FIFA World Cup Day 15 recap: Netherlands wins group; Japan, Sweden advance

Here’s where things stand after Thursday’s Group D, E and F finales.

Mauricio Pochettino has made the unconventional conventional since taking over as coach of the national team 18 months ago. He’s experimented with formations and tactics, shaken up his roster and motivated players by demanding to know why they can’t make a deep run into this World Cup.

On Thursday he may have pushed that contempt for convention a little too far, with Kaan Ayhan goal’s deep in stoppage time giving Turkey a 3-2 win and spoiling the Americans’ unbeaten start.

With the U.S. having already locked down a spot in the knockout stages of the tournament, Pochettino emptied his bench, making nine changes to his lineup for the group-stage finale with Turkey and giving 21 players a start in the first round. And this time the roll of the dice didn’t work, with Turkey getting its only win of the tournament on its last touch of the World Cup.

Australia and Paraguay played to a 0-0 draw Thursday night in a result that clinched a spot in the knockout round of the World Cup for the Socceroos and will likely be enough for the Paraguayans to advance.

The expanded tournament to 48 teams that provides a spot in the knockout round for eight of the 12 third-place teams in the group stage led to the cautious approach for both teams in their final Group D match after they each entered with three points thanks to wins over Turkey.

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The winner of this game was assured second place behind the United States in the group with Australia also clinching that spot with a draw thanks to a better goal differential than Paraguay. But the draw that gave Paraguay four points in the group also was likely to be enough barring a string of bad results in the final two days of group play.

This marks the third time that Australia has advanced to the knockout round after losing in the round of 16 in 2006 and 2022. The Socceroos will play in the round of 32 on July 3 in Arlington, Texas, against the second-place finisher from Group G that will be determined Friday night.

Paraguay must wait to learn its fate, but is in good position to advance to the knockout round for the fifth time.

The Socceroos had the best chances in the first half, but Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill stopped an early attempt from Jackson Irvine and then made another save in stoppage time against Cristian Volpato.

The cautious play continued in the second half when Paraguay did have more possession than in the opening 45 minutes but neither team came close to scoring. Jordan Bos had the best chance for Australia in the 90th minute, but his shot went wide from the right side of the box.

Patrick Beach then made a save for Australia on a low shot by Mauricio that lacked power in stoppage time.

Australia coach Tony Popovic made six changes to his lineup for the game, including giving 18-year-old Lucas Herrington his first World Cup appearance. Herrington, who plays for the Colorado Rapids in the MLS, became the youngest Aussie to appear in a World Cup game.

Paraguay midfielder Diego Gomez got his second yellow card of group play and will miss the round of 32 if the team advances.

Dubow writes for the Associated Press.

Australia 0, Paraguay 0 — Halftime

Neither team took command in the first half, taking few risks while trying to look for opportunities that rarely developed.

Australia showed a bit more, putting two of its four shots on goal, but it failed to generate any real chances despite three corner kicks.

Paraguay didn’t have any shots on goal (only one attempt) and struggled to do much of anything on Australia’s side of the field despite controlling the ball more in the final minutes.

Australia 0, Paraguay 0 — 20th minute

Both teams are playing patient and trying to develop chances, with play mostly being concentrated on the Paraguay side.

Australia has two shots, with Jackson Irvine putting one on goal that Orlando Gill stopped. Australia, which has controlled the ball 65% of the time, hasn’t been able to generate anything off three corner kicks.

Paraguay and Australia are looking to close out group play with a win and secure second in Group D behind the United States.

Australia holds the edge over Paraguay on goal differential if the match ends in a draw. A loss likely would doom any hopes of advancing to the round of 32.

The United States looks to wrap up group play at the World Cup with a win over Turkey at SoFi Stadium on Thursday at 7 p.m. PDT (Fox Telemundo).

Follow along for live updates and analysis here:

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U.S. falls to Turkey on last-minute goal, shifts focus to World Cup knockout round

Christian Pulisic provided a spark, but the U.S. couldn’t convert numerous chances and Turkey escape with a World Cup win at SoFi Stadium on Thursday.

June 25, 2026

ARLINGTON, Texas — Daizen Maeda gave Japan the lead and Anthony Elanga took it away six minutes later, helping Sweden to a 1-1 draw Thursday night that sent both teams to the knockout round of the World Cup.

