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SEATTLE STADIUM — After the USA’s win over Paraguay, I admitted to being a prisoner of the moment with my player ratings. The atmosphere at Los Angeles Stadium was incredible, and the lowest rating I gave out was an 8. Well, it happened again … but the lowest rating was higher. That energy came from how the team performed in the first half. On both ends of the field, we cooked. From Sergiño Dest on the right wing to Folarin Balogun leading the attack, it was an impressive performance. It seemed like everybody had a good game against Paraguay last week, and this win against Australia felt similar. A huge part of that great first half was the timing of the goals. You get one in the 11th minute to set the tempo, and then you get another one in the 43rd minute right before you go into the locker room. Here are my player ratings for the win over Australia. (Ratings are from 1-10, with 10 being the best — and the most common rating for this one.) Starting XI On the set of “World Cup Now,” we were saying that Freese was going to eventually have to make a big save. That never came to fruition, but he sure played his part. Freese’s job as a goalkeeper, ultimately, is to keep a clean sheet. He came out of the 18-yard box to make a clearance with his head, which was his biggest contribution in the second half. Job done for Freese in goal. Freeman got his move to Europe back in January when he went to Villarreal in La Liga. He’ll be playing in the Champions League next year. At halftime, he played so well that I was wondering if he’d earn another transfer. Robinson’s role in this team is much different than Freeman’s. While Freeman is more like a third center back and sits back closer to Tim Ream and Chris Richards more often, Robinson’s job is more to provide width down the left wing further up the pitch. Together, they work well, and both were very good on Friday. These two complement each other well, just like the starting fullbacks. I thought both Ream and Richards were excellent against Australia. There were always going to be moments where the pair had to step higher up the pitch, and there were also going to be moments when they needed to be balanced defensively, whether it’s in one-on-one scenarios, in the 18-yard box or simply just putting out fires. The passing out of the back wasn’t as good as it was against Paraguay, less efficient. Also, before the tournament, I was wondering whether Ream could still anchor this defense. So far, hand up on that. It appears that I shouldn’t have doubted him. Tyler entered this game on a yellow card, which meant he would miss the game against Türkiye if he got one more. He didn’t put a foot wrong, though. Adams wasn’t late in any attempts to challenge the ball and read the game so well. There were a few moments early in the game where Tyler could have made a move forward, but he stayed disciplined and stuck to his job. That job was to stay in front of the USA defense and keep control of the midfield. That boy cooked tonight. Weston was everywhere, and he was everything. He is my man of the match. The way I describe Weston is that when he’s at his best, the national team has a different bounce to it. It’s his energy, his charisma, the leadership he brings. He plays on both sides of the ball and also adds a bit of intelligence to the midfield. His all-around game offers so much — his tackles, his will to win balls, and the way he drives this team with his charisma. Fantastic day in Seattle for Weston. At the last World Cup in 2022, the midfield was “MMA” for McKennie, Yunus Musah and McKennie. This year, it’s “ATM” — which also works because they’ve been cash money. Tillman has been excellent so far in this tournament and fits in seamlessly next to Tyler and Weston. The midfield has been a huge strength so far for this team, and I expect that to continue. Dest is a wild card for this team. He usually plays as a fullback, but he has really embraced this role further up the pitch on the right wing. Sergiño plays with a lot of expression and flair, especially when he’s on the ball. As Sacha Kljestian said on “World Cup Now,” the team looks so much more fun with him further on the field, taking on players. Sergiño wants to get the ball and take on defenders. When he gets possession, stand back and let him cook. Big spot for Pepi here, but he delivered in his first World Cup start. Pepi played more as a striker than Christian Pulisic usually does as a left-winger, even though that’s the place he took in the starting lineup, but he was all over the field. He easily could have had a goal and was in a position to finish the first goal if it hadn’t been put into the Australian net as an own goal before it got to him. Balogun has shown to be the most complete striker we’ve had and has lived up to everything we hoped he’d be when he committed to the USA three years ago. He has excellent hold-up play with a willingness to run into the wide channels and show off his pace. Flo made the first USA goal happen. He got the ball and was quickly past his defender down the left wing. From there, he got into the 18-yard box toward the end line. Australian center back Harry Souttar didn’t commit early enough to stop him. Ricardo Pepi has a tap-in if Cameron Burgess doesn’t put it in the top corner by himself. That will go down as an own goal, but Balogun made it happen.