The 2026 FIFA World Cup is barely a week old, and European football is already having an identity crisis. Of the nine European teams that have played so far, only three managed to pick up wins in the group stage.
The tournament, which kicked off on June 11 and is being co-hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, expanded to 48 teams this year. That means 12 groups, more matches, and apparently more opportunities for upsets.
What happened on the pitch
Scotland grabbed one of Europe’s rare early victories, edging Haiti 1-0 on June 13. Germany, meanwhile, reminded everyone that they still have a pulse with a 7-1 demolition of Curaçao.
The expanded format brought 16 European teams into the tournament. Beyond Scotland, Germany, and one other European victor, the rest of the continent’s representatives have been stuck in a cycle of draws and defeats.
