Rise of a Football God-Chapter 485: FIFA World Cup 2026 [16]

With Sweden’s 1-4 victory over Ecuador, matchday 1 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup finally came to an end.

It was a matchday that had everything; from crushing victories, to upsets, and then to blockbuster end to end encounters, it had it all.

Football fans saw enough action to forge memories for a long time, but it was not over yet. If anything, matchday 1 was just the beginning of the FIFA World Cup. After matchday 1, the group tables updated.

[FIFA World Cup 2026:]

[Group A:]

[Team: W/D/L/PTS]

[Ghana: 1/0/0/3]

[Japan: 0/1/0/1]

[Poland: 0/1/0/1]

[Mexico: 0/0/1/0]

...

[Group B:]

[Team: W/D/L/PTS]

[France: 1/0/0/3]

[South Korea: 1/0/0/3]

[Peru: 0/0/1/0]

[Morocco: 0/0/1/0]

...

[Group C:]

[Team: W/D/L/PTS]

[Brazil: 1/0/0/3]

[Egypt: 1/0/0/3]

[Serbia: 0/0/1/0]

[Australia: 0/0/1/0]

...

[Group D:]

[Team: W/D/L/PTS]

[Argentina: 1/0/0/3]

[Chile: 1/0/0/3]

[Norway: 0/0/1/0]

[Qatar: 0/0/1/0]

...

[Group E:]

[Team: W/D/L/PTS]

[Nigeria: 1/0/0/3]

[Canada: 1/0/0/3]

[Saudi Arabia: 0/0/1/0]

[Croatia: 0/0/1/0]

...

[Group F:]

[Team: W/D/L/PTS]

[Spain: 1/0/0/3]

[Italy: 1/0/0/3]

[New Zealand: 0/0/1/0]

[Iran: 0/0/1/0]

...

[Group G:]

[Team: W/D/L/PTS]

[Germany: 1/0/0/3]

[Honduras: 1/0/0/3]

[Colombia: 0/0/1/0]

[Iraq: 0/0/1/0]

...

[Group H:]

[Team: W/D/L/PTS]

[England: 1/0/0/3]

[USA: 0/1/0/1]

[Slovenia: 0/1/0/1]

[Algeria: 0/0/1/0]

...

[Group I:]

[Team: W/D/L/PTS]

[Netherlands: 1/0/0/3]

[Ukraine: 0/1/0/1]

[Tunisia: 0/1/0/1]

[China: 0/0/1/0]

...

[Group J:]

[Team: W/D/L/PTS]

[Portugal: 1/0/0/3]

[Czech Republic: 0/1/0/1]

[Iraq: 0/1/0/1]

[Senegal: 0/0/1/0]

...

[Group K:]

[Team: W/D/L/PTS]

[Uruguay: 1/0/0/3]

[Switzerland: 1/0/0/3]

[Costa Rica: 0/0/1/0]

[DR Congo: 0/0/1/0]

...

[Group L:]

[Team: W/D/L/PTS]

[Belgium: 1/0/0/3]

[Sweden: 1/0/0/3]

[Ecuador: 0/0/1/0]

[Paraguay: 0/0/1/0]

10 groups, 24 games, 48 countries, and this was the outcome.

It was expansive, but it was exciting. This was the allure and excitement of the FIFA World Cup, it was a tournament beyond just football.

It was a tournament that united the world, bringing countries from all the continents of the world to compete against each other.

Losing matchday 1 of the FIFA World Cup was not the end of the world, it did not translate to automatic disqualification from the knockout stage, but still, to avoid late pressure and to have their fate in their own hands, winning matchday 1 was a necessity for the biggest footballing countries.

So far, most favorites of the FIFA World Cup 2026 were already on track.

In Group B, France was already leading the pile with 3 points. Morocco had a long journey ahead of them if they were to replicate their FIFA World Cup 2022 heroics again.

In Group C, Brazil, another favorite was on track with a dominant first group stage win. In Group D, Argentina was also on track, but they were in a tricky group with the likes of Chile and Norway. The odds were in their favor to progress though.

Group E was where the true shocker was happening. Nigeria was never a true footballing heavyweight when it came to the FIFA World Cup.

They’ve never made it to the quarter final of the FIFA World Cup, they didn’t even play in the last World Cup as they could not qualify.

Yes, they had the highest rated striker in the world currently in their squad, but it was well known in world football that rarely do one player become capable enough to singlehandedly change the fortunes of a country in football.

This was why Croatia were branded as the favorites to progress from Group E, and yet, the table presented an entirely different storyline.

Nigeria and Canada were the ones leading the race with 3 points apiece. Croatia now had a steep battle ahead of them if they were to qualify to the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup.

In Group F, Spain were on point. As for Italy, they were rated as heavyweights of football mostly due to past glory and history in recent years.

But still, having won the Euros 2021, nobody wrote them off yet.