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The World Cup group stage can get complicated quickly. With 48 teams participating for the first time ever, FIFA instituted new tiebreaker rules to determine the top two in each group along with the eight highest third-place finishers. Below, FOX Sports Research has broken down what each team needs to advance, what results would send them through, and which scenarios could leave their fate hanging in the balance. Here’s where every group stands heading into the next round of matches, and the simple scenarios for them to advance. GROUP A Mexico has won the group and will face a third-place team (from either Group C, E, F, H, or I) in the Round of 32 in Mexico City on June 30. South Korea will advance and finish in second place with a win or draw vs. South Africa. South Korea will finish third with a loss AND a Czechia loss or draw. Czechia will finish second with a win AND a South Korea loss and if it maintains the tiebreaker vs. South Africa (goal differences are currently -1 for Czechia and -2 for South Africa). Czechia will finish third with: South Africa will finish second: South Africa will finish third: This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. GROUP B Switzerland will finish second: Bosnia and Herzegovina will finish third: Qatar will finish third with a win unless Switzerland loses and Qatar makes up the goal difference (Switzerland is +3, Qatar is -6). GROUP C GROUP D GROUP E GROUP F GROUP G GROUP H GROUP I GROUP J GROUP K GROUP L​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The U.S. men’s national team became the second nation to secure a spot in the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, it hasn’t won its group … yet. Following its 2-0 victory over Australia, the USA improved to 2-0-0 in Group D play, meaning that it only needs to draw in its next match against Türkiye to finish first. But the USA can also secure first place in Group D later on Friday. If Paraguay either wins or secures a draw in its match against Türkiye, the USA will win its group at the World Cup for the first time since 2010. As we’re in the midst of each nation’s Match Day 2, here is a closer look at the World Cup bracket and scenarios. JUMP TO: Group A | Group B | Group C | Group DGroup E | Group F | Group G | Group HGroup I | Group J | Group K | Group LThird-Place Rankings (All records are win-draw-loss) Group A Mexico’s win over South Korea on Friday meant it won Group A because the first tiebreaker is head-to-head results. Mexico’s result in its final game against Czechia won’t matter for its standing, although it will matter to the Czechs. Group B With strong goal differences and the top-eight third-place teams now qualifying, Canada and Switzerland will likely advance. The winner of Group B will be determined by the matchup between the two countries on Wednesday, June 24 (3 p.m. ET on FOX). Switzerland will have to win that game to win Group B due to Canada’s superior goal difference. Group C Morocco was able to secure three points following its draw against Brazil, getting a much-needed win over Scotland. With the victory, Morocco moved into first place in Group C, but Brazil still has to face Haiti. Group D The USA clinched its spot in the knockout stage. Its win over Australia on Friday also put it in pole position to win Group D, as it can secure first place with just a draw in its group match finale against Türkiye or if Paraguay is able to get a point in its match against Türkiye on Friday. Australia has the upper hand to finish second in the group. It defeated Türkiye, 2-0, in its first match of group play. Group E Germany is in a very strong position after its first game, which saw it beat Curaçao and get a plus-6 goal differential. The Germans’ matchup against the Ivory Coast on Saturday will go a long way in determining which country will win this group. Ecuador will need to beat Curaçao on Saturday to give itself a good chance to advance with a matchup against Germany on the horizon in its final match of the group stage. Group F Sweden is looking good after a blowout win over Tunisia in its first game, but it faces two difficult matches against the Netherlands and Japan to close out group play. The Dutch and Japanese played to a thrilling 2-2 draw in their matchup to open the tournament. Both teams still have a good chance of winning Group F, but that will likely require a win over Sweden. Group G It’s all up for grabs in Group G after two draws in the opening two matches. Belgium will still be favored to win the group with matches against New Zealand and Iran on the horizon. Group H Spain will still be favored to win this group, even after a draw against Cape Verde in what should have been its easiest matchup. Uruguay was the second favorite, but it dropped points against Saudi Arabia. Group I Advantage to France and Norway after one match day. Norway took care of business against Iraq, while France got a huge three points against Senegal in its opener. Those teams will play on the final match day. France can take a big step toward qualifying with a win over Iraq in its second match. A positive result for Senegal against Norway would also go a long way after its loss to France. Group J Argentina and Austria, the two favorites in this group, took care of business in their respective first games. They will