While Germany and the USA have already secured their spots in the Round of 32, two groups — H and G — enter the second round in a state of complete parity: four draws in four matches, all teams on one point each. These two quartets are shaping the tournament's biggest storyline on the evening of June 21.
Group H: Spain and Uruguay search for their first win
The opening round of Group H ended in two draws — Spain played out a 0–0 with Cape Verde, while Saudi Arabia and Uruguay shared a 1–1. All four sides are level on one point — a rare situation for a group where Spain and Uruguay were considered clear favourites. Today at 19:00 Kyiv time, La Roja face Saudi Arabia in Atlanta, and at 01:00 at night Uruguay take on Cape Verde in Miami. A win in either match sends the victorious side clear at the top ahead of the decisive final round.
For Spain, the draw with debutants Cape Verde is a warning sign: La Roja failed to convert any of their chances in the first round. Saudi Arabia, who already stunned the world at the 2022 World Cup, are now on equal footing and could theoretically top the group. Uruguay, for their part, cannot afford another draw — if points are level going into the third round, goal difference will be the decisive tiebreaker.
Group G: the most evenly matched quartet of the tournament
Group G holds the absolute record for parity: Belgium drew 1–1 with Egypt, Iran drew 2–2 with New Zealand. All four teams have one point and a goal difference of zero. Today at 22:00 Kyiv time, Belgium face Iran in Los Angeles, and at 04:00 at night New Zealand take on Egypt in Vancouver. The winner of each match moves to the top, but in doing so leaves their opponent in the danger zone.
Belgium are the highest-ranked FIFA side in the group, but their opening draw with Egypt showed that the Red Devils have yet to find their rhythm. Iran, meanwhile, demonstrated attacking potential in their match against New Zealand (2–2). For New Zealand and Egypt, this is effectively a survival match: a defeat while their rivals win in the parallel game would almost certainly spell elimination.
Group F: Japan and the Netherlands already on the verge of the knockout stage
In contrast to Groups H and G, Group F has already taken shape. The Netherlands thrashed Sweden 5–1 to top the group, while Japan played Tunisia today at 07:00 Kyiv time. Tunisia lost 1–5 to Sweden in the first round and are under threat of an early exit.
Scenarios
- Spain beat Saudi Arabia → La Roja move to 4 points and effectively guarantee themselves a place in the knockout stage. Uruguay, in the parallel match against Cape Verde, become favourites for second place. Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia find themselves fighting for a third-place spot among the eight best third-placed teams.
- Draw between Spain and Saudi Arabia → Group H remains wide open until the final round. All four teams theoretically retain their chances of advancing, and goal difference in the third round becomes critical. This scenario is the most favourable for Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia.
- Belgium beat Iran + New Zealand beat Egypt → Group G takes on a clear structure ahead of the third round: Belgium and New Zealand on 4 points each, Iran and Egypt on 1. For the Iranians and Egyptians, the third round becomes a must-win survival match.
The race for the eight best third-placed teams
After the second round, Japan (Group F) lead the third-place standings, followed by Scotland (Group C) and Paraguay (Group D), with Scotland holding a better goal difference. Teams from Groups H and G who lose today automatically enter this race — and they will need to count not just points, but every single goal scored in the third round.
Tonight's matches will answer the key question: will Group H remain the "group of draws" until the very end, or will someone finally take control of the situation? Keep a close eye on Belgium vs Iran as well — its result will determine just how dramatic the final round of Group G will be at the end of June.
Photo: Sean Leahy · Editorial (source)
