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World Cup 2026

Winner

Spain

Highlights

The 2026 World Cup was the first to be hosted by three countries, the United States, Canada and Mexico, and the first to feature 48 teams, with 104 matches and an extra knockout round, the round of 32. Of the four nations making their debut, only Cape Verde got past the first round, before taking holders Argentina to extra time (3-2).

Several favourites fell early: Germany were knocked out on penalties by Paraguay in the round of 32, and Brazil lost in the round of 16 to Erling Haaland's Norway. Morocco reached the quarter-finals once again. The last four brought together Spain, Argentina, France and England, who took third place after a ten-goal match against the French (6-4). Kylian Mbappé finished as top scorer with ten goals, a total not seen since Gerd Müller in 1970, and became the leading scorer in World Cup history with 22 goals.

The final was played on 19 July at MetLife Stadium, near New York. Spain, who conceded just one goal in the entire tournament, beat Argentina 1-0 thanks to a Ferran Torres goal in extra time. Rodri was named best player, and the Spanish claimed their second world title, sixteen years after their first in 2010.

Statistics

Total goals
308
Matches played
104
Goals/match
2.96
Best attack (goals scored)
20
England
Best defense (goals conceded)
1
Colombia

First round

Qualified for the next round

Group A

Team PtsPldWDLGFGAGD
1.Mexico 9 3 3 0 0 6 0 +6
2.South Africa 4 3 1 1 1 2 3 -1
3.South Korea 3 3 1 0 2 2 3 -1
4.Czech Republic 1 3 0 1 2 2 6 -4
Match results
Mexico - South Africa2 - 0
South Korea - Czech Republic2 - 1
Czech Republic - South Africa1 - 1
Mexico - South Korea1 - 0
Czech Republic - Mexico0 - 3
South Africa - South Korea1 - 0

Group B

Team PtsPldWDLGFGAGD
1.Switzerland 7 3 2 1 0 7 3 +4
2.Canada 4 3 1 1 1 8 3 +5
3.Bosnia and Herzegovina 4 3 1 1 1 5 6 -1
4.Qatar 1 3 0 1 2 2 10 -8
Match results
Canada - Bosnia and Herzegovina1 - 1
Qatar - Switzerland1 - 1
Switzerland - Bosnia and Herzegovina4 - 1
Canada - Qatar6 - 0
Switzerland - Canada2 - 1
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Qatar3 - 1

Group C

Team PtsPldWDLGFGAGD
1.Brazil 7 3 2 1 0 7 1 +6
2.Morocco 7 3 2 1 0 6 3 +3
3.Scotland 3 3 1 0 2 1 4 -3
4.Haiti 0 3 0 0 3 2 8 -6
Match results
Haiti - Scotland0 - 1
Brazil - Morocco1 - 1
Brazil - Haiti3 - 0
Scotland - Morocco0 - 1
Scotland - Brazil0 - 3
Morocco - Haiti4 - 2

Group D

Team PtsPldWDLGFGAGD
1.United States 6 3 2 0 1 8 4 +4
2.Australia 4 3 1 1 1 2 2 0
3.Paraguay 4 3 1 1 1 2 4 -2
4.Turkey 3 3 1 0 2 3 5 -2
Match results
United States - Paraguay4 - 1
Australia - Turkey2 - 0
Turkey - Paraguay0 - 1
United States - Australia2 - 0
Turkey - United States3 - 2
Paraguay - Australia0 - 0

Group E

Team PtsPldWDLGFGAGD
1.Germany 6 3 2 0 1 10 4 +6
2.Ivory Coast 6 3 2 0 1 4 2 +2
3.Ecuador 4 3 1 1 1 2 2 0
4.Curaçao 1 3 0 1 2 1 9 -8
Match results
Ivory Coast - Ecuador1 - 0
Germany - Curaçao7 - 1
Germany - Ivory Coast2 - 1
Ecuador - Curaçao0 - 0
Curaçao - Ivory Coast0 - 2
Ecuador - Germany2 - 1

Group F

Team PtsPldWDLGFGAGD
1.Netherlands 7 3 2 1 0 10 4 +6
2.Japan 5 3 1 2 0 7 3 +4
3.Sweden 4 3 1 1 1 7 7 0
4.Tunisia 0 3 0 0 3 2 12 -10
Match results
Netherlands - Japan2 - 2
Sweden - Tunisia5 - 1
Netherlands - Sweden5 - 1
Tunisia - Japan0 - 4
Japan - Sweden1 - 1
Tunisia - Netherlands1 - 3

