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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is nearing the end of its group stage, and the picture is getting clearer. With 60 matches played and 177 goals scored across 12 groups, teams are locking in their spots for the brand-new Round of 32. Host nations Mexico and the United States have already punched their tickets, while Lionel Messi leads the Golden Boot race with 5 goals.
Group Stage Recap: Completed Groups
Group A — Mexico Dominates
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico (Q) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 9 |
| 2 | South Africa (Q) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 4 |
| 3 | South Korea | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 3 |
| 4 | Czech Republic (E) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 1 |
Mexico was flawless — 3 wins, 6 goals scored, zero conceded. El Tri sent a clear message to the rest of the tournament. South Africa edges through in second place.
Group B — Canada Survives in Host Debut
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Switzerland (Q) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 7 |
| 2 | Canada (Q) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 4 |
| 3 | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 4 |
| 4 | Qatar (E) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 10 | -8 | 1 |
Canada’s 6-0 demolition of Qatar in Matchday 2 was the highlight. The Canadians advance in their first-ever World Cup on home soil, though they went out with a 2-1 loss to Switzerland in the finale.
Group C — USA Cruises Through
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States (Q) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 6 |
| 2 | Australia (Q) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | Paraguay | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 4 |
| 4 | Turkey (E) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 3 |
The USMNT kicked off with a dominant 4-1 win over Paraguay and a 2-0 victory over Australia before a shock 3-2 loss to Turkey. Still, 6 points was enough to top the group.
Group D — Germany Tops Despite Final Loss
Germany looked invincible after a 7-1 thrashing of Curaçao, but Ecuador stunned them 2-1 in Matchday 3. Ivory Coast also advanced with 6 points. Curaçao’s World Cup debut ends with 3 losses.
Group E — Netherlands Dominant
The Dutch scored 10 points with an explosive attack. Japan impressed with a 4-0 win over Tunisia to advance, while Sweden also snuck through as a best third-place team contender.
June 25 Results (Matchday 3)
- Ecuador 2-1 Germany — Angulo and Plata struck back after Sane’s early opener
- Japan 4-0 Tunisia — Kamada, Ueda (x2), and J. Ito ran riot
- Netherlands 3-1 Tunisia — Brobbey continued his hot streak
- Morocco 4-2 Haiti — Saibari scored again to seal passage
- Brazil 3-0 Scotland — Vinicius Jr. with a brace
What’s Happening Today (June 26)
Groups G, H, and I play their final matchday today. Keep an eye on:
- Group H: France (already qualified) vs Norway — likely the group decider
- Group I: Argentina (already qualified) vs Austria — Messi chasing more goals
- Group G: Spain, Uruguay, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia — wide open with all four still in contention
Knockout Stage Preview
The all-new Round of 32 kicks off June 28 and runs through July 3, followed by the Round of 16 (July 4-7), quarterfinals (July 9-11), semifinals (July 14-15), and the Final at MetLife Stadium on July 19. The final will feature a Super Bowl-style halftime show co-headlined by Madonna, Shakira, and BTS.
Lionel Messi leads the Golden Boot race with 5 goals, while the tournament has drawn nearly 3.9 million fans across 16 venues in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Looking Ahead
The expanded 48-team format has delivered plenty of drama already — debutants Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan all had memorable moments. With 8 third-placed teams also advancing, several bubble teams are waiting nervously for the final matchdays on June 27.
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