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Live: Jam-packed day as last round of World Cup group clashes kicks off

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Source : ABC NEWS

The final round of the group stage at the 2026 FIFA World Cup starts with simultaneous Group B games between Switzerland and Canada, and Qatar vs Bosnia and Herzegovina.

After the 5am (AEST) games, Scotland faces Brazil while Morocco meets Haiti from 8am to wrap up Group C.

And Group A will be finalised as Mexico City plays host to Czechia and Mexico at the same time as South Africa-South Korea plays out in Monterrey from 11am.

Follow all the action in our live blog.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 5:03am

Live updates: Group B

By Simon Smale

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 5:54am

HT: Bosnia Herzegovina leads Qatar 2-1

By Simon Smale

A thriller in Seattle.

Bosnia Herzegovina led 2-0 and hit the post to put themselves into a position to qualify from the group.

But then Qatar hit back, a lovely goal from Hassan Al-Haydos to half the deficit before Pedro Miguel saw his effort come back against the post.

Great game, both teams fighting for their lives.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 5:51am

HT: Switzerland and Canada locked together at 0-0

By Simon Smale

(Getty Images)

A tight and tense contest in Vancouver sends the players to the sheds locked together without a goal.

Both teams have challenged without forcing either goalkeeper into anything too dramatic in terms of saves.

As things stand, Canada will go through as group winners and Switzerland second.

But there’s still a lot of football to be played before the end of this one.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 5:49am

45+3′ Qatar hits the post now!

By Simon Smale

What a game we have in Seattle.

Pedro Miguel has latched onto a ball on the right side of the penalty area and hammered it across goal — the ball cannoning off the post.

It’s a brilliant shot from the right back, who should have been celebrating another goal for the national team there.

Great effort.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 5:47am

45+1′ Into added time

By Simon Smale

Four minutes in Canada vs Switzerland.

Five minutes in Bosnia vs Qatar.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 5:45am

44′ Chance Canada

By Simon Smale

Jonathan David gets the ball on the edge of the penalty area and hammers a shot with his left foot that skews pretty horribly wide of the target.

His confidence is up — and it should be — but that was a poor effort.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 5:44am

42′ Qatar have pulled one back!

By Simon Smale

(Getty Images)

Qatar have had a lot of possession after the second goal went in and they have been rewarded.

It came just after Edin Džeko hit the post at one end.

Qatar went up the other end of the pitch and the ball was played back across goal for Hassan Al-Haydos to tap in centrally.

Game on in Seattle!

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 5:42am

41′ Chance Canada!

By Simon Smale

Larin lays the ball off to Ahmed on the left side of the penalty area.

He shoots towards goal but there’s no power and Kobel turns it fairly comfortably behind.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 5:41am

40′ Half-chance Canada

By Simon Smale

Johnston gets well under the ball and fires a shot high over the bar after a good spell of pressure.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 5:39am

38′ Xhaka smashes a free kick over the bar

By Simon Smale

The crowd in BC Place whoops and hollers as Xhaka smashes a free kick well over the crossbar.

Breel Embolo was the player who was fouled, having moments earlier gone down in the penalty area.

The penalty shout was waved away quickly, but the free kick was given and correctly so.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 5:37am

34′ GOAL BOSNIA!

By Simon Smale

(Getty Images)

The Bosnians are well on their way to victory now!

Edin Džeko followed the ball in flight and directed it towards goal on the volley.

As he hit it the ball deflected away off the backside of Sultan Al-Brake and wrong-footed the keeper!

Bosnia leads 2-0!

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 5:35am

34′ Chance Switzerland

By Simon Smale

Up the other end this time and Canada is on the defensive.

Rubén Vargas gets to the byline and attempts to catch the keeper out at the near post when he should have squared it centrally.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 5:34am

33′ Canada with a chance!

By Simon Smale

That’s brilliant from Canada!

Larin latching onto the through ball and side-footing the ball towards goal after being stood up by the defender.

It’s a good save in the end diving down to his left by Kobel.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 5:33am

30′ Temperature rising in Vancouver!

By Simon Smale

Cyle Larin tries to kick the ball away from Granit Xhaka as he prepares to take a free kick, which Xhaka takes a swing at anyway and kicks Larin in the shin.

Larin goes down like a sack of potatoes.

Xhaka wants a fight.

It’s a yellow card to each, but I think it was a case of mucking about and finding out for Larin.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 5:31am

29′ Goal to Bosnia Herzegovina!

By Simon Smale

(Getty Images)

Big goal in Seattle!

Kerim Alajbegović has scored the opener and it’s a goal that could take Bosnia through.

That’s a great goal!

He picks up the ball on the left side of the penalty area about 30 metres out, cuts across to the right and unleashes a monster of a strike into the corner of the goal!

Bosnia leads!

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 5:29am

27′ Big challenge

By Simon Smale

Rubén Vargas has been absolutely cleaned up by Alistair Johnston.

Both players are down.

Johnston has instigated that challenge and that could have been really nasty.

That being said, Vargas did leave an old stud tattoo on the side of Johnston’s boot, so there was a bit of both in there.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 5:24am

23′ Still 0-0 between Bosnia Herzegovina and Qatar

By Simon Smale

Still 0-0 in Seattle too, but there have been chances.

Qatar appears to be making the most of them as I peer at my second screen out the corner of my eye.

But still a draw there, a draw which helps nobody.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 5:23am

22′ Switzerland offside

By Simon Smale

Manzambi is a fraction offside as another ball comes in over the top.

If he can be a bit more disciplined there the Swiss could get in.

That will be that for the first quarter, time for a TV timeout.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 5:22am

19′ Canada free kick

By Simon Smale

There have been a few robust challenges flying in and the referee says no more, or cards will start being brandished.

Luc de Fougerolles is in attendance as that free kick is swept in but there’s nothing there for Canada and it’s comfortably saved.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 5:20am

17′ Chance Switzerland!

By Simon Smale

Breel Embolo gets through on goal and side-foots a pretty poor shot towards the Canadian goal that is comfortably saved.

The Swiss are getting in behind a bit now – it’s an open contest.