Germany players walk on the pitch before the match on June 20, 2026
| Photo Credit:
Reuters

Germany thrashed debutants Curacao 7-1 in their opener and would be confirmed as group winners if they defeat Ivory Coast and Ecuador fail to beat Curacao in Kansas City.

Progressing to the knockout round would be a relief for the Germans who astonishingly have failed to reach that stage since they won their fourth World Cup in Brazil in 2014.

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said his team had to be prepared for Ivory Coast’s athleticism.

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Cody Gakpo and Brian Brobbey both scored twice as the rampant Netherlands thrashed Sweden 5-1 in a World Cup warning on Saturday in Houston.

Also read | World Cup 2026 Group F squads: Full player lists

Ronald Koeman’s side top Group F with four points from two games, ahead of Sweden on three, Japan (one) and Tunisia (none).

The Netherlands team, captained by Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, were held to a 2-2 draw by Japan, in their opening match. Group leaders Sweden thrashed Tunisia 5-1, after which the Tunisian coach was sacked.

The FIFA World Cup began on June 10 and ends with the final on July 20.

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Paraguay’s Matias Galarza celebrates scoring their first goal in the FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Turkiye at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Santa Clara, California, U.S., on June 19, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
Reuters

Matías Galarza scored the first goal for Paraguay on Friday (June 19, 2026), in its Group D FIFA World Cup match against Türkiye , at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, USA.

Also read: Cunha scores twice as Brazil win 3-0 and eliminate Haiti

Previusly, Brazil beat Haiti 3-0 at the World Cup as Matheus Cunha ‌struck twice and Vinicius Jr added another first-half goal ⁠to send the five-times champions top of Group C on four ‌points and eliminate their opponents on Friday (June 19, 2026)

Neymar did not make the trip as he is ‌still recovering from a calf injury, which has kept him sidelined for over a ⁠month.

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