Just seven days into the FIFA World Cup, the 2026 season has already lived up to the hype. The latest edition has delivered plenty of excitement, drama, and unexpected turns of events, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. While traditional powerhouses such as Argentina and France have showcased exceptional gameplay with commanding performances, underdogs like DR Congo and Cabo Verde have emerged as surprise packages with impressive displays in their opening matches. From dominant victories to shocking results, the tournament has offered a bit of everything so far.
Opening Matches Overview
The World Cup 2026 has already witnessed 24 matches, with all 48 sides completing their opening fixtures. The first round of matches concluded with a series of blockbuster performances from some of football's biggest stars and fan favorites. It began with France's 3-1 victory over Senegal, where Kylian Mbappe stole the spotlight by scoring a brilliant brace. That wasn't the end of it, as Norway's 'Vikings' pounced to a commanding win, powered by a two-goal display from star footballer Erling Haaland.
However, the showstopper was yet to come. Argentina arrived at Kansas City Stadium to face Algeria, and Lionel Messi turned back the clock with a sensational display. The 38-year-old superstar netted a hat-trick to lead the defending champions to a commanding 3-0 victory, giving fans a day to reminisce.
Upsets and Drama
Following three blockbuster encounters came one of the tournament's biggest shockers, as DR Congo held Portugal to a 1-1 draw. Cristiano Ronaldo struggled to leave his mark on the contest, especially after his long-time rival Messi had delivered such a tremendous performance. The drama quickly returned the next day when England faced Croatia in another entertaining clash. Harry Kane led the side as England secured a 4-2 victory, while Croatia endured a disappointing outing as Luka Modric's side opened their campaign with defeat.
Group Stage Results
The opening round of the group stage ended with 12 teams registering victories in their first match. Co-hosts USA and Mexico started off strong, winning their openers and securing the top spot of their respective groups. Meanwhile, Canada had to settle for a draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Many tournament favorites enjoyed positive starts, but few failed to meet expectations. Brazil, Spain, and Portugal commenced their campaigns with draws against underdogs, leaving room for improvement as they head into the second round of the group stage.
Points Table After First Round
Group A
- Mexico: Played 1, Won 1, Drawn 0, Lost 0, GD +2, Points 3
- Korea Republic: Played 1, Won 1, Drawn 0, Lost 0, GD +1, Points 3
- Czechia: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 1, GD -1, Points 0
- South Africa: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 1, GD -2, Points 0
Group B
- Switzerland: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 0, GD 0, Points 1
- Canada: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 0, GD 0, Points 1
- Qatar: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 0, GD 0, Points 1
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 0, GD 0, Points 1
Group C
- Scotland: Played 1, Won 1, Drawn 0, Lost 0, GD +1, Points 3
- Morocco: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 0, GD 0, Points 1
- Brazil: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 0, GD 0, Points 1
- Haiti: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 1, GD -1, Points 0
Group D
- USA: Played 1, Won 1, Drawn 0, Lost 0, GD +3, Points 3
- Australia: Played 1, Won 1, Drawn 0, Lost 0, GD +2, Points 3
- Turkiye: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 1, GD -2, Points 0
- Paraguay: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 1, GD -3, Points 0
Group E
- Germany: Played 1, Won 1, Drawn 0, Lost 0, GD +6, Points 3
- Cote d'Ivoire: Played 1, Won 1, Drawn 0, Lost 0, GD +1, Points 3
- Ecuador: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 1, GD -1, Points 0
- Curacao: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 1, GD -6, Points 0
Group F
- Sweden: Played 1, Won 1, Drawn 0, Lost 0, GD +4, Points 3
- Japan: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 0, GD 0, Points 1
- Netherlands: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 0, GD 0, Points 1
- Tunisia: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 1, GD -4, Points 0
Group G
- New Zealand: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 0, GD 0, Points 1
- IR Iran: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 0, GD 0, Points 1
- Belgium: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 0, GD 0, Points 1
- Egypt: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 0, GD 0, Points 1
Group H
- Uruguay: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 0, GD 0, Points 1
- Saudi Arabia: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 0, GD 0, Points 1
- Spain: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 0, GD 0, Points 1
- Cabo Verde: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 0, GD 0, Points 1
Group I
- Norway: Played 1, Won 1, Drawn 0, Lost 0, GD +3, Points 3
- France: Played 1, Won 1, Drawn 0, Lost 0, GD +2, Points 3
- Senegal: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 1, GD -2, Points 0
- Iraq: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 1, GD -3, Points 0
Group J
- Argentina: Played 1, Won 1, Drawn 0, Lost 0, GD +3, Points 3
- Austria: Played 1, Won 1, Drawn 0, Lost 0, GD +2, Points 3
- Jordan: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 1, GD -2, Points 0
- Algeria: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 1, GD -3, Points 0
Group K
- Colombia: Played 1, Won 1, Drawn 0, Lost 0, GD +2, Points 3
- Congo DR: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 0, GD 0, Points 1
- Portugal: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 0, GD 0, Points 1
- Uzbekistan: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 1, GD -2, Points 0
Group L
- England: Played 1, Won 1, Drawn 0, Lost 0, GD +2, Points 3
- Ghana: Played 1, Won 1, Drawn 0, Lost 0, GD +1, Points 3
- Panama: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 1, GD -1, Points 0
- Croatia: Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 1, GD -2, Points 0
Stay tuned for more updates from the FIFA World Cup 2026.
