When FIFA decided to expand the 2026 World Cup from 32 to 48 teams, some people worried the competition would suffer. They thought more teams might lead to boring, one-sided games. However, the tournament, which started on June 11, has been full of exciting and unexpected results.
Underdogs Shine
Cape Verde, playing in its first World Cup, has had an amazing run. They drew 2-2 with Uruguay and also held favored Spain to a 0-0 draw. This small African nation, with just over half a million people, now has a good chance to move to the knockout round.
Curaçao is another first-timer doing well. It's the smallest country ever in the World Cup, with a population of 158,000. On Saturday, they tied Ecuador 0-0. Goalkeeper Eloy Room made 15 saves, earning Curaçao its first World Cup point.
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Start Your News DetoxScotland is back in the World Cup for the first time since 1998. They started with a 1-0 win over Haiti and narrowly lost 1-0 to Morocco. Even with a tough match against five-time champions Brazil coming up, Scotland could still make it to the knockout round.
Big Teams and Key Matches
The United States men's team has already secured a spot in the knockout round. They beat Australia 2-0 and Paraguay in their opening match. They also won Group D after Paraguay defeated Turkey.
The final U.S. group game against Turkey on Thursday is less critical. Coach Mauricio Pochettino is expected to change the lineup. Christian Pulisic might not play due to a calf injury. Several players with yellow cards, including Folarin Balogun, Antonee Robinson, Chris Richards, and Tyler Adams, will likely sit out to avoid a suspension in the first knockout game.
Defending champion Argentina plays Austria on Monday. Lionel Messi scored three goals in their 3-0 win against Algeria. While Argentina is expected to advance, Portugal's star Cristiano Ronaldo had a tough 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo. Portugal faces Uzbekistan on Tuesday in an important Group K match.
Other notable matches this week include France against Iraq on Monday, England versus Ghana on Tuesday, and Switzerland challenging Canada on Wednesday. On Thursday, Tunisia plays the Netherlands, and Sweden takes on Japan.
The World Cup group stage ends on Saturday. The knockout round begins on Sunday, June 28, with the first Round of 32 match.
