Brazil and Scotland meet in Miami for their fifth World Cup meeting, with the South American giants entering as five-time world champions while Scotland continues its search for a breakthrough beyond the group stage at major tournaments.

Steve Clarke’s side are already guaranteed at least third place in Group C, and a single point should be enough to secure progression to the knockout rounds for the first time, although even a narrow defeat could still prove sufficient. Scotland comes into the match after a 1-0 win over Haiti and a 1-0 loss to Morocco as they look to secure more than one victory at a major finals for the first time.

Brazil’s form and squad developments

Brazil sits atop Group C on goal difference after a 1-1 draw with Morocco and a 3-0 victory over Haiti, with the latter result taking them past Germany for the most goals scored in World Cup history, reaching 241 before Germany later matched the tally.

Against Haiti, goals from Matheus Cunha and Vinícius Júnior helped secure the win, while head coach Carlo Ancelotti fielded a notably experienced lineup, the oldest Brazil World Cup starting XI since the 1962 final.

Despite this emphasis on experience, Brazil have also introduced youth, with Rayan and Endrick both debuting from the bench, becoming the youngest World Cup players for Brazil in more than half a century. It was only the second time Brazil had fielded two teenagers in the same World Cup match, following the appearance of José Altafini and a 17-year-old Pelé in 1958.

With Raphinha absent due to injury, much of Brazil’s attacking expectation rests on Vinícius Júnior, who has contributed to six goals in his last five international appearances, while Neymar may also feature, potentially revisiting a fixture in which he scored his first double for Brazil against Scotland 15 years ago.

Last 5 Brazil matches stats

Scotland’s push for historic breakthrough

The Scotland national football team arrives with a squad built on extensive experience, as Steve Clarke’s starting XI against Morocco featured players combining for 609 senior caps, the highest total in the nation’s history.

Their campaign began with a 1-0 victory over Haiti followed by a 1-0 defeat to Morocco, and they now aim to secure a second win at the tournament to strengthen their bid for progression. Young winger Ben Gannon-Doak has been highlighted as a potential wildcard, having contributed to John McGinn’s goal against Haiti but seeing limited involvement against Morocco.

Midfielder Lewis Ferguson has also stood out statistically, leading Scotland in tackles, interceptions, and duels won, though he has recently missed training alongside injury doubts over Scott McKenna and Aaron Hickey.

Last 5 Ghana matches stats

History and head-to-head record

This encounter marks the fifth World Cup meeting between Brazil and Scotland, with only Argentina vs Netherlands having been played more often since 1974. Scotland have never defeated South American opposition at a World Cup, recording two draws and six defeats in such matches.

Since their first meeting in 1974 ended goalless, Brazil have won each of the following World Cup clashes: 4-1 in 1982, 1-0 in 1990, and 2-1 in 1998. Overall, Brazil remain unbeaten against Scotland in six friendly encounters as well.

Past H2H Results

Prediction and expected outcome

Brazil enter this match as strong favourites thanks to their five-time world champion pedigree, dominant attacking output in the group stage, and superior overall tournament experience. Carlo Ancelotti’s side have already shown their firepower in Group C, including a 3-0 win over Haiti and record-breaking scoring milestones, with Vinícius Júnior and Matheus Cunha among the key threats in the final third. Scotland, however, arrive with a highly experienced squad and a strong sense of opportunity, as Steve Clarke’s team are close to securing a historic first-ever World Cup knockout qualification. Their organisation and resilience, led by players such as Lewis Ferguson and a squad carrying over 600 combined senior caps, mean they are capable of frustrating opponents for long periods. The most likely scenario is Brazil controlling possession and territory, while Scotland looks to stay compact and threaten on transitions through pace and set pieces.

Prediction: Scotland 2-0 Brazil

Expected outcome: A controlled Brazilian victory where their attacking quality eventually breaks down a disciplined Scotland side, keeping them top of Group C, while Scotland’s performance remains competitive enough to keep their qualification hopes alive depending on other results.

Switzerland and Canada will meet in Vancouver on Wednesday with first place in Group B at stake. Both nations have collected four points from their opening two matches, meaning a draw would guarantee progression to the knockout rounds for each side.

Only an unlikely combination of results could prevent qualification for either team. A defeat, combined with a nine-goal swing in the other group fixture between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Qatar, is the only scenario that could leave one of the sides in danger.

The Swiss are aiming to reach the World Cup knockout phase for a fourth consecutive tournament. If they succeed, they will join Argentina, France, and Brazil as the only teams to achieve that feat at the 2026 finals.

