The 2026 FIFA World Cup has had another interesting evening, which has shown that paper predictions will be very fragile at this expanded tournament. Switzerland failed to close out the match against Qatar, Brazil could only manage a draw against Morocco, and Scotland, on the other hand, celebrated an important start to the championship with a victory over Haiti.

Switzerland entered the match against Qatar as the favorite and had the match under control for a long time. In the 17th minute, Breel Embolo opened the scoring with a penalty after a foul by goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada on Rema Freuler. The Swiss were more active, created significantly more scoring attempts, and, according to Reuters, ended the match with a 26-7 advantage in shots. However, they failed to add a second goal and paid the price for it at the end. In added time, a cross from Homam Ahmed came in, and after a header from Boualem Khoukhi, which deflected off Mira Muheima, Qatar equalized to 1-1. For Qatar, this was the first point ever in the World Cup, while for Switzerland, it was a very unpleasant loss.

The draw also complicated Group B. After the first matches, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Switzerland, and Qatar all have one point. This means that the group is completely open, and the next round could significantly change the chances of advancing. Switzerland will now face Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Qatar will face the host nation, Canada.

The match between Brazil and Morocco also attracted a lot of attention, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Brazil entered the tournament as one of the main favorites, but Morocco showed from the start that its semi-final run in the previous championship was no fluke. The Africans were more courageous and faster in the opening minutes and took the lead in the 21st minute. Ismael Saibari capitalized on a quick counterattack and elegantly chipped Alisson. Brazil had problems mainly in the midfield, where Morocco played very confidently.

Vinícius Júnior provided Brazil's response. In the 32nd minute, he showed the individual quality that fans expect from him and scored a precise shot to equalize to 1-1. The match then offered several more chances, but neither team added a decisive goal. Morocco may be more satisfied with the point, as it played compactly, courageously, and tactically maturely against the favorite. Brazil, on the other hand, showed strength in individual players, but also revealed warning signs of weaknesses in team organization.

Scotland managed a successful return to the World Cup. They won 1-0 against Haiti and earned three points, which could be crucial in Group C. John McGinn scored the decisive goal in the first half. Haiti was not without chances and got into several dangerous situations, but Scotland controlled the result and managed the match, in which they needed to confirm their role as favorites against a seemingly weaker opponent.

From the perspective of Group C, the situation after the first round is very interesting. Scotland has three points after winning against Haiti, Brazil and Morocco have one point each, and Haiti remains without a point. The draw between Brazil and Morocco gives Scotland an excellent starting position. If they can earn a point against Morocco or trouble Brazil in the next match, they can realistically consider advancing.

The last matches sent a clear message: big names alone are not enough. Switzerland failed to capitalize on their advantage, Brazil faced a very strong Morocco, and Scotland showed that even a pragmatic 1-0 victory can be of great value at the beginning of the tournament. The 2026 World Cup is just getting started, but it already offers results that could influence the entire development of the groups.

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