Matchday 14 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup saw the first of the groups conclude. Group A, B, and C all saw their standings finalized on what was the third matchday for their respective teams.
Switzerland did their business, fending off Canadian assaults to win 2-1, while Bosnia and Herzegovina overpowered Qatar in a 3-1 win. Meanwhile in group C, Brazil beat Scotland 3-0 and Morocco downed Haiti 4-2, but the games themselves were not as one-sided as people expected.
Then came Mexico and their 3-0 clinic
against Czechia, contrasted against South Korea falling 1-0 to South Africa in a shocking loss that changed the shape of the group.
Check out all the goals, highlights, and more from the fourteenth matchday of the FIFA World Cup!
Huge pair of chances for Switzerland early!
The opening minutes saw the Canadians weather attack after attack from the Swiss, like a recreation of the Italian Wars. This was one of them. Goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau did well to block the initial shot, and Canada managed to get enough bodies back to stop the follow up.
Goal! B&H make it 1-0
Bosnia and Herzegovina ended up striking first courtesy of a long range goal by Kerim Alajbegović. This was bound to happen, the contest was largely one-sided up to this point.
Massive deflection! How did that one go in?
What an incredibly unfortunate goal to concede. Qatar keeper Mahmud Abunada had to wall the ball sail past him thanks to a nasty deflection off his own player. Edin Džeko had no business getting a goal from that.
Hassan Al-Haydos turns the tables!
Well that came out of nowhere. Bosnia and Herzegovina backed off for a moment, allowing Qatar to get one good ball flying across the face of goal. Edmilson Jr. caught it out wide, squaring it perfectly for Hassan Al-Haydos to make it 2-1. Game on!
Vargas shocks Canada right after halftime!
Seconds after the halftime break, Rubén Vargas struck to make it 1-0 courtesy of a great run and cross by Johan Manzambi. Canada will be kicking themselves for allowing him that much space.
Manzambi makes it 2-0 before Marsch can make subs
Just as Jesse Marsch was about to bring on his subs to try and turn the game around, Breel Embolo made a wonderful run off the back of the Canadian defense, then had the presence of mind to control the ball and lay it off for Johan Manzambi. Crépeau got a hand to it but couldn’t do much more.
Promise lives up to his name, scores with his first touch!
When Jesse Marsch subbed on Promise David after the hydration break, fans would have been disappointed that it wasn’t Alphonso Davies. Well, David showed he’s plenty capable himself, tapping it home from a wonderful control and pass by Nathan Saliba.
Talk about an impact substitution!
Pinball in the box leads to a B&H goal
How exactly do you describe that in words? Let’s just say that Ermin Mahmić was the last player to get a shot off in a chaotic sequence of events, making it 3-1 to the Bosnians.
That was the final goal of the group, which saw Switzerland and Canada advance in first and second, with Bosnia and Herzegovina a likely candidate for one of the best 3rd place nations.
Calamity at the back for Scotland
Massive gift by Scott McKenna, losing the ball to Rayan. The ball falls to Vinícius Júnior who basically had an open net to tap it in. 1-0 to Brazil.
HAITI OUT OF NOWHERE
Everyone thought Morocco would walk this one. Haiti thought otherwise. An insane goal by Lenny Joseph, doing it with a stylish backheel. 1-0 and Morocco with a mountain to climb.
Scottish defenders don the clown nose, but VAR to the rescue
Another disaster for the Scots at the back. Jack Hendry tried to dribble with the ball around his own box, and Vinícius Júnior pounced on it from behind and slotted it past the keeper. 2-0 to Brazil thanks to gifts from Scotland.
Well, for a little while. Turns out that Vini caught the defender during the sequence that dispossessed Hendry. Goal disallowed.
Hakimi draws Morocco level
After all that pressure, it was coming. Achraf Hakimi drew Morocco level, but credit should go to Ismael Saibari in the buildup.
HAITI SCORE A SCREAMER
WHAT IS GOING ON? That is what everyone thought when they saw that goal. Wilson Isidor sent an absolute rocket into the top corner, putting Haiti back on top.
Saibari brings it back again!
For the third game in a row, Saibari scored a goal, putting Morocco level just minutes after Haiti went up a second time. This made Saibari the first African player to score in the first three group games in a World Cup.
Vinícius Júnior makes it 2-0 right before halftime
More sloppy defending from the Scots allowed Bruno Guimarães to float the ball into the danger area, with Vinícius Júnior making it 2-0 thanks to a well taken header.
Wonderful team goal by Brazil
Excellent interplay by Brazil, with Guimarães perfectly laying off the ball to Matheus Cunha to slot it in past the keeper. 3-0.
Morocco finally take the lead!
Substitute Soufiane Rahimi came on to score from a corner, thanks to the flick on from Chadi Riad. This goal gave Morocco the lead for the first time in the game.
Yassine makes it 4-2 prompting a looooooooooooong VAR check
Gessime Yassine tapped it in after Soufiane Rahimi just barely managed to keep the ball from going out of play. The nature of the goal prompted a long VAR review, but eventually it was ruled as a legitimate goal for Morocco.
This goal rounded out Group C, with Brazil and Morocco qualifying direct, and Scotland left waiting to learn their fate as one of the third placed teams.
A major double-save!
South Korea largely dominated the first half. However, this series of saves by keeper Kim Seung-gyu was one of the few moments where the South Africans managed to turn the tide.
Both games of Group A ended 0-0 at halftime.
Mateo Chávez makes it 1-0 to Mexico!
A flying run by Mateo Chávez saw Mexico break the deadlock at the 55th minute. It prompted an incredible reaction by the home crowd. Czechia, meanwhile, found themselves all but eliminated from the World Cup.
Cue the circus music
What a hilarious turn of events. Jorge Sánchez found himself in space and shot at the goal, but the shot was saved, except the defender accidentally bounced the ball off Sánchez’s body for Julián Quiñones to make it 2-0.
South Africa make it 1-0! The Koreans look shocked
South Africa took the lead courtesy of a well taken shot by Thapelo Maseko. For South Korea, who had started the second half on the back foot, this goal was like a dagger to the heart. In the end, the goal would end up decisive, ending the game 1-0 and seeing South Africa pip the Koreans to second place.
Mexico put it to bed, 3-0
Álvaro Fidalgo made it 3-0 after pouncing on a deflected shot saved by the keeper. This goal secured the game for Mexico and made them the only host nation to win all three group games in this World Cup.
The final standings for groups A, B, and C reflect what most people expected, though South Africa qualifying outright over South Korea stands out as a major surprise. What was your favorite moment of the matchday? Comment below!
