Mexico became the first nation to secure a place in the newly created round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup, defeating South Korea 1-0 in Guadalajara on Thursday evening. The result, built on a second-half strike from Luis Romo, followed a 2-0 opening win over South Africa and gave El Tri an unassailable six points in Group A. Even a defeat in their final group match against Czechia cannot eliminate the co-hosts, a position that allows head coach Javier Aguirre to rotate his squad and prepare for the knockout phase without pressure. Mexican football analysts, watching from a sold-out Estadio Akron, noted the team’s defensive organisation and the blend of experienced leadership with energetic younger players as decisive factors in controlling both matches.

Canada, another of the three tournament co-hosts, recorded the country’s first-ever World Cup victory later the same day, routing Qatar 6-0 in a chaotic encounter. Jonathan David scored a hat-trick and Nathan Saliba struck a direct free-kick, but the euphoria was tempered by a horrific injury to midfielder Ismaël Koné. Broadcast images showed his lower left leg visibly broken after a tackle from behind by Qatari midfielder Assim Madibo, who was sent off. Qatar had already been reduced to ten men following a first-half red card to Homam Ahmed. In the same group, Switzerland overpowered Bosnia-Herzegovina 4-1 with a flurry of second-half goals, leaving both the Swiss and Canadians all but assured of progression.

The early qualifications are a direct consequence of FIFA’s expansion of the tournament to 48 teams, which has introduced an extra knockout round between the group stage and the last 16. Under the new structure, the top two finishers in each of the twelve groups advance automatically, joined by the eight best third-placed sides, to form a 32-team bracket. This phase, termed the round of 32 or “16 avos de final” in the Lusophone and Hispanophone football press, will be played as single-elimination ties between 28 June and 3 July, with extra time and penalties if required. The champion will now need to play eight matches, one more than in previous editions.

The United States, the third co-host, faces Australia in Seattle on Friday in a Group D fixture that could similarly put one side on the brink of the knockout stage. The Americans enter the match after a 4-1 demolition of Paraguay, though captain Christian Pulisic remains a doubt with a calf injury. Later in the day, Brazil meet Haiti in Philadelphia seeking a first victory of their campaign. Mexico, meanwhile, will complete their group schedule against Czechia at the Azteca Stadium on Wednesday, already assured of their place in a round that is reshaping the rhythm of the World Cup’s decisive weeks.