On this episode of The Underdog World Cup Show, Chris Horwedel closes the book on the 2026 World Cup group stage and previews the first Round of 32 matchup. The show opens with England beating Panama to finish top of Group L, as Jude Bellingham sparks the attack and Harry Kane makes history by passing Gary Lineker as England’s all-time leading World Cup scorer.

Chris also breaks down Croatia’s dramatic win over Ghana, with Luka Modrić becoming the oldest player in World Cup history to record an assist, while both teams move forward into the knockout picture. Group K features Colombia finishing first after a competitive draw with Portugal, plus DR Congo making history with its first World Cup win and a comeback against Uzbekistan that sends them through to face England.

Group J delivers the wildest finish of the day, with Argentina continuing its perfect group-stage run behind Lionel Messi’s latest milestone and Algeria-Austria producing a chaotic draw that sends both teams through while eliminating Iran despite an unbeaten group stage. Chris then previews South Africa vs. Canada, the opening game of the Round of 32, using odds from oddsmakers to frame Canada’s talent edge, South Africa’s defensive structure, the pressure of knockout soccer, and what a win would mean for either nation.

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On this episode of The Underdog World Cup Show, Chris Horwedel previews the final day of the 2026 World Cup group stage, with six games across three groups set to complete the Round of 32 picture. The show opens with France’s emphatic Group I finish, as Ousmane Dembélé delivers a first-half hat trick, Désiré Doué adds another goal, and France closes group play with a perfect 9 points, 10 goals scored, and a plus-8 goal difference.

Chris also covers Senegal’s big win over Iraq and what it means for the expanded tournament’s third-place race, plus Cape Verde making World Cup history as the smallest country ever to reach the knockout stage after drawing Saudi Arabia. Group H also features Spain topping the group with a controlled performance against Uruguay, finishing with 7 points and no goals conceded, while Belgium finally finds its attack in Group G behind Leandro Trossard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Alexis Saelemaekers. Egypt also advances after its draw with Iran, while Iran’s unbeaten group-stage run ends in frustration.

The episode then previews the final group-stage slate: Panama vs. England and Croatia vs. Ghana in Group L, Colombia vs. Portugal and DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan in Group K, and Jordan vs. Argentina and Algeria vs. Austria in Group J. Chris uses odds from oddsmakers to frame the stakes around England’s push for first, Ghana’s defensive strength, Croatia’s urgency, Colombia and Portugal’s battle for Group K, DR Congo’s survival hopes, Argentina’s likely rotation, Messi’s hot start, and Algeria-Austria as a knockout-style group finale.

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On this episode of The Underdog World Cup Show, Chris Horwedel breaks down another six-game World Cup day as the group stage moves closer to the knockout rounds. The show opens with the USMNT’s final Group D match against Turkey, where the United States still wins the group but heads into the Round of 32 with questions around defensive sharpness, rotation, Christian Pulisic’s fitness, Auston Trusty’s status, and an upcoming matchup with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Group D also features Paraguay and Australia, with Australia reaching another knockout stage and Paraguay staying alive in the third-place picture. Group E brings one of the day’s biggest twists as Ecuador gets a major result against Germany to move through, while Ivory Coast beats Curaçao and reaches the knockout stage for the first time. Chris also gives Curaçao credit for making history as the smallest nation ever to play in a men’s World Cup.

Group F wraps with the Netherlands finishing on top after its match with Tunisia, while Japan and Sweden both advance after a tense draw. The Netherlands now draw Morocco, Japan gets Brazil, and Sweden also moves on, setting up a stronger knockout bracket.

Chris then previews today’s six-game slate, led by Norway vs. France in Group I, a marquee showdown framed around Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard, Michael Olise, and Aurélien Tchouaméni. The episode also previews Senegal vs. Iraq, Spain vs. Uruguay, Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia, Egypt vs. Iran, and Belgium vs. New Zealand. Using odds from oddsmakers, Chris highlights the key tournament angles: France’s title-market strength, Norway’s chance to prove it belongs, Spain’s control of Group H, Uruguay’s pressure, Cape Verde and Egypt chasing history, and Belgium trying to avoid a shocking early exit.

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