World Cup 2026 Round 2 Results: Turkey Eliminated, USA and Mexico Through

Turkey Crash Out Despite 62 Shots

Turkey are out. One of the pre-tournament dark horses, eliminated after just two matches, goalless despite 62 attempts on goal. That is the most efforts any team has managed without scoring across a two-match span in World Cup history.

The 1-0 defeat to Paraguay in San Francisco was a slow, agonizing death. Vincenzo Montella, booked on the night for his touchline protests, could only watch as his forwards shanked chances wide, hit the crossbar, found the post, and ran into a goalkeeper determined to write his own chapter. Orlando Gill made five saves for Paraguay. Mert Muldur's header from a clever Hakan Calhanoglu free-kick routine hit the crossbar, bounced down, and hit the post. On another night it goes in. Turkey go home instead.

The numbers tell a story of futility that borders on the absurd. Kenan Yildiz, Can Uzun, Deniz Gul, and Arda Guler all had presentable chances. Merih Demiral's flicked header in stoppage time drifted wide. Montella's side forced Paraguay goalkeeper Gill into desperate action time after time, but the ball would not cross the line. Not once in 180 minutes of football.

Paraguay, meanwhile, were ruthlessly efficient. Matias Galarza scored the tournament's fastest goal so far, firing inside the post after just 65 seconds. From there, they defended with intelligence and discipline, even after Miguel Almiron was sent off just before halftime for covering his mouth while confronting Muldur. The new FIFA rule, designed to add transparency and fairness, produced its first World Cup red card. Almiron looked stunned. Paraguay played the entire second half with ten men and never looked like conceding.

"We should have won these games so apologies to the Turkish people," said Guler afterward, his voice flat with the particular emptiness of a tournament that promised everything and delivered nothing. Montella struck a more defiant note: "I'm sad but I'm also very proud of my players. They gave absolutely everything right up until the final whistle."

Turkey's elimination is the biggest shock of the tournament so far. Montella had built a side capable of deep runs, with Calhanoglu pulling strings in midfield and Guler providing the creative spark. Instead, they join Haiti as the first teams heading home from the biggest World Cup ever. For live updates on every remaining match, bookmark iscore.ai.

USA and Mexico First Into Last 32

Two co-hosts, two perfect records. USA and Mexico became the first teams to mathematically secure places in the round of 32 after winning both their opening group matches.

Mexico navigated Group A with characteristic home advantage. A 2-0 opening win over South Africa at Estadio Azteca was followed by a 1-0 victory over South Korea that had the 87,000-strong crowd rocking. El Tri have not conceded a goal. They have scored three. They are through with a game to spare, and they will finish top of the group barring a mathematical miracle.

USA's path through Group D was even more emphatic. The 4-1 demolition of Paraguay in Los Angeles on opening weekend set the tone, and Mauricio Pochettino's side backed it up with a 2-0 win over Australia in Seattle. Folarin Balogun, who scored twice against Paraguay, forced the opener when Australia defender Cameron Burgess turned the striker's cut-back into his own net in the 11th minute. Alex Freeman then had a goal ruled out for offside, only for VAR to overturn the decision and double the lead before halftime.

The most encouraging sign for USA was the performance without Christian Pulisic. The star winger missed the match with a calf injury that forced him off against Paraguay, but Pochettino's midfield three of Tyler Adams, Malik Tillman, and Weston McKennie completely dominated their Australian counterparts. Ricardo Pepi, Pulisic's replacement, contributed positively. This was not a team missing its talisman. This was a cohesive unit playing with conviction.

"Christian is an important player for us but we're a team and it was impossible for him to play for us today," Pochettino said. "We want him back for the next game but if we want to win the tournament, we need the whole team and all the players need to be available."

According to FIFA, USA are guaranteed to advance to the round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams at an absolute minimum, though in practice they will finish top of Group D. Mexico are confirmed as Group A winners. Both hosts are into the knockout rounds with a game to spare. The home advantage is real.

Brazil Get Going With Cunha Double

Brazil found their rhythm in Philadelphia. After a limp 1-1 draw with Morocco in their opener, Carlo Ancelotti needed a response. He got one, though the 3-0 scoreline masked some lingering concerns.

The key tactical decision was dropping Brentford striker Igor Thiago for Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha. It paid off immediately. Cunha forced in the opener in the 23rd minute, turning home a rebound from Vinicius Junior's saved effort. He was fortunate the goal stood after accidentally kicking defender Hannes Delcroix as the ball crossed the line, but there was nothing fortunate about his second. A superb left-footed strike smashed high into the near-post net as Cunha fell away off balance. Two goals, two finishes of completely different character.

Vinicius Junior rolled in a third during first-half stoppage time, his second of the tournament, and Brazil cruised through the second half with the sort of nonchalance that will concern Ancelotti even as he welcomes the three points. Endrick made his World Cup debut off the bench, had a goal ruled out for offside, and looked lively. The teenager's involvement is a bonus for a squad that looked dangerously thin in the opener.

But there were worrying signs. Raphinha was forced off in the 40th minute with an apparent hamstring injury, the Barcelona forward later spotted with an ice pack strapped to the back of his right leg. Neymar remains sidelined with a calf problem. Brazil's starting eleven was their oldest at a World Cup match since 1962, averaging 30 years and 190 days. And the underlying numbers were unflattering: Brazil managed only eight shots, the joint-fourth fewest since 1966 by any team to score at least three goals in a World Cup fixture. Only two of those shots came in the second half.

