Ranking every match of the 2026 World Cup group stage

The 2026 World Cup group stage is over, and 72 matches are in the history books.

Here at SixOneFive Soccer, we're ranking every match. What's our methodology, you ask? It's an explicitly scientific method based on vibes and feelings as we descend slowly into madness after watching nearly 7,000 minutes of soccer in three weeks.

Onward!

1 – Algeria 3-3 Austria

It didn't matter that both sides knew they'd both be safe with a draw before the match even started. This was one of the most back-and-forth games ever at a World Cup, with Algeria taking the lead in the 93rd minute before Austria clawed back in the 96th to keep their tournament alive.

2 – Ivory Coast 1-0 Ecuador

Maybe the vibiest game of the tournament?

3 – United States 4-1 Paraguay

One of the more dominant wins of the tournament so far. The fact that it was a host nation in their opener was even better. Best-ever USMNT performance.

4 – England 4-2 Croatia

Two elite teams battling it out. Lived up to every expectation.

5 – Netherlands 2-2 Japan

Two elite teams battling it out. Lived up to every expectation. Elite vibes.

6 – Egypt 1-1 Iran

Offside can be a bitch, huh?

7 – Spain 0-0 Cape Verde

The legend of Vozinha was born. This was an all-timer of a World Cup moment.

8 – Argentina 3-0 Algeria

Lionel Messi breaking the all-time World Cup goals record with a hat-trick is unforgettable stuff.

The World Cup is here, and we're running our biggest sale of the year! Sign up for a new annual membership and save 30%!

Subscribe!

9 – Colombia 0-0 Portugal

Scoreless draws can be unbelievably entertaining. These two teams combined for 35 total shots (21 in the first half alone), with Colombia a toenail away from grabbing a memorable winner.

10 – Norway 3-2 Senegal

Welcome to the World Cup, Erling Haaland!

11 – Mexico 2-0 South Africa

There's just something special about a tournament opener...

12 – Sweden 5-1 Tunisia

All gas from the opening whistle

13 – Germany 2-1 Ivory Coast

An ultra-enjoyable watch. Ivory Coast went toe-to-toe with one of the favorites.

14 – Uruguay 2-2 Cape Verde

Another fantastic showing from Cape Verde.

15 – Iran 2-2 New Zealand

A surprising amount of firepower in this one.

16 – Ecuador 2-1 Germany

One of the biggest upsets of the tournament. Even though Germany were already through, the Ecuador we'd all expected finally showed up.

17 – DR Congo 3-1 Uzbekistan

DR Congo came back from behind to book a spot in the knockout rounds, and it'll be impossible to forget this match.

Congrats DR Congo! They had to quarantine in Belgium before the World Cup due to the devastating Ebola outbreak, yet still made it to the knockout stage for the first time in history!

[image or embed]

— Dr. Lucky Tran (@luckytran.com) June 27, 2026 at 8:34 PM

18 – Netherlands 5-1 Sweden

Back-to-back 5-1 results for Sweden, but on opposite sides of the scoreline. Pretty sure that's never happened.

19 – Croatia 2-1 Ghana

In one of the tighter groups at the tournament, two late goals made this a banger.

20 – Brazil 1-1 Morocco

This faded a bit at the end, but the opening 35 minutes from Morocco were as good as it gets.

21 – Uzbekistan 1-3 Colombia

This was one of the more fun attacking performances of the group stage from Colombia. Daniel Muñoz was a vibe.

22 – Belgium 1-1 Egypt

Egypt's counterattack was incredible to watch.

23 – Germany 7-1 Curaçao

What is it with Germany and 7-1 wins?

24 – South Africa 1-0 South Korea

Incredible vibes from Bafana Bafana.

25 – Portugal 5-0 Uzbekistan

Cristiano Ronaldo's "don't forget about me" moment.

26 – Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia

Spain finally showed up and were dominant, with Lamine Yamal scoring his first World Cup goal.

27 – Portugal 0-0 DR Congo

This wasn't quite Cape Verde against Spain, but incredibly impressive.

28 – Morocco 4-2 Haiti

Haiti couldn't ultimately get the result, but their first-half performance was special. Some excellent goals were scored here.

