World Cup 2026: First shock arrives, Brazil rusty at the start, England hit by robbery drama | OneFootball

Only three days into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and a handful of surprising outcomes have already thrown the script out of the window.

It’s been hot both on and off the pitch.

From Switzerland’s late heartbreak to England’s stolen-boots saga, we can safely say the opening days of the World Cup have already produced exciting storylines.

Stay tuned, as we bring you the latest updates from North America.

Embolo scores for history books as Qatar spring first upset of the tournament

Switzerland’s victory over Qatar at the start of Group B had seemed like a foregone conclusion.

However, despite thoroughly outclassing their opposition, the Swiss had to settle for a frustrating 1-1 draw. Breel Embolo converted a 17th-minute penalty to inspire his country to a perfect start.

The Rennes striker became the first Swiss player to score from the spot at a World Cup. Little did anyone know his goal would be Switzerland’s only strike at the final whistle.

When it looked like last tournament’s hosts would maintain their 100 percent losing record at World Cups, Boualem Khoukhi slammed home a thumping header deep into second-half added time to break Switzerland’s hearts.

Qatar incredibly avoided defeat, in part thanks to goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada, who made numerous miraculous saves. However, Murat Yakin’s misfiring frontline carried much of the blame.

The wastefulness displayed by Ruben Vargas, Dan Ndoye and Embolo was nothing short of comical at times. It’s unfathomable how Switzerland failed to score from open play, given the number of chances they created on either side of half-time.

Yakin’s men have significantly complicated their chances of reaching the knockout stage ahead of daunting-looking clashes against Canada and Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Samba Kings caged by Atlas Lions

One of the standout fixtures of the opening matchday lived up to its billing as Morocco held Brazil to a dramatic 1-1 draw at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

Fans in attendance witnessed two sharply contrasting halves. Morocco enjoyed a strong start to the game, having Brazil on the ropes for the best part of the first half. They could’ve scored a couple before the break.

If you’re still wondering why Bayern Munich are so desperate to sign Ismael Saibari from PSV Eindhoven, you should check the match highlights.

In addition to scoring an exquisite goal to put the Atlas Lions ahead, he was a thorn in Brazil’s side all game.

However, the Selecao replied through Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior, who beat Bono from an acute angle with a top-drawer finish to restore parity midway through the first half.  

Perhaps intimidated by the stature of his opposition, Morocco boss Mohamed Ouahbi opted for a much more conservative approach in the second 45 minutes, allowing the five-time world champions to dominate proceedings.

Ouahbi’s lack of courage didn’t come back to haunt them, only because Brazil looked dysfunctional in the final third, clearly missing a cohesive game plan in the absence of Neymar.

It wasn’t the start Carlo Ancelotti had hoped for, but the Selecao can be relieved not to have been punished more severely for an underwhelming performance.  

England captain robbed in Kansas City

England have just arrived at their base camp in Kansas City. However, it was far from a warm welcome.

Bayern talisman Harry Kane fell victim to a bizarre robbery that took place just before the Three Lions settled into their World Cup training base.

According to the Telegraph, footwear belonging to the Bayern superstar was missing from the team’s van, together with equipment and personal items belonging to other members of the squad.

Kansas City Police confirmed they had already made two arrests and recovered the ‘majority’ of the stolen goods before the Three Lions settled into their World Cup base camp.

Reportedly unaware of the theft, manager Thomas Tuchel and his players completed their first training session at the Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City in a ‘positive’ mood.

Although it was likely an attempt to claim a few souvenirs, it was a felony, and the perpetrators should be held accountable for their actions.

Germany meet Texas heat

Four-time world champions Germany will commence their journey in Group E later this evening as odds-on favourites to dismantle debutants Curacao in Houston, Texas.

While this encounter is a definition of a ‘mismatch’, with Die Mannschaft widely expected to trounce the minnows in their first-ever meeting, preparations for the game are not going smoothly.

Temperatures at Germany’s base camp in Winston-Salem reached up to 41 degrees Celsius on Saturday, forcing kit providers adidas to provide the German players with special cooling vests.

To put the extreme weather conditions into further perspective, paramedics were on standby in case of an emergency, highlighting the severity of the heat and the physical challenge awaiting players at this summer’s tournament.

Manager Julian Nagelsmann instructed his players to avoid spending too much time in air-conditioned rooms and embrace the outdoor conditions to speed up the acclimatisation process.

Blistering temperatures would hardly be an excuse if the Germans suffer the same fate as Switzerland in their curtain-raising outing.

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Japan condemned Germany to a group-stage elimination in Qatar four years ago, and they could throw a spanner into the Netherlands’ pursuit of World Cup glory in their opening Group F showdown.

Although only two nations boast a better win ratio at the world’s most prestigious tournament, the Dutch have never won the trophy. There’s little doubt that Ronald Koeman will be keen to rewrite history this summer.

An emphatic start would provide the perfect springboard for the Oranje, but the high-performing Samurai Blue side, buoyed by the pair of friendly wins over Brazil and England, could clip their wings on matchday one.