Elanga’s impressive left-footed strike from just outside the right corner of the box in the 62nd minute was his second goal of this year’s tournament. Elanga has scored only three goals in 49 games for Newcastle, but zero in 32 Premier League matches.

Six minutes earlier, Maeda settled a nifty pass from Ritsu Doan with his left foot in the penalty area and easily beat Jacob Widell Zetterstrom with his right foot.

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It was Japan’s seventh goal of the tournament, the country’s most for an entire World Cup. That topped the six the Japanese scored while reaching the round of 16 in Russia eight years ago.

Japan is advancing out of the group stage for the third consecutive World Cup and fifth time in seven tries since first reaching the round of 16 as co-hosts in 2002. The Japanese team finished second in Group F behind the Netherlands and will play Brazil in Houston on Monday.

The Swedes have advanced to the knockout round the past four times they’ve qualified for the World Cup going back to 1994 — when they reached the semifinals the last time the U.S. hosted soccer’s biggest event.

Elanga had another chance in injury time, with his right-footed attempted forcing goalkeeper Zion Suzuki to make a diving deflection.

On the ensuing corner kick, Suzuki deflected Alexander Isak’s header into the air and eventually ended the scoring chance with a leaping grab in a crowd of players.

Dixon writes for the Associated Press.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Brian Brobbey scored his third goal of the World Cup, the Netherlands got a pair of goals that deflected off Tunisia into its own net, and the Dutch rolled in the rain to a 3-1 victory Thursday night to advance to the knockout stage as the winners of Group F.

The Netherlands began the day tied atop the group with Japan. But when the Samurai Blue could only manage a 1-1 draw with Sweden in Arlington, Texas, it left Virgil van Dijk and his teammates looking forward to a matchup with Group C runner-up Morocco on Monday — and Japan with the heavy task of playing powerhouse Brazil in the Round of 32.

Tunisia, which sacked its coach after a loss to open the World Cup, had already been eliminated from the tournament.

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The opening minutes summed up the last couple of weeks for the Eagles of Carthage: Denzel Dumfries sent a ball across the front of the goal, Tunisian captain Ellys Skhiri slapped at with his foot in an attempt to clear, and he found the back of his own net instead.

Brobbey made it 2-0 in the seventh minute, after the Dutch had earned a free kick from about 25 yards. The 6-foot-5 van Dijk expertly headed it across the box, and Brobbey was in perfect position to chip the ball past Tunisian goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen.

Tunisia finally scored in the 54th minute, when Hazem Mastouri redirected a corner kick into the net, but the Netherlands answered in the 62nd, when Jan Paul van Hecke’s header off a corner glanced off Anis Slimane’s head and into his own net.

The Netherlands controlled the game from there as a first-half drizzle turned into a second-half downpour.

The threat of thunderstorms had persisted all the week, and lightning briefly delayed the completion of the “Oranje fanwalk” to the game. But once they were given the all-clear, the Dutch fans clad in their highlighter-orange shirts poured down the aisles and into Arrowhead Stadium, making it look like deer hunting season in the Midwest.

The Netherlands is certainly big-game hunting in this World Cup.

The nation of Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten has long held the moniker of best never to have won the tournament. Three times the Dutch have advanced to the finals and each time they have lost, most recently to Spain in extra time in 2010.

They got off to a lackluster start this go-round, too, tying Japan 2-2 in their opener. But with two goals apiece from Brobby and Cody Gakpo, the Netherlands routed Sweden 5-1, and it now has some momentum heading into the knockout stage.

Tunisia seemed quite content just to finish a disastrous World Cup.

The Eagles of Carthage opened with a 5-1 loss to Sweden, which led to coach Sabri Lamouchi’s firing. French coach Herve Renard took over amid reports of tension and infighting within the team, and little seemed to have changed in a 4-0 loss to Japan last week.

Thursday’s loss ran Tunisia’s winless streak to six matches.

Skretta writes for the Associated Press.

Japan 1, Sweden 1 — 62nd minute

Sweden’s Anthony Elanga scored an incredible goal from the top corner of the box on a precise strike to tie the score.

After falling behind, Sweden immediately started putting pressure on Japan, and Elanga’s goal keeps them in position to potentially claim second in Group F.

