Shillong, June 13: The FIFA World Cup 2026 has burst into life with goals, comebacks and memorable performances as teams began their quest for football’s biggest prize across North America. Here are the briefs from the matches played on June 12 and June 13:
Mexico 2-0 South Africa
Tournament co-hosts Mexico got off to a winning start in Group A, defeating South Africa 2-0 in front of a packed home crowd at the Mexico City Stadium in Maxico City. Julian Quinones (9’) got the first and helped set up the second as Mexico dominated and downed South Africa in the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Javier Aguirre’s side took less than five minutes to create the game’s first chance amid an electric atmosphere at Mexico City Stadium. Israel Reyes whipped a cross in from the right, and Raul Jimenez got power behind the bouncing ball, forcing Ronwen Williams to tip it around his post smartly. It merely maintained deadlock for a few minutes. Erik Lira burgled the adidas Trionda from Sphephelo Sithole, and Quinones struck it through Williams’ legs from just inside the box.
South Africa’s task got significantly steeper shortly into the second half. Jimenez, racing through on goal, was felled on the edge of the penalty area by Sithole, who was sent off. The Mexican fans, including boxing megastar Canelo Alvarez, erupted as 17-year-old Gilberto Mora was sent on, and within 60 seconds they were celebrating a second goal. Quinones played a slick one-two with Jimenez (67’) and fed Roberto Alvarado, whose devilish delivery was nodded home at the back post by the Mexico No. 9.
South Korea 2-1 Czechia
In the other Group A clash, South Korea produced a spirited comeback to beat Czechia 2-1. Hwang Inbeom scored one and created the other as Korea Republic came from a goal down to defeat Czechia and start their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with victory at Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico. Korea had the better of the first half and frequently threatened, but were unable to find a way past Czechia goalkeeper Matej Kovar in the first 45 minutes. Kovar saved a fierce left-footed strike from Lee Kangin in the 14th minute, before Son Heungmin sent a couple of decent opportunities off target and then couldn’t quite connect with another chance in first-half stoppage time.
Czechia then took the lead against the run of play in the 59th minute, as captain Ladislav Krejci soared through the air to meet a long throw from the right by Vladimir Coufal to put a header past a helpless Kim Seunggyu in the Korean goal. Hwang (67’) restored parity with a delicious effort eight minutes later though, cutting inside before dinking home after a sublime ball into his path from Lee Kangin, and Oh Hyeongyu then completed the turnaround when he tucked in Hwang’s low ball in from the right in the 80th minute.
Czechia threw everything they had at finding an equaliser of their own, but the closest they came was when Adam Hlozek forced Kim into a phenomenal stop in the 82nd minute, leaving Korea to celebrate a third consecutive World Cup win over European opposition, following victories over Portugal in 2022 (2-1) and Germany in 2018 (2-0).
Canada 1 – 1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group B action saw Canada earn a historic point on home soil after battling back to draw 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto. Bosnia struck first when Jovo Lukić headed home from a corner in the 21st minute but Canada continued to press and were rewarded in the 78th minute when substitute Cyle Larin scored the equaliser to ensure that co-hosts Canada would make a positive start to their tournament after securing their first-ever World Cup point. The Opening Match of Canada’s FIFA World Cup 2026 had been heralded by pre-match cameos from Michael Buble and Alanis Morisette, yet it was the star quality of the Canadian substitutes that had the Toronto Stadium in raptures by the end of this very watchable Group B contest.
Coach Sergej Barbarez had promised a motivational speech before the game and his Bosnian players responded well. Amar Memic sent an early chance over, and with the Dragons establishing superiority at set pieces, Sead Kolasinac’s flick from a corner enabled Jovo Lukic (21′) to head home. Undeterred, Canada played with energy and endeavour.
Oluwaseyi lit up the start of the second half with a Cruyff turn and nearly scored with a header blocked by Nikola Katic. The Canucks were in full flow when Stephen Eustaguio, deputising as captain for the unused Alphonso Davies, played in Richie Laryea but somehow Kolasinac cleared the goal-bound shot off the line. Jesse Marsch’s team were staying positive, boosted by a number of substitutions. It was the 76th-minute introduction of Larin (78′) that brought the equaliser and, ultimately, Canada’s first-ever World Cup point. The striker had only been on the pitch two minutes when he turned sharply to fire in from Promise David’s assist. And he nearly won it in added time but was denied by Tarik Muharemovic.
USA 4 – 1 Paraguay
Meanwhile, the United States made a dream start to their Group D campaign against Paraguay in Los Angeles with a 4-1 win. The Americans surged ahead in the 7th minute after pressure created by Christian Pulisic resulted in an own goal by Paraguayan defender Damián Bobadilla. Paraguay were unable to recover and the American onslaught continued with Sergino Dest coming close before Folarin Balogun put the ball in the back of the net only for it to be called back for offside. Balogun got his goal moments later (31′, 45’+5′), slotting home a pass from Christian Pulisic, who had successfully gotten in behind his defender on the left wing. The Monaco striker then scored his second and USA’s third deep into first-half stoppage time. The Stars and Stripes forward ran on to a threaded through ball from Malik Tillman, cut back against the grain and smashed the ball into the top left corner of Omar Gill’s net, sending the American fans into raptures.
After the break, Paraguay replaced Bobadilla with attacking midfielder Mauricio and made a push to get back into the match. The substitute added impetus into Paraguay and latched on to a subtle pass from Julio Enciso to fire home and give the South Americans a lifeline at the 73rd minute.
Paraguay’s goal reawakened the USA. Malik Tillman could have added a fourth for the Stars and Stripes moments later, but the American midfielder showed hesitancy in front of goal allowing Gill to save comfortably. Gio Reyna (90’+8′) put the cherry on top of the performance, scoring an impressive long distance goal in the dying seconds. The co-hosts ran out comfortable winners and will head into their next match against Australia full of confidence.
Attention now shifts to another exciting day of football, with Qatar facing Switzerland in Group B before five-time champions Brazil begin their campaign against Morocco. Scotland will also take on Haiti in a crucial Group C encounter as teams look to gain an early foothold in the race for the knockout stages.
