Santa Clara: Qatar to face Switzerland as World Cup group stage continues
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2026 World Cup schedule, scores, results: Qatar vs. Switzerland kicks off Saturday's play as group stage continues
Group stage action continues across North America
The 2026 World Cup group stage continues with four matches scheduled for Saturday, including a notable Group C encounter between Brazil and Morocco. This pairing echoes their 1998 tournament meeting in France, where Brazil defeated The Atlas Lions 3-0 on their way to the final. Brazil aims for a deep run in the tournament, having reached the quarterfinals in four of the last five World Cups and the semifinals in 2014. Morocco enters the tournament following a strong performance in 2022, where they advanced past Spain and Portugal before being eliminated by France in the semifinals.
Saturday’s schedule also features Scotland playing against Haiti, marking Haiti‘s first World Cup appearance since 1974. Qatar, who hosted the 2022 tournament, will open their campaign against Switzerland. Later in the day, Australia and Türkiye, both future opponents for the USMNT, will compete in the final match.
The matches are spread across various venues. Qatar and Switzerland will kick off at 3 p.m. ET at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Brazil and Morocco are set to play at 6 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Haiti and Scotland will meet at 9 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The day’s final match, featuring Australia and Türkiye, will take place at 12 a.m. ET at BC Place in Vancouver.
USA secures dominant opening victory
The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) began their World Cup campaign with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Friday night. The team’s performance, particularly in the first half, showcased their potential as a host nation. The match, held in Los Angeles, saw a strong turnout of fans, with USA shirts visible across the city in the hours leading up to kick-off.
The USMNT established a 3-0 lead by halftime, a significant achievement as it marked their largest first-half lead in any World Cup match. This dominant start was crucial for building momentum and enthusiasm among supporters. The team’s aggressive, high-pressing, and attacking style of play under coach Mauricio Pochettino was evident throughout the game.
Folarin Balogun was a key player in the victory, scoring two goals. His first goal came in the 31st minute, followed by another in the fifth minute of first-half injury time. Balogun‘s performance marked the first multi-goal game for a U.S. player in the tournament since 1930. Christian Pulisic also contributed significantly with an assist in the first half. Gio Reyna added a fourth goal in stoppage time, securing the 4-1 win.
The USMNT‘s tactical transformation under Pochettino, who was appointed 20 months ago, appears to be yielding results. The squad includes 17 players from Europe’s top five leagues, with seven of those playing in the Premier League. This depth of talent, combined with a changed mentality, has led some to believe the team is ready to compete with football’s elite.
Former USA goalkeeper Tony Meola noted the team’s progress, stating, “Now we are so much more established.” He highlighted the presence of USA players in leagues worldwide, a strong domestic league, and world-class facilities as indicators of the nation’s development in football. England great Ellen White also praised the USA‘s performance, remarking that they “probably shocked the world with that performance.”
Injury concerns and charitable efforts
Despite the victory, there were some injury concerns for the USMNT. Christian Pulisic was withdrawn at halftime due to a “kick” to the back of his left calf, which he sustained in an earlier training session. Coach Pochettino confirmed that the withdrawal was precautionary, expressing hope that it is “not a big issue” and that Pulisic would be available for the next game. Balogun was also substituted with 18 minutes remaining in the match.
In other tournament news, Neymar is expected to miss Brazil‘s first match of the World Cup, and potentially longer. Additionally, English referee Michael Oliver will miss Sunday’s Ivory Coast-Ecuador match due to an injury, with François Letexier stepping in as his replacement.
Off the field, Scotland fan Craig Ferguson completed a 3,000-mile charity walk from Los Angeles to Foxborough, raising approximately $1.3 million for Scottish Action for Mental Health. He arrived on Friday, just in time for Scotland‘s first World Cup match against Haiti at Gillette Stadium on Saturday night.
Security issues also arose, with several items reportedly stolen from the England team during their move from a pre-tournament base in Florida to their training camp in Kansas City. The stolen items included match boots for several players, tournament balls, and training equipment, posing a logistical challenge for the team ahead of their scheduled training at Swope Soccer Village on Saturday.
The FIFA base camp system has teams spread across various locations, with Algeria training at the University of Kansas facilities in Lawrence, Kansas. The local community has shown strong support for the Algerian team, with captain Riyad Mahrez expressing appreciation for the welcome during their tour of Kansas‘ basketball facilities on Thursday.
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Source: sports.yahoo.com
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