Day 5 of the World Cup concluded with four games all ending in draws. Despite the scorelines, the day was filled with unexpected developments and memorable moments. The highlight was Spain’s surprising 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, a team not expected to challenge the tournament favorites. Meanwhile, Iran and New Zealand played an exhilarating match in Los Angeles.
With two more days before all teams have debuted on the global stage, let’s examine the status of the 32 teams after their first games.
They Look Strong
- Germany
- United States of America
- Sweden
- Ivory Coast
- South Korea
- Australia
- Morocco
- Japan
- Netherlands
- Brazil
- Mexico
These teams demonstrated strong performances in their first matches. While Spain is expected to join this list after their next game, their current lackluster performance keeps them out for now.
They Look Promising (Kinda)
- Scotland
- Spain
- Belgium
- Uruguay
- Egypt
- Cape Verde
- Saudi Arabia
- Ecuador
- Canada
- Switzerland
- Iran
- New Zealand
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Qatar
- Turkey
- Czechia
- Haiti
This tier includes teams with mixed performances. Spain, despite not losing, failed to score against Cape Verde. Uruguay had a shaky start against Saudi Arabia but improved later. Belgium looked vulnerable, and Egypt believed they could have beaten them.
They Look A Mess
- Paraguay
- Curaçao
- Tunisia
- South Africa
These teams struggled significantly. Tunisia, in particular, faced internal changes, dismissing manager Sabri Lamouchi after their heavy 5-1 loss to Sweden.