All 48 nations at the 2026 FIFA World Cup have now completed their opening fixtures — and while one match per team is barely enough to draw firm conclusions, the drama, surprises, and early statements of intent have given us plenty to discuss.

Early favourites living up to billing

Several of the pre-tournament heavyweights wasted no time establishing themselves. Dominant performances in their respective groups signalled that the top seeds have not come merely to participate — they have arrived to win.

Yet the expanded format, which now features 48 teams for the first time, has also created space for upsets. Smaller nations, buoyed by passionate support and organised defensive structures, refused to simply roll over against more celebrated opponents.

Surprise packages of the first round

A handful of teams most pundits had written off before a ball was kicked delivered results that forced a rapid rethink. The first round of a 48-team World Cup means more matches, more variance, and — crucially — more opportunity for footballing minnows to land a blow on giants.

Goalkeepers, in particular, emerged as early heroes for several underdog sides, producing match-defining saves that kept their nations' dreams alive heading into the second round of group games.

Stars who shone — and those who disappointed

Some of the tournament's biggest individual names lived up to their reputations with commanding opening performances, while others struggled to impose themselves on high-pressure debut fixtures. A slow start at a World Cup is not automatically fatal — history shows that some players take time to find their rhythm — but the clock is ticking.

The sheer volume of first-round action has also placed extra physical demands on squads, with rotation and squad depth set to become decisive factors as the group stage progresses.

What comes next

With every team having now played once, the standings begin to take shape. Teams with maximum points carry momentum into their second games, while those who fell to opening defeats face the uncomfortable reality that the margin for error in the group stage is razor-thin — especially in a tournament where only the top two in each group of three advance.

Matchday two promises sharper football, higher stakes, and — if the opening round is anything to go by — more of the unexpected. The 2026 World Cup has announced itself as a tournament that will not follow the script.