Halfway through the group stage and the 2026 World Cup has already delivered its share of chaos. Spain, the pre-tournament favourites, opened with a shock 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, a result that saw goalkeeper Vozinha become an overnight celebrity. But normal service resumed emphatically on Sunday, as La Roja dismantled Saudi Arabia 4-0 in Atlanta, with 18-year-old Lamine Yamal scoring his first World Cup goal just ten minutes in.
Yamal, restricted to just 19 minutes in the Cape Verde opener as he recovered from a hamstring injury, was the catalyst Spain had been missing. His tap-in at the back post from Mikel Oyarzabal's cross settled Spanish nerves, and Oyarzabal himself added a quick-fire brace before the half-hour mark. By the time Yamal was substituted at half-time with the job done, Spain had already sent a message to the rest of the tournament. Coach Luis de la Fuente played down comparisons to Messi and Maradona afterwards, but the teenager's impact was undeniable.
The USA, meanwhile, have been quietly efficient. Mauricio Pochettino's side opened with a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay at SoFi Stadium, where Folarin Balogun and Christian Pulisic were both on the scoresheet. A more subdued 2-0 win against Australia in Seattle followed, with an own goal and a second-half strike enough to seal top spot in Group D before their final match against Turkey. The Americans have yet to truly impress, but results are all that matter in the group stage, and Pochettino will be content with maximum points from two games.
Off the pitch, England's Palace x Nike pre-match collection has been one of the tournament's breakout style stories. The silver warm-up top, with its tonal grid pattern forming a St George's Cross and bright red trim, sold out almost instantly when it dropped and has been spotted on the squad ahead of their Group L fixtures. It is a collaboration that has genuinely crossed over, with fans and streetwear enthusiasts alike scrambling for what limited stock remains. England opened their campaign against Croatia in Dallas, wearing the Nike x Palace kit in the warm-up before switching to their standard white strip for kick-off.
Elsewhere, the group stage has produced its share of surprises. Egypt claimed their first-ever World Cup victory, a 3-1 comeback against New Zealand powered by Mohamed Salah, while Japan dismantled Tunisia 4-0. Belgium's campaign has stuttered, with a 0-0 draw against Iran and a red card for Nathan Ngoy leaving them vulnerable heading into the final matchday. With 12 groups of four, the race to the Round of 32 is only going to intensify.
