FACTBOX-World Cup 2026: results, key players and fixtures

The 2026 World Cup kicked off with Mexico securing a 2-0 victory over South Africa in their opening match, marked by controversy and a standout performance from Julián Quiñones.

The 2026 edition of the World Cup is being co-hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada. The tournament, expanded from 32 to 48 teams and played across 16 cities, takes place from June 11 to July 19. Here is a breakdown of the teams' performances and some of the key protagonists so far.

GROUP A MEXICO A third-time World Cup host, Mexico won the opening match against South Africa at the Azteca Stadium, a replay of the fixture that kicked off the 2010 tournament in the African nation. The home team swept away South Africa 2-0 in a match marred by three red cards and which saw Julián Quiñones stealing the show with an MVP performance that gifted three points to his team. Coach Javier Aguirre picked goalkeeper Raul Rangel over veteran Guillermo Ochoa and subbed in with around thirty minutes to go 17-year-old Tijuana midfielder Gilberto Mora, the youngest player of the tournament. With his inclusion in the squad, Ochoa has taken part in six World Cups, a record he shares with Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina’s Lionel Messi.

SOUTH AFRICA South Africa started their tournament with a defeat against host team ​Mexico in their first game at a World Cup since 2010 and have to thank Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, who saved a couple of crucial shots to prevent a heavier defeat. This is the fourth World Cup participation for Bafana Bafana, “The Boys” in the Zulu language, who are yet to get past the group stage. The best eight third-placed teams in the group stage will go into the next round and the next game against Czech Republic will be crucial for South Africa if they want to join the pack. SOUTH KOREA South Korea got a comeback victory in their debut game against Czech Republic after Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeon-gyu turned around a game that saw the European team get the lead in the second half. The ​Koreans joined Mexico on three points at the top of the standings and will face the co-host in a second game that could already be decisive to decide the final shape of Group A. South Korea, who achieved their best result as co-hosts of the 2002 tournament with a fourth place, will be relying on the likes of Paris Saint-Germain's Kang-in Lee and former Tottenham Hotspur skipper Heung-min Son.

CZECH REPUBLIC Even if a bold long throw-in from Vladimir Coufal headed by Wolverhampton's Ladislav ‌Krejci gave a temporary lead to the Czech Republic, the team eventually lost to South Korea's ​higher technical quality. Czech Republic, twice runners-up over the past century when competing as part of Czechoslovakia, did not manage to go past the group stage in 2006, their only World Cup participation since splitting from Slovakia. The Koreans were undone by a set-piece again when Tomas Soucek headed in a free kick, but the flag was raised for offside as the Czechs’ first game at the World Cup in 20 years ended in defeat.

GROUP A FIXTURES Mexico v South Africa, 2-0, June 11 South Korea v Czech Republic, 2-1, June 12 Czech Republic v South Africa, June 18, 1600 GMT

Mexico v South Korea, June 19, 0100 GMT Czech Republic v Mexico, June 25, 0100 GMT

South Africa v South Korea, June 25, 0100 GMT GROUP B

CANADA Co-hosts Canada opened their World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia, earning a first-ever point in the competition as Southampton's Cyle Larin struck a second-half equaliser at Toronto Stadium. Playing at their third World Cup after 1986 and 2022, Canada entered the competition with what is widely considered their strongest squad ever, spearheaded by Bayern winger Alphonso Davies, recovering from a hamstring injury, and Juventus striker Jonathan David. The Maple Leafs will have to face Qatar, who forced a late draw with Switzerland, to try to secure their first-ever victory in a World Cup, and maybe also to claim entry to the next round. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Bosnia led for a large part of the draw with Canada, after Jovo Lukic's close-range header from a corner, showing a solid defensive attitude. The Balkan-side, who clinched their spot with a penalty shootout triumph over four-time champions Italy, will face Switzerland in the next round in a high-stakes match.

Edin Dzeko is their most-capped player and all-time leading goalscorer. The 40-year-old, who plays for Schalke 04, was part of their only previous World Cup appearance in 2014, as was Atalanta defender Sead Kolasinac. Coach Sergej Barbarez picked a blend of experience and youth, including emerging talents such as center-back Tarik Muharemovic, and an emphasis on the wings where Kerim Alajbegovic, set to rejoin Leverkusen, and PSV’s Esmir Bajraktarevic are expected to play key roles.

