World Cup 2026 Group League Round 1 ends: Argentina wins co…
World Cup 2026 Group League Round 1 ends: Argentina wins comfortably, Japan draws with Netherlands
Defending champions Argentina won easily thanks to Messi's hat trick, with France and England also winning. Portugal suffered a disappointing draw in the first match. Japan had a close 2-2 match against the Netherlands. Organized the outlook for Section 2.
The first round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage has ended with a total of 48 games. Defending champions Argentina got off to a strong start, defeating Algeria 3-0 thanks to a hat trick from Lionel Messi. France defeated Senegal 3-1 and England also defeated Croatia 4-2.
Meanwhile, Portugal ended up in a heartbreaking 1-1 draw with DR Congo, and Brazil held out with a goalless draw against Morocco. Japan played a close 2-2 game against the Netherlands, and although they conceded two goals in the second half, they showed off their attacking power by scoring two goals. Spain and Belgium also ended their first matches in draws.
In the new 48-team format, the top two teams from each group and the third place of the top eight teams will advance to the final tournament. At the end of the first round, Argentina, France, and England had won, and there were concerns that Portugal and Brazil were lagging behind. Japan scored one valuable point in the match against the Netherlands, but conceded a goal in the second half.
Although Argentina's Messi scored a hat trick, he emphasized the team's overall performance. In particular, the young players around Messi played an active role, and their growth led to the team's victory. France's victory was also notable, with Jude Bellingham making his presence felt.
His play has given new energy to the team and raised expectations for future games. Portugal's draw could have a big impact on the outcome of the group stage. After the match, the coach said, ``It was a tough battle from the beginning.
We need to make improvements,'' suggesting that there is an urgent need to review the players' conditions and tactics. Japan needs to reflect on the goal they conceded in the second half against the Netherlands and make adjustments for the next match. The key to Argentina's victory was not just Messi's presence, but the cooperation of the entire team.
The young players played without relying on Messi and the variety in attack increased, making them a threat to opponents. If this teamwork is maintained in the upcoming games, Argentina will be able to establish themselves as the favorites for the championship. Japan's 2-2 draw showed their offensive potential, but highlighted their defensive stability as an issue.
In particular, conceding two goals in the second half was a fatal mistake that could change the flow of the game, and they need to improve on this in the next match. Japan's players will be required to aim for three points by maintaining their offensive momentum and strengthening their defense. In preparation for Round 2, each team hastened to review their tactics and adjust the conditions of their players.
Japan will aim to overcome the challenges faced in the match against the Netherlands and earn three points. Argentina and France will aim to maintain their momentum and finish first in their group. Portugal will try to make a comeback based on the lessons learned from the match against DR Congo.
In the first round of the group league, things were different. Argentina, France, and England are gaining momentum, but Portugal's slow start suggests that things will be turbulent. Japan gained one valuable point in a close game against the Netherlands, but their goal conceded in the second half is an issue. In the new 48-team format, the top two teams and the eight top three teams will advance to the final tournament, so how they compete from the second round onwards will be important.
Frequently asked
How many points did Japan score in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup?
Japan ended in a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in the first round, earning one point. Although they conceded two goals in the second half, they performed well offensively, scoring two points.
What was the score of defending champion Argentina's first match?
Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 in the first round. Lionel Messi scored a hat trick and the team got off to a strong start.
What was the result of Portugal's first match?
Portugal finished in a 1-1 draw with DR Congo, earning them one point. They struggled from the beginning and ended up in a disappointing draw.
What are the conditions for advancing to the final tournament of the 2026 World Cup?
The top two teams in each group and the top eight third-place teams in the group will advance to the final tournament. With the new 48-team format, results from the second round onwards will be even more important.
Who are the other teams that tied in Round 1?
Spain and Belgium also ended their first matches in draws. Both teams were unable to ride the wave from the beginning and only earned one point.
