European Teams Stumble Early at the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 World Cup entered its sixth day on Tuesday night with more group-stage matches and crucial points at stake, as teams tried to avoid a bad start that could hurt them later in the tournament.
The biggest talking point was Europe’s poor opening record. Of the 10 European teams that had played so far, only three won, a disappointing figure for a continent widely seen as the strongest in world football. Online reactions mocked the run of results, describing it as an unusual lack of strength.
Three more European sides are scheduled to play Tuesday night. France faces Senegal, Norway meets Iraq, and Austria plays Jordan. All three are considered clear favorites and will be looking to improve Europe’s numbers.
The article also recalled comments from former Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso after Italy failed to qualify for the tournament. He said, “Asia and Africa were given too many tickets to the tournament, it makes life harder for the European teams.” Social media users both echoed and ridiculed that claim, while others pointed to the disappointing European results, naming Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Turkey and Switzerland as examples of teams falling short.
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