Roundup of all the action across the opening matchday of the group stage at 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The first World Cup to feature 48 teams saw plenty of drama across the opening matchday of the group stage as Mexico, Canada and USA commenced co-hosting duties of the tournament.
Argentina meanwhile began their title defence aware that France, Spain and England headed those looking to snatch the Jules Rimet Trophy away from their hands.
Group A
Julien Quinones’ early strike and Raul Jimenez’s header saw Mexico open the tournament with a 2-0 victory over South Africa as the latter’s Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane were shown red cards, alongside Mexico’s Cesar Montes in three separate incidents.
Oh Hyeon-guy netted a 80th-minute winner as South Korea came from behind to beat Czech Republic 2-1 in their opening clash, after Ladislav Krejci initially headed the Czechs into the lead before Hwang In-beom equalised for South Korea.
Group B
Cyle Larin’s finish rescued Canada a 1-1 draw against Bosnia & Herzegovina after Jovo Lukic headed the latter into a half-time lead.
Miro Muheim’s injury-time own-goal saw Qatar snatch a late 1-1 draw against Switzerland after Breel Embolo fired the Siss ahead through a 17th-minute penalty.
Group C
John McGinn’s rebound winner fired Scotland top of Group C with a 1-0 victory over Haiti.
Vinicius Junior’s finish rescued Brazil a 1-1 draw against Morocco after Ismael Saibari put Morocco into a surprise lead in their opening Group C clash.
Group D
Folarin Balogun’s brace plus Damian Bobadilla’s own-goal and Giovanni Reyna’s injury-time finish saw USA begin their campaign with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay, despite Mauricio’s consolatory effort for the South American side.
Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe fired Australia to a 2-0 win over Turkey in a tightly-fought battle.
Group E
Kai Havertz’s brace plus goals from Felix Nmecha, Nico Schlotterbeck, Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Brown and Deniz Undav saw Germany thrash Curacao 7-1 to kick off Group E, despite Livano Comenencia’s brief consolatory first-half equaliser for the debutants.
Amad Diallo netted a 90th-minute winner as Ivory Coast scraped past Ecuador to a 1-0 victory.
Group F
Yasin Ayari’s brace plus goals from Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres and Mattias Svanberg saw Sweden thrash Tunisia 5-1 to to top Group F, whilst Omar Rekik’s consolatory goal couldn’t save Tunisia boss – Sabri Lamouchi from an unexpected sacking.
Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summer put the Netherlands twice ahead in their eventual 2-2 draw against Japan, as Keito Nakamura and Daichi Kamada rescued Japan a point with equalising goals.
Group G
Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi netted comeback equalisers for Iran in a fightback 2-2 draw against New Zealand, having twice fell behind to Elijah Just’s goals from assists by Chris Wood.
Mohamed Hany’s 66th-minute own-goal gifted Belgium a 1-1 draw against Egypt after Eman Ashour initially put the African team into a half-time lead.
Group H
Maxi Araujo’s 80th-minute finish rescued Uruguay a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia after Abdulelah al Amri put the Saudis into a half-time lead on the rebound.
Spain were held to a shock 0-0 draw against Cape Verde.
Group I
Erling Haaland’s brace plus Leo Ostigard’s header and Aymen Hussein’s own-goal saw Norway thrash Iraq 4-1 despite a brief headed equaliser from Hussein before half time.
Kylian Mbappe’s brace and Bradley Barcola’s strike saw France beat Senegal 3-1 in the Group I opener, despite Ibrahim Mbaye’s late strike for the Africa Cup of Nations’ runners-up.
Group J
Lionel Messi’s hat-trick saw Argentina begin their title defence with a 3-0 mauling of Algeria.
Yazan Al Arab’s own-goal and Marko Arnautovic’s penalty saw Austria beat debutants, Jordan 3-1 after Romano Schmid’s strike was cancelled out by Ali Olwan’s curled effort.
Group K
Goals from Luis Diaz and Jaminton Campaz saw Colombia defeat debutants, Uzbekistan 3-1 after Daniel Munoz’s opening volley was cancelled out by Abbosbek Fayzullaev’s header.
Joao Neves’ early strike was cancelled out by Yoane Wissa’s header as Portugal suffered a frustrating 1-1 draw against DR Congo.
Group L
Harry Kane’s brace plus second-half goals from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford saw England beat Croatia 4-2 in a thriller in Arlington, Dallas, in which Martin Baturina then Petar Musa cancelled out both of Kane’s goals in a lively first half.
Caleb Yirenkyi netted a 95th-minute winner from Brandon Thomas-Asante’s pass as Ghana scraped past Panama in a nervy battle in Toronto, Canada.
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