Rise of a Football God

(2026 FIFA World Cup - Group Stage)

(GROUP A:)

(Japan - Poland)

(Venue: BMO Field, Canada)

(Date: June 11, 2026)

(Time: 20:00)

AThe second game of the FIFA World Cup took place in Canada, on the same day, separated by mere hours from the first game.

And this time, Japan and Poland took to the pitch.

Both nations fielded their best XI. For Poland, starting in a 3-1-4-2 formation, Skorupski started in between the post for the Polish while their 3-man defense comprised Piatkowski, Bednarek, and Jakub Kiwior.

The sole man in midfield, the holding midfielder was Moder. Ahead of him was the 4-man catalogue of Frankowski, Kaminski, Szymanski, and Boquez, while the 2-man offensive unit comprised Robert Lewandowski and Swiderski.

The ageless Polish legend, