The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is well underway. As the second round of group stage fixtures unfolds, a clearer picture of which teams will advance to the knockout rounds is beginning to emerge.

Among the 48 competing nations, 16 hail from Europe. Spain delivered a commanding performance yesterday, securing a 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia, bouncing back strongly after their earlier draw against Cape Verde. Meanwhile, France, the reigning vice-champions and two-time World Cup winners in 1998 and 2018, are set to face Iraq this Monday at 11 PM French time for their second match of the tournament.

We are committed to keeping you updated on the European teams’ progress throughout the World Cup. Here’s a summary of the key events and performances from the eleventh day of competition, Sunday, June 21, for Europe’s representatives.

The stat of the day 📊

27.2

This figure represents the average age of players across the sixteen European national teams participating in this World Cup. Bosnia and Herzegovina fields the youngest squad, with an average age of 26 years. The age gaps among European teams are minimal, with Scotland being the oldest, averaging 28.7 years.

The quote of the day 🎙️

I have little to criticize my players for, other than our lack of efficiency. This is often how a World Cup campaign begins, a slow start. At least we now know the result we must achieve against New Zealand.

Rudi Garcia, Belgium coach

Belgium’s World Cup campaign has started slowly, following a 0-0 draw against Iran and an earlier stalemate with Egypt. Despite these struggles, their French coach, Rudi Garcia, remains optimistic.

With Egypt securing a victory overnight, the top spot in the group is no longer solely in the hands of the Red Devils. Belgium now faces the challenge of needing a significant win against New Zealand and hoping for a slip-up from Egypt in their match against Iran.

Under the spotlight 🔎

For the past seven editions, no player who won the Ballon d’Or has managed to follow it up with a World Cup title the subsequent year. Ousmane Dembélé, the 2025 Ballon d’Or recipient, a French forward for Paris Saint-Germain, and a double European club champion, now has the chance to break this streak with the French national team at the 2026 World Cup. Les Bleus are scheduled to play their second group match against Iraq on June 22 at 11 PM (French time) in Philadelphia.

Several European stars, often recipients of football’s most coveted individual trophy, have found themselves on this list: Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner who did not claim the World Cup in 2014 or 2018; English striker Michael Owen, whose efforts in 2002 were not enough; and the unique situation of Karim Benzema. The French forward, honored with the Ballon d’Or in 2022, was forced to withdraw from the World Cup held in Qatar that same year (which took place in December) due to an injury sustained in training just four days before France’s opening match against Australia.

European team news 📰

With Lamine Yamal on the field, everything seems to click. Still recovering from a thigh injury and not yet fit for a full 90 minutes, the 18-year-old Barcelona sensation (who turns 19 on July 13 during this World Cup) transformed his team’s performance. Making his first World Cup start against Saudi Arabia, Yamal opened the scoring in just the 10th minute before being substituted at halftime as a precautionary measure, contributing significantly to Spain’s 4-0 victory.

Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente declared after the match, “He is back.” A clear warning to their upcoming opponents.