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News & Analysis

Original stats deep-dives and explainers, written from our own match database.

Match report· 6 min read

Norway 1-2 England: Bellingham Secures Quarter-Final Victory

Jude Bellingham's second-half double sends England past Norway in Miami. A dramatic quarter-final sees hosts fight back from deficit to edge towards the semi-finals.

Match report· 6 min read

Spain 2–1 Belgium: Merino's Late Winner Ends Belgium's Golden Generation

Mikel Merino struck in the 88th minute to send Spain past Belgium and into a semi-final with France. Belgium had scored the first goal Spain conceded all tournament — and it still wasn't enough.

Match report· 6 min read

France 2–0 Morocco: Mbappé Misses a Penalty, Then Ends Morocco's Run Anyway

The rematch the tournament had been building toward was over inside six second-half minutes. Kylian Mbappé missed a penalty, then scored and set up Ousmane Dembélé as France reached the semi-finals — and moved level with Messi on eight goals.

Match report· 6 min read

Brazil 1–2 Norway: A Missed Penalty, a Haaland Brace, and a First Quarter-Final

Brazil missed a penalty in the 14th minute and created the better chances all night. Erling Haaland scored twice in the last eleven minutes. Norway's first World Cup since 1998 rolls into a quarter-final — and a three-way Golden Boot tie at seven.

Match report· 6 min read

England 3–2 Mexico: The Quinto Partido Curse Survives Even a Home World Cup

Two Bellingham goals in three first-half minutes, a red card, and a nervy finish — England went through and ended Mexico's tournament in the round of 16 again. The anatomy of a curse home advantage couldn't break.

Analysis· 6 min read

Morocco Are Doing It Again: Unbeaten, Ruthless, and Into a 2022 Rematch With France

Morocco went unbeaten to the quarter-finals — they held Brazil, out-nerved the Dutch, and dismantled Canada 3–0. This is the analysis we published before the France rematch of the 2022 semi-final.

Analysis· 6 min read

Host Nations Report Card: Mexico Are Perfect, and All Three Hosts Are Still Alive

For the first time ever, a World Cup has three hosts — and all three made the round of 16. Mexico haven't conceded a goal in four games. The full data report card.

History· 6 min read

Every World Cup Golden Boot Winner Since 1990 — and What It Takes to Win One

From Schillaci's fairytale to Mbappé's eight in 2022: every World Cup top scorer of the modern era, how many goals it took, and what history says about the 2026 race.

Guide· 7 min read

The 16 Stadiums of World Cup 2026, From the Azteca to BMO Field

A guide to all 16 World Cup 2026 venues across the USA, Mexico and Canada — capacities, cities, and what makes each one worth knowing, from the 87,000-seat Azteca down.

Explainer· 6 min read

How the 48-Team World Cup Knockout Works — and Who the First-Ever Round of 32 Has Already Claimed

The 2026 World Cup added a whole new knockout round. How teams qualified, how the bracket works, and how Germany and the Netherlands became its first famous victims.

Stats· 5 min read

World Cup 2026 Golden Boot Race: Mbappé and Messi Locked at Six

Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi lead the 2026 Golden Boot race with six goals each, with Haaland and Kane on five. The numbers, the chasing pack, and each contender's path.

Analysis· 6 min read

World Cup 2026 Group Stage Review: 215 Goals, Three Perfect Records and a German Warning Shot

Our data review of the 2026 World Cup group stage: 215 goals in 72 matches, perfect records for Mexico, France and Argentina, and the numbers behind the biggest wins.

Behind the scenes· 5 min read

How Our AI Match Predictions Work (and What They Can't Do)

A transparent look at how goals2026.org generates AI predictions for every World Cup match — the inputs, the model, when predictions update, and their honest limitations.