Iran's Shahriyar Moghanloo (20) battles for the ball with New Zealand's Finn Surman (16). (AP Photo)NEW DELHI: The race for the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage is beginning to take shape after the first round of matches for 32 teams across the first eight groups, with Monday producing a historic first in 68 years.A total of 16 matches have been played so far in the expanded 48-team tournament, while the remaining four groups are yet to begin their campaigns. Defending champions Argentina, alongside former winners France and England, are among the heavyweights still waiting to kick off their World Cup journeys.Historic day sees four drawsMonday witnessed an extraordinary sequence as all four matches ended without a winner, marking the first time since June 15, 1958, that a World Cup matchday featuring four games produced four draws.The day began with one of the biggest shocks of the tournament when debutants Cape Verde held European champions and world No. 2 Spain to a goalless draw in Atlanta.Belgium then escaped an upset against Egypt, with Romelu Lukaku's immediate impact helping the Red Devils secure a 1-1 draw after Emam Ashour had put the Pharaohs ahead.Uruguay also had to fight back from behind as Maximiliano Araújo struck late to rescue a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia in Miami.In the day's final game, Iran twice came from behind to earn a thrilling 2-2 draw against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.With only one game played by each side in the first eight groups, the standings remain tightly packed. However, the latest results have underlined that there are no easy matches at football's biggest stage.As the remaining groups prepare to get underway and giants such as Argentina, France and England enter the fray, the battle for places in the round of 32 promises to intensify in the coming days.FIFA World Cup 2026 Points Table after Iran vs New Zealand match:GroupRankTeamsPlayedWonDrawLostGDPointsGroup A1Mexico1100+232Korea Republic1100+133Czechia1001-104South Africa1001-20Group B1Switzerland1010012Canada1010013Qatar1010014Bosnia & Herzegovina101001Group C1Scotland1100+132Morocco1010013Brazil1010014Haiti1001-10Group D1USA1100+332Australia1100+233Türkiye1001-204Paraguay1001-30Group E1Germany1100+632Ivory Coast1100+133Ecuador1001-104Curacao1001-60Group F1Sweden1100+532Japan1010013Netherlands1010014Tunisia1001-50Group G1New Zealand1010012Iran1010013Belgium1010014Egypt101001Group H1Uruguay1010012Saudi Arabia1010013Spain1010014Cabo Verde101001Group I1France0000002Senegal0000003Iraq0000004Norway000000Group J1Argentina0000002Algeria0000003Austria0000004Jordan000000Group K1Portugal0000002Congo DR0000003Uzbekistan0000004Colombia000000Group L1England0000002Croatia0000003Ghana0000004Panama000000