The battle for a place in the knockout rounds intensified at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as several crucial Matchday 2 fixtures wrapped up on June 21–22.
While Egypt celebrated a historic milestone, Spain delivered one of the tournament’s most dominant performances so far. Meanwhile, underdogs Cabo Verde continued their remarkable run, and Iran’s resilient display against Belgium ensured that qualification remains up for grabs heading into the final group-stage matches.
Egypt Secures First-Ever World Cup Victory
Egypt produced a memorable comeback to defeat New Zealand 3-1 and claim the nation’s first-ever FIFA World Cup win.
The match began in dramatic fashion when New Zealand stunned the Pharaohs in the 15th minute. Defender Finn Surman rose highest from a Tim Payne corner to head home the opener and put the Oceania side in front.
However, Egypt emerged from halftime with renewed energy and purpose.
In the 58th minute, Mohamed Hany delivered a dangerous ball into the box, allowing Mostafa Ziko to score the equalizer from close range. The momentum quickly shifted in Egypt’s favor.
Just minutes later, Ziko turned creator, linking up with Mohamed Salah, who calmly finished to complete the comeback. Substitute Trézéguet added the finishing touch in the 82nd minute with a powerful header, sealing a landmark victory for Egypt.
The result moves Egypt to the top of Group G and places them in a strong position heading into the final round.
Spain Sends a Message With Four-Goal Masterclass
After dropping points in their opening match, Spain responded emphatically with a commanding 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia.
The breakthrough came early when teenage sensation Lamine Yamal unleashed a stunning strike in the 10th minute to ignite Spain’s attack.
Spain never looked back.
Mikel Oyarzabal effectively ended the contest before halftime, scoring twice within three minutes. His goals in the 21st and 24th minutes exposed Saudi Arabia’s defensive vulnerabilities and gave Spain complete control.
The second half brought more misery for Saudi Arabia as defender Hassan Altambakti accidentally turned the ball into his own net shortly after the restart.
With the win, Spain surged to the top of Group H, boasting the best goal difference in the group and restoring confidence ahead of a blockbuster clash against Uruguay.
Cabo Verde’s Fairytale Continues Against Uruguay
Tournament debutants Cabo Verde once again captured global attention after securing a remarkable 2-2 draw against Uruguay.
The African nation shocked the former world champions in the 21st minute when Kevin Pina curled a superb long-range free kick into the bottom corner.
Uruguay appeared to have weathered the storm before halftime.
Maximiliano Araújo equalized with a diving header in the 44th minute, and Agustín Canobbio completed the turnaround moments later during first-half stoppage time.
Yet Cabo Verde refused to surrender.
In the 61st minute, a costly mistake from Uruguay defender Mathias Olivera gifted substitute Hélio Varela a golden opportunity. Varela intercepted the weak backpass and calmly rolled the ball into an empty net to secure a historic point.
The draw keeps Cabo Verde firmly in contention for a stunning knockout-stage qualification.
Iran Holds Belgium Despite Red Card Drama
Group G remains one of the tournament’s most unpredictable groups after Iran battled to a goalless draw against Belgium.
Iran thought they had taken the lead midway through the first half when Mehdi Taremi found the net following a clever set-piece routine. However, a VAR review ruled the goal offside.
The match took another dramatic turn in the 67th minute.
Belgium defender Nathan Ngoy received a straight red card after bringing down Taremi during a dangerous attacking move. Reduced to 10 men, Belgium spent much of the final stages defending against increasing Iranian pressure.
Despite boasting stars such as Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, Belgium failed to find a breakthrough.
The result leaves the group finely balanced heading into Matchday 3.
Group G Standings After Matchday 2
| Position | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Egypt | 4 |
| 2 | Iran | 2 |
| 3 | Belgium | 2 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 1 |
Iran currently sits above Belgium due to a superior goals-scored record.
Remaining Group G Fixtures (June 26)
- Egypt vs Iran
- New Zealand vs Belgium
Group H Standings After Matchday 2
| Position | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 4 |
| 2 | Uruguay | 2 |
| 3 | Cabo Verde | 2 |
| 4 | Saudi Arabia | 1 |
Uruguay holds second place over Cabo Verde thanks to scoring more goals.
Remaining Group H Fixtures (June 26)
- Uruguay vs Spain
- Cabo Verde vs Saudi Arabia
Blockbuster Matchday 3 Encounters Await
With no team officially qualified and no nation mathematically eliminated, the final round of matches promises high drama across both groups.
Every point remains crucial as teams battle for a place in the knockout stages.
Meanwhile, attention now shifts to another exciting day of World Cup action featuring several heavyweight clashes.
Upcoming FIFA World Cup Matches (June 22–23)
| Match | Kickoff (UTC) | Kickoff (WIB) |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina vs Austria | June 22, 17:00 | June 23, 00:00 |
| France vs Iraq | June 22, 21:00 | June 23, 04:00 |
| Norway vs Senegal | June 23, 01:00 | June 23, 07:00 |
| Jordan vs Algeria | June 23, 03:00 | June 23, 10:00 |
Among the standout fixtures, Argentina will look to build on their strong opening victory, while France aims to produce a more convincing performance against Iraq.
However, many fans are circling Norway versus Senegal as one of the most competitive and potentially decisive matches of the day.