29 – Belgium 0-0 Iran

Backs against the wall stuff from Iran.

30 – France 3-1 Senegal

France were fairly flat for the first 60 minutes, and then turned on the jets.

31 – Türkiye 3-2 United States

Sorry, this was a banger from a neutral perspective. Would've been nice if Türkiye showed up earlier.

32 – Canada 6-0 Qatar

Qatar are deeply unserious, but this was a memorable moment from Canada.

33 – New Zealand 1-5 Belgium

There's the Belgium we expected!

34 – Argentina 2-0 Austria

More Messi stuff!

35 – Tunisia 0-4 Japan

Tunisia are deeply unserious.

36 – Uruguay 0-1 Spain

More of a WWE fight than a soccer match towards the end, hilarious implosion from Uruguay.

37 – Scotland 0-3 Brazil

Yeah, it was only Scotland, but Brazil looked like Brazil for a minute.

38 – Jordan 1-2 Argentina

Messi keeps scoring ridiculous goals.

39 – Senegal 5-0 Iraq

Ultimately a meaningless match, but Senegal scored some beauties here.

40 – Japan 1-1 Sweden

Anthony Elanga scored a banger and really thought they'd been eliminated.

41 – Norway 1-4 France

This one gets a boost from Osmane Dembelé's incredible hat-trick, but a bummer to see Norway roll over before the game even began.

42 – Switzerland 4-1 Bosnia & Herzegovina

A rare attacking explosion from the Swiss at the World Cup.

43 – Czechia 0-3 Mexico

Truly disastrous defending from Czechia

44 – Australia 2-0 Türkiye

The best-ever match from the Socceroos at a World Cup?

45 – Tunisia 1-3 Netherlands

The Oranje hit fifth gear in the group stage.

46 – Colombia 1-0 DR Congo

More Daniel Muñoz magic.

47 – Türkiye 0-1 Paraguay

This was ugly if you enjoy soccer, but hilarious if you like watching 10 players drive an entire nation insane.

48 – Haiti 0-1 Scotland

For a moment, we thought Scotland might have life.

49 – Ecuador 0-0 Curaçao

A huge result for Curaçao, their first point at the World Cup.

50 – Mexico 1-0 South Korea

A competent, professional performance from Mexico.

51 – Brazil 3-0 Haiti

Hard to take too much from a win over Haiti.

52 – Qatar 1-1 Switzerland

Hardly an s-tier match, but the late equalizer was memorable. Also maybe the only decent moment from Qatar in their short World Cup history.

53 – Cape Verde 0-0 Saudi Arabia

Not the best from Cape Verde, but still an important result in their tournament.

54 – United States 2-0 Australia

An ugly but competent win.

55 – England 0-0 Ghana

Pretty sure at least one English player melted into a puddle, but we can't find the footage.

56 – Switzerland 2-1 Canada

An exceedingly Swiss performance.

57 – Iraq 1-4 Norway

This was a brutal tournament for Iraq, but scoring a World Cup goal was special.

58 – Panama 0-2 England

Not a vintage performance from England, but enough to get the job done.

59 – Scotland 0-1 Morocco

Cagey, attacking ideas were painfully sparse.

60 – South Korea 2-1 Czechia

In retrospect, neither of these teams were especially good.

61 – Jordan 1-2 Algeria

62 – Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay

For the second World Cup in a row, Saudi Arabia spoiled a South American team's tournament.

63 – Austria 3-1 Jordan

The dark-horse fodder Austria fans have been desparate for.

64 – New Zealand 1-3 Egypt

65 – Bosnia & Herzegovina 3-1 Qatar

It's impossible to judge any team based on a win against Qatar.

66 – France 3-0 Iraq

This was never going to play out any other way.

67 – Curaçao 0-2 Ivory Coast

68 – Canada 1-1 Bosnia & Herzegovina

69 – Czechia 1-1 South Africa

70 – Ghana 1-0 Panama

71 – Panama 0-1 Croatia

Sorry, Panama were aggressively not fun.

72 – Paraguay 0-0 Australia

The most 90 minutes of soccer ever played.