World Cup Daily: Matches and storylines for June 26
France vs. Norway and Spain vs. Uruguay are among today's best matchups. There's absolutely room for chaos in the brackets with some upsets.
This is great! This isn't so great! Oh, this really isn't great! Okay, this is looking okay ... I would have taken this result at the start of the tournament, to be honest. Oh no, what happened there? That's ... kind of a disaster! I'm now openly worried.
Just taking you through my reactions to each of the five goals in the United States' 3-2 loss to Türkiye on Thursday night. While entirely inconsequential to the USMNT's relatively easy path to the quarterfinals, the match gave fans reason to fret about our development as a soccer nation again, with questionable squad depth and creeping inconsistency sullying the good vibes that the first two group stage matches brought.
Elsewhere, Paraguay and Australia managed a scoreless draw, Netherlands won and Japan and Sweden drew to sort that group out, and both Ecuador and Côte d'Ivoire won (with Ecuador handing Germany its first loss and looking like the dark horse darlings pundits loved after two disappointing early matches.
Today, we get the anticipated France-Norway matchup to settle that group's winner and runner-up, while Senegal attempts to get its first points of the tournament against Iraq and make a case as one of the eight best third-place teams (which, as you know by now, is what it takes to get into the knockout rounds).
We also get Spain-Uruguay, with Cabo Verde playing Saudi Arabia in Houston as an X factor for a group that may not be the Spain first, Uruguay second scenario we expected. We also find out what happens with Belgium, Egypt, and Iran, in a group in which Belgium's currently third but could still emerge as group winner (though second to Egypt is the more likely scenario). You care, as a U.S. fan, because the Group G winner is the USMNT's most likely Round of 16 opponent should the USMNT get past Bosnia and Herzegovina (which is now officially the Round of 32 opponent even though there are more third-place spots to be settled.
Group A
Predictions vs. Reality
Projected winner: Mexico (9) / Winner: Mexico
Projected runner-up: South Korea (31) / Runner-up: South Africa
Projected 3rd-place team: Czechia (48) / 3rd-place team: South Korea
Projected 4th-place team: South Africa (54) /4th-place team: Czechia
Iran 2, New Zealand 2 (June 15, Inglewood, Calif.)
Belgium 0, Iran 0 (June 21, Inglewood, Calif.)
Egypt 3, New Zealand 1 (June 21, Vancouver)
Today's matches
Egypt vs. Iran: Friday, June 26, 10 pm (Seattle)
New Zealand vs. Belgium: Friday, June 26, 10 pm (Vancouver)
Most compelling narrative
As mentioned above, the Group G winner is the likely Round of 16 opponent for the U.S., on Monday, July 6, 7 pm, in Seattle. Will that be Egypt? Or will the combination of an Iran win and Belgium running up the score on New Zealand set up a rematch of the 2014 Round of 16? If so, can we bring back 2014 Tim Howard for that one? (And leave 2014 Chris Wondolowski at home?)
Player to watch
Jérémy Doku missed the previous match for Belgium for the birth of his first child. Judging from the first two matches, he's essential for sparking the Red Devils' creativity, though Romelu Lukaku is how their scoring happens. Facing an opponent like New Zealand could change our perceptions of all that, but it's been a bit of a baffling tournament for Belgium so far — but as Ecuador and Türkiye have shown, one match can change perceptions if not places in the standings.
Group H
Predictions
Projected winner: Spain (3)
Projected runner-up: Uruguay (18)
Projected 3rd-place team: Saudi Arabia (58)
Projected 4th-place team: Cabo Verde (64)
Past matches
Spain 0, Cabo Verde 0 (June 15, Atlanta)
Saudi Arabia 2, Uruguay 2 (June 15, Miami)
Spain 4, Saudi Arabia 0 (June 21, Atlanta)
Uruguay 2. Cabo Verde 2 (June 21, Miami)
Today's matches
Cabo Verde vs. Saudi Arabia: Friday, June 26, 7 pm (Houston)
Uruguay vs. Spain: Friday, June 26, 7 pm (Guadalajara)
Most compelling narrative
If you think it's possible for Spain to draw Uruguay and Cabo Verde to beat Saudi Arabia, then you've got a scenario in which Cabo Verde ties Spain on points ... but most likely gets second on goal differential, since Spain and Cabo Verde drew. The winner gets whoever gets second in Group J between Algeria and Austria ... while second in the group gets Argentina.
