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2026 World Cup Recap

See what happened in the first round of the 2026 World Cup, including every opening result, biggest surprises, standout teams, and what the new format means.

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The first round of the 2026 World Cup delivered big wins, early shocks, and a few favorite-team stumbles.

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Argentina started its title defense with a 3-0 win over Algeria, Germany produced the biggest scoreline with a 7-1 win over Curaçao, and the United States opened strongly with a 4-1 win over Paraguay.

Several favorites also dropped points. Brazil drew 1-1 with Morocco, Spain were held 0-0 by Cape Verde, Portugal drew 1-1 with DR Congo, and Belgium drew 1-1 with Egypt. Because the 2026 World Cup uses an expanded 48-team format with a Round of 32, those draws are not disastrous, but they do make the next group matches more important.

Why the First Round Matters More in 2026

The 2026 World Cup is different from previous editions. The tournament expanded to 48 teams, divided into 12 groups. Instead of moving directly from the group stage to a Round of 16, this edition adds a Round of 32.

That means the top two teams in each group qualify, along with the eight best third-place teams. A bad opening result still matters, especially for goal difference, but it does not automatically put a favorite on the edge of elimination.

This is important when reading the first round. Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Canada all dropped points, but the format gives them room to recover. At the same time, teams that won big, such as Germany, Sweden, Norway, England, and the United States, created an early advantage.

All First-Round Results by Group

Group A

  • Mexico 2-0 South Africa
  • South Korea 2-1 Czech Republic

Mexico made a clean start as one of the host nations, while South Korea opened with a valuable win. Group A already has two teams with early control, which puts pressure on South Africa and the Czech Republic in their second matches.

Group B

  • Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Qatar 1-1 Switzerland

Group B stayed completely open after two draws. Canada did not lose its opener, but as a host nation, it will want more than one point from the next match to avoid relying on the third-place path.

Group C

  • Brazil 1-1 Morocco
  • Haiti 0-1 Scotland

Brazil's draw with Morocco is one of the first round's biggest talking points. Morocco have recent tournament credibility, so the result is not a random shock, but it still means Brazil did not take early control. Scotland's 1-0 win over Haiti puts them in a strong position after one match.

Group D

  • United States 4-1 Paraguay
  • Australia 2-0 Turkey

The United States had one of the most convincing host-nation starts of the round. A 4-1 win gives the US three points and a useful goal-difference cushion. Australia also started well with a clean-sheet win over Turkey.

Group E

  • Germany 7-1 Curaçao
  • Ivory Coast 1-0 Ecuador

Germany produced the loudest scoreline of the opening round. A 7-1 win gives them immediate control of the group and a major goal-difference advantage. Ivory Coast also made a strong start by beating Ecuador, which sets up a high-pressure second round in Group E.

Group F

  • Netherlands 2-2 Japan
  • Sweden 5-1 Tunisia

Sweden's 5-1 win over Tunisia was one of the most impressive results of the first round. Netherlands and Japan played a balanced 2-2 draw, which keeps both teams alive but gives Sweden the early advantage in the group.

Group G

  • Belgium 1-1 Egypt
  • Iran 2-2 New Zealand

No team took full control of Group G. Belgium's draw with Egypt is the headline because Belgium entered as the bigger name, but Iran and New Zealand also shared points. This group could quickly become one of the most unpredictable.

Group H

  • Spain 0-0 Cape Verde
  • Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay

Spain's 0-0 draw with Cape Verde is one of the most surprising opening results. Spain are still in a recoverable position, but failing to score in the first match creates pressure. Uruguay and Saudi Arabia also drew, so Group H remains wide open.

Group I

  • France 3-1 Senegal
  • Iraq 1-4 Norway

France started with a solid 3-1 win over Senegal. Norway also made a major statement with a 4-1 win over Iraq. Those two results make France and Norway early favorites to advance from Group I.

Group J

  • Argentina 3-0 Algeria
  • Austria 3-1 Jordan

Argentina opened their title defense with a 3-0 win over Algeria. Lionel Messi's hat-trick made it one of the biggest individual stories of the first round. Austria also started well with a 3-1 win over Jordan.

Group K

  • Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
  • Uzbekistan 1-3 Colombia

Portugal's 1-1 draw with DR Congo is another favorite-stumbles result. Colombia took early control of Group K with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan, which makes Portugal's second match more important.

Group L

  • England 4-2 Croatia
  • Ghana 1-0 Panama

England beat Croatia 4-2 in one of the best attacking games of the first round. Ghana's 1-0 win over Panama gives them three points and keeps Group L competitive behind England.

Biggest Winners of the Opening Round

Germany

Germany's 7-1 win over Curaçao was the most dominant result of the round. Beyond the three points, the goal difference could matter later if the group becomes tight or if ranking across teams becomes relevant.

Argentina

Argentina did what defending champions need to do: win clearly, avoid early chaos, and create momentum. Messi's hat-trick also gives the tournament an immediate headline.

United States

The US needed a strong start as a host nation, and a 4-1 win over Paraguay delivered exactly that. The result gives the team confidence, group control, and a strong public narrative.

Sweden and Norway

Sweden beat Tunisia 5-1, while Norway beat Iraq 4-1. Both teams used the first round to build goal difference and make themselves difficult to chase.

Biggest Surprises

The biggest surprises were not necessarily losses. They were the favorites that failed to win.

Brazil's 1-1 draw with Morocco is a major storyline because Brazil usually enters any World Cup match with heavy attention. Spain's 0-0 draw with Cape Verde is even more dramatic from a scoring perspective, because Spain had no opening goal. Portugal's draw with DR Congo and Belgium's draw with Egypt also add pressure early.

None of these teams should be treated as eliminated or in crisis after one match. But the first round changed the tone of their group campaigns.

What Fans Should Watch Next

The second round of group matches will show which results were real warning signs and which were simply opening-game noise.

Watch Brazil to see whether the draw with Morocco was a slow start or a deeper issue. Watch Spain to see whether they can convert possession into goals. Watch Portugal and Belgium because both teams need cleaner performances. Also watch Germany, Argentina, the United States, England, Sweden, Norway, and Colombia to see whether their strong starts continue.

For fans following the games on mobile, the safest setup is to combine an official World Cup schedule, a legal broadcaster or streaming app available in your country, and a reliable score-alert app. If you need help comparing those options, BluffGuard has a guide to World Cup live apps and a broader app comparison for football fans.

FAQ

How many matches were played in the first round of the 2026 World Cup?

There were 24 opening matches across 12 groups, with two matches in each group.

What was the biggest win of the first round?

Germany had the biggest win of the first round, beating Curaçao 7-1.

Did Argentina win their first match?

Yes. Argentina beat Algeria 3-0, with Lionel Messi scoring a hat-trick.

Did Brazil win their opening match?

No. Brazil drew 1-1 with Morocco in their first group-stage match.

Why are opening draws less damaging in 2026?

The 2026 World Cup has 48 teams and a Round of 32. The top two teams from each group advance, along with the eight best third-place teams, so teams have more paths to the knockout stage than in older formats.

External Sources

by william Smitch