Group C and Group D will be featured on Friday as the second set of group-stage games continue at the FIFA World Cup.
Let’s take a closer look at Friday’s action and what’s at stake.
Americans the class of Group D?
United States vs. Australia – 3pm ET/12pm PT on TSN1/3/4, TSN.ca and TSN App
There’s a case to be made that the United States were the sharpest team during the opening set of group-stage matches at the FIFA World Cup.
Even though 43rd-ranked Paraguay isn’t expected to make a run at the World Cup, the Americans were dominant from start to finish in their 4-1 blowout win on June 12 in Los Angeles.
Monaco striker Folarin Balogun led the way with a brace as the United States outshot Paraguay 17-8 and controlled 63 per cent of the possession. They also had a 91 per cent passing accuracy on 577 passes.
The opening win has the Americans in the running as an early dark horse in their home World Cup.
Group D Standings
USA reached the Round of 16 four years ago in Qatar, dropping a 3-1 decision to Netherlands. They have never won the World Cup.
The United States, ranked 15th in the world, should be tested more by Australia, ranked 23rd.
The Aussies, playing in their sixth straight World Cup, opened their tournament at BC Place last week, beating Türkiye by a score of 2-0 despite being outplayed in every major statistical category.
Türkiye outshot Australia 30-9, including 8-4 on target, and held 63 per cent of the possession.
Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe capitalized on their opportunities for the Socceroos as 22-year-old goalkeeper Patrick Beach stood tall in net.
Australia also reached the Round of 16 in Qatar, losing to eventual champion Argentina.
When it comes to injuries, the availability of American star Christian Pulisic is still in question after he aggravated a calf injury against Paraguay.
The 27-year-old scored 10 goals in 34 matches with Serie A’s AC Milan this past season and has 33 goals in 87 appearances for the national team.
First place in Group D will be on the line in this pivotal matchup from Seattle Stadium.
Türkiye vs. Paraguay – 11pm ET/8pm PT on TSN1/4/5, TSN.ca and TSN App
Winless Türkiye and Paraguay will look to pick up three points in Friday’s night cap from San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.
Both dropped their opening games against Australia and United States, respectively, and will ideally look for a win to stay in contention for advancement to the knockout stage as another loss would likely end their World Cup dreams.
Despite the shutout loss, Türkiye performed well against Australia in their first World Cup game in 24 years when they finished an impressive third at the 2002 tournament.
Türkiye, ranked 26th, is led by Real Madrid attacking midfielder Arda Güler and team captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu.
Paraguay is playing in their first World Cup since 2010 in South Africa when they reached the quarter-final stage.
They were clearly overmatched against the United States and will need a far better performance to earn a result against Türkiye.
Many questions to be answered in Group C
Scotland vs. Morocco – 6pm ET/3pm PT on TSN1/4, TSN.ca and TSN App
The Scots have taken over Beantown.
No. 37th-ranked Scotland blanked Haiti 1-0 in their Group C opener last Saturday in Boston and have remained in the city ahead of Friday’s clash against African giant Morocco.
Despite being the underdogs, Scotland should have a lively crew supporting them.
Diehard fans of the soccer crazed nation have apparently enjoyed their week in Boston, drinking the city nearly dry.
Sam Adams’ Boston Taproom ran out of their flagship lager as Scottish fans drank four times as much as the bar routinely sells.
Scotland is led by star player Scott McTominay, captain Andy Robertson and John McGinn, who scored their lone goal against Haiti.
This is the country’s first appearance at the World Cup since 1998, and they have never reached the knockout stage in the tournament.
Group C Standings
Despite currently holding down top spot in Group C, the Scots still have an uphill battle headed their way to make history with games against Morocco and South American superpower Brazil on their docket.
First up is Morocco, who are ranked seventh in the world and are coming off a tournament-best fourth-place finish at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Morocco and Brazil, who are both expected to advance to the knockout stage, battled to an 1-1 draw in East Rutherford, N.J. last week.
Captain Achraf Hakimi (11 goals in 97 games for Morocco) is a key player on the back end for this squad while Real Madrid star Brahim Díaz (14 goals in 27 games for Morocco) will be counted on to provide the offence.
Díaz led Morocco to victory at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, scoring five goals in the tournament.
Morocco has major aspirations to make another deep run at the FIFA World Cup and will have the edge on paper to get past Scotland in the matchup.
Brazil vs. Haiti – 8:30pm ET/5:30pm PT on TSN1/4/5, TSN.ca and TSN App
This clash from Philadelphia Stadium could be the biggest mismatch on paper at this year’s FIFA World Cup.
Brazil is ranked fifth in the world and has won the most World Cups in history with five. Haiti, meanwhile, is the lowest-ranked team in the tournament at 85th.
This is Haiti’s second World Cup appearance with their first taking place in 1974.
The Brazilians have world class players everywhere you look on the pitch, including Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior.
The 25-year-old native of Rio de Janeiro tallied 22 goals in 53 for his club team in 2025-26 and has 10 goals in 50 games for the national team.
Brazil will be without the legendary Neymar, the country’s all-time leading goalscorer with 79, who will miss the contest against Haiti with a lingering calf injury.
Brazil has been ousted in the quarter-final stage in four of their past five World Cups and settled for a fourth-place finish on home soil in 2014. They were eliminated by Croatia in Qatar.
Sunderland forward Wilson Isidor is Haiti’s main offensive threat while 38-year-old captain Johny Placide provides a steady presence in the net for a team that will likely be facing plenty of pressure from the other side.
