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US Advances to Round-of-32 as Brazil, Mexico Lead Groups

6/20/2026

28 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

USA Secures Spot

The United States secured a round-of-32 spot by beating Australia 2-0.
Germany meets Ivory Coast Saturday in Toronto, with a win that could clinch Group E.
Brazil beat Haiti 3-0 while Morocco beat Scotland 1-0 on Friday.
Canada leads Group B with four points and will face Switzerland on Wednesday, June 24.
Mexico topped Group A by beating South Korea, earning a top seed.

Summary

Mexico Home Edge

The 48-team format advances 12 winners, runners-up and eight third-place teams to a 32-team knockout.
The Round of 32 begins June 28 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
The final is July 19 in New York/New Jersey.
Head-to-head points are the primary tiebreaker, followed by head-to-head goal difference, overall goal difference and goals scored.
Mexico earned group-winner status, so its 32 or 16 match will be on Mexican soil, giving it a home-field edge.

Summary

USA Advances

The United States clinched a berth with six points as Balogun scored off Antonee Robinson and Alex Freeman headed a Sergiño Dest deflection.
The win gave the U.S. Cup group victories since 1930 and marked Seattle’s eighth straight American win, a streak matched only by Mexico.
A tie with Turkey and Australia could leave all three on six points, sending the U.S. to the knockout round as a third-place finisher.

Summary

Mexico Rotates

Coach Javier Aguirre will rotate his squad for Mexico’s final group match against the Czech Republic.
Mexico’s round-of-32 game is scheduled for June 30 at the Estadio Azteca.
Opta’s model predicts Senegal as the most probable third-place opponent for Mexico.
A win would keep Mexico’s knockout games in Mexico City before later rounds in Miami, Atlanta and New Jersey.

History

Historical Context

In 1994 the United States hosted the World Cup, introducing three points for a win. The Rose Bowl final attracted 94,194 fans, the first to finish 0-0 after extra time and be decided by a penalty shoot-out between Brazil and Italy. FIFA’s 2017 approval of a 48-team format, revised in 2023 to 12 groups of four, builds on success.

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USA Secures Spot

The United States secured a round-of-32 spot by beating Australia 2-0.
Germany meets Ivory Coast Saturday in Toronto, with a win that could clinch Group E.
Brazil beat Haiti 3-0 while Morocco beat Scotland 1-0 on Friday.
Canada leads Group B with four points and will face Switzerland on Wednesday, June 24.
Mexico topped Group A by beating South Korea, earning a top seed.

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