FIFA World Cup 2026 Halfway: Biggest Upsets & What's Left to Stream

The group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially concluded, and what a ride it has been. The expanded 48-team format delivered on its promise of drama, with record-breaking moments, shock exits, and a new knockout round that has fundamentally reshaped the tournament. With the Round of 32 now underway, here is your essential guide to the biggest upsets so far, the teams that surprised everyone, and exactly how to catch the rest of the action live from Singapore.

Tournament Format & Knockout Structure

The 2026 World Cup introduced a brand-new knockout round that has changed how teams approach the tournament. Understanding this structure is key to following the drama that unfolds over the coming weeks.

The New Round of 32

• The 2026 tournament introduced a brand-new round: the Round of 32

• Unlike the group stage, the knockout rounds are pure single-elimination – one bad night and your World Cup is over

• The 32 advancing teams consist of:

  • 12 group winners

  • 12 runners-up

  • 8 best third-place finishers

The Path to the Final

• Round of 32 → Round of 16 → Quarterfinals → Semifinals → Final

• The final takes place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey

• If a match is tied after 90 minutes:

  • 30 minutes of extra time is played

  • If still tied, a penalty shootout decides the winner

Biggest Upsets & Surprise Packages

The group stage was defined by a series of stunning results that eliminated several traditional powerhouses and gave minnows a chance to shine. Never before have so many underdogs performed so consistently against the world's elite.

The Draw Epidemic: Underdogs Hold Firm

The most remarkable trend of the group stage was the sheer number of draws involving heavy favorites. This pattern signaled a fundamental shift in international football's competitive balance.

• On a single day, all four matches ended in ties – the most in a single day of men's World Cup football since 1958

• This trend signaled a seismic shift in the competitive balance of international football

• The gap between the elite and everyone else has been shrinking for years

Cape Verde's Fairytale Run

The tournament debutants from the tiny island nation of barely 525,000 people produced the biggest shocker of the tournament. Ranked 67th in the world, they proved that rankings mean nothing on the pitch.

• Held Spain – the co-favorites – to a goalless draw in Atlanta

• Spain were overwhelming favorites with odds of -1500 to win

• Followed it up with a dramatic 2-2 draw against Uruguay, the very first World Cup winners

• Recovered from behind through a fearless late goal from Helio Varela

• Their 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha became a cult hero

• For a side nobody fancied to take a single point, two draws against that calibre of opposition was the performance of the tournament

Other Stunning Results

Several other underdogs produced memorable performances that kept fans on the edge of their seats throughout the group stage.

• New Zealand (ranked 85th, the lowest-ranked team) came back twice to draw 2-2 with Iran

• Saudi Arabia (ranked 61st) held Uruguay (ranked 16th) to a 1-1 draw

• Egypt (ranked 29th) earned a 1-1 draw against Belgium (ranked 9th)

• Qatar (ranked 56th) tied Switzerland (ranked 19th) 1-1

• Bosnia and Herzegovina (ranked 64th) tied Canada (ranked 30th) 1-1

• Japan (ranked 18th) secured a 2-2 tie with the Netherlands (ranked 8th)

The Biggest Outright Shock

While draws dominated the upset narrative, one outright victory stood above the rest as the most underrated shock of the group stage.

• Australia beating Turkiye 2-0 was arguably the most underrated upset of the group stage

• Turkiye were many people's dark horse in Group D

• Connor Metcalfe's low strike sealed it

• Turkiye looked rattled ever since

• A reminder that being talented on paper counts for very little when a hungrier side turns up

Why the Underdogs Keep Winning

The underdog success is no accident. Several structural factors have combined to level the playing field in international football.

• Players turning out for the so-called minnows are not strangers to this level

• Half of them are in Europe's top leagues week in, week out

• The fear has gone out of it

• Brutal North American heat and long travel between host cities favor the underdogs

• The pressure of a format where even a third-placed team can sneak through adds to the unpredictability

Teams That Rose to the Occasion

While some traditional powers stumbled, others seized their moment and announced themselves on the global stage.

• Norway – Making their first World Cup appearance in 28 years, navigated a tricky Group I to secure their place in the knockouts

• South Africa – Advanced to the knockout rounds for the first time ever, a monumental achievement

• Brazil, Argentina, France, and England – All topped their groups and remain the teams to beat

Early Exits

Several established nations failed to live up to expectations and were eliminated in the group stage, setting the stage for a more open tournament.

• Ecuador stunned Germany with a 2-1 victory

• Uruguay, New Zealand, and Qatar were among the teams eliminated in the group stage

• Several traditional powerhouses failed to live up to expectations

What's Left to Stream: Full Schedule (Singapore Time)

For fans in Singapore, the time difference with North America means most matches will kick off late at night or in the early morning. However, every match will be available to watch live or on-demand through multiple platforms.

