Matchday 14 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered plenty of entertainment as Co-hosts Canada, Bosnia and South Africa secured their historic first knockout berths.
South Africa seized their moment when Tshepang Moremi's cross found Thapelo Maseko, who kept his cool and fired home inside the near post in the 63rd minute to give them a 1-0 win over South Korea.
Elsewhere, Bosnia and Herzegovina reached the World Cup knockout stages for the first time with a 3-1 victory over 2022 hosts Qatar in their final Group B match.
Canada, who finished three points behind Switzerland, also advanced to the last 32 for the first time in their history, having never won a match at the finals before the 2026 edition.
Brazil, Morocco and Switzerland also sealed their places in the knockout rounds.
Five-time World Cup winners Brazil will expect to go through but they come up against a Scotland side in Miami determined to qualify for the knockout round for the first time in their history.
Morocco, who held Brazil to a 1-1 draw in an early highlight of the tournament, will favor their chances against already-eliminated Haiti and would top Group C if the Brazilians fail to beat the Scots.
Ancelotti said on Tuesday that Neymar had recovered from injury and the 34-year-old could make his first appearance of the tournament against the Scots.
"He can play, he's doing well, he trained very well. I'm very happy with him," said the Italian coach, adding that the forward "brings experience, understanding of the game, and helps the younger players."
Neymar's inclusion in the matchday squad will help make up for the absence of winger Raphinha, who is out injured for around two weeks.
Finalizamos a última sessão de treino antes do jogo contra a Escócia! 🇧🇷💛#BateNoPeito
— brasil (@CBF_Futebol) June 23, 2026
📸 Rafael Ribeiro/CBF pic.twitter.com/gSlv9R8tDG
China isn't the most obvious place for Japan fandom to thrive -- the two countries' historical animosity is never far from the surface and relations have been tense since hawkish Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office in Tokyo last year.
But for the dozens of blue-jerseyed Chinese supporters in the bar on Sunday afternoon glued to Japan's every move on massive screens, their love of the football team has a long personal history, completely detached from politics.
"For our generation -- the 90s generation -- most of us basically grew up watching a lot of Japanese anime, including 'Captain Tsubasa' (a series about a football prodigy)," said Fan, the group's main organiser, who gave only his surname.
"More importantly, since we are both part of Asia, you could say that Japan now represents the pride and glory of Asian football."
China have only qualified once for the World Cup, in 2002, when they lost all three of their games without scoring a goal.
They are 91st in the FIFA world rankings, while Japan are the top Asian team at 16th.
Ready for 🇧🇷
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) June 23, 2026
#SCOBRA | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/y3vigeyTId
Usually a subplot, the race for the World Cup Golden Boot is one of the main talking points at the 2026 tournament as the top marksmen set a blistering pace.
The overall record has already been broken by Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, who now has 18 goals over six World Cups after adding five in two games in the United States.
But he is being chased hard by Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland -- who have four goals apiece -- with Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane also in the mix.
The long-standing single-tournament record of 13 goals set in 1958 by France's Just Fontaine appears vulnerable.
German great Gerd Muller was the last man to hit double figures, at the 1970 tournament in Mexico, when he scored 10 goals.
Messi's most likely challenger, based on the prospect of a deep run in the tournament, is Mbappe, who scored eight goals four years ago in Qatar to win the Golden Boot.
Hong Myung-bo is expecting the atmosphere to feel like a home game when his South Korea team plays South Africa in its last World Cup Group A encounter in Monterrey.
A large number of Mexican fans supported the Taeguk Warriors when they defeated Czech Republic 2-1 in the opening game in Guadalajara, and head coach Hong expects similar support on Wednesday.
"We may feel like this is our home ground tomorrow, and that is a very big gift to our players," said Hong, who was captain of the South Korea team that reached the semifinals when it co-hosted the 2002 World Cup with Japan. "We will use that very well so we can play a good game tomorrow."
There's a strong reason for the support.
In 2018, South Korea upset Germany 2-0 to send Mexico into the round of 16 and Mexican fans famously marched to South Korea's consulate in Monterrey to celebrate, chanting "Coreano, hermano, ya eres Mexicano (Korean brother, you are now Mexican)!"