QATAR Qatar took their first ever World Cup point after a late 1-1 draw against Switzerland. Boualem Khoukhi's stoppage time header sparked wild celebrations after the Swiss had seemed in control for large parts of the game. Coach Julen Lopetegui, appointed in 2025 and a former head coach of Spain, has overseen a transition aimed at building greater balance, with Hassan Al-Haydos as captain and striker Almoez Ali leading the scoring charts.

The squad features a core group ‌of players with experience from the 2022 campaign, during which they finished at the bottom of the group without earning a point. SWITZERLAND Switzerland failed to win the opener against Qatar and will now seek to overcome Bosnia to rise in the the group standings. Breel Embolo's first-half penalty was leveled in the last seconds in what was one of the surprises of the first round. Coach Murat Yakin, in charge since 2021, has built a side around captain Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler, while forward Embolo provides the main attacking threat.

Eyes are also on Nottingham Forest's Dan Ndoye and Leeds United's Noah Okafor, as the team target the top spot in their group. They retain a strong core of experienced players, many of whom featured in the 2022 campaign, where Switzerland exited in the round of 16 against Portugal. GROUP B FIXTURES Canada v Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1-1, June 12 Qatar v Switzerland, 1-1, June 13

Switzerland v Bosnia and Herzegovina, June 18, 1900 GMT Canada v Qatar, June 18, 2200 GMT

Switzerland v Canada, June 24, 1900 GMT Bosnia and Herzegovina v Qatar, June 24, 1900 GMT

GROUP C BRAZIL Five-time champions Brazil are the most decorated nation in World Cup history. However, their most recent triumph came nearly 25 years ago, and after an underwhelming qualification campaign, Carlo Ancelotti’s side kicked off their tournament with a tense 1-1 draw against Morocco. Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr equalised for his team after Morocco took the lead at a packed-out New York New Jersey stadium. Brazil legends Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Kaka watched from the stands as both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances in the second half. Brazil will travel to Philadelphia next hoping to pick up three points against group minnows Haiti.

MOROCCO The Atlas Lions strolled through qualification picking up maximum points. They played with high intensity in stages against Brazil in the opening match and took the lead through Ismael Saibari's chipped finish, which ended in a draw after Vinicius Jr levelled the score. Next up for Morocco are group leaders Scotland. Semi-finalists at Qatar’s 2022 World Cup, Morocco is the highest ranked team from Africa and have a strong chance of reaching the knockout stages, led by captain and Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi.

HAITI The Grenadiers, Group C's lowest ranked team, last played at the World Cup in 1974. After falling behind to a first half goal against Scotland in their opening match, Haiti nearly clinched a draw as Frantzdy Pierrot headed narrowly-wide late on. The Caribbean side now looks forward to an upcoming tie against five-time world champions Brazil. Head coach since June 2024, Sebastien Migne has never entered Haiti due to instability in the country. Star player Duckens Nazon also faced a turbulent buildup to the tournament after being held in Iran, where he plays club football, following the outbreak of the war.

SCOTLAND Playing at their first World Cup this century, Scotland began the tournament with a 1-0 victory over Haiti. John McGinn, who recently led his club Aston Villa to a Europa League title, scored the game's only goal with a deflected strike as Steve Clarke's side held on for a nervy win. A point in the Scots' next game against Morocco should be enough to progress to the knockout round with the eight best third-place finishers making it past the group stage. With the tournament's oldest player in Craig Gordon, 43, Scotland's strength lies in experience. Full-back Andy Robertson has won Premier League and Champions League titles with Liverpool, while Napoli's Scott McTominay has won silverware in both of the previous seasons in Italy. GROUP C FIXTURES Brazil 1-1 Morocco, June 13 Haiti 0-1 Scotland, June 14 ‌Scotland v Morocco, June 19 22:00 GMT

Brazil v Haiti, June 20, 0030 GMT Scotland v Brazil, June 24, 22:00 GMT

Morocco v Haiti, June 24, 22:00 GMT GROUP D

UNITED STATES Second-time hosts after 1994, the United States opened their campaign by thrashing Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles, powered by a first-half double from striker Folarin Balogun - the first U.S. player to score a brace in the tournament since 1930.