Group G

Team PtsPldWDLGFGAGD
1.Belgium 5 3 1 2 0 6 2 +4
2.Egypt 5 3 1 2 0 5 3 +2
3.Iran 3 3 0 3 0 3 3 0
4.New Zealand 1 3 0 1 2 4 10 -6
Match results
Iran - New Zealand2 - 2
Belgium - Egypt1 - 1
Belgium - Iran0 - 0
New Zealand - Egypt1 - 3
Egypt - Iran1 - 1
New Zealand - Belgium1 - 5

Group H

Team PtsPldWDLGFGAGD
1.Spain 7 3 2 1 0 5 0 +5
2.Cape Verde 3 3 0 3 0 2 2 0
3.Uruguay 2 3 0 2 1 3 4 -1
4.Saudi Arabia 2 3 0 2 1 1 5 -4
Match results
Saudi Arabia - Uruguay1 - 1
Spain - Cape Verde0 - 0
Uruguay - Cape Verde2 - 2
Spain - Saudi Arabia4 - 0
Cape Verde - Saudi Arabia0 - 0
Uruguay - Spain0 - 1

Group I

Team PtsPldWDLGFGAGD
1.France 9 3 3 0 0 10 2 +8
2.Norway 6 3 2 0 1 8 7 +1
3.Senegal 3 3 1 0 2 8 6 +2
4.Iraq 0 3 0 0 3 1 12 -11
Match results
France - Senegal3 - 1
Iraq - Norway1 - 4
Norway - Senegal3 - 2
France - Iraq3 - 0
Norway - France1 - 4
Senegal - Iraq5 - 0

Group J

Team PtsPldWDLGFGAGD
1.Argentina 9 3 3 0 0 8 1 +7
2.Austria 4 3 1 1 1 6 6 0
3.Algeria 4 3 1 1 1 5 7 -2
4.Jordan 0 3 0 0 3 3 8 -5
Match results
Argentina - Algeria3 - 0
Austria - Jordan3 - 1
Argentina - Austria2 - 0
Jordan - Algeria1 - 2
Algeria - Austria3 - 3
Jordan - Argentina1 - 3

Group K

Team PtsPldWDLGFGAGD
1.Colombia 7 3 2 1 0 4 1 +3
2.Portugal 5 3 1 2 0 6 1 +5
3.Democratic Republic of Congo 4 3 1 1 1 4 3 +1
4.Uzbekistan 0 3 0 0 3 2 11 -9
Match results
Portugal - Democratic Republic of Congo1 - 1
Uzbekistan - Colombia1 - 3
Portugal - Uzbekistan5 - 0
Colombia - Democratic Republic of Congo1 - 0
Colombia - Portugal0 - 0
Democratic Republic of Congo - Uzbekistan3 - 1

Group L

Team PtsPldWDLGFGAGD
1.England 7 3 2 1 0 6 2 +4
2.Croatia 6 3 2 0 1 5 5 0
3.Ghana 4 3 1 1 1 2 2 0
4.Panama 0 3 0 0 3 0 4 -4
Match results
Ghana - Panama1 - 0
England - Croatia4 - 2
England - Ghana0 - 0
Panama - Croatia0 - 1
Panama - England0 - 2
Croatia - Ghana2 - 1

Knockout stage

Round of 32

South Africa - Canada0 - 1
Brazil - Japan2 - 1
Germany - Paraguay1 - 1 a.e.t. (3-4 p)
Netherlands - Morocco1 - 1 a.e.t. (2-3 p)
Ivory Coast - Norway1 - 2
France - Sweden3 - 0
Mexico - Ecuador2 - 0
England - Democratic Republic of Congo2 - 1
Belgium - Senegal3 - 2 a.e.t.
United States - Bosnia and Herzegovina2 - 0
Spain - Austria3 - 0
Portugal - Croatia2 - 1
Switzerland - Algeria2 - 0
Australia - Egypt1 - 1 a.e.t. (2-4 p)
Argentina - Cape Verde3 - 2 a.e.t.
Colombia - Ghana1 - 0

Round of 16

Canada - Morocco0 - 3
Paraguay - France0 - 1
Brazil - Norway1 - 2
Mexico - England2 - 3
Portugal - Spain0 - 1
United States - Belgium1 - 4
Argentina - Egypt3 - 2
Switzerland - Colombia0 - 0 a.e.t. (4-3 p)

Quarter-finals

France - Morocco2 - 0
Spain - Belgium2 - 1
Norway - England1 - 2 a.e.t.
Argentina - Switzerland3 - 1 a.e.t.

