NEW DELHI: The race for the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage is beginning to take shape after the first round of matches for 32 teams across the first eight groups, with Monday producing a historic first in 68 years.A total of 16 matches have been played so far in the expanded 48-team tournament, while the remaining four groups are yet to begin their campaigns. Defending champions Argentina, alongside former winners France and England, are among the heavyweights still waiting to kick off their World Cup journeys.
Historic day sees four draws
Monday witnessed an extraordinary sequence as all four matches ended without a winner, marking the first time since June 15, 1958, that a World Cup matchday featuring four games produced four draws.The day began with one of the biggest shocks of the tournament when debutants Cape Verde held European champions and world No. 2 Spain to a goalless draw in Atlanta.Belgium then escaped an upset against Egypt, with Romelu Lukaku’s immediate impact helping the Red Devils secure a 1-1 draw after Emam Ashour had put the Pharaohs ahead.Uruguay also had to fight back from behind as Maximiliano Araújo struck late to rescue a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia in Miami.In the day’s final game, Iran twice came from behind to earn a thrilling 2-2 draw against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.With only one game played by each side in the first eight groups, the standings remain tightly packed. However, the latest results have underlined that there are no easy matches at football’s biggest stage.As the remaining groups prepare to get underway and giants such as Argentina, France and England enter the fray, the battle for places in the round of 32 promises to intensify in the coming days.