The U.S. headed into the World Cup with perhaps higher stakes than any other team, as a deep run could accelerate the sport's growth in the country while an early exit from a favourable group threatens to stall years of progress. The Stars and Stripes move on to face Australia on June 19 in Seattle, hoping to play AC Milan striker Christian Pulisic, who was substituted at halftime during the Paraguay game due to an injury scare to his calf.

PARAGUAY Coach Gustavo Alfaro described Paraguay's 4-1 defeat by co-hosts United States on Friday as a "very painful lesson", saying his players were outclassed tactically, technically and physically in their first World Cup match in 16 years. The Argentine insisted qualification from the group remained within reach, arguing that points, rather than goal difference, would determine Paraguay's fate.

Paraguay face Turkey next, fighting from the bottom of the table in the hopes of breaking out of the groups and echo their historic 2010 campaign in South Africa, reaching the quarter-finals in their best tournament placement. AUSTRALIA Australia coach Tony Popovic's gamble on youth paid off in his side's surprise 2-0 win over Turkey in their World Cup opener on Saturday, as Nestory Irankunda opened the scoring and goalkeeper Patrick Beach kept a superb clean sheet.

The Socceroos now head ‌to their next match against co-hosts the United States, a game in which a win could well secure top spot in Group D. The Aussies reached the last 16 for a second time in Qatar four years ago, matching their best result at the 2006 games in Germany.

TURKEY Turkey suffered a humbling 2-0 defeat by Australia in their Group D opener, dominating possession but unable to break down the resolute green and gold wall. With many Turkish fans believe the team could become the country's strongest in decades, hopes for a strong start to the campaign were dashed, but Italian coach Vincenzo Montella maintains the Crescent Stars have time to recover. Turkey now heads to San Francisco for a decisive match against Paraguay, aiming for a win to qualify to the knockout phase and potentially reach the semi-finals like in their historic 2022 run in South Korea.

GROUP D FIXTURES United States v Paraguay, 4-1 Australia v Turkey, 2-0 United States v Australia, June 19, 1900 GMT Turkey v Paraguay, June 20, 0300 GMT

Turkey v Unites States, June 26, 0200 GMT Paraguay v Australia, June 26, 0200 GMT

GROUP E GERMANY Julian Nagelsmann’s side started the tournament with a clear win, having bombarded the goal of the Curaçao keeper Eloy Room in a 7-1 victory over the debutant island nation. After tense kick-off to the first half, the Germans began to roll through the opponent’s defences, scoring goal nearly every ten minutes of the second half, including two from Arsenal’s Kai Havertz, and one from Stuttgart’s Denis Undav, who also registered two assists. As the four-time world champions seek redemption after a nine-year title-drought, their next match will be against the Ivory Coast, who also secured a first win in the group.

CURAÇAO Curaçao punched their ticket to World Cup after a testing qualification campaign, but the scale of the challenge ahead was laid bare in emphatic fashion as the Caribbean side, known as the Blue Wave, suffered a heavy 7–1 defeat to group favourites Germany. Led by Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, the underdogs managed to shake German resolve for much of the first half, beating Bayern’s star Manuel Neuer with a deflected shot from a midfielder Livano Comenencia, however quickly finding themselves outmatched as the time passed, and goals poured in. The self-governing nation of around 160,000 is the smallest country to ever qualify for the tournament. Their next opponents will be Ecuador. ECUADOR In the qualifiers, Ecuador pulled off an impressive feat, finishing second in the table and beating the reigning titleholders in gripping 1-0 victory. However, their opening match at the tournament ended in a 1–0 loss to Ivory Coast after the African side struck in the final minute of normal time, breaching Hernan Galindez’s goal to secure a late winner. La Tri’s stalwart defence and reliance on counterattacks, which carried them through the qualifiers, proved insufficient against the Ivorians, and if the Ecuadorians think of bettering their best result of a round-of-16 finish, they need to show more in their next fixture against Curaçao.