meet on the final match day, when both teams may already have qualified for the round of 32. Algeria and Jordan, though, have work to do. Group K Portugal sputtered against DR Congo and now has work to do in order to qualify for the round of 32. Cristiano Ronaldo & Co. will be expected to beat Uzbekistan, but a game on Saturday, June 27 to close out group play against Colombia could be important. Group L England got a huge result with its win over Croatia. The Three Lions will now be favorites to win its final two group games against Ghana and Panama. Speaking of Ghana, it has England next. Good thing it found a late winner against Panama, because those three points were hugely necessary ahead of games against England and Croatia to close its group-stage games. Third-Place Standings The Netherlands sits atop the third-place standings at the start of Match Day 9 due to goals scored, which is the second tiebreaker after goal differential. The eight third-place teams with the most points advance to the round of 32. Round Of 32 Matchups​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

SEATTLE STADIUM — No Christian Pulisic? No problem. With the U.S. men’s national team’s best attacking player on the bench because of a lingering calf injury, Mauricio Pochettino’s squad qualified for the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a game to spare. The Americans beat Australia, 2-0, in its second group stage match Friday in front of a raucous home crowd in what many consider the best soccer city in America. For the second time in as many games, the U.S. struck first on an own goal to take a lead it would never relinquish. Defender Alex Freeman added the backbreaking second goal just before halftime; his third career U.S. goal was confirmed following a lengthy video review that reversed the call on the field after the assistant referee had initially ruled that Freeman was offside. Down by two, the Aussies poured on the pressure in the second half. But while the U.S. bent, it didn’t break, with the home team securing its first shutout in 11 games — an encouraging sign for the tougher tests that await them in the weeks to come. “One clean sheet sounds great,” said U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese, who posted his first World Cup shutout in his second career game. “Two, three, four clean sheets sounds a lot better.” Here are four quick takeaways following Friday’s victory. 1. USA Makes History By Advancing For any World Cup participant, no matter how successful historically, the first goal is obvious: Survive and advance to the second, win-or-go-home round and then take things game by do-or-die game from there. Plenty of soccer’s elite teams have failed this test. Take Germany, which was eliminated in group play in each of the last two editions of soccer’s quadrennial showpiece after claiming its fourth title in 2014. (Only Brazil has more.) With Friday’s win, the USA is off to the business end of the World Cup for the fourth straight time. Sure, that doesn’t include 2018, when the U.S. failed to get to the tournament at all, snapping a streak that dated to 1990. But the U.S. made history on Friday by clinching a place in the last 32 early. Never before had the team’s fate been decided before the final contest of the opening round. “It was an extremely tough game, very physical,” striker Folarin Balogun said post-game. “This is a World Cup, so it’s expected for the passion to sometimes spill over. But I think we kept our cool. It was a really professional performance.” 2. Americans Create Their Own Luck — Again Getting the first goal in this game was always going to be hugely important for either team. And just like in their tournament opening 4-1 win over Paraguay last week, the visitors were dangerous early, pressuring U.S. center backs Tim Ream and Chris Richards with abandon. But the home team struck first again, thanks to another own goal, this time by Socceroos center back Cameron Burgess. The U.S. became the only team in the almost 100-year history of the competition to profit from own goals in consecutive World Cup games. “If I can force an error that gives us the lead, then it’s [like scoring] a goal,” said Balogun, whose attempted pass to Ricardo Pepi Burgess turned past his own keeper. “It was a special, special start to the game to give us the momentum. And then I think we carried it.” 3. Alex Freeman Makes His Mark Just more than a year ago, the soccer-playing son of Super Bowl winner and Green Bay Packers great Antonio Freeman had never made an appearance for the senior USA squad. But in his first season as a regular starter for Orlando City in MLS, the 6-foot-2 fullback caught the eye of U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino and his staff, became a starter for the national team and never looked back. He ended 2025 with his first two international goals in a World Cup tune-up win over two-time champion Uruguay and moved to Spanish power and UEFA Champions League mainstay Villarreal over the winter. On Friday, he shined bright on the biggest stage in sports, scoring the second American goal just before halftime. “I thought it was offside,” Freeman, still in uniform, said afterward. “When it took really long time [to review], I was very anxious to see whether it was a goal or not.” It was, giving him his first goal at a World Cup. 4. Take A Bow, Seattle