced following a high-profile controversy between Vinícius Jr and Gianluca Prestianni during Real Madrid’s clash against Benfica at the Champions League.

In that incident, the Brazilian forward accused the Argentine of using racial slurs while deliberately covering his mouth. The act helped Prestianni to hide his words from television cameras and made lip-reading impossible, leaving officials without definitive video evidence.

Carlo Ancelotti’s squad came out with aggressive intent right from the opening whistle, hunting for an early breakthrough to settle any nerves. That opener arrived in the 23rd minute when Matheus Cunha found the back of the net to break the deadlock.

With the early advantage secured, the Seleção looked completely in their element, turning up the pressure to hunt for more. Cunha struck again just 12 minutes later to double the lead. Right before the halftime whistle, Vinícius Júnior added a third to effectively ice the game before the teams even headed down the tunnel.

With this crucial three points in the bag, Brazil climb to four points, putting them level with Morocco at the top of Group C, despite the Seleção currently holding the top spot on goal difference. Brazil will close out group play against Scotland on Wednesday, June 24, where they will look to officially punch their ticket to the Round of 32.

Following a frustrating 1-1 draw against Morocco in their tournament opener, the Seleção need a dominant performance to avoid a nightmare scenario heading into the final week of group play. Real Madrid superstar Vinícius Júnior is expected to start and will carry the mantle as the focal point of the Brazilian frontline.

Brazil will once again take the pitch in Philadelphia without their star Neymar, who stayed behind at the team’s base camp in New Jersey to continue his rehabilitation.

On the other side of the pitch stands a gritty Haiti team. While they dropped a tight 1-0 to Scotland in their opening match, the Caribbean nation generated several opportunities, proving they possess the defensive discipline and transition speed to potentially frustrate the South American giants and fight for a historic draw.

Brazil confirmed lineup

With Neymar as his only major absentee, Ancelotti is highly favored to run back a similar starting eleven to the one deployed at the New Jersey Stadium against Morocco, though Matheus Cunha and Danilo are replacing Roger Ibañez and Igor Thiago.

Brazil’s confirmed lineup: Alisson; Roger Ibañez, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Douglas Santos; Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes, Lucas Paqueta; Vinicius, Igor Thiago, Rapinha.

Haiti confirmed lineup

Haitian manager Sébastien Migné enters the match with a fully healthy roster, as his squad avoided any fresh injury setbacks or disciplinary suspensions during their physical opener against Scotland.

Haiti’s confirmed lineup: Johny Placide; Carlens Arcus, Romain Adé, Houboulang Mendes Delcroix; Martin Expérience, Jean-Kevin Duverne; Jeff Bellegarde, Danley Jean Jacques; Ruben Providence, Frantzdy Pierrot, Josue Casimir.

Officials from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed that Neymar did not travel with the team to Philadelphia for the upcoming group stage match. Instead, he will remain at the team’s training camp in New Jersey to focus strictly on the final stage of his medical rehabilitation.

The 34-year-old forward, who stands as the all-time leading goalscorer in Brazilian national team history, is currently recovering from a Grade 2 right calf strain. He originally sustained the injury in May while playing domestically for Santos.

At this time, medical staff have not determined whether he will be cleared to face Scotland on Wednesday, June 24, when both nations wrap up their respective group stage campaigns.

Can Brazil clinch a spot in the knockout stage vs Haiti?

Even with a dominant performance at Philadelphia Stadium, Brazil cannot mathematically lock up a spot in the Round of 32 on Matchday 2. Even if they secure a victory over Haiti, moving them to four points and putting them in an excellent position to advance, there remains a slim mathematical chance they could still be left on the outside looking in.

Should Carlo Ancelotti’s men take down Haiti, the Seleção would only need a simple draw on Matchday 3 against Scotland to officially punch their ticket to the knockout rounds. Even a final-day loss to the Scots could potentially see them slide through as one of the tournament’s top-ranked third-place wildcards.

On the flip side, a draw or a shock defeat against the Caribbean nation wouldn’t completely eliminate the South American giants, but it would paint an incredibly bleak picture. Any dropped points against Haiti would leave Brazil in a must-win situation against Scotland just to keep their World Cup campaign alive.

Following a commanding 4-1 blowout win over Paraguay in their tournament opener, Mauricio Pochettino’s squad stepped onto the pitch knowing that a victory would seal an early advancement.