Brazil top Group C on goal difference, level with Morocco on four points. Scotland sit third with three points. Haiti are eliminated. The final round of fixtures on June 24 will decide everything: Scotland vs Brazil in Miami, Morocco vs Haiti. Brazil need a result to guarantee top spot. Scotland need at least a point to have any chance of progression.

Scotland Penalty Heartbreak vs Morocco

Scotland knew victory against Morocco in Boston would guarantee a place in the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time in their history. They lost 1-0 and left the pitch furious with the officials.

The match was decided after 70 seconds. Grant Hanley was caught out and Ismael Saibari took full advantage with a clinical strike into the top corner. Saibari almost made it two moments later as Scotland struggled to find any composure. The Boston Stadium crowd was flat, the Scottish support stunned into silence.

The controversy arrived in the second half. John McGinn appealed for a penalty after being brought down by Neil El Aynaoui shortly after the restart. The referee deemed it a fair challenge. Then, with eight minutes remaining, Scott McTominay went down under another dubious challenge from the same player. Again, nothing given.

Roy Keane, working as a pundit for ITV, was dismissive of the McTominay appeal. "I don't think it's a penalty. I think he's looking to go down." Steve Clarke, the Scotland manager, was more measured but clearly frustrated. His side ended the match without a single shot on target. Ryan Christie blazed over from a brilliant McTominay set-up just after the hour. McTominay and Lyndon Dykes went close late on but could not find the finishing touch.

"Proud but devastated," Clarke said of his players. The margin between history and heartbreak was razor-thin. Scotland need to take something against Brazil on June 24 to have any chance of progression. It is a daunting task, but Brazil's injury concerns and patchy form offer a sliver of hope.

For Morocco, the win was a statement of intent after their opening draw with Brazil. Saibari was unplayable in the first 20 minutes, running at Scotland's defense with pace and intelligence. Morocco are level with Brazil on four points and face already-eliminated Haiti in their final group match, a fixture that should confirm their place in the last 32.

How the Groups Stand After Round 2

The second round of group matches has started to separate the contenders from the also-rans. Here is where things stand in the groups that have completed two rounds of fixtures:

Group A: Mexico are through with 6 points from 2 games, yet to concede. South Korea sit second with 3 points after bouncing back from their opening loss. Czech Republic and South Africa have 1 point each and need results in the final round to have any hope.

Group B: Canada and Switzerland share the lead with 4 points each. Canada's 6-0 demolition of Qatar in their opener was the statement performance of the tournament. Bosnia and Qatar each have 1 point, with Qatar eliminated in all but mathematical terms after shipping 7 goals in 2 games.

Group C: Brazil and Morocco are level on 4 points, separated only by goal difference. Scotland have 3 points from their opening win over Haiti. Haiti are eliminated with 0 points and 0 goals. The final round is decisive: Scotland vs Brazil, Morocco vs Haiti.

Group D: USA are through with 6 points and a +5 goal difference. Australia and Paraguay each have 3 points, with Australia holding second place on goal difference. Turkey are eliminated with 0 points and 0 goals. The final matchday sees Paraguay vs Australia in a straight fight for second spot.

FIFA has also altered how group tables work for this tournament. Head-to-head records between tied teams are now the first tiebreaker, replacing the traditional group goal difference. This change means that results between the teams level on points matter more than overall goal difference, which could lead to some surprising permutations in the final round of fixtures.

First Teams Eliminated

Haiti and Turkey are the first teams eliminated from the 2026 World Cup. Both failed to score a single goal across their two matches.

Haiti's tournament was always going to be an uphill battle. Drawn in a group with Brazil, Morocco, and Scotland, the Caribbean nation was the lowest-ranked team in the group. Two defeats, zero goals, and a goal difference of -4 confirm their exit. They play Morocco in their final match with nothing but pride on the line.

Turkey's elimination is the genuine shock. Vincenzo Montella had a squad brimming with talent: Calhanoglu's experience, Guler's creativity, Yildiz's youthful exuberance. Pre-tournament predictions had them as potential dark horses. Instead, they managed 62 shots across two matches without scoring once, a statistical anomaly that defies logic and footballing law. The ball would not go in. It hit the woodwork. It was saved. It flew over. It drifted wide. Everything that could go wrong, did.

The recriminations will follow Montella home. The Italian coach was appointed to modernize Turkey's approach, and his attacking philosophy produced some attractive football. But beautiful football without goals is just expensive passing practice. Turkey's World Cup is over before it really began.

What Happens Next: Final Group Fixtures

The third and final round of group stage matches begins on June 24, and the stakes could not be higher. Every point, every goal, every head-to-head result matters under FIFA's new tiebreaker rules.

In Group C, the headline fixture is Scotland vs Brazil in Miami on June 24. Scotland need at least a point to keep their hopes alive. Brazil need a win to guarantee top spot and set up a favorable path through the knockout rounds. Morocco should handle Haiti comfortably and secure their own passage.

In Group D, the decisive match is Paraguay vs Australia. USA have already won the group. Turkey are already out. The winner of Paraguay vs Australia joins USA in the round of 32. A draw could be enough for Australia depending on goal difference, but neither side will want to leave it to arithmetic.

Groups A and B also have their final round of fixtures coming up. Mexico, already through, face Czech Republic. South Korea take on South Africa. Canada and Switzerland face Bosnia-Herzegovina and Qatar respectively in matches that should confirm their progression.

Other groups are still in the early stages. Groups E and F play their second round of fixtures today, with Germany vs Ivory Coast and Netherlands vs Sweden the standout matches. Follow every result live on iscore.ai for real-time scores, standings and match updates across all 12 groups.

FAQ