Since then, football fans from the two nations have developed a bond despite a difference in soccer culture.
"Mexican fans have a lot of energy – more energy than us," Lee Ha-young, a fan who traveled from Seoul, South Korea, said.
"We have the same energy in our hearts, but it's really hard to express because in Korean culture it's not easy to express our feelings."
In addition to traveling fans, Monterrey is home to an estimated 5,000 South Korean immigrants who mostly live just east of the Monterrey National Airport in an area known as Pesquería.
The establishment of a KIA Motors plant and other businesses in the region drew in a significant South Korean population and strengthened the relationship between the two nations.
South Korea's placement into Group A meant that the Taeguk Warriors would play all of their group games in Mexico, which is co-hosting the tournament with the United States and Canada.
"Many South Korean fans really wanted to watch (South Korea) play in the US because ( Son Heung-min ) plays at LAFC," Lee said.
"But the Mexican people have been really warm to us, so now I think tomorrow we will feel like home here in Monterrey."
After a 1-0 loss to Mexico in Guadalajara, South Korea sits second in the group with three points. South Africa and the Czech Republic each have one point from a 1-1 draw.
A win or draw for South Korea would be enough to advance to the knockout stage, while South Africa must win to be sure of avoiding elimination.
A second place group result would take the South Korean team to Los Angeles for its round of 32 match against the runner-up in Group B.
Los Angeles would be another comfortable destination for the team. The city is home to more than 300,000 Korean-Americans.
But for now Mexico is welcoming South Korean fans with open arms.
"We might have to go to the US," for the round of 32, Lee said. "But I don't want to leave, I want to stay here in Mexico."
After a record-breaking outing in which he scored two goals in the 5-0 rout of Uzbekistan in the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Houston, Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo said what mattered more to him was that the team achieved its objectives."
Ronaldo scored in the 6th and 39th minutes and set several FIFA World Cup records, and got Portugal's campaign up and running.
"I'm very happy. But for me, the most important thing is our work and the confidence we showed. The team performed really well and improved a lot. As the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining," Ronaldo said after the match.
"Obviously, speaking personally, records are always nice, but my goal is always to help the national team achieve its objectives," he added.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez was very satisfied with the manner in which his players responded after their disappointing 1-1 draw with Congo DR in their opening match.
"This was the response we had in the dressing room. There are times when you need a game like the first one to grow in the tournament. Today we saw a team with the same attitude and commitment, but with greater maturity because it was no longer the opening match. I’m very pleased with the result," said Martinez.
Canada (4-4-2): Crepeau; Johnston, De Fougerolles, Cornelius, Laryea; Buchanan, Choiniere, Saliba, Ahmed; J David, Larin.
Switzerland (4-4-2): Kobel, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez, Jaquez; Freuler, Manzambi, Xhaka, Sow; Embolo, Vargas.
Bosnia: Nikola Vasilj - Sead Kolašinac, Stjepan Radeljić, Nikola Katić, Arjan Malić - Esmir Bajraktarević, Ivan Bašić, Ivan Šunjić, Kerim Alajbegović - Edin Džeko, Ermedin Demirović
Qatar: Mahmud Abunada - Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi, Issa Laye, Sultan Al Brake - Jassem Gaber, Ahmed Fathi, Karim Boudiaf - Hassan Al Haidos, Edmílson Junior, Akram Afif
Bosnia-Herzegovina reached the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time after beating 2022 hosts Qatar 3-1 in their final Group B match on Wednesday.
Bosnia finished on four points and hours after their game had completed, FIFA announced they will be one of the best eight third-placed teams to progress to the last 32.
Qatar meanwhile exit at the group stage, just as they did four years ago, but return home with the meagre consolation of having garnered a point this time as opposed to 2022 when they finished with none.
Goals from Bosnia's youngest ever World Cup player, 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic, and an own goal by Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada looked to have put the European side in the box seat.
However, Qatar made a game of it when 35-year-old Hassan al-Haydos, their most capped player, pulled one back late in the first-half.
Ermin Mahmic then put the game beyond the Qataris when he scored for the second successive match in the 80th minute.