COTE D’IVOIRE The Ivorians swept past the opposition without losing a single match or conceding a goal in the African qualifiers, heading off to their fourth World Cup with eight wins and two draws. They kept their campaign on track, securing their first three points with a tense 1–0 victory over Ecuador. Coached by Emerse Faé, the Ivorians stood firm against the South Americans in a hard-fought contest that saw both sides repeatedly striking the woodwork, before Manchester United’s Amad Diallo netted a late winner. Les Éléphants are eager to go beyond the group stage for the first time and wash away the bitter aftertaste after a disappointing title defence at the 2025 Afcon, as they prepare to face Germany in their second match of the tournament. GROUP E FIXTURES Germany v Curacao 7-1 June 14 Ivory Coast v Ecuador 1-0 June 14

Germany v Ivory Coast, June 20, 2000 GMT Ecuador v Curacao, June 21, 0000 GMT

Curacao v Ivory Coast, June 25, 2000 GMT Ecuador v Germany, June 25, 2000 GMT

GROUP F NETHERLANDS Three-time finalists the Netherlands opened their World Cup campaign against Japan in Dallas, backed by a strong Dutch contingent in the stands, but the Oranje were held to a 2-2 draw. Captain Virgil van Dijk broke the deadlock in the second half, steering a curling header in off the post to open the Dutch account at the tournament. ⁠After Japan equalised, West Ham's Crysencio Summerville, who made his international debut only at the end of ​June, restored the lead with a composed finish from the edge of the box. But the Netherlands conceded again in the closing minutes, prompting fresh questions about coach Ronald Koeman's pragmatic approach. If they are to top the group and eventually win the tournament for the first time, they will need to be sharper in their next match against group leaders Sweden on June 20.

JAPAN The Samurai Blue were backed by a large Japanese following in Dallas as they ⁠earned a valuable point against the Netherlands. The first non-host nation to qualify for the tournament, Japan did so in March 2025. Keito Nakamura scored Japan's first equaliser before they struck again in the dying moments, when Koki Ogawa powered in a header that sent the Japanese bench into bedlam. The goal was officially credited to Daichi Kamada, off whose head the ball deflected, though he appeared to know little about it. Japan reached the round of 16 at the last two tournaments and will expect to do the same again. They take on bottom-placed Tunisia next on June 21. SWEDEN Sweden punished Tunisia's mistakes as they thrashed them 5-1 in Monterrey, Mexico, with Yasin Ayari leading the rout by opening and closing the scoring with two fierce strikes from outside the box. Ayari, who was eligible to represent Tunisia at international level, was joined on the scoresheet by strike duo Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak, while Mattias Svanberg also took part in the goal fiesta in Mexico by scoring the second-fastest goal by a substitute in World Cup history. Since taking charge in November 2025, coach Graham Potter has helped transform the mood around the national team, with the country rallying behind him and his players before their second match, an all-European clash against the Netherlands. TUNISIA After a 5–1 opening defeat by Sweden, Tunisia coach Sabri Lamouchi was sacked after one match — the fastest in-tournament managerial dismissal in World Cup history. Tunisia moved quickly, hiring Hervé Renard the day after the loss. One of international football's great managers, Renard is a two-time AFCON-winning coach with Zambia and Côte d'Ivoire. Known for his discipline, he went viral in 2022 for a halftime team talk during Saudi Arabia's shock 2-1 win over Argentina. The Tunisian federation said it would open contract negotiations after the tournament, but for now Renard faces a demanding task of salvaging Tunisia's hopes of reaching the knockout stages for the first time, with two games left and Japan up next. GROUP F FIXTURES Netherlands v Japan, 2-2, June 14 Sweden v Tunisia, 5-1, June 15 Netherlands v Sweden, ⁠June 20, 1700 GMT Tunisia v Japan, June 21, 0400 GMT Japan v Sweden, June 25, 2300 GMT Tunisia v Netherlands, June 25, 2300 GMT GROUP G

IRAN World Cup regulars Iran began their controversy-filled campaign with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand in Los Angeles. Esteghlal's Ramin Rezaeian was Iran's talisman in the opener, scoring their first equaliser before delivering the pinpoint cross that led to their second. Iran had been due to stay overnight in California after the game, but were required to fly back to their camp in Mexico on the night of the match. Captain Mehdi Taremi said the restrictions were preventing the team from performing at their best at the tournament. Coach Amir Ghalenoei said his side were being "oppressed" because of various last-minute travel changes. He and his players will have to regroup quickly as they seek to take Iran to the knockout stage for the first time, with Belgium up next on June 21. NEW ZEALAND With their draw against Iran, New Zealand extended their World Cup unbeaten streak to four games going back to South Africa 2010. All Whites skipper Chris Wood has featured in each of those matches, and his link-up play and assist helped create the opening goal. Elijah Just was the star of the show, however, bagging a brace to become the first New Zealander to score twice in a World Cup match. Despite the well-earned point, coach Darren Bazeley said his side were disappointed not to win. Nevertheless, playing at only their third World Cup, New Zealand know the expanded tournament gives them a better chance than usual to make history. They will look to build on their momentum in their next outing against Egypt on June 22.