In Group G, Germany was on point. Colombia had work to do if they were to qualify to the knockout stage. In Group H, England were on point but USA had to do more if they were to qualify.

In Group I, Netherlands were the clear favorites and they were not even playing with their food. If matchday 1 was any indication, Netherlands was ruthless.

In Group J, Portugal was on point. Senegal had to do more to qualify. In Group K, Uruguay was on point. They were one of the favorites to win the FIFA World Cup this year with their golden generation squad.

And finally, Group L had Belgium who were favorites for the FIFA World Cup for the past 3 iterations of the FIFA World Cup.

If matchday 1 was any indication, they were on point for knockout stage qualification.

Matchday 1 was over; the 48 countries now had practical experience to address their team flaws, make changes if needed, and improve because matchday 2 would be an even more brutal showdown.

And finally, the world focused on matchday 2 of the FIFA World Cup.

(2026 FIFA World Cup fixtures:)

(Group Stage – Matchday 2:)

(GROUP A:)

(Ghana vs Japan)

(Venue: BC Place, Canada)

(Date: June 20th, 2026)

(Time: 14:00)

...

(GROUP A:)

(Poland vs Mexico)

(Venue: Estadio Guadalajara, Mexico)

(Date: June 20th, 2026)

(Time: 20:00)

...

(GROUP B:)

(Morocco vs South Korea)

(Venue: Lumen Field, USA)

(Date: June 21st, 2026)

(Time: 15:00)

...

(GROUP B:)

(Peru vs France)

(Venue: Estadio BBVA, Mexico)

(Date: June 21st, 2026)

(Time: 18:00)

...

(GROUP C:)

(Serbia vs Australia)

(Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, USA)

(Date: June 22nd, 2026)

(Time: 14:00)

...

(GROUP C:)

(Egypt vs Brazil)

(Venue: MetLife Stadium, USA)

(Date: June 22nd, 2026)

(Time: 20:00)

...

(GROUP D:)

(Chile vs Argentina)

(Venue: SoFi Stadium, USA)

(Date: June 23rd, 2026)

(Time: 15:00)

...

(GROUP D:)

(Qatar vs Norway)

(Venue: BMO Field, Canada)

(Date: June 23rd, 2026)

(Time: 15:00)

...

(GROUP E:)

(Croatia vs Canada)

(Venue: BC Place, Canada)

(Date: June 24th, 2026)

(Time: 16:00) freēnovelkiss.com

...

(GROUP E:)

(Saudi Arabia vs Nigeria)

(Venue: Estadio Monterrey, Mexico)

(Date: June 24th, 2026)

(Time: 20:00)

...

(GROUP F:)

(Iran vs New Zealand)

(Venue: Lumen Field, USA)

(Date: June 25th, 2026)

(Time: 14:00)

...

(GROUP F:)

(Italy vs Spain)

(Venue: NRG Stadium, USA)

(Date: June 25th, 2026)

(Time: 20:00)

...

(GROUP G:)

(Colombia vs Iraq)

(Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, USA)

(Date: June 26th, 2026)

(Time: 16:00)

...

(GROUP G:)

(Honduras vs Germany)

(Venue: AT&T Stadium, USA)

(Date: June 26th, 2026)

(Time: 20:00)

...

(GROUP H:)

(Algeria vs USA)

(Venue: Estadio BBVA, Mexico)

(Date: June 27th, 2026)

(Time: 15:00)

...

(GROUP H:)

(Slovenia vs England)

(Venue: MetLife Stadium, USA)

(Date: June 27th, 2026)

(Time: 20:00)

...

(GROUP I:)

(China vs Ukraine)

(Venue: BC Place, Canada)

(Date: June 28th, 2026)

(Time: 14:00)

...

(GROUP I:)

(Tunisia vs Netherlands)

(Venue: SoFi Stadium, USA)

(Date: June 28th, 2026)

(Time: 20:00)

...

(GROUP J:)

(Senegal vs Czech Republic)

(Venue: NRG Stadium, USA)

(Date: June 29th, 2026)

(Time: 16:00)

...

(GROUP J:)

(Iraq vs Portugal)

(Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico)

(Date: June 29th, 2026)

(Time: 20:00)

...

(GROUP K:)

(DR Congo vs Switzerland)

(Venue: Estadio Guadalajara, Mexico)

(Date: June 30th, 2026)

(Time: 14:00)

...

(GROUP K:)

(Costa Rica vs Uruguay)

(Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, USA)

(Date: June 30th, 2026)

(Time: 20:00)

...

(GROUP L:)

(Sweden vs Belgium)

(Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, USA)

(Date: July 1st, 2026)

(Time: 15:00)

...

(GROUP L:)

(Paraguay vs Ecuador)

(Venue: Estadio BBVA, Mexico)

(Date: July 1st, 2026)

(Time: 20:00)

The stage was set.

Now... action.