Switzerland riding a wave of confidence

Murat Yakin’s team head into the contest after an impressive 4-1 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina. The encounter entered the history books as the first World Cup match in which all five goals were scored after the 70th minute.

Rubén Vargas and Granit Xhaka both found the net, while Johan Manzambi made a major impact from the bench. The 20-year-old scored twice and became the youngest substitute to register multiple goals in a World Cup match. He was also the first Swiss player to accomplish that achievement.

Following his remarkable cameo, Manzambi will be hoping to earn a place in the starting lineup. Switzerland’s four-goal haul was their highest in a World Cup fixture since 1994, providing further encouragement ahead of their meeting with Canada.

Recent tournament results also offer reasons for optimism. The Swiss have won five of their last nine World Cup group-stage matches, with their only defeat during that period coming against Brazil in 2022.

Last 5 Switzerland matches stats

Canada chasing another statement victory

Canada returned to the same stadium where they secured the first World Cup win and clean sheet in their history. Jesse Marsch’s side overwhelmed Qatar 6-0, taking full advantage of facing opponents reduced to nine men.

The result set several milestones. Canada became the highest-scoring CONCACAF nation in a single World Cup match and matched their combined goal total from the previous seven games at the tournament. They also recorded 97 touches inside the opposition penalty area, the highest figure ever registered in a World Cup contest.

Jonathan David was the standout performer, producing the second hat-trick of the tournament after Lionel Messi’s treble against Algeria. He became only the second player from a CONCACAF nation to score a World Cup hat-trick, following Bert Patenaude’s achievement for the United States in 1930.

The Juventus forward also joined Eusébio and Uwe Seeler as the only players in tournament history to record at least five shots on target and 15 or more touches inside the opposition box in a single World Cup game. Meanwhile, Cyle Larin continued his strong form by scoring in consecutive matches, becoming the first Canadian player to achieve that feat at the finals.

Canada’s dominant display was tempered by the loss of Ismaël Koné, who suffered a broken leg. The Sassuolo midfielder will miss the remainder of the tournament.

Last 5 Canada matches stats

Past meetings and notable records

Wednesday’s encounter will mark just the second meeting between Switzerland and Canada and their first competitive clash.

The nations previously met in a friendly in May 2002 in St. Gallen. Canada emerged as 3-1 winners thanks to two goals from Tomasz Radzinski and another from Paul Stalteri, while Blaise Nkufo scored Switzerland’s lone goal. Current Swiss coach Murat Yakin featured in defence during that match.

Although Canada won the only previous meeting, Switzerland has never been beaten by a CONCACAF opponent at the World Cup, recording two victories and three draws. Their most recent such encounter against a tournament host came in 1994, when they shared a 1-1 draw with the United States in Detroit.

With qualification almost secured and top spot available, both teams enter the contest carrying momentum after emphatic performances on matchday two. The showdown in Vancouver will determine which nation finishes at the summit of Group B.

Past H2H Results

Prediction and expected outcome

Switzerland and Canada head into this decisive Group B clash as two of the most in-form sides in the tournament, with both teams sitting on four points after their opening matches. Switzerland’s confidence is boosted by a commanding 4-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, where they showed late attacking power and depth, including a breakout performance from Johan Manzambi. Canada, meanwhile, arrived after a stunning 6-0 victory over Qatar, with Jonathan David’s hat-trick underlining their explosive attacking potential. Both sides have already shown they can score heavily at this World Cup, which suggests an open and competitive contest in Vancouver. Switzerland’s recent consistency in group-stage football gives them a slight edge in tournament stability, while Canada’s momentum and home advantage make them extremely dangerous in transition. The most likely scenario is a balanced match where both teams create chances, but neither fully dominates for long periods.

Prediction: Switzerland 2-2 Canada

Expected outcome: A high-intensity draw that secures qualification for both teams, with Switzerland likely edging the top spot on goal difference or fine margins while Canada continues to build confidence after their record-breaking attacking display.

England and Ghana meet in Foxborough on Tuesday knowing that victory will secure a place in the knockout phase of the World Cup. The outcome could also have a major impact on the battle for first place in Group L, depending on the result of the other fixture between Croatia and Panama.

Should England claim all three points and Croatia defeat Panama, Thomas Tuchel’s side would seal top spot in the section. Conversely, a Ghana triumph combined with a Panama victory would send the African nation to the summit of the standings.

