Drama, records, and stunning upsets mark World Cup 2026 group stage
Cape Verde national team among the biggest surprise packages to reach the knockout stage (Photo: x.com/FIFAWorldCup)
The 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America has successfully passed its first major milestone. Overnight, the final matches in the last group-stage quartets officially concluded, bringing the curtain down on the largest group stage in World Cup history.
Group stage recap
Over just more than two weeks, the world's 48 best national teams battled it out across 12 groups. At the end of this fiercely contested stage, exactly one-third of the teams — the 16 sides eliminated in the group stage — are heading home. Meanwhile, the 32 teams that successfully advanced have been paired up for the first knockout round.
Group A
Mexico – South Africa – 2:0
South Korea – Czechia – 2:1
Czechia – South Africa – 1:1
Mexico – South Korea – 1:0
South Africa – South Korea – 1:0
Czechia – Mexico – 0:3
Photo: Group A stage recap
Group B
Canada – Bosnia and Herzegovina – 1:1
Qatar – Switzerland – 1:1
Switzerland – Bosnia and Herzegovina – 4:1
Canada – Qatar – 6:0
Switzerland – Canada – 2:1
Bosnia and Herzegovina – Qatar – 3:1
Photo: Group B stage recap
Group C
Brazil – Morocco – 1:1
Haiti – Scotland – 0:1
Scotland – Morocco – 0:1
Brazil – Haiti – 3:0
Morocco – Haiti – 4:2
Scotland – Brazil – 0:3
Photo: Group C stage recap
Group D
United States – Paraguay – 4:1
Australia – Turkey – 2:0
United States – Australia – 2:0
Turkey – Paraguay – 0:1
Turkey – United States – 3:2
Paraguay – Australia – 0:0
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Photo: Group D stage recap
Group E
Germany – Curaçao – 7:1
Ivory Coast – Ecuador – 1:0
Germany – Ivory Coast – 2:1
Ecuador – Curaçao – 0:0
Curaçao – Ivory Coast – 0:2
Ecuador – Germany – 2:1
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Photo: Group E stage recap
Group F
Netherlands – Japan – 2:2
Sweden – Tunisia – 5:1
Netherlands – Sweden – 5:1
Tunisia – Japan – 0:4
Tunisia – Netherlands – 1:3
Japan – Sweden – 1:1
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Photo: Group F stage recap
Group G
Belgium – Egypt – 1:1
Iran – New Zealand – 2:2
Belgium – Iran – 0:0
New Zealand – Egypt – 1:3
New Zealand – Belgium – 1:5
Egypt – Iran – 1:1
Photo: Group G stage recap
Group H
Spain – Cape Verde – 0:0
Saudi Arabia – Uruguay – 1:1
Spain – Saudi Arabia – 4:0
Uruguay – Cape Verde – 2:2
Cape Verde – Saudi Arabia – 0:0
Uruguay – Spain – 0:1
Photo: Group H stage recap
Group I
France – Senegal – 3:1
Iraq – Norway – 1:4
France – Iraq – 3:0
Norway – Senegal – 3:2
Norway – France – 1:4
Senegal – Iraq – 5:0
Photo: Group I stage recap
Group J
Argentina – Algeria – 3:0
Austria – Jordan – 3:1
Argentina – Austria – 2:0
Jordan – Algeria – 1:2
Algeria – Austria – 3:3
Jordan – Argentina – 1:3
Photo: Group J stage recap
Group K
Portugal – DR Congo – 1:1
Uzbekistan – Colombia – 1:3
Portugal – Uzbekistan – 5:0
Colombia – DR Congo – 1:0
Colombia – Portugal – 0:0
DR Congo – Uzbekistan – 3:1
Photo: Group K stage recap
Group L
England – Croatia – 4:2
Ghana – Panama – 1:0
England – Ghana – 0:0
Panama – Croatia – 0:1
Panama – England – 0:2
Croatia – Ghana – 2:1
Photo: Group L stage recap
Who is already heading home
After the group stage, 16 national teams failed to qualify for the knockout stage of the tournament.
The following teams ended their World Cup campaign: South Korea, Czechia, Qatar, Scotland, Haiti, Turkey, Curaçao, Tunisia, Iran, New Zealand, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Panama.
Previously, we reported how the shaman who "cursed" Kane switched his attention to Ronaldo.