In sports, as in life, reality surpasses fantasy. But for a city that had been waiting more than 50 years to host the U.S. at a World Cup — men’s or women’s — Friday’s game and the lead up to blew whatever lofty exceptions there were beforehand straight out of Puget Sound. This scene in Seattle was hard to describe. From Pike Place to Pioneer Square, the Emerald City was awash with USA jerseys from every era. There were also plenty of yellow Australia shirts to be seen around town and in the grandiose, almost 70,000-seat downtown arena, with visiting supporters taking up a huge area behind one of the goals and in a sprawling corner in the far reaches of the upper deck. The excitement they created was off the charts. And, as predicted by the U.S. players on the eve of the contest, the overwhelming pro-American crowd played a major role in willing the World Cup co-hosts to another unforgettable victory on home soil. “The atmosphere was incredible,” said Freese. “It’s one of those things you dream of. I’ve heard that the 12th man is what they call the crowd here. It was definitely a 12th man for us today.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Lamine Yamal is not feeling 100% fit and is not likely to start for Spain in the match against Saudi Arabia on Sunday at the World Cup. Yamal came into the tournament nursing a left hamstring injury and was only a substitute in the team’s opener on Monday — a disappointing 0-0 draw against Cape Verde. “I’m fine, I feel good, but it’s still too soon,” Yamal told Spanish network RTVE. “It’s unnecessary (to take risks). I’m going through an adaptation process, it’s not the time to play a full match yet. But I can play as many minutes as the coach wants.” The 18-year-old Yamal came off the bench in the 71st minute against Cape Verde but was not able to spark La Roja to victory against the nation of about half-million people that was making its debut at soccer’s showcase event. After facing Saudi Arabia on Sunday in Atlanta, Spain goes to Guadalajara to play Uruguay in the highlight match of Group H. The match may be decisive and having Yamal fully fit could be crucial for Spain. Yamal said teammate Nico Williams, who also arrived nursing an injury, was ahead of him in the recovery process. “Physically he’s even better than me,” Yamal said. “We’re not in a rush. We have a great team with top-level players and we have to go step by step.” Yamal arrived at the World Cup as one of the tournament’s biggest stars despite his young age. He has been thriving with Barcelona and Spain’s national team for a while, having helped La Roja win the European Championship in 2024. He led Barcelona to the Spanish league title this past season. His popularity in the United States has been evident at the World Cup. An advertisement with his image towers over Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where Spain kicked off its campaign. “I’m taking it naturally, it’s something I’m used to,” Yamal said about his popularity. “I know what I represent both outside of Spain and in Spain. I try to always give my best, that’s what the fans want. If you have your image on that building, it’s because you can do things on the field that people like, things that excite them when they see you play.” Reporting by The Associated Press.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

As the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup proceeds, teams will secure their spot in the knockout stage, which begins on June 28 and wraps up with the World Cup final on July 19. The field of 48 will be whittled down to 32, and then the titular knockouts will begin, with extra time and penalty shootouts occurring as needed to determine a winner. Here are the teams that have managed to punch a ticket to the knockout stage of the World Cup so far. Netherlands’ Group Stage Results June 14: Netherlands 2-2 JapanJune 20: Netherlands 5-1 SwedenJune 25: Netherlands 3-1 Tunisia Sweden’s Group Stage Results June 14: Sweden 5-1 TunisiaJune 20: Netherlands 5-1 SwedenJune 25: Sweden 1-1 Japan Japan’s Group Stage Results June 14: Japan 2-2 NetherlandsJune 20: Japan 4-0 TunisiaJune 25: Japan 1-1 Sweden Ivory Coast’s Group Stage Results June 14: Ivory Coast 1-0 EcuadorJune 20: Ivory Coast 1-2 GermanyJune 25: Ivory Coast 2-0 Curaçao Ecuador’s Group Stage Results June 14: Ecuador 0-1 Ivory CoastJune 20: Ecuador 0-0 CuraçaoJune 25: Ecuador 2-1 Germany South Africa’s Group Stage Results June 11: South Africa 0-2 MexicoJune 18: South Africa 1-1 CzechiaJune 24: South Africa 1-0 South Korea Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Group Stage Results June 12: Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-1 CanadaJune 18: Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-4 SwitzerlandJune 24: Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-1 Qatar Brazil’s Group Stage Results June 13: Brazil 1-1 MoroccoJune 19: Brazil 3-0 HaitiJune 24: Brazil 3-0 Scotland Morocco’s Group Stage Results June 13: Morocco 1-1 BrazilJune 19: Morocco 1-0 ScotlandJune 24: Morocco 4-2 Haiti Canada’s Group Stage Results June 12: Canada 1-1 Bosnia and HerzegovinaJune 18: Canada 6-0 QatarJune 24: Canada 1-2 Switzerland Swizerland’s Group Stage Results June 13: Switzerland 1-1 QatarJune 18: Switzerland 4-1 Bosnia and HerzegovinaJune 24: Switzerland 2-1 Canada Colombia’s Group Stage Results June 17: Colombia 3-1 