It would take Uruguay beating Spain to upend the current table and send Spain into a Round of 32 match against Argentina ... but imagine that for a second.
(Thanks to a surprising Cabo Verde, there's a delicious amount of chaos in this group.)
Player to watch
2026 Spain with Lamine Yamal is so much better than 2026 Spain without Lamine Yamal. He's an incredible difference maker.
Group I
Predictions
Projected winner: France (2)
Projected runner-up: Senegal (19)
Projected 3rd-place team: Norway (22)
Projected 4th-place team: Iraq (60)
Past matches
France 3, Senegal 1 (June 16, East Rutherford, N.J.)
Norway 4, Iraq 1 (June 16, Foxborough, Mass.)
France 3, Iraq 0 (June 22, Philadelphia)
Norway 3, Senegal 2 (June 22, East Rutherford, N.J.)
Today's matches
Norway vs. France: Friday, June 26, 2 pm (Foxborough, Mass.)
Senegal vs. Iraq: Friday, June 26, 2 pm (Toronto)
Most compelling narrative
France-Norway has been circled on calendars for a while, and with Norway's win over Senegal running a bit counter to world rankings, this becomes a battle for top of the group. A Norway upset would slot France into a match against Ivory Coast at Jerryworld, instead of a match against a third-place team at MetLife. Just something to think about.
Player to watch
France-Norway's also a consequential match in the Golden Boot race, so look for Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland to score — they each have braces in their first two matches.
The knockout rounds: What we know
Note: All times CT
Sunday, June 28
Canada vs. South Africa, 2 pm, Inglewood, Calif.
Monday, June 29
Brazil vs. Japan, noon, Houston
Germany vs. Group A/B/C/D/F 3rd place, 3:30 pm, Foxborough, Mass.
Netherlands vs. Morocco, 8 pm, Monterrey
Tuesday, June 30
Côte d'Ivoire vs. Group I runner-up, noon, Jerryworld
Group I winner vs. Group C/D/F/G/H 3rd place, 4 pm, East Rutherford, N.J.
Mexico vs. Group C/E/F/H/I third place, 8 pm, Mexico City
Wednesday, July 1
Group L winner vs. Group E/H/I/J/K 3rd place, 11 am, Atlanta
Group G winner vs. Group A/E/H/I/J 3rd place, 3 pm, Seattle
United Statesvs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 7 pm, Santa Clara, Calif.
Thursday, July 2
Group H winner vs. Group J runner-up, 2 pm, Inglewood, Calif.
Group K runner-up vs. Group L runner-up, 6 pm, Toronto
Switzerland vs. Group E/F/G/I/J 3rd place, 10 pm, Vancouver
Friday, July 3
Australia vs. Group G runner-up, 1 pm, Jerryworld
Argentina vs. Group H runner-up, 5 pm, Miami Gardens, Fla.
Group K winner vs. Group D/E/I/J/L 3rd place, 8:30 pm, Kansas City
Where to watch
When it comes to Austin and France matches, nothing beats Justine's (4710 E. 5th Street).
What to read
Don't worry, U.S. fans; Brad Guzan is telling you to take a deep breath.
And, perhaps counter to what you might expect, Matt Doyle will help you feel better about the loss.
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.
The World Cup rolls on with six more matches today, with fans of Japan, Sweden, and Ecuador on the precipice of feeling the disappointment that Canada and South Korea fans are currently feeling.
It took a lot longer than we expected for France to lock up another win, thanks to thunderstorms. Today, our focus turns to a pair of aging goalscorers and some groups in flux.
We're still buzzing about another Cabo Verde draw, though we think we know what awaits them. Two of the biggest tournament favorites take the field again today; expect goals.
This is great! This isn't so great! Oh, this really isn't great! Okay, this is looking okay ... I would have taken this result at the start of the tournament, to be honest. Oh no, what happened there? That's ... kind of a disaster! I'm now openly worried.
