Five-time World Cup champions Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco in their Group C opener at MetLife Stadium on June 14, 2026. Morocco took the lead through Saibari before Vinicius Junior equalized, with coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledging his team's poor performance and the need for improvement.
Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi impressed in his first competitive international appearance, earning widespread acclaim for his composed performance in Morocco's 1-1 draw against Brazil at the 2026 World Cup. The teenager's display has reportedly attracted interest from top European clubs including Arsenal.
Qatar secured their first-ever World Cup point with a dramatic 95th-minute equalizer against Switzerland, but the match was overshadowed by a technical failure in FIFA's semi-automated offside system that prevented officials from releasing VAR images of a controversial penalty decision involving Switzerland's Remo Freuler.
Australia secured a 2-0 victory over Turkey in their World Cup 2026 Group D match, with goals from Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe. The win marked Turkey's return to the World Cup after a 24-year absence and positioned Australia atop Group D alongside the USA.
Mexico striker Raúl Jiménez, 35, scored in his country's 2-0 opening victory over South Africa at the 2026 World Cup, marking a remarkable comeback from a life-threatening skull fracture suffered in November 2020. The emotional moment represented his long-awaited World Cup star turn.
Co-hosts Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup at Estadio Azteca, with the game making unwanted history as three players were sent off for the first time in a World Cup opening match. Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scored for Mexico against nine-man South Africa.
