FIFA World Cup 2026 results roundup Day 8: Mexico progress, Canada and Switzerland secure big wins
World Cup 2026 results: Mexico and South Korea battled it out in Group A while Czechia played South Africa. In Group B, Canada took on Qatar, and Switzerland faced Bosnia seeking their first win.
Mexico 1-0 South Korea
Mexico became the first team to qualify for the next round at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after edging past South Korea in their Group A match. Luis Romo’s 50th minute proved to be enough for the co-hosts to secure a place in the Round of 32 after a cagey performance.
The first half of the game saw both teams struggle to create clear-cut chances, with El Tri getting away their first shot on target in the 20th minute. But after being booed by the rampant home crowd at the interval, Javier Aguirre’s side came out with more intent in the second half. Jesus Gallardo hit the side netting, but they were soon rewarded for their adventure.
South Korean goalkeeper Kim Sueng-gyu spilled the ball from a Raul Jimenez header after a collision with defender Lee Gi-hyu. This allowed Romo to volley his side in front. Both Jimenez and substitute Obed Vargas went close to doubling the lead for their team late on. South Korea almost snatched a point despite an underwhelming performance but were denied by Raul Rangel, who saved Cho Gue-sung’s close header and then kept out Yang Hyun-jun’s follow-up.
Mexico will now look to wrap up their group stage run in style when they face Czechia on June 25, while South Korea will hope to get back on track when they take on South Africa at the same time.
Canada 6-0 Qatar
Canada thumped Qatar by six goals to register their first-ever World Cup win, but a serious injury to Ismael Kone took the shine off their result. The co-hosts started lively at BC Palace and went ahead in the 16th minute after Cyle Larin’s finish from close range. From there it was the Jonathan David show.
With 29 minutes on the clock, the Juventus forward saw his shot go into the bottom corner to double his side’s lead. Qatar were then reduced to 10 men after Homam El Amin was sent off for a foul on Tajon Buchanan in the 33rd minute. David then scored his second of the game in stoppage time of the opening half after poking in the ball from Larin’s saved header.
Julen Lopetegui’s side had shown a lot of discipline to gain their first-ever World Cup point when they scored late against Switzerland in their opening game. But that astuteness seemed to elude them in this game as Assim Omer Madibo was also sent off after he dangerously caught Ismael Kone in a challenge.
The former Watford player was carried off on a stretcher as Canadian coach Jesse Marsch was left in tears. Thankfully, Kone was able to sit up and respond to the chants of the fans while being on the stretcher. His replacement Nathan Saliba scored a stunning free-kick to make it 4-0 and then held up Kone’s shirt.
Qatar’s misery was compounded after Mohammed Al Manai swept a ball into his own net in the 75th minute and Jonathan David completed his hat trick in the stoppage time. Canada look likely to progress when they play Switzerland on June 24, while Qatar will be eager to bounce back against Bosnia on the same day in Group B.
Switzerland 4-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina
A flurry of late goals saw Switzerland beat Bosnia-Herzegovina to take a massive step towards qualification to the next round. Swiss, who had seen three points slip away in the opening game against Qatar, were frustrated by Bosnia for large parts of the game.
A solid defense had held its own, with Murat Yakin’s side not testing Bosnia keeper Nikola Vaslij enough. That changed in the second half with Vaslij keeping out Breel Embolo’s header from a tight angle. Bosnia then grew in confidence and into the game as Edin Džeko caused a few problems for the opposition.
But Johan Manzambi put Switzerland ahead in the 74th minute with an emphatic volley. Bosnia were then reduced to 10 men when Tarik Muharemovic’s sliding tackle brought down Embolo with the striker through on goal. Ruben Vargas then doubled his side’s lead with a curled finish in the 84th minute, but the action was far from over.
Vargas then set up Manzambi in the 90th minute for the 20-year-old’s second goal of the game. Sergej Barbare’s side found a consolation in the third minute of added time after Ermin Mahmic’s powerful volley went past Gregor Kobel.
There was still time for a fourth Swiss goal. They wer awarded a penalty after Amar Memic’s tackle on Djibril Sow. Granit Xhaka stepped up and rounded off the result with low strike from the spot.
Czechia 1-1 South Africa
Czechia and South Africa shared the spoils in their Group A match at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta. This was a result that neither side wanted, having lost their respective opening games. While it keeps alive their hopes of progression, they do face a challenging task in their final group games.
The European side started positively and went ahead inside six minutes when Michal Sadilek scored after a sublime pass from Alexandr Sojka. Miroslav Koubek’s side kept hold of the game as their opponents went into the break without managing a single shot on target.
In the second half, Czechia were on the front foot again but failed to make the most of it. Bafana Bafana then registered their first shot on target in the 74th minute as they began to slowly grow into the game. Then with less than 10 minutes to go, Thapelo Maseko’s shot hit Pavel Šulc’s arm in the box, and Teboho Mokoena calmly slotted the resulting penalty.
South Africa had chances to complete a smash-and-grab win, but Czechia held on. The draw means both teams head into their final Group A matches likely needing a win to secure progress.
About The Author
