The historic 48-team World Cup 2026 exploded into life with an unforgettable opening round across North America. Co-hosts made statements, underdogs shocked football giants, and superstars delivered on the biggest stage.
After just 24 matches, one thing is already clear:
This World Cup is completely unpredictable.
From Germany’s seven-goal demolition to Cape Verde’s heroic draw against Spain, Matchday 1 produced enough drama to fill an entire tournament.
All Matchday 1 Results
Thursday, June 11 – Group A
🇲🇽 Mexico 2-0 South Africa 🇿🇦
🇰🇷 South Korea 2-1 Czechia 🇨🇿
Friday, June 12
🇨🇦 Canada 1-1 Bosnia & Herzegovina 🇧🇦 (Group B)
🇺🇸 USA 4-1 Paraguay 🇵🇾 (Group D)
Saturday, June 13
🇶🇦 Qatar 1-1 Switzerland 🇨🇭 (Group B)
🇧🇷 Brazil 1-1 Morocco 🇲🇦 (Group C)
🏴 Scotland 1-0 Haiti 🇭🇹 (Group C)
🇦🇺 Australia 2-0 Türkiye 🇹🇷 (Group D)
Sunday, June 14
🇨🇮 Ivory Coast 1-0 Ecuador 🇪🇨 (Group E)
🇩🇪 Germany 7-1 Curaçao 🇨🇼 (Group E)
🇳🇱 Netherlands 2-2 Japan 🇯🇵 (Group F)
🇸🇪 Sweden 5-1 Tunisia 🇹🇳 (Group F)
Monday, June 15
🇪🇸 Spain 0-0 Cape Verde 🇨🇻 (Group H)
🇧🇪 Belgium 1-1 Egypt 🇪🇬 (Group G)
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay 🇺🇾 (Group H)
🇮🇷 Iran 2-2 New Zealand 🇳🇿 (Group G)
Tuesday, June 16
🇫🇷 France 3-1 Senegal 🇸🇳 (Group I)
🇳🇴 Norway 4-1 Iraq 🇮🇶 (Group I)
🇦🇷 Argentina 3-0 Algeria 🇩🇿 (Group J)
🇦🇹 Austria 3-1 Jordan 🇯🇴 (Group J)
Wednesday, June 17
🇵🇹 Portugal 1-1 DR Congo 🇨🇩 (Group K)
🏴 England 4-2 Croatia 🇭🇷 (Group L)
🇬🇭 Ghana 1-0 Panama 🇵🇦 (Group L)
🇨🇴 Colombia 3-1 Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 (Group K)
Complete Group Standings After Matchday 1
Group A
| Team | Pts | GD |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 3 | +2 |
| South Korea | 3 | +1 |
| Czechia | 0 | -1 |
| South Africa | 0 | -2 |
Group B
| Team | Pts | GD |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | 1 | 0 |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | 1 | 0 |
| Qatar | 1 | 0 |
| Switzerland | 1 | 0 |
Group C
| Team | Pts | GD |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 3 | +1 |
| Brazil | 1 | 0 |
| Morocco | 1 | 0 |
| Haiti | 0 | -1 |
Group D
| Team | Pts | GD |
|---|---|---|
| USA | 3 | +3 |
| Australia | 3 | +2 |
| Türkiye | 0 | -2 |
| Paraguay | 0 | -3 |
Group E
| Team | Pts | GD |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 3 | +6 |
| Ivory Coast | 3 | +1 |
| Ecuador | 0 | -1 |
| Curaçao | 0 | -6 |
Group F
| Team | Pts | GD |
|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 3 | +4 |
| Japan | 1 | 0 |
| Netherlands | 1 | 0 |
| Tunisia | 0 | -4 |
Group G
| Team | Pts | GD |
|---|---|---|
| Iran | 1 | 0 |
| New Zealand | 1 | 0 |
| Belgium | 1 | 0 |
| Egypt | 1 | 0 |
Group H
| Team | Pts | GD |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Verde | 1 | 0 |
| Saudi Arabia | 1 | 0 |
| Spain | 1 | 0 |
| Uruguay | 1 | 0 |
Group I
| Team | Pts | GD |
|---|---|---|
| Norway | 3 | +3 |
| France | 3 | +2 |
| Senegal | 0 | -2 |
| Iraq | 0 | -3 |
Group J
| Team | Pts | GD |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 3 | +3 |
| Austria | 3 | +2 |
| Jordan | 0 | -2 |
| Algeria | 0 | -3 |
Group K
| Team | Pts | GD |
|---|---|---|
| Colombia | 3 | +2 |
| Portugal | 1 | 0 |
| DR Congo | 1 | 0 |
| Uzbekistan | 0 | -2 |
Group L
| Team | Pts | GD |
|---|---|---|
| England | 3 | +2 |
| Ghana | 3 | +1 |
| Panama | 0 | -1 |
| Croatia | 0 | -2 |
Biggest Stories of Matchday 1
🇩🇪 Germany Sets the Benchmark
Germany’s 7-1 victory over Curaçao remains the most dominant performance of the tournament and immediately established them as one of the leading contenders.
🇦🇷 Messi Magic Returns
Lionel Messi opened Argentina’s campaign in spectacular fashion with a hat-trick against Algeria, reminding the world why he remains football’s ultimate big-game player.
🇨🇻 Cape Verde Shocks Spain
The smallest nation in the tournament delivered one of the biggest surprises by holding Spain to a scoreless draw.
🏴 England Sends a Message
England’s 4-2 victory over Croatia was one of the most impressive attacking displays of the opening round.
🇳🇴 Norway Announces Its Return
Back on the World Cup stage, Norway produced a convincing 4-1 victory over Iraq and instantly became one of the tournament’s most intriguing outsiders.
Early Favorites
⭐ Germany
⭐ Argentina
⭐ France
⭐ England
⭐ Norway
Biggest Surprise
🏆 Cape Verde 0-0 Spain
Biggest Individual Performance
🏆 Lionel Messi’s Hat-Trick vs Algeria
The first round has already delivered everything football fans could hope for: giant-killers, superstar performances, dramatic finishes, and wide-open groups.
If Matchday 1 is any indication, World Cup 2026 could become one of the greatest tournaments in football history.
Who impressed you most in the opening round?