June 24 at the 2026 World Cup saw action in Groups A, B, and C: six matches, several confirmed knockout berths, and a couple of heartbreaking finishes.
Daily highlights:
Group A:
Mexico comfortably beat the Czech Republic 3-0 to finish the group stage with a perfect record of 9 points and, according to The Guardian, remains one of the few teams in the tournament yet to concede a goal. South Africa secured second place with a 1-0 win over South Korea, while the Czech Republic was eliminated with just a single point. (The Guardian)
Group B:
Switzerland defeated Canada 2-1 in a direct battle for top spot, while Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Qatar 3-1. Both Canada and Switzerland had entered their fixture level on four points, making this match the ultimate decider for the group leadership. (New York Post)
Group C:
Brazil eased past Scotland with a 3-0 victory, while Morocco triumphed 4-2 in a high-scoring encounter against Haiti. Both results cemented Brazil and Morocco's dominance in Group C; they had topped the table heading into the final round, whereas Haiti was already in a difficult position. (New York Post)
Daily Summary: Mexico, Switzerland, Brazil, and Morocco looked like genuine knockout contenders; South Africa made a crucial surge forward; while the Czech Republic, Qatar, and Haiti emerged as the day's primary losers.
Elsewhere, the football marathon continued in Groups K and L, which were also packed with drama.
Group K:
- 🇵🇹 Portugal 5-0 Uzbekistan — a truly sensational rout! Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates left the tournament debutants no chance, reaffirming their status as group favorites.
- 🇨🇴 Colombia 1-0 DR Congo — a narrow but vital win for "Los Cafeteros" that strengthens their position in the race for the knockout stage.
Group L:
- 🏴 England 0-0 Ghana — an unexpectedly tough stalemate as the "Three Lions" failed to break through the African defense, complicating their path to top spot.
- 🇭🇷 Panama 0-1 Croatia — the experience and composure of the "Vatreni" paid off as a single goal decided the match, bringing the Croatians closer to a place in the round of 16. Over the last two days, seven national teams have already secured their place in the knockout rounds—a record pace for the expanded 2026 World Cup format! Among them are the favorites: Mexico, Switzerland, Brazil, and Morocco, all of whom appeared extremely confident. Things to watch for moving forward:Portugal, boasting a +8 goal difference after two rounds, looks like a major contender for the trophy.England, despite their draw with Ghana, remains in control of their own destiny in Group L.DR Congo and Uzbekistan, notwithstanding their defeats, showed character; the Africans held their ground until the end against Colombia, while the Asian side earned respect despite the heavy loss.
