---
title: "WC-2026: Scoring record, group stage surprises, and the first knockout pairings"
description: "🔥 WC-2026: Scoring record, group stage surprises, and the first knockout pairings! USA, Germany, Netherlands — who advanced? 🌍⚽ #WC2026 #Football"
date: 2026-06-26T06:58:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/wc-2026-scoring-record-group-stage-surprises-and-the-first-knockout-pairings
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# WC-2026: Scoring record, group stage surprises, and the first knockout pairings

![Ecuadorian footballer in yellow jersey celebrates a goal at WC-2026 — symbol of record-breaking scoring and group stage surprises](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/26/chm-2026-rekord-rezultativnosti-sensatsii-v-gruppah-i-pervye-pary-pley-of/chm-2026-rekord-rezultativnosti-sensatsii-v-gruppah-i-pervye-pary-pley-of-1.webp)

The group stage of the 2026 World Cup is approaching its logical conclusion. The night matches in Groups D, E, and F not only determined the new participants in the knockout stage but also gifted fans with historical records and unexpected plot twists. Four new Round of 32 pairings have emerged, and the tournament as a whole is smashing all conceivable metrics for entertainment value.

### Group Stage Results: Groups D, E, and F

Group D saw a real battle unfold. The USA, despite a 2:3 defeat to Turkey, managed to hold onto the lead and finish in first place. Australia, drawing 0:0 with Paraguay, took second spot and also secured a ticket to the knockout stage.

Group E will be remembered for a sensation: Germany lost to Ecuador (1:2), yet thanks to previous results, they retained first place. Ivory Coast took second place after defeating Curaçao 2:0. Notably, Ecuador, despite losing to the Germans, advanced to the next round via the third-place ranking.

In Group F, the Netherlands demonstrated their strength, comfortably beating Tunisia (3:1) to win the group. Japan and Sweden, who drew 1:1, both secured their passage to the knockout stage.

### Who is already in the knockout stage?

At this point, 19 national teams have secured their spots in the Round of 32. They include:

- Mexico, South Africa, Switzerland, Canada

- Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Morocco

- USA, Australia, Germany

- Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Netherlands

- Japan, Sweden, France, Norway

The first Round of 32 pairings have been formed and will be played in the coming days. The dates and times of the matches are already known to the tournament organizers.

### A historic night: records and anti-records

Last night entered the history of the 2026 World Cup on several fronts. The tournament set a new scoring record: participants have already scored 177 goals. This achievement surpassed the previous record from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where 172 goals were scored in 64 matches.

The tournament also matched the anti-record for the number of own goals. Tunisian player Elyes Skhiri scored against his own team, making it the 12th own goal of the tournament — the same number as in WC-2022.

### Additional events

Aside from football events, the news agenda featured an incident involving the Iranian national team, which refused to fly to the decisive WC-2026 match due to the detention of their leader. This event added drama to the pre-knockout stage atmosphere.