Ruben Vargas and Johan Manzambi fired Switzerland to top spot in World Cup Group B on Wednesday with a 2-1 win over Canada as the co-hosts also ensured a historic spot in the knockout rounds.
With the top two teams in the pool meeting in Vancouver, both knew that a victory would ensure first place in the group and, in theory, a kinder draw in the knockout stages.
Vargas and Manzambi's second-half strikes were enough to ensure the Swiss finished on seven points, while Promise David pulled a goal back in the final 15 minutes for Canada but they finished up three points behind their opponent but reach the last 32 for the first time in their history.
Co-hosts @CanadaSoccerEN make history by qualifying for the knockout stage of the @FIFAWorldCup for the first time in their history 👏🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/4S4ZL77pTr
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) June 24, 2026
Morocco twice overcame the shock of conceding to Haiti to win a World Cup thriller 4-2 in Atlanta on Wednesday, but missed out on top spot in Group C to Brazil.
Haiti bowed out with their first World Cup goals for 52 years as a Yassine Bounou own goal and Wilson Isidor's stunning strike twice gave them the lead.
Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari, with his third goal in as many games at the World Cup, levelled before half-time.
Soufiane Rahimi was nearly brought to tears when the 30-year-old's deflected effort found the top corner to give Morocco the lead before Gessime Yassine rounded off the scoring.
But by finishing second to Brazil on goal difference, Morocco will head to Monterrey for a likely meeting against the Netherlands or Japan in the last 32 on Monday.
Vinicius Junior made it four goals in three games at the World Cup as Brazil cruised to a 3-0 victory over Scotland on Wednesday, sealing progress to the last 32 as Group C winners and leaving their opponents in danger of another first-round exit.
Real Madrid superstar Vinicius took advantage of a defensive howler to give Brazil an early lead in Miami and headed in another in first-half stoppage time.
Scotland were never really in it and Matheus Cunha got a third on the hour mark for the record five-time World Cup winners, who brought on Neymar towards the end for his first international appearance in over two-and-a-half years.
There are doubts as to whether Carlo Ancelotti's side are genuine contenders to win this tournament but boosted by finishing top of the group they head to Texas for a last-32 tie in Houston on June 29.
That will be against the runners-up in Group F, which will be either the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden.
With four goals, Vinicius Junior is one behind Lionel Messi and level with Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe in the golden boot race.
🚨OFFICIAL:
— Brasil Football 🇧🇷 (@BrasilEdition) June 25, 2026
Vini Jr has won all 3 MOTM awards of this World Cup group stage! 🤯🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/fafiHwSzpp
Kerim Alajbegović becomes the eighth-youngest goalscorer in #FIFAWorldCup history 🇧🇦 pic.twitter.com/tWSnOqT8SV
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 24, 2026
South Africa beat South Korea 1-0 on Wednesday to reach the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in their history -- an astonishing turnaround after a dismal opening defeat.
The Bafana Bafana, playing at the tournament for the first time since they hosted it in 2010, were widely written off after their 2-0 loss to Group A winners Mexico.
But they battled to a draw against the Czech Republic and came out on top of what was effectively a shootout with South Korea for second place in Monterrey, thanks to Thapelo Maseko's second-half strike.
South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo made a shock call by leaving captain Son Heung-min -- considered by many to be Asia's greatest-ever player -- out of the starting line-up.
History for South Africa! 🇿🇦
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) June 25, 2026
They’ve qualified for the knockout stage of the @FIFAWorldCup for the first time ever 👏 pic.twitter.com/4ixYpesdLu
Co-hosts Mexico cemented top place in World Cup Group A with a perfect record as they defeated the Czech Republic 3-0 in the Estadio Azteca on Wednesday.
Mexico move on to a last-32 match in the same stadium on June 30 while the Czechs return home after finishing bottom of the group.
Mateo Chavez gave Mexico the lead in the 55th minute and Julian Quinones took advantage of disarray in the Czech defence six minutes later to extend the lead.
Alvaro Fidalgo completed a sparkling evening for the Mexicans as he smashed in a cross four minutes into added time.
