The first round of the 2026 World Cup group stage has already rewritten several scripts. The biggest surprise comes from Group C: Scotland top the quartet after beating Haiti, while Brazil and Morocco failed to find a winner. Meanwhile, Groups E and F kick off today — and there's plenty to talk about there too.
Group C: Scotland on Top, Brazil in Debt
The Brazil vs Morocco result (1-1) is not just a draw — it's a tournament bombshell. Both sides entered Group C as undisputed favorites, and now both have just one point each. Scotland, meanwhile, claimed three points against Haiti (1-0), with John McGinn's goal proving decisive. After the first round, the table reads: Scotland — 3 points, Brazil and Morocco — 1 each, Haiti — 0.
What does this mean in practice? Brazil can no longer afford another draw without putting their automatic qualification at risk. Morocco, who reached the semi-finals at the 2022 World Cup, are showing their usual tactical discipline, but goals are hard to come by. Scotland, on the other hand, have secured a psychological foothold: even a defeat in the second round against Morocco won't knock them out of contention.
Group D: Australia Surprisingly Lead
In Group D, Turkey lost to Australia 0-2 in Vancouver. The Socceroos top the quartet with three points, while the USA also have 3 points after thrashing Paraguay. Turkey and Paraguay are both on zero. On June 19, the USA will face Australia in a direct clash between the leaders — a match that could decide the group winner as early as the second round.
Group F: Netherlands and Japan Open Their Account Today
This evening (Kyiv time), Group F gets underway: Netherlands vs Japan and Sweden vs Tunisia. The Netherlands are one of the most balanced sides in the tournament, but Japan beat both Spain and Germany at the 2022 World Cup. Underestimating the Samurai Blue is a strategic mistake. Sweden vs Tunisia is a match where both sides desperately need points to stake a claim for third place.
Scenarios
- Brazil vs Haiti in the second round (June 19): a win is an absolute must to maintain control of the situation. A draw would leave the Seleção chasing Scotland all the way to the final round — a psychologically uncomfortable position for a five-time world champion.
- Netherlands vs Japan today: if the Oranje fail to win, Group F immediately becomes wide open. Japan with three points after the first round would be a genuine title contender in the group, not just a dark horse.
- The race for the best eight third-placed teams: after the first round in Group B (Canada 1-1 Bosnia, Switzerland 1-1 Qatar), all four teams have one point each. If this trend continues, third place in Group B could finish with 2–3 points — a perfectly competitive tally for advancing as one of the best third-placed sides.
Third-Place Rankings: Too Early to Tell, But Already Interesting
After the first round in just a few groups, the third-place rankings are not yet fully formed — most teams have either not played or sit on 0 points. However, it is already clear that in groups with an even distribution of strength (like Group B), third place could accumulate 4–5 points, which is more than enough to advance. In groups with a clear underdog (Haiti in Group C), third place risks finishing on just 1–2 points — and that may not be enough.
Tonight, watch the Netherlands and Japan make their Group F debuts — it's the first serious test for both sides. Tomorrow, Groups G and H begin, featuring Belgium, Spain, and Saudi Arabia. The tournament is only just warming up.
