The first matches of the 2026 World Cup: analysis, statistics, drawing of games

The 2026 World Cup kicked off on June 11 and is taking place in three countries at once — the USA, Canada and Mexico. This is the largest World Cup in history: 48 national teams participate in it, and the calendar stretches over 104 matches. The opening meetings have already shown the main thing: it will not be easy for the favorites in this tournament. Brazil and the Netherlands started with draws, South Korea pulled out the match after 0:1, and the late showdowns became almost the main plot of the first days. All the details of the matches are in the Izvestia material

South Korea — Czech Republic

South Korea started with a strong—willed 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic. For a long time, the game looked closed and heavy, but after the break, the match abruptly came to life. The Czechs took the lead in the 59th minute: Ladislav Krejci blocked Vladimir Tsoufal's long pass and punished the Koreans for weak custody in the penalty area. However, South Korea quickly turned the tide of the meeting: Hwang In-bom equalized in the 67th minute, and in the 80th brought Oh Hyun-gyu to the winning shot. Hwang was later named the player of the match.

According to the drawing, it was a match between two teams that started in a 3-4-3 mirror. South Korea tried to lead the game through the movement of midfielders and interior corridors: Lee Kang-in looked for a pass between the lines, Hwang In-bom accelerated attacks from deep, and captain Song Heung-min stretched the last line and led away the central defenders. The Czech Republic, on the other hand, looked more dangerous in the air and on standards or semi-standards: it was the long entry and the struggle on the second floor that created the goal. After 0:1, Hong Myung Bo's team did not completely break the structure, but simply increased the pace and verticality, and this is what had the effect.

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Netherlands — Japan

The Netherlands—Japan match turned out to be one of the best games of the opening week: two Orange goals, two Japanese responses and a very nervous ending. The Netherlands took the lead after the break thanks to Virgil van Dijk's goal, Japan almost immediately equalized with the efforts of Keito Nakamura, then Crisencio Summerville put the Europeans ahead again, and in the 89th minute Daichi Kamada saved the Blue Samurai after a corner. Both of the Netherlands' goals came from Ryan Gravenberch's assists.

Tactically, it was a 4-3-3 duel of the Netherlands against the Japanese 3-4-2-1. The first half was cautious and goalless: it was a passive game with Japan's more defensive and counterattacking approach and the Netherlands' problems in the positional showdown. After the break, both teams increased their speed dramatically. The Dutch began to use the right half-flank more often and put Summerville under attack with a departure to the center, while the Japanese began to open the edges better due to overlays and movement of flank players. It was the game of Japanese fullbacks and inverted wingers that became a serious problem for the Netherlands.

After Summerville's second goal, Ronald Koeman tried to close too early and reduced the risk, while Japan retained the initiative and continued to press. This move by the Netherlands resulted in a loss of control over the ending, and Japan was rewarded for its perseverance.

Brazil — Morocco

Brazil and Morocco played out the first truly high-profile match of the tournament, but the favorite from South America did not win — 1-1. Morocco opened the scoring in the 21st minute after Ismael Saibari's goal, and Vinicius Junior saved Brazil, scoring in the 32nd minute. The meeting looked like an exchange of blows between two heavyweights of the group stage, so the draw was not accidental: Morocco not only survived, but regularly created problems for the Brazilians and deserved this result.

Morocco started in a 4-2-3-1 formation and looked much more solid under pressure and without the ball. Brazil looked stiff, slow and vulnerable in the middle. The South Americans' scheme looked like a 4-2-3-1 — a pair of supports, an attempt to find Vinicius and Rafinha in the semi-flanks and vertically deliver the ball to the final third. However, with almost equal possession, the African team surpassed Brazil in terms of expected goals — 1.37 against 1.26.

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Other matches

Mexico — South Africa — 2:0. The hosts of the tournament started powerfully and quite systematically: Mexico came out on 4-1-4-1, and South Africa on 5-3-2, but already in the opening it became clear who would lead the game. Julian Quinones scored the first goal of the 2026 World Cup in the 9th minute, then helped arrange the second, which was scored by Raul Jimenez. Mexico's football was built on pressure through the flanks and the constant advance of the second wave, and the ending added drama: the match ended with three disposals at once.

Canada — Bosnia and Herzegovina — 1:1. Both teams started at 4-2-2-2, but used the scheme in different ways: Bosnia was looking for a direct serve and power football, Canada pressed with pace and vertical. The Bosnians took the lead after Jovo Lukic's goal from the second floor after Sead Kolasinac's submission, but the hosts gradually crushed the match and equalized the score in the 78th minute: Sayl Larin closed out David's Promise pass. For the Canadians, this is the first point in the history of performances at the World Championships, and Ismael Kone was recognized as the best player of the match.

