Following the 2026 World Cup

A running diary of the group stage — who surprised me, who disappointed, and the one match I'll rewatch.

The surprise of the group stage

Every tournament has a team that plays above its ranking, and this one was no exception. Compact defending, quick transitions, and a goalkeeper having the fortnight of his life.

What I got wrong

I had the holders sailing through. Instead they limped out of a group they should have won comfortably — too slow in midfield, too predictable out wide.

The best matches aren't the ones with the most goals. They're the ones where you can feel both teams thinking.

The one I'll rewatch

A 2–2 draw that swung three times in the last twenty minutes. Tactics out the window, both benches emptied, and a stoppage-time equaliser that the neutral in me loved and the fan in me hated.