Czech Republic 1 - 1 South Africa 

Switzerland 4 - 1 Bosnia

Canada 6 - 0 Qatar

Mexico 1 - 0 South Korea

Our tournament archive continues, with 28 games now in the bag in the 2026 World Cup.

It was a day for the hosts to remember as Mexico became the first side to qualify for the knock-out rounds, and Canada took a huge step towards qualification with a thumping win over Qatar, overshadowed by a potentially serious injury to Ismael Kone.

The day’s highlights:

• Czech Republic and South Africa played out an engaging game, which started with an early goal from the favourites Czechia and ended with penalty drama and South Africa taking a critical draw. 

• Switzerland and Bosnia played out a game that looked like a 0-0 all over until the last fifteen minutes, when the game exploded into life with a red card and flurry of goals to end up 4-1 to Switzerland. 

• Canada battered Qatar 6-0 on home turf to bag their first ever World Cup win, at the expense of sorry Qatar who looked every inch beaten. The game was marred by a serious injury to Ismael Kone and two Qatar red cards.

• Mexico controlled proceedings against South Korea to become the first side to qualify for the Round of 32 knock-out matches.

How were the games? What did we learn?

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Czech Republic v South Africa

This game got off to a flyer for the Czech Republic as Sadilek smashed in a 6th minute finish in Atlanta. A pullback from the byline, a through ball and a sublime finish all making up what was a lovely move by the Czechs.

It was looking reasonably comfortable for the Czechs throughout the game, even though South Africa were buzzing around the pitch with intent. 

Bafana Bafana were struggling to get close enough to the Czech goal to find an opener, which led to some truly horrendous long range efforts. I’m sure at least one of them will have been 0.00xG. 

But when they did venture close, they got their rewards. A shot from South Africa’s Maseko clattered off the hand of unfortunate substitute Šulc just inside the box and the referee had no choice but to award a penalty, which Mokoena converted with aplomb. Probably the right result over all, with South Africa receiving a reward for their endeavour in the shape of what might turn out to be a crucial point at this World Cup. 

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Switzerland v Bosnia

The very definition of a slow-burner, this match up seemed destined to go down in the annals of the 2026 World Cup as one of the poorest matches at the tournament. The first half of the match was completely barren of excitement with neither side looking particularly likely to score. 

But the 74th minute rolled around and the game exploded into life. The hugely impressive Johan Manzambi came off the bench and changed the game, smashing in a great finish and waking the crowd. 

Ruben Vargas, another Swiss sub, then made it two with a lovely right-footed strike, before assisting Manzambi for his second. Bosnia got one back after a brilliant powerful strike from Ermin Mahmic.  But a penalty for Switzerland settled matters, Granit Xhaka calmly slotting home to bag a critical three points for Switzerland and leave Bosnia hoping they can pile the misery on Qatar in their third group game to qualify for the Round of 32. 

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Canada v Qatar

A huge win for Canada was overshadowed somewhat by a terrible injury to Ismael Kone that will inevitably hurt their chances in the latter stages of the competition. 

Canada dominated proceedings throughout, and in truth Qatar couldn’t land a glove on Les Rouges. Buoyed by vociferous home support, Canada were determined to show what they’re about as an attacking unit, and got off to a good start through the first game’s hero Cyle Larin who pounced on a parried ball after a great shot on target. 

Jonathan David made it two with a sublime right footed volley plucked from the sky and dispatched into the right side of the goal beyond the outstretched keeper. 

Shortly afterwards, Qatar picked up a red card for denial of a goalscoring opportunity as Buchanan was hauled down on his way into the box. Ten man Qatar looked at sixes-and-sevens and Jonathan David soon made it three for Jesse Marsch’s side. 

Canada started as they meant to go on in the second half, but the game was stopped after a terrible injury to Ismael Kone after a robust challenge from Assim Madibo in the 53rd minute with what seemed to be a broken leg the outcome of that. 

Given the severity of the collision, the referee pulled out the red card for the second time and dismissed Madibo, leaving Qatar with an impossible mountain to climb with 9 men on the pitch. 

A 64th minute Saliba free kick was followed by an own goal of the tournament contender as Mohammed Manai slashed at a clearance and diverted the ball into his own net at pace. 

That just left the small matter of Jonathan David’s hat-trick to wrap up, and he did so in the 2nd minute of added time. Three goals takes him joint-top of the scoring charts with Messi at the 2026 World Cup. 

***

Mexico v South Korea

The first half of this match was one of the worst halves of football I’ve seen. 0 corners. 0.17 v 0.06 xG. The crowd booed both teams off at full time. 

Even the excitement of an early-game off the line clearance from Mexico didn’t really seem to get the pulse racing, as both sides looked completely devoid of ideas of how to open up the match. 

In the second half though, Mexico tried something. Inviting the Korean press, the back line played through the lines and found themselves in the ascendancy, with Gallardo close to finishing a lovely vertical move by the Mexicans.

It was a goalkeeper howler that opened the scoring though. South Korea’s keeper Kim Seung-kyu came for a cross and clattered into his team-mate, dropping the ball at the feet of Luis Romo as he did. It wasn’t the best of goals, but it did force Korea into action. 

Or at least it should have done. 

While South Korea did try to hem Mexico into their own half, they couldn’t find a good ball to break the lines and going into the second god-awful “hydration break”, the score was still 1-0 to Mexico. 

If anything, the break seemed to arrest South Korea’s progress and Raul Jimenez could have made it two in the 74th minute, his near post finish smartly saved by the South Korean stopper. 

South Korea chased the game with their subs, sacrificing a midfielder for an extra forward and switching to four at the back. The extra urgency looked promising but they remained locked into long range efforts as Mexico continued the shut-out. 

South Korea almost bundled it over the line in the dying embers, with a goalmouth scramble marvellously stopped by Rangel in the Mexico goal. 

Game over, 1-0 Mexico. Mexico become the first team to qualify for the knock-outs. All to play for in the rest of the group.

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So a mixed day eight, but it’s all to play for in both groups and the hosts are looking imperious. Over to the United States to see how they get on tomorrow against Australia.

Bring it on!