Both teams began their campaigns with wins, although their opening performances unfolded in very different ways. Ghana edged past Panama thanks to a stoppage-time goal, while England came through a much more demanding contest against Croatia.

England seeking another strong start

Despite defensive issues during the opening half against Croatia, England impressed going forward and produced one of the most dangerous attacking displays of the first round. Only Germany registered more shots on target than the Three Lions, while England also led all teams for non-penalty expected goals and shots on target from set-piece situations.

The second-half display suggested there may still be more to come from Tuchel’s squad. Substitute appearances from Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford added further energy, reinforcing the depth available to the England manager.

Midfielder Elliot Anderson was particularly influential in the opening match. The Nottingham Forest player regained possession eight times, the highest total among England players against Croatia. Ball recovery has become one of his trademarks, with Anderson averaging 9.6 possession wins per 90 minutes during his international career, at least twice the rate of any England teammate under Tuchel who has played more than 500 minutes.

England are aiming to win their first two matches at a men’s World Cup for only the fourth occasion. Previous successes came in 1982, 2006, and 2018, highlighting the significance of another positive result.

Several individual milestones could also be reached. Jordan Pickford and John Stones are both in line for their 14th World Cup appearances, moving closer to Peter Shilton’s national record of 17. Jude Bellingham could earn his 50th England cap and would become the youngest player ever to reach that landmark for the national team. Harry Kane, meanwhile, needs one goal to surpass Gary Lineker and become England’s leading scorer in World Cup history.

Last 5 England matches stats

Ghana looking to build on opening victory

Ghana collected three valuable points in their first outing but required a dramatic finish to overcome Panama. The Black Stars failed to register a shot before half-time and generated most of their attacking threat late in the contest, with a stoppage-time winner eventually deciding the match.

Their success was guided by Carlos Queiroz, one of the most experienced coaches at the tournament. The Portuguese manager is familiar to English football supporters due to his time as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Manchester United.

Caleb Yirenkyi was the player who delivered the decisive goal against Panama, securing an important victory that kept Ghana firmly in contention for qualification. However, much of the attention heading into this encounter is focused on Antoine Semenyo.

After an impressive club season with Bournemouth and Manchester City, Semenyo found opportunities difficult to come by in Ghana’s opening fixture. The winger managed only two attempts on goal and recorded just 36 touches, fewer than any other Ghana player who completed the full match.

Last 5 Ghana matches stats

Previous meetings and notable records

England and Ghana have never previously faced one another at a World Cup. Their only meeting came in an international friendly at Wembley in March 2011, where goals from Andy Carroll and Asamoah Gyan resulted in a 1-1 draw.

The Three Lions have historically performed well against African opposition on football’s biggest stage. Across eight World Cup matches against teams from the continent, England remains unbeaten, collecting five victories and three draws.

This fixture will also see England face an eighth different African nation at the World Cup. Previous opponents from the continent have included Morocco, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Algeria, and Senegal, a greater variety than any other national side has encountered in the competition.

Past H2H Results

Prediction and expected outcome

England enter this match as clear favourites after their impressive attacking display against Croatia and the overall strength available throughout Thomas Tuchel’s squad. The Three Lions created chances consistently in their opening game and appear capable of causing problems for a Ghana side that struggled to generate attacking opportunities for long periods against Panama. England’s depth, with players such as Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford able to influence matches from the bench, could prove decisive as the game progresses.

Ghana should not be underestimated, however. Carlos Queiroz’s team showed resilience and determination to secure a late victory in their first match, while players like Antoine Semenyo possess the quality to threaten England on the counter-attack. The Black Stars are likely to remain organised defensively and look to exploit any spaces left behind by England’s attacking approach.

The most likely outcome is an England victory, with their superior creativity and attacking firepower eventually making the difference. Ghana may enjoy spells of pressure and could find a way onto the scoresheet, but England’s quality across the pitch gives them the edge.

Prediction: England 3-1 Ghana

Expected outcome: A competitive encounter in which Ghana make England work hard for the points before the Three Lions’ attacking talent proves decisive. Victory would secure England’s place in the knockout stage and put them in a strong position to finish top of Group L, while Ghana would still have an opportunity to fight for qualification in their remaining matches.

