The Group Stage ended for 12 countries on Wednesday, with first place and berths in the knockout rounds up for grabs in three groups.
Below, we’ll break down the day’s results, updated tables and top highlights from another fun day of footy.
*qualified for knockout phase
South Africa Stuns South Korea
South Africa advanced to the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in its history, beating South Korea 1-0 to clinch second place in Group A behind Mexico.
Thapelo Maseko scored the match-winner in the 63rd minute.
South Africa will face Canada in the Round of 32, while South Korea isn’t technically eliminated and has a 94 percent chance of advancing to the knockout stage as a third-place finisher. But their fate is no longer in their hands, a major disappointment for the country.
Mexico Stays Perfect, Eliminated Czechia
Three matches, three wins for Mexico. The co-hosts are living large at this year’s World Cup.
Goals from Mateo Chávez, Julián Quiñones and Álvaro Fidalgo—all in the second half—gave El Tri a 3-0 win over Czechia Wednesday.
Mexico had already clinched first place in Group A heading into the night and kept on cruising. As for Czechia, a disappointing 2026 World Cup came to an end in Mexico City.
Vinícius Júnior’s brace and Matheus Cunha’s second-half goal helped Brazil earn a relatively stress-free 3-0 victory over Scotland on Wednesday, helping them clinch Group C in the process.
The game also marked the return of Neymar to the world stage after his lengthy time away from the Brazilian national team.
All in all, a good evening for Brazil, who now await their Round of 32 opponents, which will be the Group F second-place team. For Scotland, there is still a chance to advance as one of eight third-place teams, with The Athletic giving them a 56 percent chance after the match.
Morocco Clinches Knockout Round Berth
Morocco twice erased deficits to Haiti, finishing as the Group C runner-up following Wednesday’s 4-2 win over Haiti.
Achraf Hakimi, Ismael Saibari, Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine all found the back of the net for the Moroccans, who continue to look like very real contenders in this year’s tournament.
A Yassine Bounou own-goal gave Haiti the lead in the 10th minute and Wilson Isidor’s 43-minute goal gave the country the lead for a second time after Saibari’s equalizer.
But Morocco simply had an answer every time Haiti inched ahead. They’ll face the Group F winners, likely the Netherlands, in the Round of 32.
Switzerland Top Group B with Victory Over Canada
Much to the chagrin of the crowd in Vancouver, it was Switzerland who topped Group B on Wednesday, beating Canada 2-1.
Goals from Rubén Vargas and Johan Manzambi were enough to secure the Swiss victory.
Promise David pulled one back in the 76th minute, but the Canadians couldn’t find an equalizer.
The Swiss now await their opponents, which will be a third-place finisher. Canada will face the second-place finisher from Group A, which is trending toward being South Korea.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Likely Secures Knockout Phase Berth
Bosnia and Herzegovina came into Wednesday needing a win to give themselves a chance to move on to the knockout phase as a third-place finisher. They got the result needed, beating Qatar 3-1 on goals from Kerim Alajbegovic and Ermin Mahmic (alongside Mahmoud Abunada’s own goal).
Hassan Al-Haydos scored Qatar’s lone goal in the match.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is now extremely likely to face the United States in the Round of 32, though it isn’t technically official just yet. The Athletic gives Bosnia and Herzegovina a greater than 99 percent chance to advance to the Round of 32, however.
The USMNT has only faced Bosnia and Herzegovina three times, winning twice and drawing once.
