25/06/2026 10:24 - Deportes
The World Cup 2026 has entered its most exciting phase with the start of the third and final matchday of the group stage. Matches are played simultaneously to ensure sporting fairness and prevent any result manipulation.
Every match carries enormous weight: results are determining which national teams advance to the Round of 16 and which must bid farewell to the tournament. Tension fills every stadium.
The opening day of this decisive matchday produced emphatic results:
Goals by Mateo Chávez, Julián Quiñones, and Álvaro Fidalgo. Goalkeeper Memo Ochoa entered at minute 78 to play his sixth World Cup.
Vinicius Jr. scored a brace and Matheus Cunha sealed the rout. Neymar played his first minutes after recovering from a muscle injury.
Thrilling comeback by the Atlas Lions. Gessime Yassine established himself as Moroccan football's newest gem.
Swiss victory that defines Group B. Canada finishes second with 4 points.
The Mexican national team achieved a historic milestone by finishing as Group A leaders with a perfect 9-point record, something they had never accomplished in World Cup history. Jaime Lozano's squad displayed solid and clinical football.
A special moment was the entrance of Guillermo Ochoa, who received the FIFA Legacy Patch, a distinction awarded only to players who have participated in multiple World Cups. The Mexican goalkeeper thus played his sixth World Cup, joining an exclusive group that includes Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, and Manuel Neuer.
The Seleção displayed their full attacking power and claimed first place in Group C with 7 points and +6 goal difference. Vinicius Jr was inspired with his brace, while Neymar stepped onto the pitch after 981 days without playing for his national team.
Morocco also secured their passage as group runners-up with 7 points and +3 goal difference. The Moroccans demonstrated that their historic third-place finish at Qatar 2022 was no fluke.
The Argentine National Team is experiencing an atmosphere of absolute calm at their training camp in Kansas. Already qualified as leaders of Group J with 6 points and +5 goal difference, the squad celebrated Lionel Messi's 39th birthday with a relaxed training session.
Lionel Scaloni is considering rotations for the match against Jordan on Saturday 27/06 at 23:00 in Dallas. The manager confirmed he will rest Cuti Romero due to a knee knock.
🥅 Next Match: Round of 16 on July 3 at 19:00 in Miami against the Group H runner-up.
Wednesday's results produced the first confirmed knockout stage matchup:
Sunday, June 28 in Los Angeles
South Africa pulled off a surprise by defeating South Korea 1-0 and securing second place in Group A with 4 points. Canada, meanwhile, fell 2-1 to Switzerland and also finished second in Group B with 4 points.
| Time (Local) | Match | Group |
|---|---|---|
| 17:00 | Ecuador vs Germany | E |
| 17:00 | Curaçao vs Ivory Coast | E |
| 20:00 | Tunisia vs Netherlands | F |
| 20:00 | Japan vs Sweden | F |
| 23:00 | Paraguay vs Australia | D |
| 23:00 | Turkey vs United States | D |
Alfredo S. Quiroga