Netherlands 3, Tunisia 1 — 62nd minute

Jan Paul van Hecke scored in the 62nd minute off a header from a corner kick by Tijjani Reijnders to increase the Netherlands’ lead. The ball made contact with a Tunisia player before it went into the goal.

Japan 1, Sweden 0 — 56th minute

Daizen Maeda scored on a right-footed shot as he sprinted into the center of the box from a perfect flick pass by Ritsu Doan to give Japan the lead.

Japan has been threatening to score coming out of the halftime break, but didn’t find a quality chance until Doan’s pass found Maeda.

Netherlands 2, Tunisia 1 — 54th minute

Hazem Mastouri scored on a perfectly placed header off a corner kick in the rain to cut into the Netherlands’ lead early in the second half.

The goal came on Hannibal Mejbri’s corner kick.

Japan 0, Sweden 0 — Halftime

Japan was the better of the two teams in the first half, but not by much. It outshot Sweden 4-2, getting two shots on goal to Sweden’s one. But each team struggled to generate quality scoring chances in the box.

Japan put more pressure on Sweden in the final minutes of the half, with Keito Nakamura getting off a quality shot that was stopped by diving goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.

In stoppage time, Japan block a shot by Vikor Gyokeres and goalkeeper Zion Suzuki batted away a corner kick to thwart Sweden’s hopes of taking the lead.

Netherlands 2, Tunisia 0 — Halftime

The Netherlands dominated the first half against Tunisia as it looks to secure the top spot in Group F.

The Dutch controlled the ball more than 70% of the half and took 12 shots, with three on goal.

They pressured Ellyes Skhiri to an own goal in the third minute before Brian Brobbey scored in the seventh minute.

Japan 0, Sweden 0 — 25th minute

A header from Daizen Maeda off a deep cross pass went just over the Sweden goal in the 22nd minute, keeping the game scoreless. It was Japan’s second shot of the game and best chance of scoring before the hydration break in the 25th minute.

Japan has controlled the ball 55% of the match. Sweden’s has the match’s lone shot on goal, which came from Alexander Bernhardsson in the sixth minute.

Netherlands 2, Tunisia 0 — seventh minute

Tunisia’s Ellyes Skhiri scored an own goal in the third minute to give the Netherlands an early lead before Brian Brobbey scored in the seventh minute to quick double the Dutch lead.

The Netherlands enters the match still in the running to win Group F, provided it can beat Tunisia and edge Japan on points, wins or goal differential.

With Tunisia already eliminated from knockout round contention, it could upset the Netherlands’ plans with an upset that could send the Dutch to a potential third-place finish in the group.

Japan and Sweden have already clinched spots in the round of 32 and both teams are still in the running for the Group F crown.

If Sweden wins, it could clinch first in the group if the Netherlands falls in an upset to Tunisia.

PHILADELPHIA — Ivory Coast got goals from Nicolas Pépé in each half and advanced to the World Cup knockout round for the first time in the West African team’s history with a 2-0 victory over Curaçao on Thursday.

Les Éléphants have crashed the party and made it out of their group for the first time in four World Cup appearances.

Ivory Coast beat Ecuador 1-0 in its tournament opener — at the same Philadelphia stadium as Thursday’s game — and lost to Germany in its Group E second game.

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Ivory Coast will play June 30 against either France or Norway — whichever is the runner-up in Group I.

Curaçao needed to win and instead failed to become the smallest nation to qualify for the knockout stages.

Pépé, who plays for the Spanish club Villarreal, wiped out all the suspense in this one early, scoring in just the seventh minute and the lead held the rest of the game in front of an enthusiastic crowd that made Les Éléphants feel at home. Ivory Coast held its training base in nearby Delaware and practiced at the Philadelphia suburban home of Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union.

Throw in a friendly (against the Union’s second team), and the thrilling win in the 90th minute against Ecuador, and Les Éléphants found their adoptive fans among the crowd of 68,324 — about 40% of the population of Curaçao — at the home of the NFL’s Eagles.

The fans in Ivory Coast orange went wild when Pépé scored again on a left-footed shot from the far corner in the 64th minute to seal the win. He was subbed out three minutes later to earn just a bit more rest for the June 30 game that will serve as the biggest one for the national team in World Cup history.

