News Desk
Kathmandu, June 17 – The FIFA World Cup 2026 has delivered thrilling football, spectacular goals and several surprising results during the opening days of the tournament being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. With 48 nations competing in the biggest World Cup in history, fans around the globe have already witnessed dominant victories, dramatic draws and individual brilliance.
One of the most impressive performances so far came from Germany, who crushed Curaçao 7-1 in Group E. The emphatic victory placed Germany at the top of their group and immediately established them among the tournament favorites. Captain Joshua Kimmich, however, cautioned that tougher tests still lie ahead against Ivory Coast and Ecuador.
Defending European powerhouse France opened their campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over Senegal. Star striker Kylian Mbappé scored twice, becoming France's all-time leading international goalscorer. The win strengthened France's position in Group I and reinforced expectations that they will once again challenge for the title.
Co-hosts United States thrilled home supporters with a dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay. Forward Folarin Balogun netted twice while Gio Reyna added another goal as the Americans recorded the highest-scoring World Cup victory in their history.
In Group D, Australia defeated Turkey 2-0. Goals from Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe secured all three points despite Turkey dominating possession and creating numerous chances.
Several matches ended level as teams fought hard for valuable points:
Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Belgium 1-1 Egypt
Iran 2-2 New Zealand
Brazil 1-1 Morocco
Spain were surprisingly held to a draw by Cape Verde.
Another eye-catching performance came from Sweden, who overwhelmed Tunisia 5-1. Yasin Ayari scored twice while Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres starred in an attacking masterclass that boosted Sweden's chances of reaching the knockout stage.
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Mexico vs South Africa | 2-0 |
| South Korea vs Czechia | 2-1 |
| United States vs Paraguay | 4-1 |
| Germany vs Curaçao | 7-1 |
| France vs Senegal | 3-1 |
| Australia vs Turkey | 2-0 |
| Sweden vs Tunisia | 5-1 |
| Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina | 1-1 |
| Belgium vs Egypt | 1-1 |
| Iran vs New Zealand | 2-2 |
| Brazil vs Morocco | 1-1 |
As the group stage continues, Germany, France, the United States, Sweden and Australia have made strong starts. However, with two group matches remaining for most teams, qualification remains wide open. The expanded 48-team format means both group position and goal difference could prove decisive in determining which nations advance to the Round of 32.
The coming days promise more excitement as football's biggest nations battle to keep their World Cup dreams alive and move one step closer to lifting the most coveted trophy in world football.
