The second weekend of the FIFA World Cup is here, and giants are ready to claim what's theirs. Germany, Belgium, Spain, Uruguay, and Japan will return to action and face underdogs to solidify their position in their respective groups. A win might ensure or at least make their round of 32 spot comfortable.
After a phenomenal victory against Curaçao, Germany would be eyeing to challenge Ivory Coast. At the same time, Spain and Uruguay are searching for their three points. Japan will play Tunisia to raise the ranks in Group F. Though anything can happen, one bad result can complicate the team's path through to the knockouts.
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Germany vs Ivory Coast — Saturday, June 20, 16:00 ET
Germany would love to continue their winning run, but one can not undermine Ivory Coast. They might not have many World Cup appearances, but they have never failed to surprise. Two weeks back, they defeated France in a friendly match 2-1, which shows their potential. With their recent last-minute victory over Ecuador, they would be running high on confidence.
Ivory Coast have never met Germany at the FIFA World Cup. They played their last-friendly International in 2009, which ended 2-2. While the current German team has the belief and firepower to destroy any lineup, Ivory Coast have won four of their last five matches, carrying real momentum.
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Spain vs Saudi Arabia — Sunday, June 21, 12:00 ET
The biggest shock in Group H was Cape Verde's draw with Spain. There's a lot of criticism around Spanish players, which they must get rid of. Saudi Arabia, who are known for stunning giants, will play against the mighty Spain at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta. Spain will have to dominate and carry their momentum in the first 22 minutes, or hydration breaks could be a game-changer.
While Spain has a healthy historical edge over Saudi Arabia, football does not value history; rather, skills and form are what win the game. The Saudi defenders must be thinking of restricting Lamine Yamal, whereas Spain would be aiming for an early lead, as defense is not their problem. Interestingly, none of the teams have won any match in Group H till now.
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Uruguay vs Cabo Verde — Sunday, June 21, 6:00 PM ET
Will Vozinha's magical hands protect Cape Verde again? The debutant nation surprised the world after drawing with World No. 2 in their previous matches. The match, which appeared to be one-sided, ended with a draw. Now, Uruguay would have to face the same African side to seal their first victory at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Though Uruguay has a win probability of 66% while I am writing this, it is based on historical records. Cape Verde has never faced Uruguay, and it's their first World Cup. The two-time World Champions, Uruguay, will have to rely heavily on attack to move past the line. This match will be played at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, and there's already a heat advisory on forecast channels.
Belgium vs Iran — Sunday, June 21, 12:00 PT
Belgium will play Team Melli at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, which is one of the most advanced and futuristic stadiums in the world. While Belgium might be disappointed with their recent draw against Egypt, Iran will be slightly higher in confidence as they've drawn the match after losing the lead twice in their last match against New Zealand. Both teams haven't met each other in International matches, but current statistics show that Iran has a 12% chance of winning, while Belgium has 68%, rest 20% is no result.
If Belgium wins against Iran, they will have a comfy path to the round of 32, while another slip could complicate things for both teams. Also, their ranking in the group would depend on the results of the later New Zealand vs Egypt match. The only factor that would be a concern for the Iran team is traveling 140 miles from Tijuana to Inglewood.
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Tunisia vs Japan — Saturday, June 20, 22:00 CST
Estadio Monterrey, Mexico will host Tunisia vs Japan in Group F, where Japan would be aiming to climb the Group F standings and dethrone Sweden. Japan are clearly the favorites in this match, as Tunisia have already faced a traumatic defeat of 5-1 against Sweden. But we have seen Tunisia beat the likes of France, Sweden, and Mexico in the past, so nothing is guaranteed.
Japan last met Tunisia in 2023 in a friendly match in Kobe, Japan, where they won 2-0 against the guests. With 63% chances of winning, Japan will be entering the game with full confidence. Their defenders, midfielders, and forwards are in perfect form. More interestingly, they are playing textbook football, which makes it even more interesting to watch.
The Weekend's Undercard
Football is not only about heavyweights, and some teams can surprise you at any moment of the game. The only thing is they might have limited fans, or they are not well-ranked in the FIFA World Rankings. Chances are they might defeat your favorite team, but you won't admit it.
Beyond the five matches, you can keep an eye on the Ecuador vs Curaçao match in Group E, where Germany and Ivory Coast are already leading the group. Both Curaçao and Ecuador need to win this match to open their account. In the Group G match, Egypt will play New Zealand, where both teams will be high on confidence after giving a tough time to Belgium and Iran in their previous matches.
