Jonathan David makes World Cup history while Mexico are first into the knockout stage
The drama has reached another level at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with knockout places already being secured and several nations facing defining moments.
Some teams have taken a giant step towards the next round, while others are already running out of room for error.
AdvertisementAdvertisementRead on as we break down the biggest stories from the latest round of action and look ahead to what’s still to come.
Canada find World Cup breakthrough in dominant fashion
Canada had to wait eight matches for their first World Cup victory, but they made the wait worthwhile last night.
After being held to a 1-1 draw by Bosnia & Herzegovina in their opening game, the Canucks cruised to a 6-0 win over Qatar at BC Place in Vancouver.
Juventus striker Jonathan David inspired his country to a long-awaited triumph over the lowest-ranked nation in Group B, scoring a hat-trick.
He became the second player at this World Cup to score three goals in one game after Argentina icon Lionel Messi. He has also entered the race for the Golden Boot, alongside his teammate Cyle Larin.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAfter scoring an equaliser against Bosnia, the Southampton centre-forward returned to the scoresheet with a simple tap-in to open the scoring.
Qatar couldn’t replicate their heroics from round one, when they held Switzerland to a late draw, as they received two red cards.
Referee Cristian Garay sent off Homam Al-Amin and Assim Omer Madibo on either side of half-time, with both players receiving straight reds for cynical fouls on Tajon Buchanan and Ismael Kone, respectively.
Qatar’s hopes of progressing as one of the best-ranked third-placed teams are not entirely gone, although they’d have to pull off an epic win over Bosnia, who slumped to a 4-1 defeat to the Swiss yesterday.
AdvertisementAdvertisementMexico book a knockout place
Co-hosts Mexico squeezed past South Korea in Group A’s top-table six-pointer to secure a place in the round of 32, avenging a heartbreaking group-stage exit in Qatar four years ago.
Buoyed by a 2-0 win over South Africa on the opening day, Javier Aguirre’s side knew they were in for a much more complicated contest this time around, with the Taegeuk Warriors standing on the other side.
Following a disappointing first half that produced just a single shot on target, El Tri drew first blood early in the second half as Chivas Guadalajara midfielder Luis Romo scored the winning goal at his home stadium.
AdvertisementAdvertisementWith 40 minutes left, Mexico had to dig deep to protect their slender lead and uphold their perfect record over Asian opposition at World Cups, having now won all six such matches.
Most importantly, they’ve secured a knockout berth with a game to spare.
As for South Korea, they’ll have to avoid defeat against South Africa in their final group-stage outing to lock in second place, provided Czechia fail to beat Mexico in the other fixture.
US & Australia seeking history in Seattle
After a 4-1 rout of Paraguay on day one, the United States are in pole position to join Mexico in the knockout stage, as they face Australia in Seattle later today.
AdvertisementAdvertisementConfidence should be sky-high for the home team as they seek back-to-back World Cup victories for the first time since 1930.
Achieving that feat would result in them registering multiple triumphs at one World Cup for the first time since going all the way to the quarter-finals in 2002.
Seattle may provide a perfect backdrop, given that they’ve won seven consecutive games in this city, yet there’s no room for complacency as they meet a high-flying Australia side.
The Socceroos defied the odds to beat Turkey 2-0 in their Group D opener, marking their first day-one win at World Cups since 2006. As a result, they could move on to the next stage with a win here.
AdvertisementAdvertisementIt would be an unprecedented success for Australia, as they could reach the knockout stage twice in a row for the first time after qualifying for the round of 16 in Qatar.
Top football stories
Marcus Rashford’s battle with ‘enemy’ Anthony Gordon could determine club future
-
Ismaël Koné’s injury has rocked Canada, but they are determined to ‘make him proud’
Iran to lodge complaint with FIFA over ‘restrictions imposed’ on team at World Cup
Football Today features
World Cup 2026: Golden Boot battle heats up, Ronaldo off to frustrating start, Spain call for calm
England beat Kansas City 5-0 in a friendly game ahead of Ghana clash
Real Madrid sign Ibrahima Konate on a free transfer
What to watch
Folarin Balogun set the tone for the thrashing of Paraguay with a first-half brace and is now halfway to becoming the second US star to score four goals at a single World Cup.
It has been almost a century since Bert Patenaude struck four times at a single World Cup in 1930, and Balogun now stands on the verge of ending that wait and writing his own chapter in US history.
Elsewhere, Brazil will look to bounce back from a lacklustre day-one performance against Morocco when they take on Group C minnows Haiti.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAnother upset, no matter how unlikely it may feel, would significantly derail the Selecao’s chances of extending their proud record of topping their World Cup group in every tournament since 1982.
Not since 1978 have Brazil failed to win their opening two World Cup matches, and there’s little doubt that veteran manager Carlo Ancelotti will expect nothing less than a statement victory here.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