BELGIUM Belgium's bid to make amends for recent tournament disappointments began with a frustrating 1-1 draw against Egypt in Seattle, as coach Rudi Garcia's side failed to justify their billing as Group G favourites in their opener. The Red Devils fell behind early, but Garcia ​turned to Romelu Lukaku from the bench and Belgium's all-time top scorer made an immediate impact, forcing an own goal just 22 seconds after coming on to rescue a needed point. Charles De Ketelaere was preferred to Lukaku from the start due to fitness reasons, but opponents will be wary of the threat Belgium can pose from the bench. With all four teams in Group G drawing their opening matches, their next game against Iran on June 21 has already taken on added importance. EGYPT Egypt came agonisingly close to claiming their first ever World Cup victory but had to settle for a draw against Belgium, after Mohamed Hany's own goal cancelled out Emam Ashour's opener. Ashour gave the Pharaohs the lead in the 20th minute, firing past Thibaut Courtois after being teed up by captain Mohamed Salah, who marked his 34th birthday with an assist. Egypt defended with discipline and threatened on the break, raising hopes of a landmark win on their return to the World Cup stage. But Belgium levelled after Romelu Lukaku came off the bench and helped force Hany into turning the ball into his own net. There was still a moment of history for Egypt, however, as Barcelona teenager Hamza Abdelkarim came on to become the country's youngest player at a World Cup.

GROUP G FIXTURES Belgium v Egypt, 1-1, June 15 Iran v New Zealand, 2-2, June 16 Belgium v Iran, June 21, 1900 GMT

New Zealand v Egypt, June 22, 0100 GMT Egypt v Iran, June 27, 0300 GMT

New Zealand v Belgium, June ⁠27, 0300 GMT GROUP H

SPAIN The ambitions of the reigning European champions were frustrated by Cape Verde, who held to a goalless draw one of the favourite teams to win the tournament. Spain had almost 75% possession, but Cape Verde's first match at a World Cup became a heroic exercise in resistance, discipline and occasional survival. Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams played only a fraction of the game and Spain will rely on them as they take on Saudi Arabia in the second game of the group. CAPE VERDE Cape Verde, one of the great stories of the expanded World Cup, stunned Spain and won a point that few would have expected. Vozinha, their 40-year-old keeper, took centre stage with crucial saves and he was aided by a strong performance from his two centre-backs Diney Borges and Roberto "Pico" Lopes. With one point in the bag, Cape Verde will face next Uruguay in Miami.

SAUDI ARABIA Saudi Arabia opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Uruguay. Abdulelah Al Amri gave Saudi Arabia the lead in the 41st minute after capitalising on a goalkeeping error, before Maxi Araujo equalised for Uruguay in the second half, also benefiting from a mistake at the other end. Saudi Arabia are appearing at their third consecutive World Cup and will play Spain next. URUGUAY The two-times champions (1930, 1950) opened their tournament with a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia. Marcelo Bielsa’s side dominated the first half but fell behind in the 41st minute when goalkeeper Fernando Muslera parried a set-piece into the path of Abdulelah Al Amri, who scored from close range. Uruguay applied sustained pressure after the break and equalized through Maxi Araujo, capitalising on a goalkeeping error by Mohammed Al Owais. The result leaves all four Group H teams level on one point after the opening round of matches.

GROUP H FIXTURES Spain v Cape Verde, 0-0 June 15 Saudi Arabia v Uruguay, 1-1, June 15 Spain v Saudi Arabia, June 21, 1600 GMT

