Overview
- Scotland, which beat Haiti 1-0 on Saturday, sits top of Group C after its first World Cup win in 36 years and has put itself in a strong position in a group that also includes Brazil and Morocco.
- Brazil and Morocco played to a 1-1 draw that left Group C open, while Qatar snatched a stoppage-time 1-1 equaliser with Switzerland to earn its first ever World Cup point.
- Entry and visa disputes have become a diplomatic flashpoint after Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey was denied entry to Canada, prompting an official protest from Ghana, and other officials have reported access problems on arrival.
- Commercial and fan-access strains are rising as resale ticket prices spiked sharply after home-team wins and policing incidents at matches led to arrests, putting more pressure on organizers to control crowds and secondary markets.
- Tournament logistics are being tested by the expanded 48-team format, visible in cross-border travel, accreditation demands and player-management challenges such as late fitness doubts and three successive coaches breaking the World Cup oldest-coach record.