The first 48-team World Cup, played across 16 cities in the USA, Canada and Mexico — from the opening whistle at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca to the final at MetLife Stadium. Group-stage shocks, all three host nations knocked out, and one of the great upsets in Paraguay's win over Germany. The semi-finals and final below are live placeholders, updated as each match is played.
<p>The first <strong>48-team World Cup</strong> opens in Mexico City, the historic <strong>Estadio Azteca</strong> becoming the only stadium ever to host matches at three different World Cups. Forty-eight nations across the USA, Canada and Mexico begin the largest tournament in the sport's history.</p>
<p>Back at a World Cup for the first time since 1998, <strong>Scotland</strong> top Group C after beating Haiti — and the <em>Tartan Army</em> promptly takes over one host city after another. For a nation that had watched from home for a generation, simply being here is the story.</p>
<p>The expanded field springs early surprises: <strong>Australia</strong> stun Turkey 2–0, <strong>Qatar</strong> earn a first-ever World Cup point in a 1–1 draw with Switzerland, and powerhouse Morocco hold <strong>Brazil</strong> 1–1. In a 48-team World Cup, nobody is a guaranteed win.</p>
<p>The new <strong>Round of 32</strong> throws up a debutant's dream: tiny <strong>Cape Verde</strong>, one of the smallest nations ever to qualify, reach the knockouts. Colombia top Ghana, and Argentina need a late escape to survive their own scare before the last 16 is set.</p>
<p>For the first time in World Cup history, <strong>none of the host nations</strong> reach the quarter-finals: <strong>Canada</strong> fall to Morocco, <strong>Mexico</strong> to England, and the <strong>USA</strong> to Belgium. The party carries on in the host cities — just without the hosts.</p>
<p>One of the great World Cup upsets: <strong>Paraguay</strong> knock out four-time champions <strong>Germany</strong> in a penalty shootout, sending shockwaves through the tournament and dumping one of the pre-tournament favourites out of the last 16.</p>
<p><strong>Kylian Mbappé</strong> and Ousmane Dembélé sink Morocco 2–0 to send <strong>France</strong> through; a day later <strong>Spain</strong> edge Belgium 2–1 with a late winner. The two European heavyweights are set for a blockbuster semi-final.</p>
<p>🔮 <strong>Placeholder — to be updated after kick-off.</strong> France meet Spain at <strong>AT&T Stadium</strong> in Arlington, 3 p.m. ET on 14 July, for a place in the final. A rematch of Europe's finest, with a World Cup final on the line.</p>
<p>🔮 <strong>Placeholder — teams & result to be updated.</strong> The winners of Norway/England and Argentina/Switzerland meet at <strong>Mercedes-Benz Stadium</strong> in Atlanta, 3 p.m. ET on 15 July, to decide who faces France or Spain in the final.</p>
<p>🔮 <strong>Placeholder — to be updated after the final.</strong> The 2026 World Cup champions will be crowned at <strong>MetLife Stadium</strong>, just outside New York, on <strong>19 July</strong> — the climax of the biggest World Cup ever staged.</p>