Mexico Books First Knockout‑Round Ticket
Co‑hosts Mexico became the first side to seal a place in the 2026 World Cup knockout rounds after a 1‑0 victory over South Korea in Guadalajara. A lacklustre first half drew boos from the home crowd, but the breakthrough arrived five minutes after halftime.
Goalkeeper Kim Seung‑gyu fumbled the ball following a collision with teammate Lee Gi‑hyuk, allowing Luis Romo to tap into an empty net. South Korea pressed for an equaliser late on, but Raul Rangel made two vital saves to deny Cho Gue‑sung and Yang Hyun‑jun. Mexico almost added a second through Raul Jimenez and substitute Obed Vargas, yet Kim kept the scoreline respectable.
The win preserves Javier Aguirre’s side’s perfect record and guarantees top spot in Group A. South Korea remain in contention and will face South Africa in their final group match, while Mexico will take on the Czech Republic.
Canada’s Record‑Breaking Triumph Over Qatar
Canada recorded the biggest win of the tournament so far, hammering nine‑man Qatar 6‑0. Cyle Larin opened the scoring before Jonathan David completed a hat‑trick, including a stoppage‑time effort. Qatar’s night deteriorated when Homam El Amin was shown a red card for a professional foul, and Assim Omer Madibo was later sent off after a challenge that left midfielder Ismael Kone requiring lengthy treatment before being stretchered off.
Nathan Saliba dedicated his free‑kick goal to the injured Kone by holding up his teammate’s shirt after scoring. Canada added further goals via an own goal from Mohammad Al Mannai and David’s final strike. The emphatic victory lifted Canada to the summit of Group B and moved them closer to the last‑32 stage.
Switzerland’s Late Surge Sinks Bosnia
Switzerland boosted its qualification hopes with a 4‑1 win over Bosnia‑Herzegovina, thanks largely to the impact of substitute Johan Manzambi. The 20‑year‑old entered the game after Dan Ndoye and scored twice, first with a volley less than three minutes after coming on.
Bosnia’s task grew harder when Tarik Muharemovic was dismissed for bringing down Breel Embolo. Ruben Vargas curled in a second before setting up Manzambi for his brace, and Granit Xhaka added a late penalty. Ermin Mahmic pulled a consolation goal with an impressive volley for Bosnia.
Reflecting on his performance, Manzambi said: “It’s probably the best moment of my career so far. We knew why we didn’t start well and we had to be patient, but we’re a good team and I think we showed that.” Switzerland now sits atop Group B, while Bosnia remains at the bottom.
South Africa Keeps Hope Alive With Draw
South Africa kept its World Cup aspirations alive after Teboho Mokoena converted a late penalty to earn a 1‑1 draw against the Czech Republic. The Czechs struck the fastest goal of the tournament when Michal Sadilek netted after just five seconds.
South Africa struggled to create chances for much of the match but found a route back when Thapelo Maseko’s effort struck Pavel Sulc’s arm inside the box, leading to the penalty. Mokoena calmly dispatched the spot‑kick in the 83rd minute to share the points. The result leaves Group A finely balanced, with both sides still in contention ahead of their final fixtures.
South Africa will now face South Korea, while the Czech Republic take on hosts Mexico in their concluding group games.
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