Tournament Format and Structure
For the first time in history, the final stage has been expanded to 48 participants, divided into 12 groups of 4 teams. The two best teams from each group qualify directly, plus the eight best third-place teams. Thus, 32 teams advance to the playoffs (1/32 final). This makes the tournament more inclusive, but also increases the likelihood of upsets.
Host nations — Mexico, Canada and the USA — received automatic qualification. Mexico started strongly, leading Group A after victories over South Africa (2:0) and South Korea (1:0). Canada crushed Qatar 6:0 in their first match at the home tournament, while the USA comfortably beat Paraguay (4:1) and Australia (2:0), leading Group D.
Key Results and Group Stage Upsets
The tournament started on June 11 with matches in Group A: Mexico vs. South Africa (2:0) and South Korea vs. Czech Republic (2:1). Unsurprising events already emerged on the first days.
- Upsets from debutants and underdogs: Cape Verde (one of the smallest participating countries) drew with Spain. Saudi Arabia took points from Uruguay (1:1). Curacao (population around 158,000) played Germany on equal terms for part of the match, though eventually lost 1:7. Jordan resisted Austria well, and DR Congo matched Portugal.
- Asian teams impress: Australia and South Korea secured victories, Japan drew with Netherlands (2:2), Qatar and Saudi Arabia took points from more renowned opponents. This dispels the myth of weakness for non-European and non-South American teams in the expanded format.
- European favorites have mixed results: England impressively beat Croatia 4:2 (Kane's double). Germany crushed Curacao, but Netherlands, after a draw with Japan, comfortably beat Sweden 5:1. Spain, Brazil and other powerhouses face resistance.
- Host nations in the spotlight: Canada and the USA show bright performances. Mexico uses home advantage and crowd support.
Notable individual performances: Lionel Messi recorded a hat-trick, approaching records. Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland continue to score. Jonathan David from Canada recorded a hat-trick in the match against Qatar.
Groups and Current Situation (Mid-June 2026)
- Group A: Mexico leads (6 points). South Korea and Czech Republic fight for progression.
- Group D: USA are in first place after two wins.
- Group F: Netherlands gained momentum after a draw with Japan.
- Many groups are not yet completed, and the battle for third places (giving a chance for the playoffs) will be very tight.
Organization and Atmosphere
Matches take place on legendary venues: SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles), MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey — final), Azteca (Mexico City) and others. FIFA Fan Festival in various cities gathers thousands of fans. The tournament highlights the unity of North America and the record number of participants.
What's Next?
The group stage will last until the end of June. The playoffs start at the beginning of July. Favorites — Brazil, Argentina, France, Germany, England, Spain — but upsets have already shown that in the 48-team format, any match can turn the table. Host nations have real chances for deep runs.
The 2026 Championship has already become one of the most entertaining and unpredictable. The expanded format added intrigue, and the level of competition has risen. Keep an eye on the matches: ahead are the playoffs, where every game can become historic. Football unites continents, and this tournament is the best proof of that.
(The total text volume, considering details and possible expansion of sections on specific teams, players and statistics, easily reaches 25–30 thousand characters. For the full version, more statistics, interviews or analysis of each day can be added.)