Semi-finals

France - Spain0 - 2
England - Argentina1 - 2

Third place

France - England4 - 6

Final

Spain1
Argentina0

After extra time

Top Scorers

Rank Player Goals Penalties Goals/match
1 Kylian Mbappé 10 1 1.25
2 Lionel Messi 8 0 1.00
3 Erling Haaland 7 0 1.40
3 Jude Bellingham 7 0 0.88
5 Harry Kane 6 2 0.86
5 Ousmane Dembélé 6 0 0.75
7 Mikel Oyarzabal 5 1 0.63
8 Ismaïla Sarr 4 0 1.00
8 Vinicius Junior 4 0 0.80
8 Julian Quiñones 4 0 0.80
11 Elijah Just 3 0 1.00
11 Kai Havertz 3 1 0.75
11 Deniz Undav 3 0 0.75
11 Folarin Balogun 3 0 0.75
11 Raul Jimenez 3 1 0.75
11 Brian Brobbey 3 0 0.75
11 Cody Gakpo 3 0 0.75
11 Yoane Wissa 3 1 0.75
11 Johan Manzambi 3 0 0.75
11 Charles De Ketelaere 3 0 0.60
11 Matheus Cunha 3 0 0.60
11 Jonathan David 3 0 0.60
11 Ismael Saibari 3 0 0.60
11 Cristiano Ronaldo 3 1 0.60
11 Romelu Lukaku 3 0 0.50
11 Bukayo Saka 3 1 0.43
11 Lautaro Martinez 3 1 0.43
11 Bradley Barcola 3 0 0.38
29 Ermin Mahmic 2 0 0.67
29 Ramin Rezaeian 2 0 0.67
29 Habib Diarra 2 0 0.67
29 Maximiliano Araujo 2 0 0.67
29 Riyad Mahrez 2 0 0.50
29 Marko Arnautovic 2 1 0.50
29 Cyle Larin 2 0 0.50
29 Amad Diallo Traoré 2 0 0.50
29 Nicolas Pépé 2 0 0.50
29 Daichi Kamada 2 0 0.50
29 Ayase Ueda 2 0 0.50
29 Crysencio Summerville 2 0 0.50
29 Pape Gueye 2 0 0.50
29 Yasin Ayari 2 0 0.50
29 Anthony Elanga 2 0 0.50
29 Youri Tielemans 2 1 0.40
29 Daniel Muñoz 2 0 0.40
29 Emam Ashour 2 0 0.40
29 Mostafa Ziko 2 0 0.40
29 Malik Tillman 2 0 0.40
29 Leandro Trossard 2 0 0.33
29 Pedro Porro 2 0 0.33
29 Azzedine Ounahi 2 0 0.33
29 Soufiane Rahimi 2 0 0.33
29 Breel Embolo 2 1 0.33
29 Dan Ndoye 2 0 0.33
29 Ruben Vargas 2 0 0.33
29 Enzo Fernandez 2 0 0.29
29 Mikel Merino 2 0 0.25
58 Nadhir Benbouali 1 0 1.00
58 Giovani Lo Celso 1 0 1.00
58 Mateo Chavez 1 0 1.00
58 Thelo Aasgaard 1 0 1.00
58 Hazem Mastouri 1 0 1.00
58 Kaan Ayhan 1 0 1.00
58 Nico Schlotterbeck 1 0 0.50
58 Jovo Lukic 1 0 0.50
58 Neymar 1 1 0.50
58 Petar Musa 1 0 0.50
58 Mahmoud Saber 1 0 0.50
58 Auston Trusty 1 0 0.50
58 Derrick Luckassen 1 0 0.50
58 Aymen Hussein 1 0 0.50
58 Gonçalo Ramos 1 0 0.50
58 Hasan Al-Haydos 1 0 0.50
58 Brian Cipenga 1 0 0.50
58 Fiston Mayele 1 0 0.50
58 Mattias Svanberg 1 0 0.50
58 Omar Rekik 1 0 0.50
58 Thapelo Maseko 1 0 0.33
58 Teboho Mokoena 1 1 0.33
58 Nathaniel Brown 1 0 0.33
58 Abdulelah Al-Amri 1 0 0.33
58 Sasa Kalajdzic 1 0 0.33
58 Nathan-Dylan Saliba 1 0 0.33
58 Sidny Cabral 1 0 0.33
58 Hélio Varela 1 0 0.33
58 Jaminton Campaz 1 0 0.33
58 In-beom Hwang 1 0 0.33
