Group B is suddenly fascinating, three matches are on the board today, and the host nation with the most to prove kicks off under the lights.
Yesterday's Results
Czechia 1-1 South Africa [Group A] — A point apiece, and neither side will be thrilled about it. Czechia came in needing a bounce-back after their opening loss, and South Africa were in the same boat; the draw leaves both teams still searching for their first win with Mexico and Korea Republic already pulling away at the top of the group. A flat result that keeps the pressure squarely on both sides heading into their final group game.
Switzerland 4-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina [Group B] — This one looked like a stalemate until the 74th minute, when substitute Johan Manzambi broke the deadlock and Bosnia's resistance collapsed entirely. A red card for Tarik Muharemovic made it desperate for the Bosnians, and Switzerland piled on through Ruben Vargas and a Granit Xhaka penalty to turn a tight game into a rout. Per Reuters, the Swiss now have four points and need just one more from their final group game to advance. Bosnia, with one point, are in real trouble.
Canada 6-0 Qatar [Group B] — The result of the day, and maybe the result of the tournament so far. Jonathan David led the charge with a hat trick as Canada put on a performance that felt like a statement to the entire field. AP reports it's Canada's first-ever World Cup win, and the margin makes Group B look very different overnight. Switzerland and Canada are now the two teams to beat in that group, and Qatar's tournament is effectively over.
Today's Fixtures
Mexico vs Korea Republic [Group A] — Mexico opened with a clean sheet and Korea Republic won their opener, so this is a genuine clash between the two group leaders; watch whether El Tri can impose their home-crowd advantage on a Son Heung-min-led side that has already shown it can score.
United States vs Australia [Group D] — 8:00pm — The USMNT's home World Cup gets its first real test tonight, and Pochettino's side will know that a win puts them in a commanding position in the group; Australia are no pushover, but the US will have the crowd and the pressure of expectation behind them in what shapes up as the most-watched match of the day.
Scotland vs Morocco [Group C] — 11:00pm — Scotland fans have been living their best lives in Boston all week, but Morocco are a significantly sterner test than whatever Haiti offered; The Guardian notes that Steve Clarke knows this is a "big challenge," and Scotland will need to be far more organized than the atmosphere in the stands.
Around the Tournament
Koné injury clouds Canada's big night. The joy of Canada's 6-0 win came with a painful footnote: midfielder Ismael Koné was stretchered off after breaking a leg during the match. The Guardian reports he waved to the crowd as he was taken off — a gutting moment for a player who had waited years for this stage.
Tunisia sack their coach after one game. Sabri Lamouchi is out after just a single group-stage match, with Hervé Renard — the man who famously led Morocco to the 2022 semifinal — brought in as replacement. BBC Sport has the story, and it's a remarkable piece of panic from a federation that clearly felt the opening result was unacceptable. Whether Renard can work another miracle in the time remaining is another question entirely.
FIFA's hydration breaks are annoying everyone. The mandatory water breaks introduced to manage the heat have drawn widespread criticism for killing momentum at crucial moments in matches. AP has the full story on the backlash, and it's becoming one of the defining off-pitch conversations of the tournament's first week.
Tonight belongs to the United States. Whatever else happens in Group D, the USMNT's home World Cup moment arrives at 8:00pm, and the country will be watching. Don't miss it.
