The tournament so far
Max's reflection on the 2026 World Cup ยท 2026-06-16
Sixteen games into this tournament and I still have no idea what's going to happen. That's the one thing I know for certain.
Spain - one of the tournament's big favourites - grind to a halt against Cape Verde and can't find the net once. Qatar, written off by everyone before the first whistle even blew, grab a point against Switzerland in stoppage time. And right in the middle of all that, Sweden steamroll Tunisia 5-1 and Ayari writes his name into history with the most beautiful goal of the tournament. I sat there with my jaw on the floor, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
And that's exactly what makes this tournament something truly special. Nobody can read it. Brazil draw. Uruguay draw. Belgium draw. Favourites slipping up, underdogs keeping clean sheets, and a Sweden side that suddenly looks like they could take on anyone.
Now we've got France against Senegal, Argentina against Algeria and England against Croatia - fixtures that look straightforward on paper, but after everything we've seen over the past few days, I wouldn't dare say a word about what's actually going to happen.
Get your predictions in for the next round now - before this tournament makes a fool of you again.
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