What We Learnt From The World Cup Group Stage

WORDS BY ZAC ASSOUNI

Don’t Rule Out the “Smaller” Nations

One of the main criticisms of having a 48 team World Cup was that the quality of the football would be lower by having nations from lower in the FIFA world rankings participate. However, the power of the underdog cannot be underestimated on the world stage. Take Cape Verde for example, a country with a little over 500,000 people finishing second in Group H and drawing to current European champions and one of the favourites to take out the World Cup, Spain thanks to heroics from their 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha who stunningly took out man of the match. Similarly, DR Congo also shocked the world after drawing with another World Cup favourite, this time Portugal. This isn't the first time they have been on the world stage though as back in 1974, then known as Zaire, DR Congo would suffer three group defeats including a 9-0 loss to Yugoslavia. Fast forward to 2026, after beating Uzbekistan 3-1, DR Congo now set up a meeting with the might of England and with belief at an all-time high, the chance of more upsets cannot be ruled out.

Messi Still Reigns

Many questioned Argentina coming into this World Cup. A nation fuelled by emotion and passion which saw them win in 2022, although four years later the question was simply do they have the ability to do it again. It only took 17 minutes into their opening game against Algeria where 39-year-old Lionel Messi made his presence known followed by two more second half goals to complete a timeless hat trick for a timeless icon of world football. The goals didn’t stop though as Messi would go on to score a brace against Austria to break Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 goals at a World Cup. If Messi can continue to be the cherry on top of the well-structured machine that is Argentina, a back-to-back World Cup win won’t be far away.

Host Nations Thrive

It was a highly successful group stage for hosts the United States, Canada, and Mexico as they all progressed through to the round of 32 in impressive fashion. The US started hot thanks to the attacking flair of Florian Balogun in a 4-1 rout of Paraguay in Los Angeles as well as a 2-0 win over the Socceroos. Mexico opened the tournament in style with a 2-0 win over South Africa in front of a rampant crowd in Mexico City as they not only went a perfect three from three in their group stage games but did so without conceding a single goal. Canada were the host nation with the most to prove after a 1-1 draw to Bosnia and Herzegovina but came out swinging with a 6-0 thumping of Qatar to confirm a second-place finish in Group B. There’s no doubt the home support for the joint hosts will give them even more as they progress further through the tournament.

France’s Ridiculously Good Attack

If there’s one aspect of nation that is flush for talent, it’s the French attack. Yes Kylian Mbappe continues to thrive on the world stage as he tied Miroslav Klose’s 16 goal World Cup record in only the beginning of his third World Cup appearance although, its the combination of Mbappe alongside Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele as well as the additions of Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue and Rayan Cherki have propelled Les Bleus into the round of 32 with ease. Although, coming into the tournament much was made about just how all these superstars would gel together under Didier Dechamps who to his credit has this French side humming. The interchanging of each player on the pitch is a stroke of genius with pretty much every French attacker being able to play multiple positions and occupy multiple different areas across the front lines. They now go on to play Sweden in the round of 32 who will have to be sured up defensively to say the least if they are any chance at causing an upset.