World Cup Roundup: Germany and USA Lose but Still Top Groups, Japan to Face Brazil, Two AFC Teams Advance, South Korea on the Brink

Beijing time, June 26 — The World Cup entered its 15th matchday with Group D, E, and F third-round fixtures: Australia 0-0 Paraguay, Turkey 3-2 USA (Group D), Côte d'Ivoire 2-0 Curaçao, Ecuador 2-1 Germany (Group E), Netherlands 3-1 Tunisia, Japan 1-1 Sweden (Group F).

Group Standings

Group D: USA top with 6 points (2-1-0), Australia 2nd with 4 points (1-1-1), Paraguay 3rd with 4 points on goal difference, Turkey eliminated at the bottom with 3 points (1-0-2).

Group E: Germany top with 6 points (2-0-1), Côte d'Ivoire 2nd with 6 points on head-to-head, Ecuador 3rd with 4 points (1-1-1), Curaçao bottom with 1 point (0-1-2).

Group F: Netherlands top with 7 points (2-1-0), Japan 2nd with 5 points (1-2-0), Sweden 3rd with 4 points (1-1-1), Tunisia eliminated with 0 points (0-0-3), having conceded 12 goals.

Top Scorers: Messi still leads with 5 goals. Vinícius Jr scored a brace to reach 4 goals, tied with Mbappé and Haaland in 2nd place. Brobbey's goal today puts him on 3, tied with Undav, David, and others in 5th.

Côte d'Ivoire 2-0 Curaçao
Côte d'Ivoire secure qualification! Pepe scores twice with assists from Diomandé and Sangaré.
At Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, 4:00 AM. Pepe opened the scoring from Diomandé's assist (1-0 HT), then added a second after the break. Côte d'Ivoire advance to the knockout stage.

Ecuador 2-1 Germany — Comeback Victory
Both teams advance! Sané's lightning opener, Angulo and Plata combine for the turnaround; female referee's decisions spark controversy.

At MetLife Stadium, 4:00 AM. Sané scored after just 2 minutes (Ecuador protested Pavlović's high foot but the goal stood). Angulo equalized (1-1 HT). In the second half, Havertz won a penalty that was overturned due to an earlier Sané foul. Plata scored the winner as Ecuador completed the comeback.

Netherlands 3-1 Tunisia
Netherlands advance to face Morocco! Brobbey scores, van Hecke finds the net, Dumfries forces an own goal.

At Arrowhead Stadium, 7:00 AM. Dumfries forced an own goal from Skhiri, then Brobbey smashed in the second (2-0 HT). Mslani pulled one back with a header, but van Hecke restored the two-goal lead.

Japan 1-1 Sweden
Both teams advance! Japan to face Brazil. Maeda scores, Elanga with a stunning equalizer.
At AT&T Stadium, 7:00 AM. Maeda was fouled in the box early on but no penalty was given. The first half ended 0-0. Maeda scored with a close-range finish in the second half, but Elanga replied with a world-class strike. Japan finish 2nd and will face Brazil in the Round of 32.

Australia 0-0 Paraguay
Australia advance as group runners-up! Paraguay's 4 points leave their fate uncertain.
At Levi's Stadium, San Francisco, 10:00 AM. A goalless draw with few chances. Australia finish 2nd in Group D.

Turkey 3-2 USA — Last-Gasp Winner
Berhalter scores and assists, Güler scores his first World Cup goal!

At Los Angeles Stadium, 10:00 AM. Trusty opened the scoring for USA. Güler equalized, Kökçü put Turkey ahead (2-1 HT). Berhalter equalized for USA, but Ayhan scored a 99th-minute winner. Despite the loss, USA still top the group.

Six More Teams Qualify! 19 of 32 World Cup Spots Now Filled
Japan, Australia among the qualifiers.
After today's matches, 19 teams have secured their places in the Round of 32. The remaining 13 spots will be decided across the final two matchdays.
Qualified teams: Mexico, USA, Germany, Argentina, France, Norway, Colombia, Switzerland, Canada, Brazil, Morocco, Bosnia, South Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Australia.

60 Matches, 177 Goals — Record-Breaking Scoring at the World Cup
After Turkey 3-2 USA and Australia 0-0 Paraguay, the tournament has produced 177 goals in 60 games, averaging 2.95 per match. With 104 matches total in this expanded World Cup, that record is set to be smashed.

South Korea's Qualification Hopes Hanging by a Thread
With Groups D, E, and F concluded, South Korea (3rd in Group A, 3 points, -1 GD) face an increasingly desperate situation. They are only guaranteed to rank above Scotland, and are already behind Sweden, Ecuador, Bosnia, and Paraguay. All six remaining third-placed teams could overtake them.

Round of 32 Matchups: Brazil vs Japan, Netherlands vs Morocco

Group F concluded: Netherlands top, Japan 2nd. The group pairs with Group C for the knockout stage, where Brazil finished 1st and Morocco 2nd.