Ivory Coast needed only a draw to advance yet played with a competitive fire the rest of the game and never let Curaçao seem close to getting even in this one.

Ivory Coast pounced when 19-year-old Yan Diomande, who came to America four years earlier as soccer prospect who couldn’t speak any English, snared the ball when Curacao failed to clear it and fed it to Pepe for the easy goal past Eloy Room.

The 37-year-old Room had made 15 saves against a relentless Ecuador attack and helped The Blue Wave earn their first-ever point with a 0-0 draw on Saturday.

Curaçao is an autonomous territory of about 156,000 people in the Caribbean within the Netherlands kingdom. The team relies almost entirely on players born and raised in the Netherlands.

Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi, who is under investigation for alleged betting-related offenses while playing for Nice, came on as a substitute in the second half after he sat out against Germany.

The historic clincher belonged to Pépé, and he received tons of applause after he was named the player of the game.

Gelston writes for the Associated Press.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Gonzalo Plata poked the ball past Manuel Neuer in the 77th minute, and Ecuador advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup by rallying for a 2-1 win over Germany on Thursday.

Germany, which clinched first place in Group E with victories in its first two games, went ahead on Leroy Sané’s second-minute goal. Nilson Angulo scored Ecuador’s first goal of the tournament in the ninth minute.

Plata, who took a kick to the head when Germany scored its early goal, keyed Ecuador’s great escape after Pedro Vite’s corner kick was nodded on by Kevin Rodríguez. Neuer, the 40-year-old Germany goalkeeper who came out of international retirement for the World Cup, was about the grasp the ball when Plata raised his left foot and with a toe put the ball into the net.

Ecuador finished third in the group with four points and advanced past the group stage for the second time, the first since a round of 16 game in 2002.

Germany’s winning streak was stopped at 11 games, one shy of the team record set in 1979-80. The four-time champion Germans will play their round of 32 game Monday at Foxborough, Massachusetts, most likely against Paraguay, Australia or Sweden.

FIFA said the crowd of 80,663 at MetLife Stadium for the World Cup’s 56th game boosted attendance to a record 3,587,539 for the tournament, one more than the 52 matches for the 1994 tournament in the U.S.

Sané put Germany ahead about 1 minute, 50 seconds in with his 18th international goal. Aleksandar Pavlović had chested the ball and kicked Vite following Nathaniel Brown’s throw-in but there was no foul call by American referee Tori Penso. Pavlović passed to Florian Wirtz, who centered to Sané just inside the penalty area.

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Angulo scored a short time later after Felix Nmecha lost the ball in midfield to Vite. He passed it to Angulo, who dribbled toward goal and beat Neuer to the far post from just outside the area.

Penso originally awarded Germany a penalty kick less than 30 seconds into the second half after Joel Ordóñez took down Kai Havertz, but after a video review ruled Sané had first fouled Vite.

Blum writes for the Associated Press.

Here’s a look at the World Cup group standings following Thursday’s Group E matches.

Ecuador 2, Germany 1 — 77th minute

Gonzalo Plata, minutes after missing a wide-open net, didn’t miss again, deflecting a header off a corner kick into the top of the German goal to give Ecuador the lead.

Kevin Rodriguez ran to the front of the group in the box and redirected the corner kick before Plata’s perfect touch.

Ecuador 1, Germany 1 — 74th minute

Gonzalo Plata missed a wide-open goal, kicking the ball off a deflection wide right in the 73rd minute to keep the score tied.

Ecuador continues to put immense pressure on the German defense.

Ivory Coast 2, Curaçao 0 — 64th minute

Nicolas Pépé scored his second goal of the game on a well-played give-and-go pass from Ibrahim Sangaré to double the Ivory Coast’s lead.

Ivory Coast has scored on two of its six shots and has controlled the ball for 64% of the match. Curaçao has six shots, including one on goal.

Ecuador 1, Germany 1 — 60th minute

With their World Cup lives on the line, Ecuador is has been aggressive to start the second half as it looks to pull off an upset over the Group E winner.

The ball has been mostly on Germany’s side of the field, but Ecuador has struggled to generate any strong scoring chances against the German defense.

Ecuador has controlled the ball for 71% of the second half so far.

Ivory Coast 1, Curaçao 0 — Halftime

Both teams had four shots in the first half, but Ivory Coasthad better chances, with Nicolas Pépé scoring in the seventh minute.

