Expert Doan Minh Xuong: 'World Cup 2026 Starts with a Bang'

Looking back at the opening matches of the 2026 World Cup, expert Doan Minh Xuong observed: "It's really been a festive start. After 12 opening group-stage games,, 38 goals have been scored. This is quite a high tally compared to earlier World Cups, because the first matchday in the group stage is always challenging for every side due to caution and not being fully warmed up."

Expert Doan Minh Xuong noted that some teams brought excitement while others caused disappointment: "The biggest disappointment is probably Brazil. The draw against Morocco is not enough to judge an ambitious Brazil under coach Ancelotti. However, even though discipline was emphasized, leading to some emotional restraint, Brazil still showed a lack of balance at many points. In particular, numerous issues in midfield and the cohesion of their gameplay must be addressed soon.

The match against Morocco revealed that Brazil's current midfield is not strong enough to compete fairly with top world opponents. In theory, Brazil remains a formidable squad with attacking superstars like Raphinha, Vinicius Junior, and the solid central defensive pair of Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhaes.

Nevertheless, football is a game of connections, and the fatal weakness of the South American representative in North America this year has been exposed: the midfield lacks intensity. The trio of Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes, and Lucas Paqueta performed below average, allowing Morocco's mobile midfield to completely dominate.

If coach Ancelotti does not quickly find a solution or place his trust in new faces like Danilo Santos, Brazil's quest for a sixth star may end earlier than expected.

Meanwhile, the draw against the Netherlands also showed that Japan is not afraid of any team at this point. No longer satisfied with being Asia's number one, the Japanese national team enters the 2026 World Cup with the goal of breaking through their limits.

Japan is considered one of the 'dark horses' of the World Cup, as evidenced by rising to 18th in the FIFA rankings. In their opening match against the Netherlands, the 'Blue Samurai' showcased qualities that suggest they can make a big impact in the tournament."

Expert Doan Minh Xuong stated that the US team also had an impressive start to the 2026 World Cup: "A 4-1 victory over Paraguay, thanks to a brace from Balogun and complete tactical dominance. Coach Mauricio Pochettino's side not only took all three points but also sent a strong message about their attacking power and cohesive play. In this match, the Stars and Stripes showed superiority in every aspect, from ball control to efficiency in finishing.

One of Pochettino's most important tactical highlights in this game was maximizing squad depth. The combination of an in-form striker like Balogun, a powerful midfield, and Pochettino's decisive substitutions created a perfect start. With this form, the US team has every reason to go deep in a World Cup held on home soil.

After two consecutive disappointing World Cups, the German national team has rediscovered its identity under coach Julian Nagelsmann. Die Mannschaft had an impressive opening match at the 2026 World Cup, crushing Curacao 7-1.

The 7-1 win over Curacao is not enough to declare that Germany is back at the top of world football. But the way Julian Nagelsmann's squad reacted after conceding an unexpected goal, the way young talents shone simultaneously, and the way the whole team operated like a unified machine show that 'Die Mannschaft' is on the right track.

However, a downside in the matches so far is that there have been three red cards in the game between Mexico and South Africa. Yet, this also signals that this World Cup will not be an easy ride. Teams will have to adapt very quickly to the interpretation of the new rules, where the line between a tactical foul and a straight red card is becoming thinner than ever."