Norway continue their World Cup campaign with growing confidence after a convincing 4-1 victory over Iraq in their opening fixture, a result that confirmed their strong start to the tournament. That win placed them at the top of Group I, level on points with France, and further strengthened the momentum surrounding their return to the competition. They now travel to New York New Jersey Stadium to face Senegal on Tuesday, with both sides approaching the match from very different emotional positions after their opening results. Pre-match projections suggest Senegal has a 56.5% chance of progressing, while Norway’s outlook is rated even more strongly at 98.6% following their dominant start.

Norway’s form heading into this fixture is also backed by an extended unbeaten run in competitive football, which has added to expectations around their performance in this tournament. The contrast between their opening success and Senegal’s defeat sets up a meeting where momentum clearly sits with the European side, although the group situation still leaves room for change depending on the outcome of this match.

Norway’s form, key players and momentum

Norway arrive at this match on the back of a commanding 4-1 win over Iraq, a game that showcased both their attacking sharpness and their ability to control key moments. In that opening fixture, Erling Haaland made a decisive impact by scoring his first World Cup goals, immediately underlining his importance to the team on the biggest stage. Alongside him, Leo Østigård also found the net, while the result was completed by a late own goal from Aymen Hussein, sealing a comfortable scoreline.

The side coached by Ståle Solbakken are now enjoying an impressive sequence of results in competitive football, having won their last 11 matches. During this run, they have scored 50 goals while conceding just seven, reflecting a strong balance between attack and defence. Their only recent setback came in October 2024, when they suffered a 5-1 defeat to Austria in the UEFA Nations League, a result that now stands as their last loss.

There is also added historical motivation for Norway in this tournament, as they have never managed to win more than one match in a single World Cup edition, with this being only their fourth appearance at the finals. This gives additional weight to their current form, especially with Haaland in particularly prolific international condition. He has scored in each of his last 11 competitive matches for Norway and has recorded multiple goals in each of his last five appearances, showing consistent scoring output over a long stretch.

Creatively, Martin Ødegaard has also been central to their play, particularly in their opening win, where he played a major role in progressing the ball. His passing influence stood out through a high level of accuracy and involvement in forward moves, helping Norway consistently break through opposition lines and maintain attacking pressure.

Last 5 Norway matches stats

Senegal’s response and challenges

Senegal come into this match needing a response after a 3-1 defeat to France in their opening World Cup game. Despite the loss, they were able to find a late consolation goal through Ibrahim Mbaye, who made history by becoming the youngest African player to score at a World Cup at 18 years and 143 days old. His goal provided a small positive moment in an otherwise difficult match.

The defeat exposed defensive issues that Senegal will need to address quickly if they are to stay competitive in the group. Their opening match also highlighted the strength of their opponents, with France proving too strong throughout the encounter in New York. As a result, Senegal now face a situation where their next fixture becomes increasingly important for maintaining hopes of progression.

Coach Pape Thiaw will be focused on reorganising his team and finding solutions to their current problems, especially at the back. Senegal have now gone 12 consecutive World Cup matches without keeping a clean sheet, a run that dates back to their tournament debut in 2002. This long-standing issue adds pressure as they prepare to face a Norway side that is currently in strong attacking form.

Historically, Senegal’s record against European opposition at the World Cup began positively, with only one defeat in their first five such matches, but they have since lost their last three encounters, including their opening defeat in this tournament. This trend will be a concern as they prepare for another European opponent in high form.

Last 5 Senegal matches stats

Historical context and team comparison

This upcoming fixture will be the first World Cup meeting between Norway and Senegal and also their first encounter in more than two decades. Their last competitive meeting came in a friendly in March 2006, when Senegal won 2-1 in Dakar, giving them the only recent head-to-head advantage between the sides.

Norway’s history against African teams at the World Cup is limited, with their only previous meeting ending in a 2-2 draw against Morocco in 1998. Senegal, meanwhile, has had mixed experiences against European teams in World Cup history, showing early success but struggling more in recent editions.

Overall, the match brings together a Norway side full of confidence, strong scoring numbers, and key individual form against a Senegal team searching for stability after a difficult opening result. The contrast in momentum, combined with both teams’ historical context, adds further importance to what could be a decisive group-stage encounter.

Past H2H Results

Prediction and expected outcome

Norway comes into this match as clear favourites following their dominant 4-1 win over Iraq and an impressive run of 11 consecutive competitive victories, which highlights both their attacking firepower and defensive stability. With Erling Haaland in exceptional scoring form and Martin Ødegaard orchestrating play from midfield, Ståle Solbakken’s side have enough quality to trouble any opponent in the tournament. Senegal, however, is under pressure after a 3-1 defeat to France and will need a significant defensive improvement to cope with Norway’s forward line. Pape Thiaw’s side still carry individual talent and pace in transition, but their lack of clean sheets and recent struggles against European opposition raise concerns. The most likely pattern is Norway controlling large spells of possession and creating sustained attacking pressure, while Senegal look to respond through counter-attacks and physical duels. Overall, Norway’s consistency and attacking efficiency make them favourites to take another step toward qualification.

