European Teams Off to a Poor Start at the 2026 World Cup

The sixth day of the 2026 World Cup began on Tuesday with more group-stage matches and a focus on the European sides, who have struggled badly so far. Out of 10 European teams that have played, only three have won, a disappointing return for a continent often seen as the strongest in world football.

Three more European teams are set to play later in the day. France will face Senegal, Norway will meet Iraq, and Austria will take on Jordan. All three are considered clear favorites and will be hoping to improve the continent’s poor opening record.

The article also recalls comments made after Italy failed to qualify for the tournament. Italy’s then-coach, Gennaro Gattuso, said, “Asia and Africa were given too many spots in the tournament, and that makes life harder for European teams.” His remarks drew mockery online, where users joked that he was right and that Europe should have had fewer places.

Social media reaction also highlighted the underwhelming performances of several big European names. Commenters mentioned Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and even Turkey and Switzerland, calling the overall start “shocking” and “a poor statistic.”