However, they faced a resilient Socceroos side in the exact same position, as Australia had previously blanked Turkiye 2-0 in their debut and was looking to pull off a massive upset against the co-hosts in Seattle.

But the match completely belonged to the Americans from the opening whistle. The U.S. jumped out to an early lead in the 11th minute after an intense attacking sequence forced an own-goal from Australian defender Cameron Burgess.

The USMNT essentially iced the game just before the break when Alex Freeman found the back of the net, sealing the first-half brace of goals that sent the USMNT straight into the Round of 32.

When and who will the USMNT play in the Round of 32?

While the USMNT have already secured their spot in the bracket, they still have their Matchday 3 group finale against Turkiye on the schedule, which will ultimately determine exactly where they finish in the group.

Sitting on a perfect six points, Pochettino’s squad is in prime position to finish as the Group D winners. Should they lock down the top seed, they will take the pitch on July 1 against one of the tournament’s top wildcard third-place finishers.

There is still a mathematical scenario where a final-day loss to Turkiye could drop the Americans into second place. If they fall to the runner-up spot, the USMNT would instead play on July 3 against the second-place team from Group G, which features Belgium, Iran, New Zealand, and Egypt.

According to prominent Algerian outlets TSA and Compétition, citing official federation sources, the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) has reportedly launched a formal protest with FIFA. The complaint heavily targets the on-field officiating of Polish referee Szymon Marciniak and the bunker VAR team.

The primary point of friction stems from a controversial sequence in the 32nd minute. The FAF argues Messi committed a send-off-worthy offense when his studs caught the calf of defender Aissa Mandi on a challenge. Marciniak whistle-blew the foul but declined to flash a card or halt play for a formal VAR review, instantly triggering massive debates across sports media.

Weighing in on the controversy, soccer icon Thierry Henry contested the idea of a red card. While acknowledging heavy contact, Henry noted that Messi clearly intended to play the ball rather than malicious intent, validating the referee’s decision to bypass an ejection.

Algeria protest second flashpoint

The Messi incident isn’t the only grievance the FAF has raised against Marciniak’s crew. Algerian officials contend that the refereeing team missed another crucial call that completely altered the trajectory of the match.

The secondary protest focuses on a 74th-minute collision involving Alexis Mac Allister. The Algerians argue the Liverpool midfielder intentionally caught Ibrahim Maza in the face with an elbow and claim he should have received a straight red card for violent conduct.

What’s next for Algeria?

Despite the administrative uproar, Vladimir Petkovic’s squad faces a grueling uphill battle in Group J. With zero points on the board, the FAF knows that dropped points in their next fixture will effectively extinguish their dreams of reaching the knockout stage.

Algeria will look to salvage their tournament when they face Jordan on Tuesday, June 24, in a high-pressure, must-win battle between two sides fighting for survival after opening-day defeats.

In what was an incredibly cagey and physical midfield battle, as Luis Romo found the breakthrough in the 50th minute. The defining moment came from a costly blunder by South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, who fumbled a catch and dropped the ball right into the path of the Mexican midfielder, who tapped it into the back of the net for the lone goal of the match.

The Taegeuk Warriors threw everything forward in the final stages hunting for an equalizer, and they nearly found it in stoppage time. Yang Hyun-jun connected with a header, but Mexican goalkeeper Raúl Rangel came up with a spectacular save to preserve the clean sheet and lock down the massive win.

With a perfect six points, Mexico are safely through to the Round of 32, while South Korea remain in a strong position to advance, sitting comfortably in second place with 3 points.

Meanwhile, the tournament outlook has grown far more complicated for Czechia and South Africa. Following their 1-1 draw at Atlanta Stadium, both nations remain stuck at the bottom of Group A with just a single point each heading into the final matchday.

The road ahead of Group A

Mexico heading into Matchday 3 against Czechia at the historic Estadio Azteca on Wednesday, June 24, means they only need a single point to officially lock down the top seed out of Group A.

With qualification already comfortably secured, manager Javier Aguirre will likely utilize the opportunity to rotate his starting eleven and protect key players currently carrying minor knocks.

For South Korea, their path remain fully alive but entirely clear of any safety margins. In a high-stakes scenario, they will square off against South Africa at the exact same time as the other group finale.

A victory directly guarantees the Taegeuk Warriors passage to the next round, whereas a draw would force them to spend a nervous 90 minutes keeping a close eye on the tiebreaking math unfolding between Mexico and Czechia.