UzbekistanJune 23: Colombia 1-0 DR CongoJune 27: Colombia vs. Portugal — Miami Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One) Norway’s Group Stage Results June 16: Norway 4-1 IraqJune 22: Norway 3-2 SenegalJune 26: Norway vs. France — Boston Stadium (3 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One) France’s Group Stage Results June 16: France 3-1 SenegalJune 22: France 3-0 IraqJune 26: France vs. Norway — Boston Stadium (3 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One) Argentina’s Group Stage Results June 16: Argentina 3-0 AlgeriaJune 22: Argentina 2-0 AustriaJune 27: Argentina vs Jordan — Dallas Stadium (10 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One) Germany’s Group Stage Results June 14: Germany 7-1 CuraçaoJune 20: Germany 2-1 Ivory CoastJune 25: Germany 1-2 Ecuador USA’s Group Stage Results June 12: USA 4-1 ParaguayJune 19: USA 2-0 AustraliaJune 25: USA vs Türkiye – Los Angeles Stadium (10 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One) Mexico’s Group Stage Results June 11: Mexico 2-0 South AfricaJune 18: Mexico 1-0 South KoreaJune 24: Mexico 3-0 Czechia​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

At long last, Canada has won a World Cup game. In its eighth attempt across three tournaments, Canada was lifted by Jonathan David’s hat trick in a comfortable 6-0 win over Qatar in Vancouver, moving to the top of Group B with four points from its first two matches at the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup. Qatar’s performance, meanwhile, was marred by two red cards, including a vicious tackle that seriously injured Canada’s Ismaël Koné. The result puts Canada on the verge of advancing to the knockout stage, and it can win the group with either a victory or a draw against Switzerland. Qatar, meanwhile, now needs a stunning upset in its final game against Bosnia and Herzegovina to have any chance of advancing. Here are my four takeaways from the match: 1. Larin & David: Superb Together Before this World Cup, Canada’s biggest question was the form of strikers Cyle Larin and Jonathan David. Both have scored important goals and built impressive club resumes, but Larin had gone 14 games without scoring for Canada, while David was coming off a poor season with Juventus that fell well short of the level he had shown in France’s Ligue 1. In the opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canadian head coach Jesse Marsch started David. After David struggled to make an impact, he was replaced by Larin, who scored the equalizer in a 1-1 draw. Against Qatar, Marsch switched to a two-striker formation with Larin and David playing together. It could not have gone any better. David and Larin showed excellent chemistry in the blowout win. David scored twice and Larin once, and both were repeatedly involved in Canada’s goals. On the opener, David’s shot was saved by Qatar goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada, but the rebound fell to Larin, who headed it home. The third goal followed a similar pattern, with the roles reversed: Larin’s shot was saved, and David was there for the easy finish. The second goal was a beautiful individual effort from David, who volleyed home a ball that came off a deflected shot from Tajon Buchanan. Then finally, with Canada running away with it late and Qatar down to nine men, David took an attempted shot from Nathan Saliba and slotted it past Abunada. David finished the game with fantastic stats that included eight attempts, five on target, and three goals. Larin, meanwhile, was 10/13 in passing with three blocked shots, two on target and a goal. This was on the heels of rescuing Canada in the first game. Just as important as the goals, both Larin and David now have momentum heading into more important games at this World Cup. The narrative now is not about their struggles, but rather their quality. This is a formation that Marsch might now be considering for future games. David and Larin can play together and the two of them can overload the defense with strength and physicality. 2. The High Line Suffocated Qatar In Qatar’s first game, it managed a 1-1 draw against Switzerland, in large part because the Swiss lacked urgency, which turned into frustration. Marsch was not going to make the same mistake with Canada going against an inferior opponent. The American coach had his team play with a very high line that immediately pressured Qatar every time one of its players had the ball. When Canada won the ball, typically in Qatar’s half, Canada was almost immediately into a dangerous position. It wore down Qatar, which were making poor decisions towards the end of the first half. In the 33rd minute, a dangerous Canadian attack resulted in a red card for Qatar’s Homam Elamin, which essentially made a comeback impossible. From there, the blowout was on, and it allowed Canada to score enough goals to move atop the group and ensure that the team only needs a draw against Switzerland in the finale to win Group C. 3. Johnson And Buchanan Dominated The Right In addition to Larin and David, Canada also had standout performances from right back Alistair Johnson and right winger Tajon Buchanan, who both dominated their side of the field. Nearly every dangerous play was created by either Johnson, Buchanan or both. Buchanan, a speedy winger for Villarreal, was explosive, and it was his run down the middle