Uruguay v Cape Verde, June 21, 2200 GMT Uruguay v Spain, June 27, 0000 GMT

Cape Verde v Saudi Arabia, June 27, 0000 GMT GROUP I

FRANCE Back-to-back finalists France had a difficult match against Senegal on Tuesday for its debut in the tournament, although ended up winning 3-1, with all four goals scored ⁠in the second half. A ​brace from Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe - who became France's all time record goalscorer - as well as a goal from Bradley Barcola made the difference needed on a pitch midfielder Adrien Rabiot raised concerns about, saying it felt like artificial grass. Manager Didier Deschamps admitted he delivered blunt words during half time, as Senegal proved to have the best chances in the first half, hitting the post once. SENEGAL In a reminder of the opening 2002 World Cup game, Senegal faced France for its first match of the tournament. However, unlike 24 years ago, Senegal ended up losing. Starting the match brilliantly, Senegal were close to scoring twice, first from a shot by striker Nicolas Jackson which hit the post before it ricocheted on goalkeeper Mike Maignan. Then, right before half time, Sarr's shot from close range went over the bar. After conceding two goals, first from Mbappe, then from Barcola, Ibrahim Mbaye briefly revived Senegal's hopes, by scoring in the 95th minute, before Mbappe smashed a shot from distance into the top left corner.

IRAQ In an uphill battle, the Lions of Mesopotamia lost to Norway 1-4 in their first match at a World Cup in 40 years. After Norway quickly led 1-0 through Erling Haaland, Iraq equalized thanks to a header by Aymen Hussein from a cross by Amir Al Ammari. Hope faded however as Haaland scored a second goal before half time, and two further goals from Norway in the last 15 minutes sealed the deal. Coach Graham Arnold urged his players not to lose heart after the match. NORWAY Thanks to a brace from start striker Erling Haaland, Norway entered the World Cup in style on Tuesday with a 4-1 win over Iraq. After a cautious start, Haaland opened his World Cup goal account in the 29th minute, beating his markers and stabbing in a low cross at the far post, before Iraq equalized. Another Haaland goal in the first half and two goals in the last 15 minutes of the match sealed the victory for Norway. Norway took the lead of Group I, as it benefits from a better goal difference than France.

GROUP I FIXTURES France v Senegal, 3-1 June 16 Iraq v Norway, 1-4 June 16 France v Iraq, June 22, 2100 GMT

Norway v Senegal, June 23, 0000 GMT Norway v France, June 26, 1900 GMT

Senegal v Iraq, June 26, 1900 GMT GROUP J

ARGENTINA Lionel Messi's hat-trick against Algeria gave Argentina their first victory in the tournament, also allowing the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner to equal Miroslav Klose's 16 goals for a share of the all-time men's scoring record at the World Cup. They now sit at the top of their group on goal difference above Austria. Lionel Scaloni's team chase the rare feat of back-to-back World Cup titles. Another win would also grant them a spot on the short list of four-time world champions, joining Italy and Germany. ALGERIA Algeria started their tournament with a 3-0 defeat against the defending champions, conceding a hat-trick to Argentine star Lionel Messi. While coach Petkovic applauded the 38-year-old's performance, he said errors from his players had given him too much room to manoeuvre. It was important for Algeria to pick themselves up for their remaining Group J games, he added. The Desert Foxes returned to the World Cup after a 12-year absence, topping their qualification group and winning eight of their 10 matches. One of Africa's more dangerous knockout-stage contenders, they are hoping to challenge Austria for the second place in the group.

AUSTRIA Austria secured a win ⁠against Jordan in their first match at the 2026 World Cup. Romano Schmid's strike from outside kicked things off, and a Jordan own goal together with Arnautovic's penalty in overtime gave Austria a 3-1 victory in San Francisco. They go on to face defending champions Argentina on June 22. With players like Real Madrid’s David Alaba, Ralf Rangnick's side believe they have a strong chance to reach the knockout rounds in their first appearance at the competition since 1998. JORDAN Ali Owan's levelling score at the start of the second half did not suffice against Austria, and Jordan's first ever World Cup match resulted in a 3-1 defeat for Jamal Sellami's side. The coach said the final score did not do justice to the team's endeavour, adding that his players can hold their heads up high after a "honourable performance". The Jordanians reached the global stage after years as outsiders in Asian football, andreaching the knockout stage would rank among the biggest achievements in the country's sporting history.

GROUP J FIXTURES Argentina v Algeria, 3-0, June 17 Austria v Jordan, 3-1, June 17 Argentina v Austria, June 22, 1700 GMT

Jordan v Algeria, June 23, 0300 GMT Algeria v Austria, June 28, 0200 GMT

Jordan v Argentina, June 28, 0200 GMT GROUP K PORTUGAL It was a disappointing opening match for Portugal, which gained only one point after a 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo at the Houston Stadium. Coach Roberto Martinez’s team started strong, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Joao Neves opening the scoring in the sixth minute with a close-range header, but Portugal lacked the intensity to win the match and ⁠to react to Yoane Wissa equalising goal in first-half stoppage time. The match marked Cristiano Ronaldo's sixth World Cup, in which he became the oldest player to ever start a match in the competition. The 41-year-old striker played for the whole game, but failed to convert the few chances he got.

