A player-fan-writer's take on soccer
Match Week 3 concluded with five teams qualifying for the Round of 32. Mexico finished with nine points, while Switzerland and Brazil topped their respective groups. Switzerland defeated Canada 2-1, and Brazil triumphed over Scotland 3-0. Czechia was eliminated after losing to Mexico. Nine teams have qualified, with 23 still vying for a spot.
On the final day of Match Week 2 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Portugal defeated Uzbekistan 5-0, featuring Cristiano Ronaldo’s historic brace. England drew 0-0 with Ghana, while Croatia edged out Panama 1-0, eliminating the latter. Colombia secured qualification with a narrow win over DR Congo, leaving 25 teams vying for advancement.
Lionel Messi has set a World Cup goalscoring record with 18 goals, while Kylian Mbappé follows with 16. Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 to secure a spot in the Round of 32. France also qualified after a 3-0 win over Iraq, and Norway’s Haaland scored twice in a 3-2 victory against Senegal.
Germany has qualified for the Round of 32 with a comeback victory over Ivory Coast, despite not finishing first in their group. Meanwhile, Japan’s win against Tunisia eliminates the latter from the tournament. Japan needs to secure a win against Sweden in their next match to aim for group leadership.
USA 2-0 Australia The United States becomes the second team to qualify for the Round of 32 after their win against Australia, and Türkiye’s loss
Mexico qualified for the Round of 32 with a 1-0 victory over South Korea, who struggled to capitalize despite holding possession. In another match, Canada achieved a historic 6-0 win against Qatar, the largest by a CONCACAF team, highlighted by Jonathan David’s hat trick and Qatar’s two red cards.