World Cup 2026: Day 3 – Saturday 13 June

 

Day Two of the World Cup in North America saw the final two host nations play their opening matches; Canada snatched a deserved point against Bosnia-Herzegovina, while USA comfortably saw off Paraguay.

Let’s have a look back at yesterday’s action, and look forward to today…

 

Yesterday’s results:

Canada 1-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina

 

It was a glorious occasion for Canada; hosts of a World Cup for the very first time, the marked the occasion with Michael Buble serenading the crowd (I thought he only came out at Christmas?) and Alanis Morisette singing the national anthem… but they would surely look back on this game as two points dropped.

Jonathan David missed a guilt-edged chance to put the Canadians ahead, before Bosnia threatened to spoil the party by taking the lead. Sead Kolasinać, once of Arsenal, flicked a corner on for Jovo Lukić to get the finishing touch on the line. Canada keeper Maxime Crépeau came out and flapped at the ball, and paid the price for some poor goalkeeping.

The hosts did respond well, playing some fluid football, but to no avail, and Bosnia survived the Canadian first-half pressure, going into the break a goal ahead.

The second half saw more of the same, with Canada dominating possession, and were very unlucky not to level when Richie Laryea’s effort beat the goalkeeper, but the ball was deflected onto the crossbar by Kolasinać.

Jesse Marsch responded by withdrawing David, Tajon Buchanan and Liam Millar of Hull City, who was causing Bosnia problems down the left-hand side, and one of the substitutes included Cyle Larin.

Within two minutes of his introduction, the big man, who spent last season on loan at Southampton, collected a pass from fellow substitute Promise David, swivelled in the box, and fired a shot into the corner of the net past Nikola Vasilj – it was no less than Canada deserved.

A point gained then for the hosts, though they would be wondering how they didn’t take all three.

 

 

USA 4-1 Paraguay

 

The final nation of the three hosts to play their opening match was USA Mauricio Pochettino’s men started their World Cup campaign in style by comfortably defeating Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles.

The match was only seven minutes old when USMNT took the lead. After a period of sustained possession, Christian Pulisic skipped past two defenders before laying the ball off to Weston McKennie. He poked the ball towards goal, but the final touch came off Damián Bobadilla and into the net – the USA had lift-off.

And three minutes after seeing his goal disallowed for offside, Folarin Balogun got on the end of Pulisic’s cross to side-foot the ball past Orlando Gill in the Paraguay goal to make it 2-0 to Pochettino’s men.

And it got even better for the Americans in first-half stoppage-time. A through-ball from Malik Tillman saw Balogun race through one-on-one, shrug off Sunderland defender Omar Alderete, and fire an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

The USA pressure continued in the second half, but it was Paraguay who grabbed the next goal 20 minutes from time. A long free-kick was launched up the field by Gill, Miguel Almiron played the ball through to Julio Enciso as the USA defence switched off, he could have easily gone for goal himself but he squared the ball for substitute Mauricio to find the bottom corner.

Hope for Paraguay, but that was extinguished deep into stoppage-time as Gio Reyna added a stunning fourth, hitting a perfect shot with the outside of his foot past Gill and into the far corner; a moment of pure brilliance to put the seal on a memorable opening performance.

 

Today’s fixtures:

Group B

Qatar v Switzerland

8pm (UK Time)

San Francisco

 

This is the day with the most fixtures so far at the World Cup – four in total. Get used to this!

Starting in San Francisco, as the previous tournament’s hosts, Qatar, face up to Switzerland.

Qatar finished the 2022 showpiece with just one goal and no points to show for their efforts – it will probably be a similar story this time around.

59^th in the world, though with former Real Madrid, Spain, West Ham and Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui at the wheel, watch out for Almoez Ali and Mohammed Muntari – the two strikers will look to cause problems, and Muntari is the only man to ever score at a World Cup for Qatar.

Switzerland, meanwhile, will probably see this opening game as a formality – but will need to be at their very best to surpass their historic mediocrity; they have never gone beyond the quarter-finals of any major tournament.

They have exciting talent such as Dan Ndoye, Zeki Amdouni and Noah Okafor – all with Premier League experience – and are captained by another PL stalwart in Granit Xhaka. They should have too much for Qatar.

 

Sam’s prediction: Qatar 0-3 Switzerland

 

 

Group C

Brazil v Morocco

11pm (UK Time)

New York

 

The first real heavyweight clash of the tournament, pitting quarter-finalists in Qatar v semi-finalists.

Brazil were defeated by Croatia on penalties in Qatar but have arguably a stronger squad this time around. Experience such as Alisson and Ederson vying for the Number 1 spot, Marquinhos, Alex Sandro, Casemiro and Neymar, mixed with young stars Vinicius Junior, Rayan, Igor Thiago and Endrick, ensure that this is a dangerous Brazil squad, but they will have to avenge some past demons to grab the famous trophy for the first time since 2002.

Morocco finished fourth in the previous tournament against all odds, but still boast plenty of talented players. Achraf Hakimi was arguably the player of the tournament four years ago (not counting Messi), with Sofyan Amrabat and Brahim Diaz also enjoying a productive tournament. Add in the likes of Chemsdine Talbi, Bilal El Khannous, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Chadi Riad, who weren’t in the squad in Qatar but are all good young talents, Morocco still have a good side, despite the absence of Youssouf En-Nesyri. Will it be enough to defeat Brazil though?

 

Sam’s prediction: Brazil 2-1 Morocco

 

Haiti v Scotland

2am (UK Time)

Boston

 

The first appearances of these nations at a World Cup for 52 and 28 years respectively.

Much of the pre-tournament coverage of Haiti has focused on the war in their country, meaning that they have to play home matches in nearby Curaçao. Incredibly, this means that their own manager, Frenchman Sébastien Migné, has never stepped foot in the country. Led by Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor and Wolves playmaker Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, the weight of a nation is on their shoulders.

“No Scotland No Party” became the slogan of excited Scots at Euro 2020, and has made a revival for their first World Cup since 1998.

All eyes will be on national hero Scott McTominay, the experienced Andy Robertson and John McGinn, and Lawrence Shankland, whose 20-goal haul for Hearts has just earned him a move to boyhood club Rangers.

This match will be the best chance of a win for Steve Clarke’s men in a tricky group, so they need to grab this opportunity with both hands.

 

Sam’s prediction: Haiti 0-2 Scotland

 

Group D:

Australia v Türkiye

5am (UK Time)

Vancouver

 

Australia will be looking to build on their run to the Round of 16 in Qatar, their joint-best-ever run at the tournament. They have an OK squad but no names really stand out: Harry Souttar will provide strength at the back, the experienced Matthew Leckie will lead from the front while Nestory Irankunda is a tricky attacking midfielder… but they need a Tim Cahill or similar standard of household name to really push them to the next level.

Türkiye, meanwhile, have qualified for the first time since 2002, where they won the bronze medal in Japan and South Korea. Their attacking talent, including Arda Güler, Kerem Aktürkoğlu and Hakan Çalhanoğlu is very strong, and their defence isn’t bad either with the likes of Merih Demiral, Ozan Kabak and Zeki Çelik. Man-for-man, I think Türkiye are the stronger of the teams and will just about edge past the Socceroos.

 

Sam’s prediction: Australia 1-2 Türkiye