Ivory Coast controlled the ball for 70% of the first half, but Curaçao has been able to fend off the pressure so far to keep it a one-goal match.

Ecuador 1, Germany 1 — Halftime

Germany dominated possession in the final 10 minutes of the half, but it was an even-played match for most of the first half.

Germany’s goal came after a missed a foul call in the box in the second minute when Leroy Sané scored.

Ecuador matched it in the ninth minute when Nilson Angulo scored just outside the box — Ecuador’s first goal of the 2026 World Cup.

Germany has had two shots on goal and Ecuador has one.

Ecuador 1, Germany 1 — 30th minute

Ecuador is doing all it can to win and avoid being eliminated in the World Cup against a heavily favored opponent.

Since Nilson Angelo’s equalizer in the ninth minute, Ecuador has more or less matched Germany on possession. Germany has two shots on goal to Ecuador’s one.

Ivory Coast 1, Curaçao 0 — 24th minute

Ivory Coast has dominated possession, controlling the ball for 73% of the match so far.

Both teams have a shot on goal, but two shots by Amad Diallo — one in the 18th minute, another in the 23rd minute — weren’t on goal.

Curaçao’s best chance so far came in the second minute when Tahith Chong had a shot on goal that goalkeeper Yahia Fofana stopped.

Ecuador 1, Germany 1 — Ninth minute

Nilson Angulo scored on a well-placed kick from just outside the top center of the box to tie the score and send the Ecuador fans into a frenzy at MetLife Stadium.

It was Ecuador’s first goal of the 2026 World Cup.

Ivory Coast 1, Curaçao 0 — Seventh minute

Nicolas Pépé scored in the seventh minute on a left-footed shot in front of the goal to give Ivory Coast an early lead.

A failed clearance by Curaçao led to a turnover just outside of the box, giving Yan Diomande the opportunity to find Pépé for the goal.

Germany 1, Ecuador 0 — Second minute

Leroy Sané wasted no time getting Germany on the board, taking a pass from Florian Wirtz in the center of the box to score past diving Ecuador goalkeeper Hernan Galindez.

The goal came moments after Ecuador’s Pedro Vite was kicked in the head while trying to head the ball following a throw-in by Germany on an apparent missed foul call.

Ivory Coast is looking to secure a spot in the knockout stage and will do so with a win or a draw, which would secure it second place in Group E.

Curaçao still has a slim chance of advancing even though it has been outscored 7-1. But it still needs some help. A win or a draw against Ivory Coast coupled with an Ecuador loss would help the tiny island nation’s cause.

Germany has already won Group E, but Ecuador is still in the hunt for a knockout-stage berth.

If Ecuador pulls off an upset, it could finish as high as second in the group if Ivory Coast loses.

A win over Germany would secure it at least third in the group.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Scottish soccer superfans known as the Tartan Army might want to come up with a few new rousing chants to support the likes of Iraq, Egypt, Uzbekistan and Spain. Maybe a few other teams, too.

Scotland is going to need some help.

The games might be done for Scotland at this World Cup, except for one — the waiting game. Scotland finished third in Group C, not good enough to automatically advance but potentially good enough to grab one of the eight spots in the Round of 32 that are allocated to top third-place teams.

“It’s a waiting game, unfortunately,” Scotland midfielder Kenny McLean said. “Maybe results will go our way.”

Each of the 48 teams at this World Cup were assigned to a group of four. The teams finishing first and second in those groups automatically move into the knockout stage, so with 12 groups, that takes up 24 spots on a 32-team bracket.

The teams that finished last in each of the 12 groups, they’ll be eliminated.

That leaves 12 third-place finishers for the eight remaining spots. A total of four standings points will almost certainly be enough to advance; three would get it done for many teams as well. Ties within the third-place teams, with no head-to-head tiebreaker possible because they’re all in different groups, will be settled by goal difference, goals scored, FIFA’s “fair play” ranking and FIFA’s world ranking, if necessary.

Bosnia and Herzegovina — which finished third in Group B with four points after one win, one loss and one tie — will be one of those qualifying teams. South Korea, the third-place team from Group A after a win and two losses (with a minus-1 goal differential), is almost certain to be headed into the Round of 32 as well.

