We are certainly going to miss this component in 2026.
With the next World Cup in 2026 being expanded to 48 teams and into 16 groups of three, we are certain to miss this component of the final group games being played simultaneously (though we will see this next year for the Women’s World Cup).
The final group games in Groups C, D, and E were some of the most pulsating set of days we have seen at the World Cup in a long time. Just when Tunisia had the advantage as they pulled ahead of France’s de facto B-squad, Australia went on the counter against Denmark and scored. The Socceroos then made that lead stick to advance to the Round of 16 for the first time since 2006.
In Group D, Mexico looked to defy the odds and reach the Round of 16 if they can just get one more goal while Poland were floundering against Argentina. They had that third goal disallowed (rightfully) for offside and then Saudi Arabia poached a goal to deny Mexico a “cuarto partido” which is a first for them since 1978.
And then there was Group E. It looked like Spain and Germany were going to cruise through their matches. At halftime, Spain were up 1-0 on Japan while Germany were in control against Costa Rice, though the Ticos were fortunate to be down 1-0. Chaos ensues! In a span of 142 seconds, Japan went from 0-1 down and potentially out of the tournament to 2-1 up and sending Germany back home. VAR determined Kaoru Mitoma that had kept the ball in play (barely) and crossed to Ao Tanaka for the eventual match-winner.
Spain themselves looked heading out by the team they beat 7-0 in Costa Rica as they took a shock lead against Germany. That was short-lived though as Germany rallied to win 4-2, but that Spanish equalizer would not come and an inquisition of German football is once again afoot eight years after winning the World Cup which was a culmination of a decade-long rebuild. Now it’s Japan, whose goalscorers all play in the Bundesliga find themselves in the Round of 16 for a second straight time.
Apart from some stunning misses from Romelu Lukaku who started this World Cup injured, Group F was less suspenseful but no less emotional for Morocco who reached the Round of 16 for the first time since 1986 with a 2-1 win over Canada. Belgium could not get the goal against Croatia to go through themselves and the term “Golden Generation” again jinxes another national team.
On Friday, it’s the last set of group matches and it includes a pair of grudge matches as Ghana plays Uruguay for the first time since Luis Suarez’s handball (and Asamoah Gyan’s subsequent penalty miss) denied Ghana a historic trip to the semifinals in 2010; while Serbia plays Switzerland after both Grant Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri, both of Albanian-Kosovan heritage, made the double-headed eagle sign after scoring at the last World Cup offending the Serbs. In both cases, one team will advance with a win, though the possibility exists that neither of the combatants in either match go though if Cameroon and South Korea have things to say.
It’s sad that we will likely not get this drama at the 2026 World Cup with the expansion to 48 teams and the division of them into 16 groups of three to start. It has made for some intense action over the past few days and one of myriad of reasons we love this sport.