Round of 32 Fixtures

Here is the confirmed Round of 32 schedule, with all kickoff times converted to Singapore Time (SGT) for local viewers.

Note: All times in Singapore Time (SGT). Verify current fixtures at the FIFA official match schedule.

Where to Watch in Singapore

Singapore viewers are spoiled for choice when it comes to catching the World Cup action, with both free-to-air and premium subscription options available.

Free-to-Air Coverage

Mediacorp has significantly expanded its free-to-air offerings, making more matches accessible to casual viewers.

• 28 matches shown for free (tripled from previous tournaments)

• Broadcast on Channel 5

• Streamed on mewatch

• Free lineup includes:

  • Two games from each group

  • Both semifinals

  • Third-place play-off

  • The final

Official Broadcast Details in Singapore

Mediacorp is the official broadcaster for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Singapore.

All 104 matches are available live and on-demand via two dedicated World Cup channels on mewatch.

28 matches are available completely free, with no subscription needed - For All matches you need full subscription, which is priced at S$118.

Digital Streaming: Purchase the complete tournament package directly online through mewatch for the standard price of S$118 (w/ GST).

Pay TV Operators: If you prefer watching via your television set-top box, the exact same S$118 subscription package is available as an add-on through both Singtel and StarHub.

Free matches broadcast on Channel 5 (free-to-air TV) and simulcast live on the mewatch app and website at no cost.

Mobile Viewing & Data Considerations for Singapore Viewers

The time difference with North America means most Singapore viewers will be streaming FIFA World Cup 2026 matches on mobile devices or catching up with on-demand replays. 

Time Zone Challenges

The significant time difference creates unique viewing challenges for local audiences.

• Most live matches land late at night or early in the morning for local audiences

• Noon Eastern Time kickoff = Midnight Singapore Time (SGT)

• Prime evening matches in North America = Morning commutes or early working hours in Singapore

Mobile Data Requirements

Streaming high-definition football consumes significant mobile data, which viewers should plan for.

• Single HD match stream consumes approximately 1.5 to 3 GB of mobile data

• Across the knockout fixtures, cumulative data consumption scales rapidly

• Restrictive data caps can be a severe operational impediment

Tips for Mobile Connectivity

Practical planning can help viewers avoid data-related disruptions during critical matches.

• Substantial Data Allocation: Ensure plan accommodates 2–3 matches per week through to July 19

• Flexible Data Rollover: Conserve data during mid-week for high-volume weekend fixtures

• Contractual Flexibility: Prioritize high-quota, no-contract plans that allow immediate tier modification

• Practical Advice: Mobile streaming and replay access are especially important for local audiences

Circles.Life 5G Plans for Watching FIFA 2026

 Singapore viewers who want to stream the FIFA World Cup 2026 on mobile will find the Circles Core 5G plan a strong match for the job. It runs on 5G, comes with 500GB of local data, and is currently available at S$8/month, with a promotion offering free 5G access for the first several months.

That is a significant amount of data headroom for a month of live football. Streaming every remaining knockout match in HD, from the Round of 32 through to the final on July 20, will use roughly 60-80GB. The 500GB allowance covers that comfortably, with room left over for replays, highlights, and everyday use in between matches.

Every Circles.Life plan also comes with free CirclesAI access, bundling GPT-5.4, Google Gemini, Perplexity Sonar Pro, and other AI models at no extra cost. The Zerofy cashback feature means subscribers can offset their monthly bill further, making it one of the most affordable high-data options available in Singapore right now.

For fans who need even more headroom across the full knockout run, or who are planning to tether their phone as a hotspot for a watch party, the broader 5G plan range scales up to 1TB and 2TB options, all on the same no-contract structure.

Here is how the current Circles.Life 5G lineup maps to different viewing needs:

All Circles.Life plans support eSIM activation. No physical SIM delivery needed. Scan a QR code and you are live within minutes useful if the next match kicks off in a few hours and you want to get connected before kickoff.

Check the current Circles.Life SIM-only plans to see the full range and current promotional pricing before the tournament knockout rounds begin. 

Key Takeaways

Here is a quick summary of the most important information from this guide.

What to Watch For Next

The Round of 32 promises more drama, more upsets, and more unforgettable moments as the tournament enters its most exciting phase.

• Will the United States capitalize on their strong group-stage form against Bosnia and Herzegovina?

• Can the debutants from Cape Verde pull off another shock against the mighty Argentina?

• With Germany already stumbling, can they regroup to face a dangerous Paraguay side?

• Will Croatia continue their tradition of deep knockout runs against Portugal?

• Can Morocco repeat their 2022 magic and send the Netherlands home early?

Every match from here on out is a must-watch. The drama is only just beginning. The underdogs are not finished writing this story yet.