The FIFA World Cup 2026 is underway across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, featuring the tournament’s new 48-team format. After the opening round of group-stage matches, several favorites have made strong starts, including Germany, Argentina, France, England, and the United States.
Biggest Results So Far
Group A
- Mexico 2-0 South Africa
- South Korea 2-1 Czechia
Group B
- Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Qatar 1-1 Switzerland
Group C
- Brazil 1-1 Morocco
- Scotland 1-0 Haiti
Group D
- United States 4-1 Paraguay
- Australia 2-0 Türkiye
Group E
- Germany 7-1 Curaçao
- Ivory Coast 1-0 Ecuador
Group F
- Netherlands 2-2 Japan
- Sweden 5-1 Tunisia
Group G
- Belgium 1-1 Egypt
- Iran 2-2 New Zealand
Group H
- Spain 0-0 Cape Verde
- Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay
Group I
- France 3-1 Senegal
- Norway 4-1 Iraq
Group J
- Argentina 3-0 Algeria
- Austria 3-1 Jordan
Group K
- Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
- Colombia 3-1 Uzbekistan
Group L
- England 4-2 Croatia
- Ghana 1-0 Panama
Current Group Leaders
After the first round of matches, the group leaders are:
| Group | Leader |
|---|---|
| A | Mexico |
| B | Switzerland |
| C | Scotland |
| D | United States |
| E | Germany |
| F | Sweden |
| G | New Zealand |
| H | Uruguay |
| I | Norway |
| J | Argentina |
| K | Colombia |
| L | England |
Highest-Scoring Teams
The most impressive attacking performances so far include:
- Germany – 7 goals
- Sweden – 5 goals
- United States – 4 goals
- Norway – 4 goals
- England – 4 goals
Germany’s 7-1 victory over Curaçao is currently the biggest win of the tournament.
Key Players Making Headlines
- Lionel Messi helped Argentina open with a convincing victory over Algeria.
- Kylian Mbappé starred in France’s win over Senegal.
- Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway defeated Iraq.
- Luis DÃaz led Colombia to a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan.
Upcoming Matches
The next major fixtures include:
- Czechia vs South Africa
- Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Canada vs Qatar
- Mexico vs South Korea
These matches could significantly influence qualification scenarios in Groups A and B.
Tournament Format
For the first time in FIFA World Cup history:
- 48 teams are participating.
- 12 groups of 4 teams each.
- Top 2 teams from every group qualify automatically.
- The 8 best third-placed teams also advance.
- A 32-team knockout stage follows the group stage.
The expanded format increases the tournament from 64 matches to 104 matches.
Early Favorites
Based on opening performances, the strongest early contenders appear to be:
- Argentina
- France
- Germany
- England
- Brazil
- United States
Germany’s dominant goal difference and Argentina’s comfortable opening win have particularly impressed analysts and fans.