that drew the red card for the denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. Johnson, who is a starter in Scotland with Celtic, was instrumental in his crosses and his passes into the final third. Both Johnson and Buchanan are of a similar background. Both were born in Canada in 1998 but came to the United States to play NCAA soccer, Johnson with St. John’s then Wake Forest, and Buchanan with Syracuse. Both then went into MLS via the MLS Superdraft. Johnson went to Nashville SC, followed by CF Montreal. Buchanan was with the New England Revolution. Now in 2026, both are with teams that were in the Champions League this past year and who will be in Europe’s top competition again next year. 4. Kone’s Gruesome Injury Casts A Pall The worst moment of the game — and the tournament — came in the 56th minute when Assim Madibo brutally fouled Canadian midfielder Ismaël Koné. In the aftermath, the Canadian players became enraged toward the Qatari bench when the severity of the injury became obvious. Koné was stretched off but was able to acknowledge the enthusiastic Canadian fans with his leg fully wrapped. The Canadian players then huddled on the field together, and some were in tears. After Canada took a 4-0 lead, goalscorer Nathan Saliba found a Koné jersey and held it up to the crowd, who gave the gesture a warm ovation. Moving forward in this World Cup, Koné’s injury will surely continue to be a rallying cry for this Canadian team, which is tight-knit and wants to use this tournament to lift the sport in the country.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The referees have been active at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It took only 27 games across seven days for officials to allocate more red cards than they did during the entire 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups. The record for red cards in a single World Cup stands at 28 in 2006. These moments led to penalty kicks, set pieces outside the box and offenses capitalizing on opponents down to 10 men. FOX Sports rules analyst Mark Clattenburg weighed in on the increase in red cards. “Players are well-behaved, but they’re just making mistakes in and around the penalty area, in maybe a panic,” Clattenburg said. “And not saying the players getting inside the penalty area and conceding the penalties are more than happy to commit a foul and commit a red card, knowing that they miss the next match, but now that they have 26 players on the roster, there are plenty of players to certainly cover [those] positions.” The record for red cards in a single World Cup is 28 in the 2006 edition of the tournament, and nine of those were straight red cards. Here’s a look at every red card and the impact they’ve had on the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Madibo made an ill-timed tackle in the midfield on Canada’s Ismaël Koné. Koné was ultimately stretchered off the pitch as Qatar was reduced to nine men. With Canada taking an early 2-0 lead, Homam Ahmed’s desperate tackle on Tajon Buchanan just outside the box only made matters worse. Canada scored moments later against a 10-man Qatar side to increase the advantage to 3-0. Tarik Muharemović tackled Swiss striker Breel Embolo on the precipice of the 18-yard box, preventing a one-on-one between Embolo and the goalkeeper. Switzerland didn’t convert the ensuing set piece, but with Bosnia and Herzegovina down to 10 men, the Swiss went on to score three late goals and close out a 4-1 victory. As tempers boiled in the opening match, Mexico made it a three-red-card affair. César Montes took down Khuliso Mudau in an attacking position in the second minute of injury time. South Africa couldn’t capitalize on the set piece, and the match ended with a 2-0 Mexico victory. Themba Zwane was sent off for making contact with Brian Gutiérrez in the head during a South African attack. He put his team in a stick situation, down to nine men. Zwane’s suspension was extended from the normal one game to three after FIFA ruled it fell under Article 14’s rule for violent contact. In the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening match, Sithole took down Mexico’s Brian Gutierrez just outside the box, earning a red card as the last line of defense between Gutierrez and the goalkeeper. Sithole’s red card led to a free kick from a threatening position, but Mexico couldn’t convert. However, in the 67th minute, Mexico capitalized on the one-man advantage as Raúl Jiménez scored his first World Cup goal.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Switzerland needed a response after limping to a draw with Qatar, and it delivered an emphatic one in the second outing. In the teams’ second match of the 2026 World Cup on Thursday, a 4-1 dismantling of Bosnia and Herzegovina — lit up by 20-year-old Johan Manzambi — pushed Murat Yakin’s side to the brink of the knockout rounds, leaving Bosnia and Herzegovina in real trouble. Here are my takeaways: 1. Johan Manzambi’s Coming-Out Party Remember the name, if you haven’t already. At 20, Manzambi came off the bench and scored a brace in 19 minutes. The power, the fearlessness and the perfect positioning — and on a side built around experience — he’s the jolt of youth Switzerland has been waiting for. Coming-out parties at a World Cup tend to be the start of something. This one felt like it. Let’s see what the Freiburg midfielder has in store for us going forward. Even before the tournament, he had a reputation as one of Europe’s most interesting and versatile young midfielders. Putting in this type of performance at a World Cup shows he’s oozing personality. 