Favorites, False Starts and Early Statements
The first round of group-stage matches is complete - and the 2026 World Cup has already delivered plenty: clear wins by favorites, surprising stumbles, strong hosts and early underdog moments. Time for a compact first review.
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vózinha became the hero of the opening matchday with a standout performance in the 0–0 draw against Spain – writing one of the first big underdog stories of the tournament.
The 2026 World Cup has fully arrived. After the first round of group-stage matches, it is still far too early to name a true title favorite - but the tournament has already left its first marks. Some big names delivered immediately, while others found out very quickly that this World Cup is bigger, broader and harder to predict than previous editions.
The clearest statements came from Germany, the United States, Sweden, France, Argentina and England. Germany opened with a 7-1 win over Curaçao, played with attacking confidence and never looked back after briefly conceding the equalizer. The United States also made a strong start with a 4-1 win over Paraguay, Sweden beat Tunisia 5-1, Norway defeated Iraq 4-1, France beat Senegal 3-1, Argentina started with a 3-0 victory over Algeria and England won a spectacular 4-2 match against Croatia. Anyone who backed those favorites had an early reason to smile.
At the same time, there were the first warning signs. Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco, while the Netherlands had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Japan. Spain were kept scoreless by debutants Cape Verde, Belgium drew 1-1 with Egypt, Uruguay drew 1-1 with Saudi Arabia - and Portugal stumbled to a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in one of those World Cup matches that look much easier on paper than they are on the pitch. These results are an early reminder: big names alone do not win games.
The debutants have already made their presence felt, too. Curaçao lost heavily to Germany but celebrated their first-ever World Cup goal through Livano Comenencia. Cape Verde earned a remarkable point against Spain. Jordan lost 3-1 to Austria, while Uzbekistan were beaten 3-1 by Colombia - but their appearances already show how much the new format adds new stories to the tournament.
Group E is especially interesting after the opening round. Germany lead the group thanks to the clear goal difference from their 7-1 win, but Ivory Coast also started with three points after beating Ecuador 1-0. Ecuador and Curaçao are already under early pressure. The second round of matches now brings an immediate test: Germany face Ivory Coast, while Ecuador meet Curaçao. For Germany, it could be the next step toward the knockout rounds; for the others, it is already about staying in touch.
For the ProXES betting game, the first round has delivered points - but not yet clear answers. Some teams confirmed expectations, others raised questions. And that is exactly where the fun begins: anyone who draws the right conclusions quickly can move into a strong early position in the standings.