Matchday 1 has been anything but quiet. Germany hammered Curaçao 7-1, Sweden put five past Tunisia and the USA scored four — yet two of the favourites, Brazil and Spain, both finished without a win.
The goals kept coming
Germany delivered the round's statement: a 7-1 rout of Curaçao, the smallest nation ever to reach a World Cup. Sweden were almost as ruthless in a 5-1 win over Tunisia, and the United States swept past Paraguay 4-1. Three seeded sides, three openers that turned into goal fests.
Germany last 12 months · 12 matches| Goals for/game | 3.1 |
| Goals against/game | 0.8 |
| xG for/game | 2.7 |
| xG against/game | 0.5 |
| Over 2.5 goals | 75% |
| Both teams score | 50% |
| Corners/game | 6.8 |
| Yellow cards/game | 0.9 |
| Shots on target/game | 7.0 |
- a high-scoring side: over 2.5 goals in 75% of games
- a tight defence — just 0.8 conceded per game
- a strong attack — 3.1 goals per game
- works the flanks — 6.8 corners per game
- disciplined — only 0.9 yellows per game
- creates real chances: 2.7 xG per game
- out-finishing their xG
Sweden last 12 months · 12 matches| Goals for/game | 1.6 |
| Goals against/game | 2.2 |
| xG for/game | 1.1 |
| xG against/game | 1.5 |
| Over 2.5 goals | 67% |
| Both teams score | 75% |
| Corners/game | 4.2 |
| Yellow cards/game | 1.7 |
| Shots on target/game | 4.2 |
- a high-scoring side: over 2.5 goals in 67% of games
- goals at both ends — BTTS in 75% of games
- out-finishing their xG
Where the favourites dropped points
The loudest talking point came from contenders who couldn't win. Spain were held to a goalless draw by debutants Cape Verde — ninety minutes without a breakthrough against a side at its first finals. Brazil could only draw 1-1 with Morocco, the Netherlands traded blows with Japan in a 2-2, and Qatar, Switzerland, Canada and Bosnia all shared the points as well.
Head-to-head
The last 2 meetings between them in our database:
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| 14.06.26 | Brazil1:1xG 1.3 : 1.5Morocco |
| 26.03.23 | Morocco2:1Brazil |
Spain last 12 months · 12 matches| Goals for/game | 2.7 |
| Goals against/game | 0.3 |
| xG for/game | 2.7 |
| xG against/game | 0.4 |
| Over 2.5 goals | 67% |
| Both teams score | 25% |
| Corners/game | 7.3 |
| Yellow cards/game | 0.6 |
| Shots on target/game | 7.8 |
- a high-scoring side: over 2.5 goals in 67% of games
- a tight defence — just 0.3 conceded per game
- a strong attack — 2.7 goals per game
- often one-sided for goals: both teams score in just 25%
- works the flanks — 7.3 corners per game
- disciplined — only 0.6 yellows per game
- creates real chances: 2.7 xG per game
Brazil last 12 months · 12 matches| Goals for/game | 2.4 |
| Goals against/game | 1.0 |
| xG for/game | 1.8 |
| xG against/game | 0.8 |
| Over 2.5 goals | 67% |
| Both teams score | 58% |
| Corners/game | 4.2 |
| Yellow cards/game | 1.3 |
| Shots on target/game | 5.9 |
- a high-scoring side: over 2.5 goals in 67% of games
- a strong attack — 2.4 goals per game
- goals at both ends — BTTS in 58% of games
- creates real chances: 1.8 xG per game
- out-finishing their xG
Job done, the harder way
Not everyone needed a hatful. Hosts Mexico opened the tournament with a measured 2-0 over South Africa at the Azteca, Australia saw off Türkiye by the same score, and South Korea edged Czechia 2-1. Scotland and Ivory Coast both won 1-0 — against Haiti and Ecuador — grinding the points out rather than running away with them.
United States last 12 months · 16 matches| Goals for/game | 1.9 |
| Goals against/game | 1.5 |
| xG for/game | 1.5 |
| xG against/game | 1.0 |
| Over 2.5 goals | 69% |
| Both teams score | 75% |
| Corners/game | 5.1 |
| Yellow cards/game | 1.5 |
| Shots on target/game | 4.9 |
- a high-scoring side: over 2.5 goals in 69% of games
- goals at both ends — BTTS in 75% of games
- out-finishing their xG
Matchday 1 — every result so far
- Mexico 2-0 South Africa — Group A, opening match
- South Korea 2-1 Czechia — Group A
- Canada 1-1 Bosnia & Herzegovina — Group B
- USA 4-1 Paraguay — Group D
- Qatar 1-1 Switzerland — Group B
- Brazil 1-1 Morocco — Group C
- Haiti 0-1 Scotland — Group C
- Australia 2-0 Türkiye — Group D
- Germany 7-1 Curaçao — Group E
- Netherlands 2-2 Japan — Group F
- Ivory Coast 1-0 Ecuador — Group E
- Sweden 5-1 Tunisia — Group F
- Spain 0-0 Cape Verde — Group H
Live group tables and the rest of the round are on the tournament hub. The build-up reads back here: Matchday 1 preview. Daily value: Value Picks. Analysis only. 18+, gamble responsibly.