World Cup 2026: First Round Concludes, Second Round Begins June 18

The first round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has concluded, with the second round commencing on June 18. The day featured several significant matches across the tournament's group stage. In one of the round's notable upsets, the Democratic Republic of Congo drew 1–1 with Portugal, defying expectations and delivering a surprise result that generated considerable discussion about Portugal's performance and the contributions of key players.

Uzbekistan made its World Cup debut on June 18, facing Colombia in the second round. The match proved challenging for the Central Asian nation, as Colombia secured a 3–1 victory. Uzbekistan did score a historic first goal in World Cup competition, with Abbos Fayzullaev netting the opener following a goalkeeper error by Colombia's Vargas. Despite this milestone, Uzbekistan could not maintain the lead as Colombia's Luis Díaz equalised and subsequently scored again to secure all three points.

The second round featured additional matches involving Ghana versus Panama and Czechia versus South Africa, both teams seeking crucial victories to advance toward the knockout stages. Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina also competed, both aiming for their first wins of the tournament. England's dominant 4–2 victory over Croatia drew attention not only for the result but also for manager Thomas Tuchel's post-match criticism of photographers. The tournament continued to generate widespread discussion across multiple storylines, from player performances to tactical decisions across competing nations.