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What to watch for today

Colombia v. Japan | Group H
Group H may be the most unpredictable in the tournament. Four nations from four continents that could realistically finish in any order. Japan is probably the weakest of the four, but it wouldn’t be a shock were they to get the results to make it to the knockout round. The unknown is whether manager Akira Nishino, who only took the reins in April, has been able to organize the squad to his liking, or simply create more confusion. Colombia striker Radamel Falcao will make his World Cup debut and James Rodriguez should recover from a muscle injury to at least make an appearance.

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Poland v. Senegal | Group H
Poland qualified confidently with Robert Lewandowski scoring 16 goals in 10 matches to lead Europe. Much of the core of the squad will look familiar from recent tournaments, although 24 year old Napoli midfielder Piotr Zieliński is an emerging name to keep an eye on. His club teammate Kalidou Koulibaly will anchor Senegal’s defence, with Saido Mané leading the attack alongside Monaco’s Keita Balde with Idrissa Gueye providing support. Senegal will be bolstered by Poland’s best defender Kamil Glik likely missing out, after injuring himself attempting a bicycle kick in training.

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Russia v. Egypt | Group A
It’s less than a week into the World Cup and already we could have our first nation qualify for the knockout rounds. A win for Russia would likely be enough to get out of Group A. Mo Salah looks set to feature for Egypt who must get a result after their late heartbreak against Uruguay. Russia will be content to force Egypt to create something from possession, which could prove frustrating for the Pharoahs, who would much rather counterattack.

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What to watch for today

Sweden v. South Korea | Group F
With Germany losing to Mexico yesterday, plans to get out of Group F will have to be revised. For Sweden, South Korea, and Mexico, the likeliest scenario was that Germany would control the group, meaning you take care of your own results and finish second. After Mexico’s win, there’s even more pressure to for Sweden and South Korea to get a result in this match. Sweden scored 26 goals in 10 group games in qualifying with Al-Ain striker Marcus Berg the top-scorer in a group that included France. As shown in their playoff victory against Italy however, they’re more likely to rely on team structure than individual brilliance. South Korea didn’t have the best qualifying campaign (4W, 3D, 3L). But, as we’ve seen so far in this World Cup, there is plenty of room for surprise.

8am EST / 1pm BST / 10pm AEST

Belgium v. Panama | Group G
In their first matches, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, and Germany all dropped points, while France weren’t dominant. That gives Belgium an opportunity to make a statement with the main favorites in the tournament off to a slow start. Kevin De Bruyne is coming off his most successful season in the EPL and has ample talent surrounding him in Romelu Lukaku, Dries Mertens, and Eden Hazard, to make good use of his distribution. Panama qualified for their first-ever World Cup through an 88th minute Roman Torres winner and a US loss to Trinidad and Tobago. They’re a defense-first squad, conceding only 10 goals (while scoring just 9) in 10 qualifying matches, and could be a frustrating opening test for Belgium.

11am EST / 4pm BST / 1am AEST

Tunisia v. England | Group G
Tunisia begin their World Cup without their top scorer Youssef Msakni, which has put a shadow over their first World Cup since 2006. Sunderland’s Wahbi Khazri is now their primary threat – scoring 9 goals in 24 matches on loan to Rennes this season. You’d expect most of the action to be at the other end of the pitch, however, as England look to begin their World Cup with a strong start. They have the most exciting and direct squad they’ve had in years, featuring young, level-headed talent. A fast start to this match and Tunisia could be in serious trouble.

2pm EST / 7pm BST / 4am AEST

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What to watch for today

After more Icelandic heroics yesterday, today gives us our first look at the tournament’s two top favorites, Brazil and Germany.

Costa Rica v. Serbia | Group E
Costa Rica made it to the quarter-finals in 2014 after topping a group that included England, Italy, and Uruguay. It’s many of the same core players this time around – Keylor Navas in goal, Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campbell in attack – but the squad’s average age is over 29 and lacks an in-form goalscorer. Yet, they only allowed 8 goals in their 10 final qualifying matches. Opposite them, Serbia have taken on dark horse status, and for good reason. Only three players created more chances in Serie A this season than left back Aleksandar Kolarov, while Aleksandar Mitrović scored 12 goals in 20 matches to drive Fulham to promotion. Add in Mourinho’s favourite destroyer Nemanja Matic, plus one of the tournament’s brightest young talents in midfielder Sergej Milinković-Savić, and Serbia could be this year’s surprise.

