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Why have so few European teams won so far?
TL;DR
The 2026 World Cup has seen an unprecedented number of draws, with eight out of the first 16 matches ending level. This marks the first time since 1958 that four matches in a single day finished without a winner.
Key points
- Eight draws recorded in the first 16 matches of the 2026 World Cup
- First time since 1958 that four matches ended without a winner in one day
- Previous record for draws at this stage was seven in past tournaments
- 48-team format reduces stakes for early draws
- Teams can qualify with just three points from three draws
Draws have been the defining feature of the opening week of the 2026 World Cup.
Monday's quartet of fixtures all ended level, with Spain held 0-0 by Cape Verde, Belgium drawing 1-1 with Egypt, Saudi Arabia sharing a 1-1 result with Uruguay and Iran playing out an entertaining 2-2 draw with New Zealand. It marked the first time since 15 June 1958 that four World Cup matches on a single day had all finished without a winner.
More remarkably, the tournament has now produced eight draws from its opening 16 matches. No previous World Cup has recorded as many at the same stage. The previous high was seven, set in 1974, 1982 and 1986.
The expanded 48-team format may have played a role. With only 16 of the 48 teams eliminated after the group stage, there is less jeopardy attached to an opening draw than in previous tournaments.
Nations could qualify for the last 32 with just three points - three draws would almost certainly secure qualification.
According to Football Meets Data, external, with three points, a goal difference of -1 offers an 87.5% chance of progression. That drops to 69.4% with a -2 difference, and 47.3% at -3.
Image caption,
World Cup 2026 has produced a record eight draws after 16 matches
Europe feeling the heat?
When Belgium drew with Egypt on Monday they became the seventh of 10 teams from Europe to fail to win their opening match.
Germany, Scotland and Sweden are the only three European teams to kick off their campaigns with wins, beating Curacao, Haiti and Tunisia, respectively.
England, Croatia, France, Norway, Austria and Portugal are still to play their opening games.
European nations - who were ranked higher than their opposition in eight of the 10 matches - would have been expected to win more, so are the hot conditions in North America playing their part?
'The grass really needed watering'
Q&A
What is the significance of the eight draws in the 2026 World Cup?
The eight draws in the tournament's opening matches set a new record, indicating a shift in competitive dynamics among teams.
How does the 48-team format affect World Cup match outcomes?
The expanded format allows more teams to qualify for the knockout stage, reducing the stakes of early draws, as teams can advance with just three points.
When was the last time four World Cup matches ended in draws on the same day?
The last occurrence of four World Cup matches finishing without a winner on the same day was on June 15, 1958.
Which teams played in the draws during the opening week of the 2026 World Cup?
The teams that drew in the opening week include Spain, Cape Verde, Belgium, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Iran, and New Zealand.