But plenty of teams, including Scotland (3 points, with a minus-3 goal differential), will have no choice other than to sit around and wait for results that will decide their fate. If Iraq, Egypt, Uzbekistan and Spain all win their final matches in group play, the Scots would probably advance. There are other paths, too. There are also countless ways for them to miss out.

“We made mistakes, but that happens in football,” Scotland defender Nathan Patterson said. “And now we just have to hope things go our way.”

Brenda Jaimes pushed her way through an ecstatic crowd in downtown Santa Ana Thursday night, stopping in the middle of Fourth Street and calling attention to herself by shouting, “Me! Me!”

An hour earlier, Mexico beat South Korea 1-0 in the World Cup. Jaimes, a 22-year-old Santa Ana resident, was one of thousands of people who crowded into the neighborhood’s many bars and restaurants to watch the thrilling victory then spilled onto the streets to party.

Fans blew horns and spun noisemakers, chanting “México!” and “¡Sí se puede!” They brandished the Mexican flag seemingly everywhere: on banners, painted on cheeks, emblazoned on Jaimes’ tube top. They stood on the back of trucks and boogied.

The Los Angeles Organizing Committee has collaborated with an array of agencies to create one primary fan festival and 10 official fan zones throughout the L.A. area during the 39-day World Cup.

Match broadcasts there will be available via Fox and Telemundo, allowing attendees to follow the tournament live throughout the competition. Each venue will have different programming.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — World Cup tickets are expensive. Flights to North America are expensive. Hotel rooms in many places are expensive.

Then there’s the price of beer.

There are some fun — and yes, sometimes pricey — food and drink offerings at the venues playing host to the World Cup. A $75 caviar-topped tray of tater tots and a $40 empanada weighing in at 5 pounds for the daring or for sharing in Miami. Ribeye tacos for $8 in Guadalajara, Mexico. Something called a Twinkie cheeseburger that has nothing to do with dessert for $22 in Los Angeles.

In many ways, the most ambitious World Cup in history — which kicked off Thursday in Mexico City — has inspired more angst than anticipation, more fear than fervor.

The competition, returning to North America for the first time in more than three decades, has expanded to 48 teams and 104 matches, to be played over 39 days in 16 cities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. The complex planning was eight years in the making.

Yet even before the competition opened with Mexico facing South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca, it has been marred by a number of controversies that threaten to overshadow the soccer and cloud the tournament’s legacy.

The run-up to the World Cup in Los Angeles was marked by anxiety over how immigration enforcement, travel restrictions and anti-Trump backlash would affect the spirit and attendance of the games.

But on the streets of L.A. over the last week, something very different has happened.

Fans from a kaleidoscope of cultural backgrounds have come together to act out the kind of world — and city — they want to live in.

Béla Guttmann may be the most consequential soccer coach you’ve never heard of. But if it weren’t for Guttmann, you may never have heard of Pelé.

And Brazil may never have become the greatest soccer-playing country on Earth.

That’s because Guttmann changed the shape of modern Brazilian soccer — and changed the sport forever — when he imported the revolutionary 4-2-4 system from Hungary to Sao Paulo in 1957. A year later, Brazil won the first of five World Cups and the joga bonito was born.

SEATTLE — If a pregnant Nigerian woman had been allowed to board a plane 25 years ago, the U.S. team’s path through this summer’s World Cup may have unfolded much differently. Instead, a gate agent turned her away, insisting it wasn’t safe for her to fly from New York to London.

So Florence Balogun returned to Brooklyn, where she had been visiting relatives, and waited for her second son to be born. And when Folarin arrived a few weeks later, entering the world just hours before Independence Day dawned, he did so as an American citizen.

It was that quirk of fate that allowed Balogun, who lived just two months in the U.S., to represent the country on soccer’s biggest stage.

A bowl of lemons sits on a table in the conference room Mauricio Pochettino has turned into an office at the U.S. men’s soccer team’s beachfront resort in south Orange County. The citrus fruit, the coach believes, has the spiritual ability to absorb negative energy. On the corner of another table, the flame from a candle flickers.

“I like candles,” says Pochettino, who believes they release therapeutic fragrances and create a calming environment.

But it is the massive, blood-red mural covering the entire south side of the room that truly reveals what Pochettino believes. In the center of the wall, just behind the coach’s desk, white block letters spell out “Why Not” above a script “U.S.,” which, despite the periods, is meant to be read as “us.”

