Canada secured a last-gasp victory over South Africa to qualify for the round of 16 in the men's World Cup for the first time, as the 2026 tournament moves into its knockout phase. The co-hosts' dramatic win capped a group stage marked by enthusiastic fan displays, unexpected draws, and record goal-scoring.
Group Stage Highlights: Fans and Teams Shine
The first two weeks of the expanded 48-team World Cup saw mostly positive coverage, with visiting fans stealing the spotlight. Scotland's 'Tartan Army' made a notable impact in Boston, where pubs reported beer sales triple those of St Patrick's Day and the Superbowl, requiring emergency deliveries. The Boston Globe dedicated a full page to thank Scottish fans as they departed for Miami. Japanese supporters continued their tradition of cleaning stadiums after matches, while Norwegian fans went viral with a mass Viking row in Times Square. Dutch fans turned Texas orange for their games.
On the pitch, the new format saw 32 of 48 teams advance to the knockout stage—the top two from each of 12 groups plus the eight best third-placed sides. This reduced early elimination risks for stronger teams and gave lower-ranked nations a better chance. Debutants Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan all participated.
Upsets and Near-Misses
Most top-ranked teams progressed, but Uruguay (16th) and Turkey (22nd) were eliminated. Belgium (9th) and Senegal (15th) advanced only after strong final group wins. Notable draws included Cabo Verde (67th) against Spain (2nd), New Zealand (85th) versus Iran (20th), and Ghana (73rd) holding England (4th). The biggest ranking upset was South Africa (60th) defeating South Korea (25th). The lowest-ranked teams to reach the knockout stage are Ghana (73rd), Cabo Verde (67th), and Bosnia and Herzegovina (64th). Ghana's qualification may have been aided by a renowned witch doctor putting a curse on England captain Harry Kane, though the curse was reversed after a 0-0 draw, and Kane scored again against Panama.
Golden Boot Race and Key Statistics
Group-stage matches produced 215 goals from 143 different players, averaging 2.99 goals per game—the highest since the 1950s. Lionel Messi leads the Golden Boot race with six goals, elevating his all-time World Cup tally to 19, a record. Other top scorers include Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Vinicius Junior, and Erling Haaland, each with four. Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score at six consecutive World Cups.
Knockout Stage Preview: Must-Watch Matches
Key round-of-16 fixtures include Australia vs. Egypt, a close contest between similarly ranked teams. Morocco vs. Netherlands pits world No. 6 against No. 7 earlier than expected. Argentina (1st) faces Cabo Verde (64th), the smallest nation ever to reach the knockout stage, with Messi pitted against 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha.