USA — Paraguay — 4:1. The Americans played one of the most convincing matches of the opening days. In their 4-2-3-1, Mauricio Pochettino's team literally crushed the Paraguayan 4-2-2-2 due to the pressure, the speed of transitions and the powerful play of Pulisic, Tillman and Balogun between the lines. Damian Bobadilla's own goal opened the scoring, then Folarin Balogun scored a double, and in the end Gio Reina scored the fourth. For the USA, this is the first match in the history of the World Cup with four goals scored.

Qatar — Switzerland — 1:1. The Swiss controlled the structure and score for most of the match, leading after a penalty by Brila Embolo, but at the very end Qatar pulled out a historic draw for their country.: This is Qatar's first point in the history of the World Championships. According to the pattern of the meeting, Qatar was more patient without the ball and lived in hope of a late surge, and its main character was goalkeeper Mahmoud Abounada, the best player of the match.

Haiti — Scotland — 0:1. One of the most closed matches of the first wave of the group stage. The game had few obvious moments, and this fully fits the picture: both teams came out in a similar 4-2-2-2, Scotland played pragmatically, and the decisive episode occurred in the 29th minute, when John McGinn scored the only goal. McGinn also became the player of the match. For the Scots, this is the first victory at the world championships since 1990.

Australia — Turkey — 2:0. The Australians chose a reactive but very pragmatic scenario: 5-4-1 against the Turkish 4-2-3-1. They deliberately gave the ball to the opponent, but they used the space almost perfectly after the selections. Nestori Irankunda opened the scoring after a sharp counterattack, and Connor Metcalf sealed the victory in the second half. Goalkeeper Patrick Beach deserves special praise: he made eight saves and was one of the factors in the victory, although Irankunda was recognized as the player of the match.

Germany — Curacao — 7:1. It was the loudest defeat of the opening days, but according to the plot, the first half was not completely one—sided. The Germans took the lead already in the 6th minute after Felix Nmechi's goal, but Curaçao responded with a historic first goal at the World Championships — Livano Comencia scored. The intrigue lasted until the 38th minute, after which Germany turned on the class and brought the matter to a rout. Kai Havertz scored a double, and Deniz Undave scored another goal and two assists. Germany's starting scheme is 4-2-3-1, and it was through the constant overloading of the areas around the penalty area that Julian Nagelsmann's team dismantled the debutant.

Côte d'Ivoire — Ecuador — 1:0.

One of the most nervous and delicate matches of the tour. Ecuador played 3-4-3 and controlled the ball better in places, hit the goal frame twice, but the realization failed. Ivory Coast, in the 4-2-2-2 variant, was more dangerous in shots on target and waited for his chance in the 90th minute when Amad closed in on Wilfried Singo's pass. Jan Diomande was formally recognized as the best player of the match, but the Manchester United striker became the hero of the result. For the Ivorians, this is the first World Cup victory after returning to the tournament after 12 years.

Sweden — Tunisia — 5:1. Sweden gave one of the most complete performances at the start of the championship. Graham Potter's team started in 3-4-1-2 against Tunisian 5-3-2 and very quickly seized control: Yasin Ayyari scored in the 7th minute, then Alexander Isak and Victor Gekeres brought the score to 3:1, and in the end the Swedes finished off the opponent with two more goals. Ayyari scored a double, Isak became the player of the match, and the general pattern was as follows: Sweden confidently passed the lines due to fast transitions and the work of the Isak—Gokeres pair, while Tunisia retreated too easily to its penalty area.

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The main characters and the first tactical conclusions

The main characters of the first block of matches are not only the goalscorers, but also the players who changed the rhythm of the game. South Korea has Hwang In-bom as such a player, Japan has Kamada in the end and Kubo in the ball promotion, Morocco has Saibari, Diaz and Bouaddi, the USA has Balogun, Australia has Irankunda, Germany has Havertz and Undav, Sweden has Ayari and Isak. In several matches, it was one or two point leaders who turned an even game into a winning or saving one.

The start of the tournament has already destroyed the illusion that a high status automatically gives control over the match. Mexico and the USA really started strongly, Germany and Sweden — even more strongly, but Brazil could not cope with the pressure of Morocco, the Netherlands could not hold Japan, and Canada even had to save a draw at home. In other words, the first matches of the 2026 World Cup so far are shaping up not as a parade of favorites, but as a tournament in which an organized team, choosing the right pace and flanks, can break any pre-match alignment.