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Seven days. Forty-eight matches across twelve groups. Records broken, history made, favourites stunned. The FIFA World Cup 2026™ has delivered a first week that nobody — not the coaches, not the analysts, and certainly not Spain — could have predicted. Here is where every group stands, and what to look forward to as Week 2 begins.
The Groups at a Glance
Group A (Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Czechia). Mexico beat South Africa 2–0, and South Korea beat Czechia 2–1 on the opening day, leaving the two favourites tied on three points each. South Africa and Czechia — both without a point — face each other tonight at 9:30 PM IST in Atlanta. A win for either side keeps their qualification hopes alive. A draw leaves them both in a precarious position heading into matchday three.
Group B (Canada, Qatar, Switzerland, Bosnia-Herzegovina) is finely balanced. Canada and Bosnia drew 1–1, Qatar and Switzerland shared the points 1–1. Every team on one point heading into match day two.
Group C (Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti) produced its biggest result immediately. Brazil were held 1–1 by Morocco at the New Jersey Stadium — a significant early signal that Carlo Ancelotti’s side have real vulnerabilities in midfield. Scotland, in their return to the World Cup after 28 years, defeated Haiti 1–0 and currently leads the group with 3 points.
Group D (USA, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye) went to the hosts and the Socceroos. The USA put four past Paraguay in a statement performance at the Los Angeles Stadium. Australia beat Türkiye 2–0 in Vancouver — goalkeeper Patrick Beach making eight saves to keep a dominant Türkiye side out. Group D has two early front runners.
Group E (Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Curaçao) saw Germany announce themselves in the loudest possible terms. Seven goals. One against. Florian Wirtz and company tore apart Curaçao at NRG Stadium in a 7–1 demolition. Ivory Coast followed with a tight 1–0 win over Ecuador. Group E looks like Germany’s to lose.
Group F (Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia) split cleanly. Netherlands and Japan played out a brilliant 2–2 draw in Dallas. Sweden thrashed Tunisia 5–1. The Netherlands-Japan rematch in the final standings is already shaping up to be a must-watch. Sweden is the current leader.
Group G (Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand) are all tied — all four teams on one point, all four draws. Belgium needed an own goal after Romelu Lukaku had been on the pitch for 22 seconds to level with Egypt 1–1. Iran and New Zealand played out a pulsating 2–2 with Elijah Just scoring twice for the All Whites.
Group H (Spain, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Cape Verde) is the tournament’s most chaotic group after matchday one. All four teams are level at one point. Spain, the European champions, were held 0–0 by Cape Verde’s Vozinha — a 40-year-old goalkeeper from the second tier of Portuguese football who made seven saves from 27 Spanish attempts. Saudi Arabia and Uruguay drew 1–1 in Miami. Nothing separates anyone.
Group I (France, Norway, Senegal, Iraq) has two early leaders pulling away. France defeated Senegal 3–1, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice — the second a 30-yard stoppage-time thunderbolt that made him France’s all-time top scorer at 58 international goals. Norway, with Erling Haaland on his World Cup debut, beat Iraq 4–1. Group I looks like a two-horse race.
Group J (Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan) produced the week’s most electric individual performance. Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Argentina beat Algeria 3–0, in the process equalling Miroslav Klose’s all-time FIFA World Cup record of 16 goals. One more and he stands alone as the greatest goalscorer in World Cup history. Austria beat Jordan 3–1 in the other fixture.
Group K (Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo, Uzbekistan) served up history twice on the same day. DR Congo’s Yoane Wissa scored their nation’s first-ever World Cup goal in a 1–1 draw with Portugal — a result that left Ronaldo, in his sixth and final World Cup, with nothing to show for it. Hours later, Abbosbek Fayzullaev headed in Uzbekistan’s first-ever World Cup goal as Colombia came from behind to win 3–1. Two debut milestones in one afternoon.
Group L (England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama) gave English fans exactly what they came for. England beat Croatia 4–2 in an extraordinary match, with Harry Kane’s header equalling Gary Lineker’s England record of 10 World Cup goals. Ghana snatched a 1–0 win against Panama in the 95th minute through 20-year-old Caleb Yirenkyi.
Matches to Watch in Week 2
Spain vs Saudi Arabia (Group G, Jun 21, 9:30 PM IST) is the most urgent fixture of the week. With all four Group G teams level, neither side can afford to drop points. Spain desperately need a reaction after their Vozinha nightmare.
Argentina vs Austria (Group J, Jun 22, 10:30 PM IST) offers Messi the chance to become the FIFA World Cup’s greatest ever goalscorer outright. He needs one goal to move past Klose’s record of 16. The moment, if it arrives, will stop the world.
England vs Ghana (Group L, Jun 24, 1:30 AM IST) carries its own record narrative — Kane is one goal away from surpassing Gary Lineker. England are also the highest scorers in the tournament so far with four goals. Ghana, resilient and dangerous on the counter, will not make it easy.
Germany vs Ivory Coast (Group E, Jun 21, 1:30 AM IST) is a proper test. Germany’s 7–1 win was impressive but came against the weakest team in their group. Ivory Coast, who beat Ecuador, are a very different proposition. If Germany pass this, they are real contenders.
Week 2 of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ is live on ZEE5 FIFA Subscription in India. From Messi chasing history to Spain’s Group G survival mission — don’t miss a minute.
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