World Cup Roundup | Germany and USA Lose but Still Top Groups, Japan to Face Brazil, Two AFC Teams Advance! South Korea Hanging by a Thread

On June 26 Beijing time, the World Cup entered its 15th matchday with Group D's third round: Australia 0-0 Paraguay, Turkey 3-2 USA; Group E's third round: Ivory Coast 2-0 Curacao, Ecuador 2-1 Germany; Group F's third round: Netherlands 3-1 Tunisia, Japan 1-1 Sweden.

Group Standings

Group D: USA tops with 6 points (2W-1L), Australia 2nd with 4 points (1W-1D-1L), Paraguay 3rd with 4 points on goal difference, Turkey eliminated at bottom with 1 win.

Group E: Germany tops with 6 points (2W-1L), Ivory Coast 2nd with 6 points on head-to-head, Ecuador 3rd with 4 points (1W-1D-1L), Curacao bottom with 1 point.

Group F: Netherlands tops with 7 points (2W-1D), Japan 2nd with 5 points (1W-2D), Sweden 3rd with 4 points, Tunisia eliminated with 3 losses, conceding 12 goals while scoring 2.

Scorer Standings: Messi leads with 5 goals, Vinicius Jr netted a brace to reach 4 goals, tied with Mbappe and Haaland for second. Brobbey joins Undav and David at 3 goals after today's strike.

World Cup: Ivory Coast 2-0 Curacao — Ivory Coast secured qualification. Pepe scored a brace with assists from Diomande and Sangare.

World Cup: Ecuador 2-1 Germany — A stunning comeback! Sane scored after just 2 minutes, Angulo equalized, and Plata struck the winner after a Havertz penalty was controversially overturned.

World Cup: Netherlands 3-1 Tunisia — Dumfries forced an own goal, Brobbey blasted in from close range, and Van Hecke sealed the victory. Mattheus scored a consolation header for Tunisia.

World Cup: Japan 1-1 Sweden — Maeda opened the scoring with a clinical finish, Elanga equalized with a world-class strike. Japan advances to face Brazil in the Round of 16.

World Cup: Australia 0-0 Paraguay — A dull stalemate sent Australia through as group runners-up with 4 points.

World Cup: Turkey 3-2 USA — A 99th-minute Ayhan wonder goal sealed a dramatic victory! Trusty struck first, Guler equalized with his first World Cup goal, Kocku put Turkey ahead, Berhalter pulled one back before Ayhan's last-gasp winner.

6 More Teams Qualify! 19 of 32 World Cup Spots Now Confirmed

Japan and Australia are among the qualified teams. The remaining 13 spots will be decided on the final two matchdays.

Qualified teams so far: Mexico, USA, Germany, Argentina, France, Norway, Colombia, Switzerland, Canada, Brazil, Morocco, Bosnia, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Australia.

177 Goals in 60 Games — Record-Breaking Total Goals

With an average of 2.95 goals per game, the USA-Canada-Mexico World Cup has already set a new record for total goals scored at the group stage.

South Korea's World Cup Qualification Hanging by a Thread

After Groups D, E, and F concluded, South Korea (3 points, -1 GD) sits precariously in the third-place rankings, unable to surpass Sweden, Ecuador, Bosnia, or Paraguay.

Round of 16 Matchups Confirmed: Brazil vs Japan, Netherlands vs Morocco

Group F's top two will cross with Group C's. Brazil is Group C's top seed, Morocco finished second.

Originally published on WeChat: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/PySdlvz093naxBDu6q1BJA