If you are trying to keep track of the 2026 World Cup schedule, buckle up because this tournament is an absolute monster spanning 16 host cities across three countries and roughly a billion time zones. The whole shebang kicked off on June 11th with Mexico easing past South Africa 2-0 in Mexico City while Korea Republic edged Czechia 2-1 in Guadalajara. Day two saw the United States announce themselves with a thumping 4-1 victory over Paraguay in Los Angeles, and from there the group stage basically turned into a month-long festival of chaos, upsets, and genuinely jaw-dropping football.
Germany served notice of their intentions with a 7-1 demolition of Curacao, Canada put six past Qatar, and England traded blows with Croatia in a 4-2 thriller. The group stage concluded with dramatic finales everywhere you looked: Ecuador stunning Germany 2-1, Algeria and Austria playing out a wild 3-3 draw, and Colombia and Portugal playing out a stalemate that suited neither side.
The Round of 32 brought even more drama. Paraguay upset Germany on penalties, Morocco knocked out the Netherlands in a shootout, Brazil edged Japan 2-1, and Belgium needed extra time to squeeze past Senegal. The Round of 16 then delivered the really juicy stuff: France swept aside Paraguay 1-0, Morocco dismantled Canada 3-0, Norway shocked Brazil 2-1, England survived a 3-2 thriller against Mexico in Mexico City, Spain edged Portugal 1-0 in a cagey Iberian derby, Belgium crushed American dreams 4-1 in Seattle, Argentina produced that miraculous 3-2 comeback against Egypt in Atlanta, and Switzerland outlasted Colombia on penalties.
Now we are into the quarter-finals, and the picture is coming into focus. France have already booked their semi-final ticket by dispatching Morocco 2-0 in Boston. Spain face Belgium in Los Angeles, Norway take on England in Miami, and Argentina meet Switzerland in Kansas City. The semi-finals are set for July 14th and 15th in Dallas and Atlanta, the bronze medal match lands on July 18th in Miami, and the whole magnificent carnival wraps up with the final on July 19th at the New York New Jersey Stadium. From the first whistle to the last kick, this tournament has been an absolute gift to football fans everywhere.
