World Cup Daily: Matches and storylines for June 12
On Friday, both the United States and Canada start their World Cup journeys with literal home matches. The tournament started Thursday with five goals and three red cards.
Yesterday, the 2026 World Cup kicked off with Mexico and South Africa providing two goals (both in the El Tri column) and three red cards (two for South Africa, and a surprising one on César Montes in stoppage time reshuffling their defense ahead of a June 18 match against South Korea. Then, in an evening match, South Korea outlasted Czechia 2-1 to more clearly define Group A.
Today, both the U.S. and Canada start their journeys, with Canada hosting Bosnia & Herzegovina in Toronto, while the Yanks bring Paraguay into SoFi Stadium for a primetime showdown.
We've got two groups to showcase. Note that FIFA world rankings (in parentheses after the team name) are changing at the tournament plays out, so what you're seeing here is today's rankings, impacted by both World Cup results in the books.
Group B
Predictions
Projected winner: Canada (30)
Projected runner-up: Switzerland (19)
Projected 3rd-place team: Bosnia & Herzegovina (64)
Projected 4th-place team: Qatar (56)
Today's match
Canada vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina: Friday, June 12, 2 pm (Toronto)
Future matches
Qatar vs. Switzerland: Saturday, June 13, 2 pm (Santa Clara, Calif.)
Switzerland vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina: Thursday, June 18, 2 pm (Inglewood, Calif.)
Canada vs. Qatar: Thursday, June 18, 5 pm (Vancouver)
Switzerland vs. Canada: Wednesday, June 24, 2 pm(Vancouver)
Bosnia & Herzegovina vs. Qatar, Wednesday, June 24, 2 pm(Seattle)
Most compelling narrative
Canada has played six matches in its World Cup history (1986 and 2022), losing all six. Despite a rash of injuries heading into the tournament, Canada's a good bet to not only notch its first victory either today or when facing Qatar on Thursday, but also to advance out of the group and into the knockout rounds. Winning the group would allow Les Rogues to play more matches in front of Canadian fans.
Player to watch
With Alphonso Davies likely sidelined for at least part of the group stages recovering from a hamstring injury, look for Jonathan David to put his team on his back, but also look for Tani Oluwesayi and even (likely in brief sub roles) Austin FC's own Jayden Nelson to bring electricity to the offense.
Group D
Predictions
Projected winner: United States (17)
Projected runner-up: Türkiye (23)
Projected 3rd-place team: Australia (27)
Projected 4th-place team: Paraguay (40)
Today's match
U.S. vs. Paraguay: Friday, June 12, 8 pm (Inglewood, Calif.)
Future matches
Australia vs. Türkiye, Saturday, June 13, 11 pm (Vancouver)
United States vs. Australia: Friday, June 19, 2 pm (Seattle)
Türkiye vs. Paraguay: Friday, June 19, 10 pm (Santa Clara, Calif.)
Türkiye vs. United States: Thursday, June 25, 9 pm (Inglewood, Calif.)
Paraguay vs. Australia: Thursday, June 25, 9 pm (Santa Clara, Calif.)
Most compelling narrative
Clearly, the fortunes of the U.S. men's national team is front and center for many of the fans watching stateside, and though the group appears theirs to win, how healthy they stay and how cogent they look will help determine just how far they go. Winning outright seems out of the question, but can they at least reach the quarterfinals as they did in 2002?
Player to watch
Many Americans could be on this list, but for me, Folarin Balogun is key, plus I want to determine if he really is an elite-level striker who can shine on this biggest of stages. If there's a non-U.S. player to keep an eye on, consider Türkiye's Arda Güler, the 21-year-old Real Madrid attacker who is a dark horse for the FIFA Young Player award in this World Cup.
Where to watch
Once again, Auditorium Shores is hosting Austin FC's Soccer Celebration event, though judging from one disgruntled person on Instagram, not everyone in the impressive aerial drone shot the club featured was happy. If you don't want to experience the level of crowds that will bring, Meanwhile Brewing (which is one of my family's happy places) will show a good percentage of World Cup games on its big screen, including today's doubleheader.
What to read
Check out Backheeled's reality check about the U.S.'s chances.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
Austin FC can't win Copa Tejas on Saturday night, but can certainly lose it facing FC Dallas in Frisco. We talk about outperforming one's xG, a new goalkeeper, and playoff hopes with a Toros expert.
Next Eleven is an Austin FC program created to use the power of soccer to encourage development in young people. Ilie Sánchez and Jorge Alastuey spoke to students Wednesday as club ambassadors.
Facundo Torres has been performing at close to the level you'd expect a designated player to be performing at. But for a good stretch of the season, he was (perplexingly) not.
Austin FC interim head coach Davy Arnaud insists his team is playing the same way each match. But Sunday's win over Vancouver required some unusual grit and timely goals.
Yesterday, the 2026 World Cup kicked off with Mexico and South Africa providing two goals (both in the El Tri column) and three red cards (two for South Africa, and a surprising one on César Montes in stoppage time reshuffling their defense ahead of a June 18 match against South Korea. Then, in an evening match, South Korea outlasted Czechia 2-1 to more clearly define Group A.
Today, both the U.S. and Canada start their journeys, with Canada hosting Bosnia & Herzegovina in Toronto, while the Yanks bring Paraguay into SoFi Stadium for a primetime showdown.
We've got two groups to showcase. Note that FIFA world rankings (in parentheses after the team name) are changing at the tournament plays out, so what you're seeing here is today's rankings, impacted by both World Cup results in the books.
Group B
Predictions
Today's match
Future matches
Most compelling narrative
Canada has played six matches in its World Cup history (1986 and 2022), losing all six. Despite a rash of injuries heading into the tournament, Canada's a good bet to not only notch its first victory either today or when facing Qatar on Thursday, but also to advance out of the group and into the knockout rounds. Winning the group would allow Les Rogues to play more matches in front of Canadian fans.
Player to watch
With Alphonso Davies likely sidelined for at least part of the group stages recovering from a hamstring injury, look for Jonathan David to put his team on his back, but also look for Tani Oluwesayi and even (likely in brief sub roles) Austin FC's own Jayden Nelson to bring electricity to the offense.
Group D
Predictions
Today's match
Future matches
Most compelling narrative
Clearly, the fortunes of the U.S. men's national team is front and center for many of the fans watching stateside, and though the group appears theirs to win, how healthy they stay and how cogent they look will help determine just how far they go. Winning outright seems out of the question, but can they at least reach the quarterfinals as they did in 2002?
Player to watch
Many Americans could be on this list, but for me, Folarin Balogun is key, plus I want to determine if he really is an elite-level striker who can shine on this biggest of stages. If there's a non-U.S. player to keep an eye on, consider Türkiye's Arda Güler, the 21-year-old Real Madrid attacker who is a dark horse for the FIFA Young Player award in this World Cup.
Where to watch
Once again, Auditorium Shores is hosting Austin FC's Soccer Celebration event, though judging from one disgruntled person on Instagram, not everyone in the impressive aerial drone shot the club featured was happy. If you don't want to experience the level of crowds that will bring, Meanwhile Brewing (which is one of my family's happy places) will show a good percentage of World Cup games on its big screen, including today's doubleheader.
What to read
Check out Backheeled's reality check about the U.S.'s chances.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
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