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The highs and lows of the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stages
SEN • June 28th, 2026 7:58 pm
With the World Cup 2026 group stages wrapped up, 32 teams are through to the next stage while 16 nations are heading home.
Across 72 matches in what is the biggest tournament in FIFA's history, SEN has looked back over the highs and lows of the group stages.
Moments we will never forget, goals that will write previously unknown names into football folklore, record-breaking achievements and of course the incidents that may haunt some players for years to come.
The Highs
Norway fans take over NYC
Not just New York City, America has been captivated by the Norwegian fans and the iconic Viking Row which has been done everywhere from the field of play, to Time Square to the New York subway and beyond. As one fan bangs a drum others make a coordinated rowing motion after each beat and yell “Ro!”
Iconic moments.
Eloy Room's goalkeeping heroics
With a population of just 158,000, Curacao came into this World Cup knowing that just playing was the biggest achievement in the tiny nation's football history.
But it wasn't enough and they have written themselves into the history books and football fan hearts with some incredibly brave performances. Not only did they score their country's first ever tournament point with a shock 0-0 draw with Ecuador but Eloy Room became a global icon with his record breaking performance against the South American side.
He was an immovable force, registering 15 saves - the most by any stopper without extra-time since 1966. A national icon and hero of this World Cup.
Goal avalanche from the stars
It’s been a delight to watch the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Vinicius Jnr, Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane bang the goals in.
The goals have been pouring in across North America and more often than not it’s been the most recognised faces at the heart of it.
Messi’s five, four for Vini, Haaland and Mbappe, three from Kane and two for CR7. This is what it’s all about.
Emerging young guns and lesser knowns
There have been some seriously good young players emerge at this World Cup.
Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi (20), Sweden’s Yasin Ayari (22), Australia’s Nestory Irankunda (20), Algeria’s Ibrahim Maza (20) and Ivory Coast’s Yan Diomande (19) are among those who have impressed.
Then there are the likes of heroic Cape Verde keeper Vozinha (40), his Curacao counterpart Eloy Room (37), Mexico’s Julian Quiñones (29) and Egypt’s Emam Ashour (28), among others.
These guys may not have been so well known on the biggest stage beforehand, but have since announced themselves to the world.
48 teams!
It was contentious early, but it's hard to argue that the 48-team format hasn't been a success.
Introducing a further 16 nations into the World Cup created quite the stir; what if these nations aren't competitive?
This year, we saw four nations in Curacao, Cabo Verde, Uzbekistan and Jordan qualify for the World Cup for the first time in their history, with Qatar, Panama, Haiti, Bosnia and Herzegovina, DR Congo and Iraq all featuring for the second time.
Incredibly, two of those sides secured qualification to the knockouts, with Cabo Verde famously securing a second-place finish over the likes of Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to automatically enter the Round of 32.
Of the 16 nations that featured in 2026 that did NOT feature in 2022, SIX have progressed to the knockout stages.
Beyond what we've seen on the pitch, the culture and unity off the pitch has been second-to-none. Witnessing the fans of smaller nations gather to celebrate their country's achievement on the biggest stage has put a smile on everyone's faces, regardless of where you're from.
It may have been a ploy to earn FIFA more money, but it's one that feels well worth it.
Besides, who doesn't want more football?
The Lows
Ismaël Kone's leg break
One of the most shocking moments of the group stage came in Canada's clash with Qatar during which Kone was the victim of a late challenge by Assim Madibo that left his leg significantly damaged.
The severity of the injury was immediately evident with Kone taken from the field and straight to hospital where he underwent surgery.
Hydration breaks
Widely criticised by players, coaches, experts and fans the refreshment time at the midway point of each half has not been a welcome change. While many are furious with the "cash grab" opportunity they perceive it to be, former players have been unimpressed by the impact it has on momentum as well as how much opportunity it is giving coaches to relay instructions.
"It’s become a timeout, not just a hydration break. And an advertising insert. Coach interventions, rather than a player-led game. Exactly what football is not," Craig Foster said.
These can get in the bin. It's a bit of a commercial rort. Nobody, apart from those who pocket the advertising dollars, want them. It’s just not football.
Head-to-head progression
The 2026 World Cup was the first to introduce head-to-head tiebreakers, a concept that may have killed the thrill of group stage action.
Previously, the notion of goal difference left group standings undecided until the final seconds of any given game.
Three goals behind top spot? One goal out of second place? No worries! Teams had the opportunity to rally and push for goals even after confirming qualification.
It made for excellent viewing up until the final moments of any game.
With head-to-head now overruling goal difference, this tournament saw nations eliminated after just two games thanks to their inability to leap sides above them, regardless of goals.
After the USA beat both Australia and Paraguay, and Turkiye lost to both Australia and Paraguay, their meeting in the third and final group stage game meant absolutely nothing, creating a deadweight game with no implications regardless of result.
If goal difference remained in place, Turkiye's win would have meant that a loss for either Paraguay or Australia in their final meeting could have seen them propel into third, while the winner of that clash could have pressed for top spot over the US.
No World Cup game should ever be a deadweight, particularly in a three-match, high stakes group stage format.
