It was a record-setting day at the FIFA World Cup™ as the total attendance hit 3,605,357 during the opening fixture in New York New Jersey. That set a new record for the highest aggregate attendance at any World Cup edition, surpassing the previous benchmark of 3,587,538 at USA 1994.

History was also made by Côte d'Ivoire as they saw off Curaçao to advance from the group stage for the first time, while goals in either half saw Ecuador stun Germany to also advance.

Netherlands finished top of Group F as they eased past Tunisia in Kansas City, while Japan's 1-1 draw with Sweden means that the Asian heavyweights advance from the group stage for the third consecutive edition. The Swedes also punched a Round of 32 ticket as one of the best third-place finishers.

In the day's final fixtures, co-hosts USA fell to a late Türkiye goal in a 3-2 thriller while a scoreless draw with Paraguay ensured that Australia finished as Group D runners-up.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 25: A general view as the LED screen displays the message "World Record 3,605,357 Total Attendance at FIFA World Cup 2026 to date." during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match between Ecuador and Germany at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 25, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Dustin Satloff - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Curaçao 0-2 Côte d'Ivoire

Group E Philadelphia Stadium

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 25: Nicolas Pepe #19 of Cote d'Ivoire scores his team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match between Curacao and Cote D'Ivoire at Philadelphia Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Côte d'Ivoire knew that a win over debutants Curaçao would send them into the knockout stage for the first time and it took them just seven minutes to strike in Philadelphia. It was a goal crafted through the persistence of starlet Yan Diomande and swept home by Nicolas Pepe.

The Blue Wave weren’t without chances of their own but a second from Pepe shortly after the hour saw them exit the tournament, leaving the Elephants to celebrate their history-making progression.

Ecuador 2-1 Germany

Group E New York/New Jersey Stadium

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 25: Gonzalo Plata #19 of Ecuador celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match between Ecuador and Germany at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 25, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

Even with Germany already safely through to the knockouts, Julian Nagelsmann resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes and they went ahead after just two minutes as Leroy Sane rolled the ball low past the right hand of the diving Hernan Galindez.

That left Ecuador, yet to score at the tournament, with an almighty task. But it was a challenge they rose to. Nilson Angulo got his nation off the mark and resored parity just seven minutes later as he lashed home from the top of the D. Gonzalo Plata’s late, close-range, volley then won it for the South Americans, who advance to the knockouts for just the second time.

Tunisia 1-3 Netherlands

Group F Kansas City Stadium

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 25: Jan-Paul van Hecke #6 of Netherlands celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F match between Tunisia and Netherlands at Kansas City Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

Needing to match Japan’s result in their clash with Sweden in the simultaneous section-closers, the Netherlands raced into a two-goal lead inside the first seven minutes in Kansas City to take control of the group.

An Ellyes Skhiri own goal and a third in two matches from Brian Brobbey had the Dutch in a commanding position, only for Hazem Mastouri to hand Tunisia a lifeline shortly after the restart. Defender Jan Paul van Hecke, though, struck just after the hour to restore the two-goal buffer and ultimately see the Dutch finish top and set up a Round of 32 clash with Morocco.

Japan 1-1 Sweden

Group F Dallas Stadium

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JUNE 25: Daizen Maeda #11 of Japan scores his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F match between Japan and Sweden at Dallas Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Japan were chasing a win and goals to try and overhaul the Netherlands at the section summit when they met a Sweden side also desperate for a positive result in Dallas.

After a tight opening period ended scoreless, Ritsu Doan’s defence-splitter saw Daizen Maeda sweep home nine minutes into the second half, only for Anthony Elanga to strike back for the Swedes six minutes later. The 1-1 draw means that Japan finish second to set up a clash with Brazil in the Round of 32, while Sweden also advance as one of the best third-place teams.

Paraguay 0-0 Australia

Group D San Francisco Bay Area Stadium

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 25: Alessandro Circati #3 of Australia is challenged by Julio Enciso #19 of Paraguay during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Paraguay and Australia at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Matt McNulty - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Australia knew that a point would ensure they qualified for the knockouts for a second straight World Cup, while a draw would also likely be enough for Paraguay to join them. With neither side taking many first-half risks there was a combined total of two shots – both coming from Australia – at the break.

The second half was a touch more lively, with Nestory Irankunda and Jordan Bos both sending efforts wide for the Socceroos, who end as group runners-up. They’ll now face the Group G runners-up in Dallas on 3 July.

Türkiye 3-2 USA

Group D Los Angeles Stadium

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 25: Baris Alper Yilmaz #21 of Turkiye reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Türkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

With the co-hosts safely through to the Round of 32, coach Mauricio Pochettino rotated his starting XI, with two of those changes combining to open the scoring early on, as Auston Trusty swept home a Sebastian Berhalter corner at the back post.

Coming after just two minutes and 13 seconds, that was the USA’s second fastest World Cup goal. Within half an hour the lead would evaporate though, as firstly a move started and finished by Arda Guler drew Türkiye level and then a Baris Alper Yilmaz strike put them ahead just after the half hour.

The man who created America’s first, Berhalter, then lashed home a leveller from the top of the box to restore parity in the second half, but Kaan Ayhan spoiled the co-hosts' party as he popped up with a 98th-minute winner for Türkiye.

Despite the loss, USA finished as group winners and are now set for a Round of 32 show-down with Bosnia and Herzegovina in San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on 1 July. (FIFA, excluding headline)

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