Yesterday was the kind of group-stage day that reminds you why this tournament is different — an upset that reshuffles a whole group, a host nation bowing out on a bad note, and two draws that somehow sent everyone through anyway.
Yesterday's Results
Ecuador 2-1 Germany [Group E] — The result of the day, maybe the result of the group stage so far. Ecuador came into this needing a win and delivered one, stunning a German side that had looked so composed earlier in the tournament. The loss knocks Germany into a precarious position heading into the knockout rounds, while Ecuador punch their ticket to the Round of 32 with a performance that will have people talking. Match report via BBC Sport
Curaçao 0-2 Ivory Coast [Group E] — Ivory Coast handled their business efficiently, finishing off a Curaçao side that had already been eliminated. The result confirms Ivory Coast's place in the next round alongside Ecuador, making Group E one of the more dramatic groups of the tournament.
Japan 1-1 Sweden [Group F] — A draw that suited both sides just fine. Japan and Sweden both advance to the Round of 32, with neither needing to push too hard once the scoreline settled. Controlled, professional, a little flat — but the job got done for both. BBC Sport
Tunisia 1-3 Netherlands [Group F] — The Dutch were comfortable throughout, with Tunisia unable to find a way back into the game after falling behind. Netherlands advance in good form and will be a dangerous side in the knockout rounds.
Türkiye 3-2 United States [Group D] — The USMNT finished their group stage with a loss, and Mauricio Pochettino was visibly irritated by the narrative that it constituted a disappointment. The US had already secured their place in the Round of 32 as group winners before this game kicked off, and Pochettino rotated heavily — but Türkiye, heading home regardless, signed off with a spirited win that included a late goal to seal it. A bittersweet final whistle at SoFi Stadium. Full AP report here
Paraguay 0-0 Australia [Group D] — A draw that, per BBC Sport, suited both sides. Both teams advance from Group D, joining the US, with the point enough to see them both through. Not a game for the highlight reel, but both sets of players will take it. BBC Sport
Today's Fixtures
Six matches today across Groups G, H, and I — and this is a big one.
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Norway vs France [Group I, 20:00 UK] — Erling Haaland against Kylian Mbappé, the two best forwards in the world on the same pitch at the same time; France will want to top the group, Norway will want to prove they belong at this level, and the individual duel alone is worth clearing your schedule for.
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Senegal vs Iraq [Group I, 20:00 UK] — Running alongside the France-Norway heavyweight bout, Senegal need to keep pace and will be heavy favorites against an Iraq side that has struggled; watch whether Senegal can finish the group in style.
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Uruguay vs Spain [Group H] — Spain have been one of the tournament's most watchable sides and will look to finish top of the group; Uruguay are dangerous and won't make it easy, so this is the kind of match where the scoreline might not tell the whole story.
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Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia [Group H] — Both sides need points to stay alive in the group-stage picture; Cape Verde have been one of the tournament's feel-good stories and will want to give their fans something to celebrate.
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New Zealand vs Belgium [Group G] — Belgium arrive as one of the favorites to advance, but New Zealand showed earlier in this tournament that they can make life difficult; watch whether the Kiwis can frustrate a side with serious quality.
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Egypt vs Iran [Group G] — A match with real knockout-round implications; both sides will be calculating what they need, and the tension of a must-not-lose fixture tends to produce either a classic or a very tense stalemate.
Around the Tournament
Pochettino pushes back. After the 3-2 loss to Türkiye, Mauricio Pochettino made clear he wasn't interested in the disappointment narrative — the US had already won the group, and the rotation was deliberate. AP News has the full reaction.
The head-to-head rule is creating early drama. With so many groups tight on points, the tournament's head-to-head tiebreaker rule is already producing winners and losers in ways that feel almost arbitrary — Reuters has a good breakdown of how it's playing out.
Americans are showing up. Despite all the pre-tournament noise about whether US fans would embrace this World Cup, Reuters reports that turnout has defied the skeptics, with crowds flocking to matches across the host cities.
Tonight's Norway-France match is the game of the group stage so far on paper — Haaland and Mbappé, winner likely tops Group I, loser potentially faces a trickier path. Don't miss it.
