World Cup 2026 sees record draws as European teams struggle early
BBC Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 16, 2026, 2:19 PM
Last updated Jun 16, 2026
The 2026 World Cup in North America has featured a historic start with eight of the first 16 matches ending in draws. The latest fixtures on June 16 included four matches, all concluding without a winner: Spain vs. Cape Verde ended 0-0, Belgium and Egypt finished 1-1, Saudi Arabia drew 1-1 with Uruguay, and Iran matched New Zealand 2-2. This marks the most draws ever recorded at this stage of a World Cup. European teams faced particularly poor performances, with seven of the 10 to compete failing to secure a win, while South American teams have yet to win any matches. Higher temperatures across venues may be affecting performances.
- •Eight draws recorded in first 16 matches of World Cup 2026
- •Seven of 10 European teams have not won yet
- •Higher temperatures may be impacting game performance
- •No South American team has won a match so far
- •Upcoming matches could still shift group dynamics
- 2:19 PMBBC Sport — Record draws and Europe's slow start - is the World Cup lacking jeopardy?
"Seven of the 10 European teams to have played at the World Cup so far have failed to win - is heat the issue?
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