1pm BST / 8am EST

Germany v. Mexico | Group F
Today gives us our first look at reigning champions Germany, who have enough talent to field three competitive sides in the tournament. They face a Mexico side that is more concerned with attacking than defending, setting us up for a frenetic Sunday. El Tri will look to PSV’s Hirving Lozano, who was one of the Eredivisie’s most dangerous attackers. Add in the experience of Guillermo Ochoa, Andres Guardado, and Chicharito, and they won’t be nervous in the face of the title holders. The only unknown for Germany is how 22 year old Timo Werner will lead the line in his World Cup debut, but that’s truly nit-picking an incredible side.

2pm BST / 9am EST

Brazil v. Switzerland | Group E
Oh yes, it’s samba time. Brazil went out in humiliating fashion on their home turf four years ago, but they cruised through qualification without any of the stodginess of the prior few years. They’ve been reborn under manager Tite and bring the joga bonito you expect from Brazil. Marcelo, Neymar, Jesus, Coutinho – this is going to be fun. Switzerland on the other hand, aren’t quite known for their flair, but Xherdan Shaqiri does have a habit of hitting a couple screamers in major tournaments, so they can get you out of your seat. We won’t take sides, but we’ll all win if we get some beautiful play from Brazil and a Swiss belter.

7pm BST / 2pm EST

Photos from Russia

Banned from stadiums in their home country, many Iranian women were in Russia not only for their first World Cup match, but their first official football match, period. Our friends Where Is Football captured their stories at their historic win over Morocco.

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What to watch for today

Yesterday gave us two winners after the 89th minute and a Ronaldo hat trick in a six goal thriller. Now we get four matches in one day?! How did we get so lucky?

France v. Australia | Group C
France have an absurdly talented squad – Griezmann, Mbappe, Kante, Pogba, Umtiti – but they haven’t yet found a clear plan to cohesively utilize those talents. But out of all the problems to have, how to best integrate your many stars isn’t a bad one. France doesn’t even need to be at full speed to reach a final, as they showed in Euro 2016. Australia faced the longest qualifying battle to get here – 22 matches including continental and inter-continental playoffs. With that, they’re lucky to be here, let alone with aspirations of a deep run. However, what they lack in fireworks, they make up for in grit and could frustrate France today.

11am BST / 6am EST

Argentina v. Iceland | Group D
Messi, it’s your turn. After Ronaldo’s heroics, the Argentinian has a chance to reply a day later. Argentina have reached three consecutive finals in major tournaments, but this time will be managed by former Chile and Sevilla mastermind Jorge Sampaoli. If he can enter the tournament with a clear vision for La Albiceleste, it could be the difference between reaching a final and winning one. Their first opponents, Iceland, are at their first World Cup after topping a qualifying group that included Croatia. Iceland’s two most important players – creative force Gylfi Sigurdsson and captain Aron Gunnarsson look to have recovered from their injuries in time to start.

2pm BST / 9am EST

Peru v. Denmark | Group C
A winner in this match will be the favorite to exit Group C alongside France. Denmark’s play flows through Christian Eriksen, who had 11 goals in qualifying and would be an influential creator in any side in the world. And with Kasper Schmeichel in net, they allowed only 8 goals in 10 group qualifiers. Peru are at their first World Cup in 36 years after a qualifying campaign that included draws against Colombia, Argentina (twice), and a win over Uruguay. They’re led by energetic captain Paulo Guerrero, whose attacking burden will be shared by Jefferson Farfan and Edison Flores.

7pm BST / 2pm EST

Croatia v. Nigeria | Group D
AIn a wide open Group D, either of these teams could realistically finish first, or last. Croatia are yet another squad with insane talent, but infrequent cohesion. Real Madrid’s Luka Modric, Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic, and Inter’s Ivan Perisic are just three names in a star studded attack that finished second in their qualifying group behind Iceland. Nigeria are likewise more interested in attacking than defending, which should give us an entertaining finale to this evening. Alex Iwobi and Victor Moses bring Premier League talent to their attack, but as seen in their friendly against England, it’s their defence that could be their undoing. No matter how this match finishes, we’ll be treated to some stylish kits.

8pm BST / 3pm EST