2. Switzerland Doesn’t Have A Galáctico. It Doesn’t Need One. Quick — name Switzerland’s superstar. You can’t, really, and that’s the whole point. There’s no Kylian Mbappé here, no name to sell a poster. What there is instead is a deeply experienced, ruthlessly organized European side that has now reached the knockout rounds at three straight World Cups. Granit Xhaka runs the midfield with the authority of a man who’s won a Bundesliga title; Manuel Akanji is a top-level center back; Gregor Kobel is one of the best goalkeepers around; Ricardo Rodríguez is at his fourth World Cup. Switzerland was a Euro 2024 quarterfinalist and went unbeaten in qualifying. After the Qatar wobble, this was the version everyone expected — patient, physical, lethal once the door opened. Stars sell headlines. A core like this wins you knockout games. 3. Muharemović’s Red Card Is A Hammer Blow I’ve called Tarik Muharemović the most underrated center back at this World Cup, and I’m not backing off it: composed, aggressive in the duel and a level above what’s around him. Which is exactly why this hurts so much. The red card brings a suspension, ruling him out of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s final group game against Qatar — the one match on its schedule it genuinely fancied. And this is a team that does not score in open play. It arrived having drawn a run of games 1-1, grinding out results rather than dominating anyone; the goals have been the problem all along. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most dangerous striker is a middle-aged 40-year-old Edin Džeko. Strip out the man who holds the back together, and the margin for error disappears entirely. Bosnia and Herzegovina needed Muharemović for all 270 minutes of this group. Now, it’ll have to do the hardest part without him. 4. Group B Just Flipped On Its Head A day ago, all four teams in Group B sat level on a point apiece after two opening 1-1 draws. Not anymore. Switzerland’s four-goal haul rockets it to the top of the table and to the doorstep of the round of 32. Beat Canada in the finale, and it’s likely through as group winners. Bosnia and Herzegovina, by contrast, is suddenly staring at the exit: still on a single point, goal difference shredded and now without Muharemović for a must-win against Qatar. The table isn’t fully set — Canada and Qatar meet Thursday, and that result, regardless of what it is, reshuffles everything beneath the Swiss. But the headline is simple enough. Switzerland seized control of this group in 90 minutes, and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s dream of a first-ever knockout berth just got a whole lot harder to reach.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

From ageless wonders to breakout stars, the first week of the 2026 World Cup provided some outstanding performances. We’re here to highlight, position by position, players who deserve some recognition after each of the 48 teams in the tournament have played their first Group Stage game. Matteo’s Top Performers Going with a 4-4-2 formation, there are plenty of recognizable names alongside players who will be worth watching closely the rest of the tournament. The 40-year-old kept the world’s second-ranked side scoreless, making seven saves in a 0-0 draw with Spain on Cape Verde’s first-ever World Cup appearance. No one older has played in a nation’s debut World Cup match, and no keeper at this tournament has had a better afternoon. Morocco’s captain spent the night strolling through Brazil’s midfield and tearing up the left flank in a 1-1 draw that flattered the five-time champions. He’s now Morocco’s most-capped World Cup player, and still the most dangerous right back on the planet. When Curaçao stunned Germany with an early equalizer, the Borussia Dortmund center back restored order, heading home his first international goal in a 7-1 rout. Left-footed and calm on the ball, Schlotterbeck’s an important building block for Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann at the back. The most underrated defender at the tournament held Bosnia’s line together against a relentless Canada — never rushed, never beaten in a duel that mattered. Then, with the game on the line late, he threw his body in front of a goal-bound Larin shot to rescue the point. “Jedi” was the engine down the USA’s left in a 4-1 demolition of Paraguay, driving the ball forward for the move that teed up Balogun’s opener. Fulham’s asking price just went up on this evidence. He’s among the best left backs in the field. The teenage right midfielder dribbled and ran at Ecuador relentlessly. He created five chances — more than any player at the tournament — in the Ivory Coast’s 1-0 win over Ecuador. No goal, no assist, didn’t matter; you don’t forget a debut like that. The Brighton midfielder starred in a 5-1 thrashing of Tunisia with two long-range thunderbolts and ran the game in between. One of those strikes is already on the goal-of-the-tournament shortlist. At 18, he sat in the middle of the park against Brazil and dictated, making Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães look a step slow in that 1-1 