Day 11 of the World Cup delivered more action-packed moments, emphasizing both goalkeeping heroics and errors. Spain showed a strong comeback performance, while Belgium continued to face challenges after their ‘Golden Generation’ era. Their struggles lent more optimism to the United States’ prospects in this tournament. Another key moment came from Iran’s goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand, who made a potential save of the tournament.
Cape Verde continued to inspire, securing a 2-2 draw against Uruguay in Miami. Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah nearly guaranteed Egypt’s advancement to the knockout stage by scoring three times in 24 minutes, leading to a 3-1 victory over New Zealand.
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Lamine Yamal Joins the Action
Lamine Yamal needed some patience before making his first World Cup start. He quickly became the latest superstar to find the back of the net. Celebrating his first goal against Saudi Arabia, he joined the ranks of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Vinicius Junior, and Erling Haaland in scoring at this tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo remains an outlier among top players.
Remarkably, Yamal was only 16 years and 338 days old when he debuted in Euro 2024, making him the youngest to participate in a men’s European Championship. Over the last two years, Yamal has solidified his role as a star for Spain.
The young player’s impact was clear after Spain’s unexpected 0-0 opening draw with Cape Verde. Coming off the bench late in the game due to a hamstring recovery, he showed his value in unlocking tough defenses. Yamal dazzled against Saudi Arabia with his skillful play, showing significant physical growth since the Euros in Germany.
With Spain leading comfortably, Yamal left the field at half-time, but his post-match Instagram message was clear: “I’m here.” His aspirations include leading Spain in a standout World Cup performance.
Goalkeepers or Goal Rush?
Iran’s Alireza Beiranvand made one of the tournament’s best saves against Belgium. De Bruyne’s pass nearly resulted in a goal, but Beiranvand’s quick reflexes denied the attempt. His heroic save preserved a crucial draw for Iran and added to his growing reputation from the 2018 World Cup, where he famously blocked a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty.
In addition to Beiranvand, goalkeepers from underdog teams have shone. Cape Verde’s Vozinha gained online fame for his stunning performance during a scoreless draw with Spain, facing 23 shots overall. Similarly, Curacao’s Eloy Room excelled, saving 15 shots on target against Ecuador.
With Iran holding Belgium to a clean sheet despite many attempts, Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois coined 2026 as the “tournament of goalkeepers.” However, despite amazing saves, the World Cup saw 100 goals in just 33 games, marking the fastest to reach the century mark in 68 years. The Trionda ball from Adidas might be a factor in the high score rates.
A Wide-Open World Cup?
Cape Verde continued defying expectations, drawing 2-2 with Uruguay in Miami. Their results highlight how unpredictable the group stages have been. Group H is wide open, with Cape Verde, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia closely competing for advancement.
So far, only Haiti, Turkey, and Tunisia have yet to earn points, while the U.S., Mexico, and Germany achieved maximum points and a spot in the next round. Notably, in the last World Cup, no team in the 32-team format won all group stage matches. With additional groups, surprises this year indicate a similar outcome is possible.
This competitiveness shows the increased level of global football. Currently, draws are prevalent, with 13 in 40 matches, exceeding the average in previous tournaments. This positions many teams in precarious standings, needing positive results to progress. To check your team’s advancement prospects, explore The Athletic’s interactive tracker.
Day 12: Spotlight on the Stars
On Day 12, high-profile players such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland are expected to compete for Argentina, France, and Norway. Messi aims to mark his approaching 39th birthday with a standout game versus Austria in Dallas. Both teams scored a win in their previous match, and another victory will likely secure the group’s top position. A goal for Messi would also make him the leading World Cup finals scorer with 17.
Day 12 Schedule:
- Group J: Argentina vs Austria, 1 pm ET (6 pm BST)
- Group I: France vs Iraq, 5 pm ET (10 pm BST)
- Group I: Norway vs Senegal, 8 pm ET (1 am Tuesday BST)
- Group J: Jordan vs Algeria, 11 pm ET (4 am Tuesday BST)
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