At 4:00 AM Beijing time on June 26, the third round of Group E in the 2026 FIFA World Cup (co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico) will feature two simultaneous matches: Ecuador vs. Germany and Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast.

Japan and Sweden are competing for a direct spot in the knockout stage of Group F at the 2026 World Cup. Both teams have their fate in their own hands if they defeat each other in the decisive final match on June 26.

Participating in the 2026 World Cup was already an unexpected success for Cape Verde - a nation of only about 500,000 people off the coast of West Africa. But after two highly impressive matches, the team making its World Cup debut now has a chance to continue its fairy tale by securing a spot in the knockout rounds.

With four points after the first two matches, Japan holds a significant advantage in the race to secure a spot in the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup. However, the encounter with Sweden at 6:00 AM on June 26 (Vietnam time) is not solely about determining their position in Group F; it is also regarded as a vital benchmark for the "Land of the Rising Sun's" aspirations to reach new heights.

The US team is entering their final group stage match of the 2026 World Cup already assured of finishing top of Group D and advancing. But instead of feeling completely relieved, Coach Mauricio Pochettino faces a tricky dilemma – choosing between maintaining momentum or rotating the squad to preserve energy for the knockout rounds.

Minh Khoa decides to stay with Becamex TP.HCM amid the turmoil, Vietnam's national team sees a strong restructuring under coach Kim Sang-sik, while Canada, South Korea, and a host of European clubs also generate notable developments from the World Cup to the transfer market.

Nam Dinh Steel Xanh Club officially bids farewell to central defender Lucas Alves, concluding his successful journey marked by a series of titles at Thien Truong Stadium.

Steel Xanh Nam Dinh FC continues its squad overhaul after the 2025/26 season, which yielded unsatisfactory results.

By securing a 1-0 win against South Korea (wearing red) in the final Group A match of the 2026 World Cup at Estadio Monterrey in Guadalupe, Mexico on June 25, 2026 (Vietnam time), South Africa (in yellow) earned a place in the knockout stage as group runners-up.

According to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent in the US, before the start of the 2026 World Cup, the showdown between this country’s national team and Turkey in the final round of Group D is considered one of the most anticipated matches of the group stage. Many experts predict this could be a decisive battle for the top spot, directly influencing both teams’ journeys in the knockout rounds.