draw. Alongside Diomande, he’s the breakout teenager of the opening round — and he plays like he’s been doing it for a decade. On a night Brazil looked ordinary, Vini cut inside and smashed an unstoppable strike into Bounou’s top corner to salvage a 1-1 draw with Morocco. He was the one Brazilian who actually looked like he belonged on the favorites’ list. Two first-half goals — the second a left-footed beauty into the upper corner. He bullied Paraguay’s backline all night and finally looked like the No. 9 this nation has been searching for years. He walked off with the official Player of the Match award against Tunisia, scoring once and setting up another goal. His partnership with striker Viktor Gyökeres looked like it could become one of the tournament’s best strike tandems. Luis Miguel’s Top Performers Let me just say that it was not an easy decision as many players deserved a nod. But in the end, these stood out to me as the best XI independent of of position not just for how they played, but for their approach and resilience. Is there any need to think about anyone else? Having to deal with 27 shots and seven saves (six of them inside the box), the 40-year-old goalkeeper produced one of the best performances in recent modern World Cup history, helping Cabo Verde earn a historic point against mighty Spain. His Instagram following count is not too shabby either these days. In front of the aforementioned Vozinha stood Diney Borges, who alongside Roberto “Pico” Lopes, created a formidable center-back pairing in denying any attempt from Spain. Lopes was great but Borges? It was a steel-driven display from the defender, who plays for Al Bataeh in UAE’s Pro League. Freeman was undoubtedly the unsung, underrated gem in the USA’s imposing win over Paraguay. The 21-year-old defender (and son of Super Bowl champion Antonio Freeman) practically won every battle, and it was thanks to his pass to Weston McKennie that started the sequence that led to the first goal. Freeman was very, very impressive. The Colombian full back is quite simply Sonic the Hedgehog. When he gets forward and out of nowhere, he can create magic out of nothing. Especially when he has distribution from Luis Díaz, who found the Crystal Palace man for a beautiful goal, which opened the scoring against Uzbekistan. Portugal just could not handle how to break through this man. After Pedro Neto failed, Rafael Leão entered – but again, Wan Bissaka stood firm. The tackle against the aforementioned Leão was a remarkable block. It was so good that the camera turned to Portugal manager Roberto Martínez, showing his frustrated reaction, knowing that Wan Bissaka and his Congolese teammates were simply not going to lose. I was at the game between Brazil and Morocco and let me tell you something, Bouaddi was exceptional. He created opportunities and driving runs, leaving the Brazilian midfield lost in disbelief. At 18 years old, Bouaddi, who was born in the north of Paris to Moroccan parents, was only allowed to play for the Atlas Lions last March when he was cleared by FIFA after France coach Didier Deschamps never called him up. Well, France’s loss is Morocco’s gain. What a talent. I wanted to give this spot to Australia’s Nestory Irankunda, but apologies, because Bellingham truly stood out against a tough opponent such as Croatia. And there has been so much talk about his role for England, from his positioning to his attitude. It’s all ridiculous, and I am glad he had the performance we witnessed on Wednesday, which included a goal with a statement. It was a wonderfully aggressive, determined solo effort that was there to prove a point. Balogun gave one of the best performances by an American male striker I have seen at the World Cup. It’s as simple as that. He became the first USA men’s player to score a brace in a World Cup match since 1930, but more than that, it was movement and creativity that opened the doors for other teammates to penetrate Paraguay’s box. Fantastic stuff from the Monaco forward. It was a match for the ages where Mbappé became France’s all-time top scorer after his remarkable brace in a 3-1 victory against Senegal. I was there to witness it and my goodness, the electrifying power of the Real Madrid star stood out in the second half and when he turns it on, it’s really quite a sight. Did you ever doubt I was going to include this man? I mean, what else is there to say? What other superlative could possibly exist that hasn’t been mentioned? Lionel Messi’s hat trick against broke multiple records (and Algerian hearts) but most importantly, it was a reminder that days before his 39th birthday, he’s a genius – and the greatest ever. Full stop. Norway fans will be upset at me right now for not including Erling Haaland but I had to include Kane over the Manchester City striker due to two factors. One, the difficulty of the opponent. And two, their overall contributions. Kane was unbelievable against Croatia, proving why he is the greatest English male striker. Gary Lineker agrees after Kane’s brace leveled England’s record in World Cup goals. He also became the second England player to score in three different World Cups (after David Beckham.) But it was more than his goals. His overall game is so important for Thomas Tuchel’s game plan, opening the pitch and becoming a provider and protector.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports