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The World Cup Is Getting Serious — All Three Host Nations Are In!
Quick Summary
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is getting very exciting! The group stage is finished and the knockout rounds have begun. All three countries hosting the tournament — the United States, Canada, and Mexico — have advanced. Today, July 3rd, three more big matches are being played live. The road to the final on July 19th is heating up!
What Happened?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the biggest soccer tournament in history, featuring a record 48 national teams competing across cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament kicked off on June 11, and after weeks of exciting group-stage matches — with 104 total games planned — the competition has now entered the knockout rounds, where every game is a must-win.
The three co-host nations all made it through the group stage:
- 🇺🇸 USA won their group and beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2–0 in the Round of 32. Next up, they face Belgium.
- 🇨🇦 Canada beat South Africa 1–0 and will face Morocco.
- 🇲🇽 Mexico had a perfect group stage, beating Ecuador 2–0, and will face England.
Other exciting results from the Round of 32 include England defeating DR Congo 2–1, France cruising past Sweden 3–0, Spain crushing Austria 3–0, and Portugal edging past Croatia 2–1.
Today, July 3rd, three more knockout matches are happening live:
- Australia vs. Egypt in Dallas, Texas
- Argentina vs. Cape Verde in Miami, Florida
- Colombia vs. Ghana in Kansas City, Missouri
This year’s World Cup has a new format with a new “Round of 32” before the traditional Round of 16, meaning there are more games and more chances for smaller nations to make a big splash on the world stage. The grand final is scheduled for July 19th at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Why Does It Matter?
The FIFA World Cup happens only once every four years, and this edition is extra special because it is the first ever hosted by three countries at once and the first with 48 teams. That means more nations than ever before — including some that have rarely or never been to a World Cup — get to participate. Soccer is the world’s most popular sport, with billions of fans watching, and the World Cup is its biggest celebration. When a home team plays, whole cities light up with excitement.
Big Words
- Group stage — The first part of the World Cup, where teams are divided into small groups and play each other; the best teams move on.
- Knockout round — The second part of the tournament where if you lose, you go home; there are no ties, only winners.
- Co-hosts — Countries that share the job of organizing and holding a major event together.
- VAR (Video Assistant Referee) — A technology that uses video cameras and instant replay to help referees make better decisions on close calls during a match.
- Round of 32 — A new knockout stage added to this year’s tournament because of the expanded 48-team format.
Fun Fact
This is the first FIFA World Cup ever hosted by three countries at the same time! Matches are being played in 16 cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — from Los Angeles to Toronto to Mexico City.
Think About It
If you could create your own dream soccer team using players from any country in the world, which five players would you pick — and why?
Sources
- ESPN — 2026 FIFA World Cup fixtures, results, match schedule
- Yahoo Sports — 2026 World Cup results, standings and schedule
- CBS Sports — 2026 FIFA World Cup standings: Group stage table, results
- FIFA.com — Brackets, Standings & Group Tables | FIFA World Cup 2026
- UEFA.com — 2026 World Cup: All the European sides’ fixtures and results