Prediction: Norway 2-1 Senegal

Expected outcome: A competitive match where Senegal remains dangerous in spells, but Norway’s superior form and finishing quality ultimately decide the game in their favour, keeping them top of the group and extending their winning streak.

Lionel Messi is on the verge of making men’s FIFA World Cup history as Argentina prepares to meet Austria in a Group J clash at Dallas Stadium. The Argentina captain enters the match after scoring a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria, taking his total to 61 career hat-tricks across club and international football.

Messi is now just one goal away from surpassing Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals, which would make him the competition’s all-time top scorer. He is also aiming to become only the third player in World Cup history to score in six consecutive matches, with his streak stretching back to Argentina’s title-winning campaign four years ago.

Argentina could secure qualification for the knockout stage as group winners if they defeat Austria and Jordan fail to beat Algeria. Austria also remains in contention for the top spot in the group, but their opening 3-1 win over Jordan required a late turnaround after a testing performance.

Argentina’s form and Messi’s influence

Messi’s performance against Algeria highlighted his continued importance to Argentina despite being 38 years old. He was directly involved in eight of Argentina’s ten shots in that match, producing six attempts on goal and creating two chances.

Alongside his attacking output, Argentina also delivered a strong defensive display by preventing Algeria from registering a single shot on target. Lionel Scaloni’s side, therefore, approaches the Austria match with confidence in both areas of the pitch after a controlled performance in their previous outing.

Scaloni is expected to make a few changes to his lineup, with Nahuel Molina potentially coming in after recovering from a minor muscle issue, which could see Gonzalo Montiel drop out of the starting team.

Last 5 Argentina matches stats

Austria’s form and squad situation

Austria arrives in strong recent form, having won their last four matches in all competitions and claiming victory in ten of their previous twelve games. Despite this run, their 3-1 win over Jordan in the opening group match included long spells where they struggled to impose themselves before eventually pulling away late in the game.

Romano Schmid opened the scoring in that match, but Jordan equalised through Ali Olwan before Austria retook the lead in the 76th minute via an own goal by Yazan Al Arab. Marko Arnautović later added a penalty to make the scoreline more comfortable than the performance suggested.

Austria may also face selection concerns, with David Alaba, Stefan Posch, and Alessandro Schöpf all training separately due to fitness issues. Posch has been using a protective mask after suffering a broken jaw in the previous match.

Last 5 Austria matches stats

Head-to-head record and historical notes

There is limited historical context between Argentina and Austria, as the teams have met only in friendly matches, with the most recent encounter taking place 36 years ago. That meeting ended in a 1-1 draw in Vienna, while another meeting in 1980 in the same city also took place.

Historically, Argentina have lost only one of their last eight World Cup group-stage matches against European opposition, with Croatia beating them 3-0 in 2018. Austria, meanwhile, have struggled against South American teams over time, winning only one of their last ten matches against such opponents since their 1982 World Cup victory over Chile, with their other win coming in a 2017 friendly against Uruguay.

Past H2H Results

Prediction and expected outcome

Argentina enter this match as clear favourites thanks to their dominant defensive performance against Algeria and the exceptional influence of Lionel Messi in attack. With Messi contributing directly to much of their offensive output and coming off a hat-trick, Argentina have both creativity and finishing power to decide tight matches. Lionel Scaloni’s side also showed defensive control by not allowing Algeria a single shot on target, which underlines their balance and discipline. Austria, however, arrive in strong recent form with four straight wins and ten victories in their last twelve matches, showing they are capable of sustaining pressure in a tournament setting. Their opening 3-1 win over Jordan also demonstrated resilience, although they spent long periods under pressure and required late moments to secure control of the game. The most likely scenario is Argentina dominating possession and chances, while Austria attempts to stay compact and strike through transitions, but Argentina’s overall quality and Messi’s influence should tip the balance.

Prediction: Argentina 2-0 Austria

Expected outcome: A controlled Argentine victory where Austria remains competitive for spells, but Argentina’s structure and attacking efficiency ultimately secure top position in the group.