After two games, this World Cup already looks a little bit different than it did when the tournament began. France still looks like the team to beat. Argentina still has Lionel Messi doing ridiculous things. Germany’s attack looks every bit as dangerous as advertised.
The United States suddenly looks like a legitimate threat. Norway is turning into one of the best stories of the World Cup. Portugal just reminded everyone that Cristiano Ronaldo is not ready to give up the spotlight yet.
With one group-stage game remaining for every team, these are the five storylines worth watching before the World Cup knockout stage begins.
How To Watch
If fans only watch one final group-stage match this week, France vs Norway should be the choice.
France entered the tournament as my number one team and has done nothing to lose that spot. Kylian Mbappé looks locked in, the roster depth remains ridiculous, and France has handled business through two games.
Norway, meanwhile, has gone from dark horse to legitimate threat. Erling Haaland has been outstanding. Norway has scored seven goals through two games and the team is playing with a confidence that did not feel guaranteed before the tournament started.
France is still the better team on paper, but if Norway wins this game, the conversation changes completely.
How To Watch
At some point, soccer fans are supposed to stop being surprised by Lionel Messi. Apparently, that point still has not arrived.
Messi leads the tournament with five goals through two games, and Argentina has looked every bit like a defending champion.
As I wrote in my latest 2026 World Cup Power Rankings update, Argentina looks every bit like a team capable of defending its title.
Every time it feels like age should finally slow him down, he reminds the world why he is one of the greatest players in sports history.
Argentina’s final group-stage match against Jordan will stream live on Fubo as Messi looks to extend his Golden Boot lead before the knockout stage begins.
How To Watch
A few days ago, England looked like one of the hottest teams in the tournament. Then came the scoreless draw against Ghana.
England still has the talent to make a deep run. Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and the rest of the squad are capable of beating almost anyone when the attack is clicking.
A convincing win over Panama would not erase every concern, but it would help restore confidence before the Round of 32 begins.
England does not need to be perfect. It just needs to look dangerous again.
How To Watch
The United States has been one of the biggest surprises of the tournament, not because the Americans won their first two games. It is how they won them.
The United States beat Paraguay 4-1, followed it with a 2-0 victory over Australia and suddenly looks far more complete than many expected entering the tournament. Now comes the final group-stage test against Turkey.
A third straight win would give the United States nine points from nine available. It would also send a message to the rest of the field that this is not just a nice story because the tournament is being played in North America.
How To Watch
Just when it seemed the spotlight belonged entirely to Messi, Mbappé and Haaland, Cristiano Ronaldo reminded everyone who he is.
The 41-year-old scored twice in Portugal’s 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan and became the first player ever to score in six different World Cups. Think about that for a second. Six different World Cups. That is the kind of record that sounds impossible until Ronaldo somehow does it.
Portugal’s matchup with Colombia should reveal a lot about how dangerous this team really is entering the knockout stage. If Portugal wins and Ronaldo stays involved in the attack, this group becomes a much bigger problem for anyone it faces next.
Ronaldo’s World Cup story is not over yet.
Fans can stream all five of these key World Cup matches live on Fubo as the race to the Round of 32 reaches its final group-stage matches.
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A week ago, France, Argentina and Germany looked like the safest picks to control this tournament.
France still deserves to be viewed as the team to beat. Argentina still has Messi playing some of the best soccer of the tournament. Germany’s attack still looks terrifying.
The teams that have changed the conversation most are the United States, Norway and Portugal.
The Americans have not just won matches. They have controlled them. Norway suddenly looks more like a contender than a Cinderella story. Portugal reminded everyone that as long as Ronaldo is on the field, one moment can completely change a match.
Personally, France vs Norway is the game I am circling. If Norway wins, it is no longer a dark horse. They are a legitimate threat to win the tournament. If France wins, it will be another reminder that the road to the World Cup trophy still runs through the tournament favorites.
Either way, by the end of this week we’ll have a much clearer picture of who can actually lift the trophy on July 19.
WORLD CUP MATCH GUIDES :
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