DR CONGO The Democratic Republic of Congo delivered one of the biggest surprises of the World Cup so far with a 1-1 draw against Portugal. Despite Portugal’s ball possession superiority, the DRC stood their ground against ⁠Roberto Martinez’s team with a combative performance, securing a point in their first World Cup for 52 years. Newcastle’s Yoane Wissa converted Arthur Masuaku's cross to deliver the first-ever goal for the DRC in a World Cup. In their last appearance in 1974, when the country was known as Zaire, they conceded 14 goals, while failing to score. UZBEKISTAN It was a bitter debut in the World Cup for Uzbekistan, which lost against Colombia at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Despite playing a careful game, Fabio Cannavaro's team failed to contain the Cafeteros' talent, putting the team into last place in Group K. Fayzullaev’s equalizer in the 60th minute – the first-ever World Cup goal for the team - was not enough for Uzbekistan. Five minutes later, Bayern Munich’s Luis Diaz retook the lead for Colombia, and Jaminton Campaz delivered the final blow in stoppage time.

COLOMBIA Colombia took an early lead in Group K with a strong opening performance in their 3-1 win against Uzbekistan. After a few early chances, especially with a diagonal shot inside the penalty area by Bayern Munich’s Luis Diaz that hit the post, the Copa America runners-up struck for the first time in the 40th minute of the first half, with Crystal Palace’s Daniel Munoz. Uzbekistan managed to equalise in the second half, but that didn’t scare Colombia, which shortly after regained the lead with Diaz, to then closed the match with a goal in injury time from Jaminton Campaz. GROUP K FIXTURES Portugal v DR Congo, 1-1, June 17 Uzbekistan v Colombia, 1-3, June 18

Portugal v Uzbekistan, June 23, 1700 GMT Colombia v DR Congo, June 24, 0200 GMT

Colombia v Portugal, June 27, 2330 GMT DR Congo v Uzbekistan, June 27, 2330 GMT

GROUP L ENGLAND Thomas Tuchel's team stood at the top of their group at the end of the first day after a 4-2 win against Croatia. Harry Kane struck twice while Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford delivered the knockout blows as England launched their World Cup campaign in a heavyweight clash. The team did, however, encounter some difficulties in the first half, with assistant coach Anthony Barry speaking to broadcaster ITV about a "complicated and confusing first half", England’s "nervous energy" and "fearful patterns". England’s defensive frailty in the first half came even more as a surprise given that they had not conceded a single goal in their World Cup qualifiers.

CROATIA The Croats started the competition with a 4-2 loss against England despite having managed to equalise twice during the first half. The Group L meeting carried heavy expectations long before kickoff, given the ‌history between the sides, with Croatia's extra-time victory over England in the 2018 World Cup semi-finals adding an extra edge to the occasion. "We scored excellent goals, but unfortunately, we did not do very well, especially in defending set pieces," Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said after the game. GHANA Ghana secured a 1-0 win over ‌Panama in its first game of the 2026 World Cup. After a lightning-quick counter-attack and a pass from Brandon Thomas-Asante, Caleb Yirenkyi scored in the fifth minute of extra time, for his first competitive international goal. Starting goalkeeper Ati Zigi however received treatment following a collision near the end of the first half and was replaced by Benjamin Asare.

PANAMA Panama did not secure any points during the first day of the competition after an 1-0 loss against Ghana. Panama is participating in the tournament for the second time of its history and is one of five non-debutants to have yet to win a World Cup match. "We controlled the first half, but in the second half, we played their game a bit more. That's not how we wanted to play, but now is not the time for regrets," Panama manager Thomas Christiansen said. GROUP L FIXTURES England v ​Croatia, 4-2, June 17 Ghana v Panama, 1-0, June 17

England v Ghana, June 23, 2000 GMT Panama v Croatia, June 23, 2300 GMT

Panama v England, June 27, 2100 GMT Croatia v Ghana, June 27, 2100 GMT