The first day of the final round of group games is in the books, and it largely went to form — Brazil, Switzerland, Mexico all winning their groups. But then, at the very end of the day, South Africa did something dramatic and historic, and managed to qualify for the knockout rounds for the first time ever by beating South Korea to finish second in Group A!
Korea are probably through as well as one of the better third-place teams (it’s a very generous format, with 32 teams of the 48 total getting to play in the knockout rounds), but it’s been a frustrating World Cup for them and now they’ll have to deal with a group winner (Germany, most likely).
South Africa’s Round of 32 matchup is set already: they’ll take on Canada after the third host nation lost to Switzerland in the Group B decided and finished only runners-up. Bosnia also won in that group, putting them level on points with Canada, but the latter had a far superior goal difference thanks to their 6-0 hammering of Qatar earlier. So Bosnia finish third and will now likely face the USA in the Round of 32 next week. That’s gonna be a fun one (and I’ll be there in person, so I’m getting hyped already).
In Group C, Brazil and Morocco both won easily, finishing one and two (based on goal difference). Morocco’s game against already-eliminated Haiti (4-2) was one of the more fun of the entire first round — especially the four-goal first half, with Haiti scoring a couple tremendous goals — while Brazil took advantage of Scotland’s implosion to win 3-0 (Vini Jr scoring twice to draw level with Mbappé and Haaland in the Golden Boot race; one behind Messi of course). Scotland were so bad, even Neymar got to play! Technically, Scotland could still yet advance, too, but conceding three times has destroyed their goal difference and they’ll be right on the third-place bubble.
Group E are up first, and Germany are already confirmed as group winners, so perhaps they’ll take it easy on Ecuador, who need all three points to move on. Moisés Caicedo & Co were a popular pick for tournament dark-horse, but all they’ve got to show for games against Curaçao and Côte d’Ivoire is one measly point. So it’s win or go home for them, just like it is for Curaçao. They play Côte d’Ivoire, who have three points and should be good either way (unless both Ecuador and Curaçao win, in which case they’d finish last in the group despite the three points!).
Ecuador’s Moises Caicedo takes a corner kick during the FIFA World Cup Group E match at Kansas City Stadium. Picture date: Sunday June 21, 2026. (Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)
Ecuador’s Moises Caicedo takes a corner kick during the FIFA World Cup Group E match at Kansas City Stadium. Picture date: Sunday June 21, 2026. (Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)
PA Images via Getty Images
CURAÇAO vs. CÔTE d’IVORIE
Date / Time: Thursday, June 25, 2026, 4pm EDT; 9pm BST
Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Referee: Glenn Nyberg (Sweden)
On TV: FOX Sports 1, Universo (USA); BBC Two (UK); elsewhere
Streaming online: FOX One, Peacock (USA); BBC iPlayer (UK)
ECUADOR vs. GERMANY
Date / Time: Thursday, June 25, 2026, 4pm EDT; 9pm BST
Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ, USA
Referee: Tori Penso (USA)
On TV: FOX, Telemundo (USA); BBC One (UK); elsewhere
Streaming online: FOX One, Peacock (USA); BBC iPlayer (UK)
Netherlands, Japan (both on four points), and Sweden (three points) are all in good position to advance to the knockout round, with Tunisia already eliminated. Sweden’s situation is similar to Scotland’s yesterday: as long as they avoid a heavy defeat, they should be okay even as third-place finishers. Good thing Graham Potter’s teams never ever show any propensity for collapsing; no sirree, never ever ever. (The lads, of course, will give it their all.)
DALLAS, TEXAS - JUNE 24: Graham Potter, head coach of Sweden, attends the press conference ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F match between Japan and Sweden at Dallas Stadium on June 24, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Wu Zhizhao/VCG via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS - JUNE 24: Graham Potter, head coach of Sweden, attends the press conference ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F match between Japan and Sweden at Dallas Stadium on June 24, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Wu Zhizhao/VCG via Getty Images)
VCG via Getty Images
JAPAN vs. SWEDEN
Date / Time: Thursday, June 25, 2026, 7pm EDT; 12am BST (next day)
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX, USA
Referee: Ivan Barton (El Salvador)
On TV: FOX Sports 1, Universo (USA); ITV 4 (UK); elsewhere
Streaming online: FOX One, Peacock (USA); ITVx (UK)
TUNISIA vs. NETHERLANDS
Date / Time: Thursday, June 25, 2026, 7pm EDT; 12am BST (next day)
Venue: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO, USA
Referee: Katia Itzel García (Mexico)
On TV: FOX, Telemundo (USA); ITV 1 (UK); elsewhere
Streaming online: FOX One, Peacock (USA); ITVx (UK)
USA are already confirmed as group winners, and Mauricio Pochettino is expected to rotate the team. That could give one last chance for highly disappointing Turkey, who have yet to gain a point and need this win to have even a slight chance at the knockout rounds. Meanwhile, Paraguay and Australia both come in with three points, and if they just collude on a draw, they will both advance.
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino stares into the middle distance
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino stares into the middle distance
PARAGUAY vs. AUSTRALIA
Date / Time: Thursday, June 25, 2026, 10pm EDT; 3am BST (next day)
Venue: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA, USA
Referee: Clément Turpin (France)
On TV: FOX Sports 1, Universo (USA); ITV 4 (UK); elsewhere
Streaming online: FOX One, Peacock (USA); ITVx (UK)
TURKEY vs. USA
Date / Time: Thursday, June 25, 2026, 10pm EDT; 3am BST (next day)
Venue: SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Referee: Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)
On TV: FOX, Telemundo (USA); ITV 1 (UK); elsewhere
Streaming online: FOX One, Peacock (USA); ITVx (UK)