Every team have now played all three of their group games at the 2026 World Cup and as a result we’ve picked our Team of the Round for Matchday Three.
We’ve limited our team to one player per team, but with plenty on the line in matchday three, here’s our pick of the bunch from the third game of the tournament.
GK: Gregor Kobel (Switzerland)
Switzerland found themselves in a battle for top spot in their group, facing Canada in their final game of Group B. And despite Johan Manzambi and Ruben Vargas continuing to shine in attack for the Swiss, it was Gregor Kobel between the sticks who secured their fate at the top of Group B. The 28-year-old shot-stopper made six saves, all six inside his own box, preventing 1.76 goals according to the expected goals model.
RB: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
While looking to chase down top spot in Group C, Morocco found themselves a goal down after just 10 minutes against Haiti. But Achraf Hakimi stepped up as the captain, scoring in the 39th minute to level it up at 1-1, before also providing the assist after Haiti scored again to level it up again at 2-2. The PSG star was extremely attacking as ever from right-back, taking five shots (three of which on target), making eight key passes and completing five of his eight dribbles.
CB: Jan Paul van Hecke (Netherlands)
Netherlands were another team who had the chance to secure their place at the top of their group with a victory, beating Tunisia 3-1 to finish top of Group F. The likes of Cody Gakpo and Brian Brobbey have been the standout stars so far in attack, while Denzel Dumfries has stolen the headlines once again in defence, joining the attack to add goal contributions against Sweden. However, it was Jan Paul van Hecke stealing the show against Tunisia, scoring his first ever goal for his country, but also completing 130 of his 133 passes, including 94/97 in the opposition half, while also making seven ball recoveries, six clearances and winning three aerial duels.
CB: Aymeric Laporte (Spain)
Joining Van Hecke in defence, Spain kept their third consecutive clean sheet of the tournament against Uruguay. Aymeric Laporte stood out defensively alongside Pau Cubarsi in central defence, making eight clearances, three interceptions and winning all five of his aerial duels. The 32-year-old also completed 94/102 passes, with 36/40 coming in the opposition half, including a key pass.
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LB: Mateo Chavez (Mexico)
To finish off the defensive unit, there’s another defender who is part of a side who have managed to keep three consecutive clean sheets at the tournament so far, with Mexico scoring six and conceding zero at the World Cup so far. With that being said, Mateo Chavez was not part of those first two games for Mexico, getting his minutes of the tournament against Czech Republic. The 22-year-old scored the opening goal of the game in the 55th minute, running from deep to put his side 1-0 up. Chavez also won four of his five ground duels, won his only tackle attempt of the game and wasn’t dribbled past once at left-back.
CM: Pape Gueye (Senegal)
The first entry into the team of the round from matchday three who didn’t start the game for his country, as Pape Gueye came from the bench to score twice and provide an assist in Senegal’s 5-0 victory over Iraq which secured them qualification to the last 32, despite losing their first two games in the competition. Gueye entered the fray in the 57th minute, but was all action from the get-go, taking six shots (three on target), providing three key passes, having 61 touches and making four ball recoveries.
CM: Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)
Belgium had a tough start to the tournament, drawing both of their games with a 1-1 in their opening game against Egypt, followed by a 0-0 against Iran, leaving them needing all three points against New Zealand in their final game of the group to secure qualification to the knockout stage. Luckily for Rudi Garcia, his main man stepped up, as Kevin De Bruyne looked to constantly threaten in the attacking third, taking seven shots (two on target), making four key passes, completing two of his four dribbles, and, of course, providing a goal and an assist in Belgium’s 5-1 triumph over the All Whites.
CM: Jude Bellingham (England)
England needed a victory against Panama to secure top spot in Group L after a disappointing 0-0 draw to Ghana just four days prior. While Harry Kane is often referred to as England’s talisman, it was Jude Bellingham who stepped up to deliver the good, scoring the important opener before also providing Kane with an assist to make it 2-0. The 22-year-old making his 51st appearance for the Three Lions also made four key passes in the game, but also put a massive shift in off the ball, winning all four of his tackles and winning 11/15 ground duels (the most of anyone on the pitch).
RW: Ousmane Dembele (France)
As is the theme with most of these final games of the group stage, France were in a battle with Norway to secure top spot of Group I, with a win for either deciding who would top the group. Ousmane Dembele scored his first ever goal at a major tournament for his country against Iraq just four days prior, before becoming only the third French player to score a hattrick at a World Cup, scoring all three goals in the first 32 minutes. The Ballon d’Or winner converted all three of his shots, also making two key passes and completing seven progressive carries in the game.
ST: Nicolas Pepe (Ivory Coast)
Leading the line in matchday three, Nicolas Pepe technically started as a secondary striker for Ivory Coast in their 2-0 victory over Curacao, scoring both of their goals and helping to secure second spot in Group E with two out of three wins. The former Arsenal man converted both of his two shots in the game, also making one key pass and completing his only attempted dribble of the match.
LW: Vinicius Junior (Brazil)
Finishing off the team at left-wing, there was only one option for this spot, as Vinicius Junior scored a brace against Scotland to help Brazil secure top spot over Morocco in Group C. Being used as the primary outlet making plenty of runs in behind and looking to finish off moves, Vinicius took a whopping eight shots in the game (five on target) equating to 3.26 xG. He also managed two key passes, five successful dribbles and seven progressive carries.
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