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The group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially come to a close after 17 days of thrilling action across 16 host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With 68 matches played and 201 goals scored, this expanded 48-team tournament has already broken attendance records and delivered unforgettable moments. Now, all eyes turn to the Round of 32, which kicks off tomorrow, June 28.
Tournament at a Glance
| Stat | Value |
| Matches Played | 68 |
| Goals Scored | 201 (2.96 per match) |
| Total Attendance | 4,504,855 (New World Cup Record) |
| Top Scorer | Lionel Messi (5 goals) â All-time WC record: 17 goals |
| Hosts Advancing | USA, Mexico, Canada (all 3) |
| Debutants Advancing | Cape Verde, Bosnia & Herzegovina |
Group Stage Results: Who’s In?
All 12 groups have concluded, and the 32 teams advancing to the knockout round have been decided. Here’s how each group finished:
| Group | Winner | Runner-Up | 3rd (Advancing) |
| A | đ˛đ˝ Mexico (9 pts) | đżđŚ South Africa (4 pts) | đ°đˇ South Korea (3 pts) |
| B | đ¨đ Switzerland (7 pts) | đ¨đŚ Canada (4 pts) | đ§đŚ Bosnia (4 pts) â |
| C | đ§đˇ Brazil (7 pts) | đ˛đŚ Morocco (7 pts) | đ´ó §ó ˘ó łó Łó ´ó ż Scotland (3 pts) |
| D | đşđ¸ USA (6 pts) | đŚđş Australia (4 pts) | đľđž Paraguay (4 pts) â |
| E | đŠđŞ Germany (6 pts) | đ¨đŽ Ivory Coast (6 pts) | đŞđ¨ Ecuador (4 pts) â |
| F | đłđą Netherlands | đŻđľ Japan | đ¸đŞ Sweden (3rd) â |
| G | đ§đŞ Belgium | đŞđŹ Egypt | đŽđˇ Iran |
| H | đŞđ¸ Spain (7 pts) | đ¨đť Cape Verde (3 pts) | Uruguay â |
| I | đŤđˇ France (9 pts) | đłđ´ Norway | đ¸đł Senegal (3rd) â |
| J | đŚđˇ Argentina | Austria | Algeria |
| K | đ¨đ´ Colombia | đľđš Portugal | Uzbekistan |
| L | đ´ó §ó ˘ó Ľó Žó §ó ż England (7 pts) | đđˇ Croatia (6 pts) | đŹđ Ghana (4 pts) â |
đŚđˇ Messi Makes History
Argentina’s Lionel Messi added another chapter to his legendary career by scoring his 17th World Cup goal against Austria on June 22, surpassing Miroslav Klose (16) to become the all-time leading goal scorer in FIFA World Cup history. With 5 goals in this tournament so far, the 38-year-old is showing no signs of slowing down as Argentina looks to defend their 2022 title.
đď¸ Record Attendance
The 2026 World Cup has already shattered the tournament attendance record, surpassing the 3,587,538 mark set by the 1994 USA World Cup. With over 4.5 million fans through the gates, this expanded tournament is bringing unprecedented crowds to stadiums across North America.
đŽ Round of 32 Preview â What to Watch
The knockout stage begins June 28 with 8 matches per day across 6 days. Key matchups to watch include:
- Switzerland vs Canada (Group B rematch)
- USA vs Australia â Can the co-hosts continue their strong run?
- Argentina vs Austria â Messi hunting more records
- France vs Norway â European heavyweight showdown
- England vs Ghana â Three Lions face African grit
The new expanded format means 104 total matches, with teams needing to win 8 matches to lift the trophy instead of 7. The final will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19, featuring the first-ever Super Bowl-style halftime show headlined by Madonna, Shakira, and BTS.
Looking Ahead
The Round of 32 runs from June 28 to July 3, followed by the Round of 16 from July 4-7. The quarterfinals start July 9, with the semifinals on July 14-15. After a third-place match on July 18, the grand finale caps off an unforgettable tournament on July 19.
Which team are you backing to lift the trophy? Drop your predictions below!
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