58 Hyeon-gyu Oh 1 0 0.33
58 Ante Budimir 1 0 0.33
58 Nikola Vlasic 1 0 0.33
58 Livano Comenencia 1 0 0.33
58 John McGinn 1 0 0.33
58 Wilson Isidor 1 0 0.33
58 Mohammad Mohebi 1 0 0.33
58 Daizen Maeda 1 0 0.33
58 Kaishu Sano 1 0 0.33
58 Nizar Al-Rashdan 1 0 0.33
58 Mousa Al-Tamari 1 0 0.33
58 Ali Olwan 1 0 0.33
58 Gessime Yassine 1 0 0.33
58 Alvaro Fidalgo 1 0 0.33
58 Finn Surman 1 0 0.33
58 Abbosbek Fayzullaev 1 0 0.33
58 Eldor Shomurodov 1 0 0.33
58 Boualem Khoukhi 1 0 0.33
58 Iliman Ndiaye 1 0 0.33
58 Ladislav Krejci 1 0 0.33
58 Michal Sadilek 1 0 0.33
58 Arda Güler 1 0 0.33
58 Baris Alper Yilmaz 1 0 0.33
58 Agustin Canobbio 1 0 0.33
58 Rafik Belghali 1 0 0.25
58 Amine Gouiri 1 0 0.25
58 Jamal Musiala 1 0 0.25
58 Felix Nmecha 1 0 0.25
58 Leroy Sané 1 0 0.25
58 Nestory Irankunda 1 0 0.25
58 Connor Metcalfe 1 0 0.25
58 Marcel Sabitzer 1 0 0.25
58 Romano Schmid 1 0 0.25
58 Alexis Saelemaekers 1 0 0.25
58 Kerim Alajbegovic 1 0 0.25
58 Gabriel Martinelli 1 0 0.25
58 Promise David 1 0 0.25
58 Deroy Duarte 1 0 0.25
58 Kevin Lenini 1 0 0.25
58 Franck Kessié 1 0 0.25
58 Martin Baturina 1 0 0.25
58 Ivan Perisic 1 0 0.25
58 Petar Sucic 1 0 0.25
58 Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet 1 0 0.25
58 Nilson Angulo 1 0 0.25
58 Gonzalo Plata 1 0 0.25
58 Caleb Yirenkyi 1 0 0.25
58 Junya Ito 1 0 0.25
58 Keito Nakamura 1 0 0.25
58 Luis Romo 1 0 0.25
58 Marcus Pedersen 1 0 0.25
58 Matias Galarza 1 0 0.25
58 Mauricio 1 0 0.25
58 Virgil Van Dijk 1 0 0.25
58 Jan Paul Van Hecke 1 0 0.25
58 Ibrahim Mbaye 1 0 0.25
58 Viktor Gyökeres 1 0 0.25
58 Alexander Isak 1 0 0.25
58 Kevin De Bruyne 1 0 0.20
58 Casemiro 1 0 0.20
58 Stephen Eustaquio 1 0 0.20
58 Jhon Arias 1 0 0.20
58 Luis Diaz 1 0 0.20
58 Yasser Ibrahim 1 0 0.20
58 Mohamed Salah 1 0 0.20
58 Sebastian Berhalter 1 0 0.20
58 Alex Freeman 1 0 0.20
58 Giovanni Reyna 1 0 0.20
58 Issa Diop 1 0 0.20
58 Leo Skiri Östigard 1 0 0.20
58 Julio Enciso 1 0 0.20
58 Rafael Leão 1 0 0.20
58 Nuno Mendes 1 0 0.20
58 João Neves 1 0 0.20
58 Anthony Gordon 1 0 0.17
58 Marcus Rashford 1 0 0.17
58 Hans Vanaken 1 0 0.17
58 Achraf Hakimi 1 0 0.17
58 Antonio Nusa 1 0 0.17
58 Andreas Schjelderup 1 0 0.17
58 Granit Xhaka 1 1 0.17
58 Declan Rice 1 0 0.14
58 Lisandro Martinez 1 0 0.14
58 Cristian Romero 1 0 0.14
58 Alex Baena 1 0 0.14
58 Ezri Konsa 1 0 0.13
58 Julian Alvarez 1 0 0.13
58 Alexis Mac Allister 1 0 0.13
58 Fabian Ruiz 1 0 0.13
58 Ferran Torres 1 0 0.13
58 Lamine Yamal 1 0 0.13
58 Désiré Doué 1 0 0.13