The 2026 World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is intensifying as the second round of group stage matches begins to separate the contenders from the laggards. With the knockout rounds approaching, the picture for the 16 European nations involved in this 48-team tournament is becoming clearer.
Among the highlights of the recent action, Spain delivered a masterclass against Saudi Arabia with a 4-0 victory, successfully rebounding from their earlier stumble against Cape Verde. Meanwhile, France, the 1998 and 2018 champions, are preparing to face Iraq this Monday at 11:00 PM (French time) for their second group fixture. We are tracking the progress of every side from the Old Continent, providing a daily barometer of their successes and setbacks. Here is the essential briefing for day eleven of the competition.
Key statistics 📊
27.2
This represents the average age of the players representing the sixteen European squads currently competing in North America. Bosnia-Herzégovine boasts the youngest roster with an average age of 26. At the other end of the spectrum, Scotland features the most experienced lineup, though the gap is narrow with an average age of 28.7 years.
From the touchline 🎙️
“I cannot fault my players for anything other than a lack of clinical finishing. This is a slow start to the World Cup, a bit like a diesel engine warming up. At the very least, we are now fully aware of the result we need to secure against New Zealand.”
Rudi Garcia, Belgium Head Coach
After a scoreless draw against Iran and a previous stalemate with Egypt, Belgium is finding the early stages of this tournament difficult. Despite the pressure, the French tactician—formerly of Lille, Marseille, and Lyon—is maintaining a calm perspective. However, following Egypt’s victory during the night, the Diables Rouges no longer control their own destiny for the top spot in the group. The Belgians must now secure a high-scoring win against New Zealand and hope for an Egyptian slip-up against Iran.
Overnight match results
- Spain 4 – 0 Saudi Arabia
- Belgium 0 – 0 Iran
- Uruguay 2 – 2 Cape Verde
- New Zealand 1 – 3 Egypt
The focus: breaking the curse 🔎
For the past seven editions of the tournament, no reigning Ballon d’Or winner has managed to lift the World Cup trophy the following year. Ousmane Dembélé, the 2025 Ballon d’Or recipient and star attacker for Paris Saint-Germain, has a chance to shatter this historical trend. The double European club champion leads the French attack as the Bleus take on Iraq on June 22 at 11:00 PM in Philadelphia.
Several European legends have famously failed to break this streak. Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo could not manage it in 2014 or 2018 despite his individual accolades. England’s Michael Owen fell short in 2002, and Karim Benzema faced a unique heartbreak in 2022 when an injury just days before the opener against Australia forced him out of the tournament entirely.
European news update 📰
Spain looks like a completely different side when Lamine Yamal is on the pitch. Despite nursing a slight thigh issue and not yet being fit for a full 90 minutes, the Barcelona prodigy made his first World Cup start against Saudi Arabia and immediately transformed the game. The 18-year-old star—who will celebrate his 19th birthday on July 13 during this tournament—opened the scoring in the 10th minute. He was substituted at halftime as a precautionary measure to keep him fresh for later rounds.
Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente expressed his satisfaction after the final whistle, noting that his star player is officially back, sending a clear warning to future opponents.