Why have so few European teams won so far?

Draws have been the defining feature of the opening week of the 2026 World Cup.

Monday’s quartet of fixtures all ended level, with Spain held 0-0 by Cape Verde, Belgium drawing 1-1 with Egypt, Saudi Arabia sharing a 1-1 result with Uruguay and Iran playing out an entertaining 2-2 draw with New Zealand. It marked the first time since 15 June 1958 that four World Cup matches on a single day had all finished without a winner.

More remarkably, the tournament has now produced eight draws from its opening 16 matches. No previous World Cup has recorded as many at the same stage. The previous high was seven, set in 1974, 1982 and 1986.

The expanded 48-team format may have played a role. With only 16 of the 48 teams eliminated after the group stage, there is less jeopardy attached to an opening draw than in previous tournaments.

Nations could qualify for the last 32 with just three points – three draws would almost certainly secure qualification.

According to Football Meets Data, with three points, a goal difference of -1 offers an 87.5% chance of progression. That drops to 69.4% with a -2 difference, and 47.3% at -3.

When Belgium drew with Egypt on Monday they became the seventh of 10 teams from Europe to fail to win their opening match.

Germany, Scotland and Sweden are the only three European teams to kick off their campaigns with wins, beating Curacao, Haiti and Tunisia, respectively.

England, Croatia, France, Norway, Austria and Portugal are still to play their opening games.

European nations – who were ranked higher than their opposition in eight of the 10 matches – would have been expected to win more, so are the hot conditions in North America playing their part?

The heat was always expected to be a factor at this World Cup, with several matches taking place in high temperatures across three countries.

Belgium’s draw with Egypt in Seattle was played on what was forecast to be one of the hottest days of the year in the city, with temperatures climbing above 30C at a lunchtime kick-off.

Belgium boss Rudi Garcia refused to use the conditions as an excuse, saying: “Whether it is 10 degrees or 30 degrees, we should have done better.”

He did, however, acknowledge the impact on the playing surface, adding: “The grass really needed watering. It was very dry and as a result it was slowing the ball down.”

Switzerland coach Murat Yakin also pointed to his side’s wastefulness rather than the conditions after a 1-1 draw with Qatar, despite his team generating 26 shots and an expected goals figure of 3.24.

It is also worth noting that while only three of the 10 European teams to have played so far have won, only two have lost.

Meanwhile, not one South American team has managed a win so far.

Brazil – the most successful team at World Cups with five titles – were held by Morocco, while inaugural winners Uruguay drew with Saudi Arabia. Paraguay, meanwhile, were beaten 4-1 by tournament co-hosts the USA. Argentina and Colombia are still to play.

Asia’s representatives remain unbeaten and African nations have taken points from several higher-ranked opponents, underlining how difficult this World Cup has become for the traditional powers.

“I’m disappointed [with Brazil],” former Uruguay international Gus Poyet said on BBC One.

“I was surprised how bad technically they were. I don’t know if it was the pitch, maybe the pitch didn’t help but they were missing passes, simple passes that you would expect the Brazilian players to do well.”

Fortunately for all those who have made slow starts at this World Cup, nothing is over after the first game.

With two more group games to come, they have plenty of time to improve and secure their place in the knockouts.