FIFA World Cup 2026 points table: How the groups form after 16 matches and a historic day of draws

Iran’s Shahriyar Moghanloo (20) fights for the ball with Finn Surman (16) from New Zealand. (AP photo) NEW DELHI: The race for the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is taking shape after the first round of matches for the 32 teams in the first eight groups, the first ever in 68 years on Monday.A total of 16 matches have been played so far in the expanded 48-team tournament, with the remaining four groups yet to begin their campaign. Defending champions Argentina, along with former champions France and England, are among the heavyweights still waiting to begin their World Cup journey.

The historic day has four draws

Monday saw an extraordinary sequence as all four matches ended without a winner, marking the first time since June 15, 1958 that a four-match World Cup match had produced four draws.The day began with one of the tournament’s biggest shocks as debutants Cape Verde held European champions and world number two Spain to a goalless draw in Atlanta.Belgium then escaped an upset against Egypt, with Romelu Lukaku’s immediate strike helping the Red Devils secure a 1-1 draw after Emam Ashour had put the Pharaohs ahead.Uruguay also had to defend from the back as Maximiliano Araújo struck late on to salvage a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia in Miami.In the final match of the day, Iran twice came from behind to earn a thrilling 2-2 draw against New Zealand at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.Each side has only played one match in the first eight groups, so the standings remain tight. However, the latest results underline that there are no easy matches on the biggest football stage.As the remaining groups prepare to kick off and giants Argentina, France and England enter the fray, the battle for a place in the round of 32 promises to intensify in the coming days.

FIFA World Cup 2026 points table after Iran vs New Zealand:

GroupRatingTeamsPlayedWinDrawLostGDPpointsGroup A
1
Mexico
1
1
0
0
+2
3
2
Republic of Korea
1
1
0
0
+1
3
3
Czechia
1
0
0
1
-1
0
4
South Africa
1
0
0
1
-2
0
Group B
1
Switzerland
1
0
1
0
0
1
2
Canada
1
0
1
0
0
1
3
Catarrh
1
0
1
0
0
1
4
Bosnia and Herzegovina
1
0
1
0
0
1
Group C
1
Scotland
1
1
0
0
+1
3
2
Morocco
1
0
1
0
0
1
3
Brazil
1
0
1
0
0
1
4
Haiti
1
0
0
1
-1
0
Group D
1
USA
1
1
0
0
+3
3
2
Australia
1
1
0
0
+2
3
3
Turkey
1
0
0
1
-2
0
4
Paraguay
1
0
0
1
-3
0
Group E
1
Germany
1
1
0
0
+6
3
2
Ivory Coast
1
1
0
0
+1
3
3
Ecuador 1
0
0
1-1
0
4
Curaçao
1
0
0
1
-6
0
Group F
1
Sweden
1
1
0
0
+5
3
2
Japan
1
0
10
0
1
3
Netherlands
1
0
1
0
0
1
4
Tunisia
1
0
0
1
-5
0
Group G
1
New Zealand
1
0
1
0
0
1
2
Iran1
0
1
0
0
1
3
Belgium
1
0
1
0
0
1
4
Egypt
1
0
1
0
0
1
Group H
1
Uruguay
1
0
1
0
0
1
2
Saudi Arabia
1
0
1
0
0
1
3
Spain
1
0
1
0
0
1
4
Cape Verde
1
0
1
0
0
1
Group I
1
France
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Senegal
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
Iraq
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
Norway
0
0
0
0
0
0
Group J
1
Argentina
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Algeria
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
Austria
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
Jordan
0
0
0
0
0
0
Group K
1
Portugal
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
DR Congo
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
Uzbekistan
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
Colombia
0
0
0
0
0
0
Group L
1
England
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Croatia
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
Ghana
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
Panama
0
0
0
0
0
0