Read football, basketball and esports reporting with tactical, statistical and rules-based context that separates evidence from prediction.
USA beat Australia 2-0 in Seattle to reach the 2026 World Cup knockouts, with Cameron Burgess scoring an own goal and Alex Freeman adding a VAR-confirmed second.
Luis Romo scored the decisive goal as Mexico beat Korea Republic 1-0 in Guadalajara to become the first team to reach the 2026 World Cup knockouts.
Johan Manzambi scored twice off the bench as Switzerland beat 10-man Bosnia and Herzegovina 4-1 in their 2026 World Cup Group B match.
Jonathan David scored a hat-trick as Canada beat nine-man Qatar 6-0 to earn their first-ever men’s World Cup win, though Ismaël Koné’s injury clouded the night.
Teboho Mokoena’s late penalty earned South Africa a 1-1 draw against Czechia in their 2026 World Cup Group A match, keeping their hopes alive.
Uzbekistan scored their first-ever World Cup goal through Abbosbek Fayzullaev, but Colombia pulled away late to win 3-1 in their 2026 World Cup Group K opener.
Caleb Yirenkyi scored a stoppage-time winner as Ghana beat Panama 1-0 in their 2026 World Cup Group L opener in Toronto.
Harry Kane scored twice as England beat Croatia 4-2 in their 2026 World Cup Group L opener, with Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford also scoring.
Yoane Wissa scored DR Congo’s first-ever World Cup goal as they earned a historic 1-1 draw against Portugal in their 2026 World Cup Group K opener.
Jordan scored their first-ever World Cup goal through Ali Olwan, but Austria pulled away late to win 3-1 in their 2026 World Cup Group J opener.
Erling Haaland scored twice on his World Cup debut as Norway marked their return to the tournament with a 4-1 win over Iraq in Group I.
Lionel Messi scored his first World Cup hat-trick as Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 in their 2026 World Cup Group J opener in Kansas City.
Kylian Mbappé scored twice and broke France’s men’s scoring record as France beat Senegal 3-1 in their 2026 World Cup Group I opener.
Elijah Just scored twice and Chris Wood assisted both goals, but Iran fought back through Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi to draw 2-2 with New Zealand.
Mohammed Al-Owais produced a heroic goalkeeping display as Saudi Arabia held Uruguay to a 1-1 draw in their 2026 World Cup Group H opener.
Egypt came close to their first-ever World Cup win after Emam Ashour’s brilliant goal, but Belgium rescued a 1-1 draw through a Mohamed Hany own goal forced by Romelu Lukaku.
Cape Verde held Spain to a shock 0-0 draw in their 2026 World Cup Group H opener, with goalkeeper Vozinha starring in a historic result in Atlanta.
Yasin Ayari scored twice as Sweden opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a dominant 5-1 win over Tunisia in Group F.
Amad Diallo scored a 90th-minute winner as Côte d’Ivoire beat Ecuador 1-0 in their 2026 World Cup Group E opener after Ecuador wasted several big chances.
Japan fought back twice to earn a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in their 2026 World Cup Group F opener, with Daichi Kamada scoring a late equaliser.
Germany beat Curaçao 7-1 in Group E as Kai Havertz scored twice and Livano Comenencia made history with Curaçao’s first World Cup goal.
Brazil drew 1-1 with Morocco in Group C as Ismael Saibari punished Brazil’s shaky start before Vinícius Júnior produced a superb equaliser.
Australia beat Türkiye 2-0 in Group D as Nestory Irankunda, Connor Metcalfe and goalkeeper Patrick Beach led a disciplined World Cup opener.
Scotland beat Haiti 1-0 in Group C as John McGinn scored the goal that delivered their first FIFA World Cup win since 1990.
Qatar drew 1-1 with Switzerland in Group B after a stoppage-time equaliser gave them their first-ever FIFA World Cup point.
USA beat Paraguay 4-1 in their 2026 World Cup opener as Folarin Balogun scored twice and Christian Pulisic drove a dominant Group D win.
Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in the 2026 World Cup opener as Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scored in a match with three red cards.
South Korea came from behind to beat Czech Republic 2-1 in Guadalajara as Hwang In-beom scored, assisted Oh Hyeon-gyu and shaped a vital Group A win.
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