Just taking you through my reactions to each of the five goals in the United States' 3-2 loss to Türkiye on Thursday night. While entirely inconsequential to the USMNT's relatively easy path to the quarterfinals, the match gave fans reason to fret about our development as a soccer nation again, with questionable squad depth and creeping inconsistency sullying the good vibes that the first two group stage matches brought.
Elsewhere, Paraguay and Australia managed a scoreless draw, Netherlands won and Japan and Sweden drew to sort that group out, and both Ecuador and Côte d'Ivoire won (with Ecuador handing Germany its first loss and looking like the dark horse darlings pundits loved after two disappointing early matches.
Today, we get the anticipated France-Norway matchup to settle that group's winner and runner-up, while Senegal attempts to get its first points of the tournament against Iraq and make a case as one of the eight best third-place teams (which, as you know by now, is what it takes to get into the knockout rounds).
We also get Spain-Uruguay, with Cabo Verde playing Saudi Arabia in Houston as an X factor for a group that may not be the Spain first, Uruguay second scenario we expected. We also find out what happens with Belgium, Egypt, and Iran, in a group in which Belgium's currently third but could still emerge as group winner (though second to Egypt is the more likely scenario). You care, as a U.S. fan, because the Group G winner is the USMNT's most likely Round of 16 opponent should the USMNT get past Bosnia and Herzegovina (which is now officially the Round of 32 opponent even though there are more third-place spots to be settled.
Group A
Predictions vs. Reality
Group B
Predictions vs. Reality
Group C
Predictions vs. Reality
Group D
Predictions vs. Reality
Group E
Predictions vs. Reality
Group F
Predictions
Running total: 14 of 24 correct (58.3%)
Group G
Predictions
Past matches
Today's matches
Most compelling narrative
As mentioned above, the Group G winner is the likely Round of 16 opponent for the U.S., on Monday, July 6, 7 pm, in Seattle. Will that be Egypt? Or will the combination of an Iran win and Belgium running up the score on New Zealand set up a rematch of the 2014 Round of 16? If so, can we bring back 2014 Tim Howard for that one? (And leave 2014 Chris Wondolowski at home?)
Player to watch
Jérémy Doku missed the previous match for Belgium for the birth of his first child. Judging from the first two matches, he's essential for sparking the Red Devils' creativity, though Romelu Lukaku is how their scoring happens. Facing an opponent like New Zealand could change our perceptions of all that, but it's been a bit of a baffling tournament for Belgium so far — but as Ecuador and Türkiye have shown, one match can change perceptions if not places in the standings.
Group H
Predictions
Past matches
Today's matches
Most compelling narrative
If you think it's possible for Spain to draw Uruguay and Cabo Verde to beat Saudi Arabia, then you've got a scenario in which Cabo Verde ties Spain on points ... but most likely gets second on goal differential, since Spain and Cabo Verde drew. The winner gets whoever gets second in Group J between Algeria and Austria ... while second in the group gets Argentina.
It would take Uruguay beating Spain to upend the current table and send Spain into a Round of 32 match against Argentina ... but imagine that for a second.
(Thanks to a surprising Cabo Verde, there's a delicious amount of chaos in this group.)
Player to watch
2026 Spain with Lamine Yamal is so much better than 2026 Spain without Lamine Yamal. He's an incredible difference maker.
Group I
Predictions
Past matches
Today's matches
Most compelling narrative
France-Norway has been circled on calendars for a while, and with Norway's win over Senegal running a bit counter to world rankings, this becomes a battle for top of the group. A Norway upset would slot France into a match against Ivory Coast at Jerryworld, instead of a match against a third-place team at MetLife. Just something to think about.
Player to watch
France-Norway's also a consequential match in the Golden Boot race, so look for Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland to score — they each have braces in their first two matches.
The knockout rounds: What we know
Note: All times CT
Sunday, June 28
Monday, June 29
Tuesday, June 30
Wednesday, July 1
Thursday, July 2
Friday, July 3
Where to watch
When it comes to Austin and France matches, nothing beats Justine's (4710 E. 5th Street).
What to read
Don't worry, U.S. fans; Brad Guzan is telling you to take a deep breath.
And, perhaps counter to what you might expect, Matt Doyle will help you feel better about the loss.
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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