SEATTLE — Growing up the son of an NFL wide receiver, Alex Freeman said he felt a lot of pressure to play the American version of football, not the one the rest of the world plays.

“I always got asked if football was the path,” he said last summer. “But I always had a secret love for soccer.”

And he had to keep it a secret because he wasn’t sure his father Antonio, a Super Bowl winner with the Green Bay Packers, would understand.

VANCOUVER, Canada — When the first men’s World Cup game played in Canada kicked off last week, Anthony Totera sat in the stands and wept.

“It was a dream come true,” said Totera, who has spent most of his 57 years on earth promoting Canadian soccer. “I can’t describe the emotions. It was something surreal.”

If the 1994 World Cup, the first held in the U.S., forever altered the direction of American soccer, this summer’s tournament, which Canada is sharing with the U.S. and Mexico, has the potential to do the same for that country.

Sometimes it takes a visitor or six million to remind folks of treasures in their own backyard.

How else to explain the fascination of World Cup fans from 47 other countries expressing unabashed delight on social media for destinations and products woven deeply into American life but hardly considered cutting-edge: ranch dressing, Waffle House, Boston Lager on tap, Texas barbecue, ubiquitous supermarkets — the list goes on.

Meanwhile, the allure is reciprocal. Americans are captivated by the dizzying displays of group fervor, zany behavior and national pride that accompany nearly every match at each of the 16 venues in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“Do you have an extra ticket?” a man shouted outside SoFi Stadium last Thursday.

The World Cup has been drawing fans from around the globe. But for many, getting a seat in the stadium has come at a steep price.

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Some were lucky enough to nab $400 to $500 tickets through official World Cup lotteries, others paid thousands of dollars to catch the action IRL. Tickets for the upcoming USA versus Turkey match were selling for more than $1,400 on resale sites.

The demand has been so high that authorities have been warning fans about how to avoid ticket scams.

As crowds flocked into the stadium, we asked attendees about how much they paid to get into the most-watched sporting event in the world. Here’s what they shared.

How it started: A dream. A French machine-gun officer in the trenches during the First World War. A man named Jules Rimet, who believed an international soccer tournament would bring the nations together with the goal of peace.

How it’s going: The world’s biggest party. A 48-nation celebration of the world’s most beloved sport. Expected to generate about $8.9 billion, it’s become such a big deal that it’s being hosted by three countries — one of which, yes, launched a war on a competing nation in the months before the tournament.

The United States’ war with Iran, costly in all the profound ways that war is, also laid the groundwork for an uneven — and possibly precedent-setting — playing field.

MEXICO CITY —  Mexico’s national team overcame a lackluster first half to beat Czechia thanks to a dream second half that allowed it to finish the group stage undefeated on a night that will be remembered as one of the greatest in Mexican World Cup history.

The celebration of Mexico’s 3-0 win Wednesday at Azteca Stadium turned into a tribute to legendary goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who entered the game in the final minutes to receive a standing ovation unlike any other for a Mexican player in the history of the tournament.

Two games, two wins and the U.S. is already through to the knockout stage of a World Cup it is hosting.

For forward Folarin Balogun, things couldn’t be going any better.

“You know, if someone said before the tournament, two games and you’d be through to the knockouts, I think we all would have taken it,” he said. “We’re delighted.”

SEATTLE — Jaysen Dickinson flew to Seattle from Vermont to cross an item off his lengthy bucket list.

“To see the World Cup and the U.S. play in the World Cup,” he said.

Kim Fletcher and her 17-year-old son Kelan caught a 5 a.m. flight from Sacramento last week for the same reason.

“It’s a must-do right now,” she said.

They weren’t alone. Tens of thousands of people poured into Seattle on Friday morning for the U.S. team’s group-stage game with Australia, turning the Emerald City into a sea of red, white and blue. Some had tickets, most did not.

Here are the results of every game played at the 2026 FIFA World Cup heading into Thursday’s matches.

It’s crunch time at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with teams throughout the 48-strong field looking to stay in contention for the knockout stage or improve their placing in the round of 32.

