Brazil Shines, Scotland Waits
On the 14th day of the 2026 World Cup, Brazil wrapped up their group stage with a strong 3-0 victory over Scotland, securing first place in Group C. With this win, Brazil topped the group, leaving Scotland in third place. Scotland now faces an anxious wait to see if they will advance, as Morocco took the second spot after defeating Haiti.
Similarly, South Korea shares this suspense after losing 1-0 to South Africa, who advanced to the knockout rounds for the first time. Mexico impressed with a flawless group phase, defeating the Czech Republic 3-0. Mexico won all group matches without conceding a goal. Co-hosts Canada also progressed but finished second after a 2-1 loss to Switzerland. Jesse Marsch’s Canadian team will face South Africa in Los Angeles on June 28, marking the start of the knockout stage.
Switzerland not only secured the top of Group B but is likely to be joined by Bosnia and Herzegovina, who won 3-1 against Qatar and finished third with four points.
Group Results
Group A: Czech Republic 0-3 Mexico
Group A: South Africa 1-0 South Korea
Group B: Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-1 Qatar
Group B: Switzerland 2-1 Canada
Group C: Morocco 4-2 Haiti
Group C: Scotland 0-3 Brazil
Free access to comprehensive World Cup coverage is available in The Athletic app.
Brazil’s Complex Victory
Brazil’s win over Scotland seemed straightforward. They confirmed top spot and avoided injuries. However, the situation is nuanced. Two narratives surrounding Brazil involve Neymar’s inclusion and Endrick’s lack of participation. Endrick’s absence is noted by many supporters who see potential magic in him. Coach Ancelotti seemed hesitant in including Endrick in the squad, despite impressive pre-tournament performances.
Neymar’s inclusion was met with reluctance by Ancelotti due to fitness concerns and his waning peak years. Yet, Neymar’s influence on the team justified his roster spot. His role is seen as a last-resort option during desperate moments.
Both players performed well enough during the match to keep discussions active about their future involvement. Ancelotti is trusted to focus on effective decisions but providing playing time to these two has amplified ongoing debates.
Canada’s Lost Home Ground Advantage
Canada’s defeat against Switzerland yielded frustration. Finishing second instead of first altered their next match assignment, resulting in a more challenging opponent. South Africa’s second-place finish eased this slightly.
More importantly, Canada relinquished home ground advantage. Winning their group would have secured a match in Vancouver. Instead, they travel to Los Angeles, the first World Cup host nation to play an ‘away’ match. Previous co-hosts at similar tournaments did not face this scenario.
The 2007 Asian Cup is a rare instance where a host country played outside due to not winning their group. Canada’s loss represents a missed chance, as co-hosts must now tackle an away challenge.
Waiting for Resolution
Scotland and South Korea grapple with uncertainty following disappointing results. Both teams ended up third, awaiting further results to determine their progression. Bosnia and Herzegovina also must wait. Their four points should suffice for advancement unless highly improbable scenarios occur.
Korea’s odds of progressing look good at 96% according to estimates. Meanwhile, Scotland faces a challenging 38% prospect with three points and a -3 goal difference. Whether they qualify is unpredictable, hindering their ability to plan for distinct possible matches and locations.
Potential oppositions and destinations range broadly, with five contenders including Germany and Mexico. The lack of clarity makes the waiting period uncomfortable, as reflected in Scotland midfielder John McGinn’s post-game comments.
Thursday’s Matches Preview
In Group D, pride is at stake as the USA faces Turkey. The USA will finish top, while Turkey ends bottom, with attention on Christian Pulisic’s calf health. In the other game featuring Australia and Paraguay, both teams have three points. A win ensures progression, while a draw would benefit both.
Group E sees Germany atop, needing Ecuador to win for any chance of advancement. Ivory Coast requires a draw against Curacao to progress based on head-to-head results.
Group F is unpredictable. Tunisia is out despite possible victory over the Netherlands. Sweden’s sturdy 5-1 win helps their standings, while the Netherlands, Japan, and Sweden all vie for advancement.
Curacao faces Ivory Coast, Ecuador clashes with Germany, Japan versus Sweden, Tunisia meets the Netherlands, Turkey challenges the USA, and Paraguay opposes Australia in Thursday’s fixtures. Await dynamism.