The U.S., Mexico, Argentina, Germany, Brazil and Switzerland have already clinched spots in the round of 32 by winning their respective groups. France, Norway, Canada, Colombia, Morocco, Bosnia-Herzegovina and South Africa also are advancing. Haiti, Tunisia, Turkey, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Panama and Czechia, however, have been eliminated from knockout-round contention.

Here’s everything you need to know about World Cup matches being played Thursday and Friday across the U.S., Mexico and Canada (all times Pacific).

The first 14 days of the 2026 FIFA World Cup offered plenty of memorable moments.

Check out The Times’ daily recaps ahead of Thursday’s six-game slate:

Soccer

World Cup recap: South Africa beats South Korea, advances to play at SoFi Stadum

South Africa pulled off a stunning 1-0 win over South Korea Wednesday night, advancing to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time.

June 24, 2026

Soccer

FIFA World Cup recap: Colombia edges Congo; Harry Kane and England are held scoreless

Cristiano Ronaldo snapped out of his goal scoring slump to lead Portugal to a win, while Ghana held Harry Kane and England and Colombia rallied to beat Congo.

June 23, 2026

Soccer

FIFA World Cup Day 12 recap: Lionel Messi breaks scoring record; Algeria wins

Live updates from the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Monday. Get the latest news, results, standings and highlights from the 48-team, 39-day tournament.

June 22, 2026

Soccer

FIFA World Cup Day 11 recap: Mo Salah and Egypt defeat New Zealand

Live updates from the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday. Get the latest news, results, standings and highlights from the 48-team, 39-day tournament.

June 22, 2026

Soccer

FIFA World Cup Day 10 recap: Japan, Netherlands dominate; Curaçao makes history

Live updates from the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Saturday. Get the latest news, results, standings and highlights from the 48-team, 39-day tournament.

June 20, 2026

Soccer

FIFA World Cup Day 9 recap: U.S. wins its group after Paraguay defeats Turkey

Recapping what happened at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday. Get the latest news, results, standings and highlights from the 48-team, 39-day tournament.

June 19, 2026

Soccer

FIFA World Cup Day 8 recap: Switzerland, Canada and Mexico win

Live updates from the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday. Get the latest news, results, standings and highlights from the 48-team, 39-day tournament.

June 18, 2026

Soccer

FIFA World Cup Day 7 recap: Colombia fends off Uzbekistan; Harry Kane ties record

Harry Kane tied a World Cup record during England’s win, Cristiano Ronaldo was held scoreless during a draw, Ghana stunned Panama and more during Day 7.

June 17, 2026

Soccer

FIFA World Cup Day 6 recap: Austria beats Jordan; Lionel Messi scores hat trick

Stars Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi all scored while leading France, Norway and Argentina to wins on Day 6 of the 2026 World Cup.

June 16, 2026

Soccer

FIFA World Cup Day 5 recap: Spain plays to a draw with Cape Verde

Follow along for live updates from the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Monday. Get the latest news, results, standings and highlights from the 48-team tournament.

June 15, 2026

Soccer

FIFA World Cup Day 4 recap: Sweden dominates; Netherlands plays to draw

Follow along for live updates from the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday. Get the latest news, results and highlights from the 48-team, 39-day tournament.

June 14, 2026

Soccer

FIFA World Cup Day 3 recap: Australia and Scotland win their openers

Follow along for live updates from the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Saturday. Get the latest news, results and highlights from the 48-team, 39-day tournament.

June 13, 2026

Soccer

FIFA World Cup Day 2 recap: Canada plays to draw; U.S. wins its opener

Follow along for live updates from the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday. Get the latest news, results and highlights from the 48-team, 39-day tournament.

June 12, 2026

Soccer

World Cup recap: U.S. defeats Paraguay with dominant offensive display

Folarin Balogun scores twice and Christian Pulisic sets up two goals to lead the U.S. to a 4-1 win in its World Cup opener over Paraguay on Friday.

June 12, 2026

Soccer

FIFA World Cup Day 1 recap: Mexico and South Korea open with victories

Follow along for live updates from the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday. Get the latest news, results and highlights from the 48-team, 39-day tournament.

June 11, 2026

Soccer

World Cup: Mexico defeats South Africa in game marred by 3 red cards

Mexico defeats South Africa 2-0 in a game that featured three red cards. Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scored for Mexico in front of 80,824 fans.

June 11, 2026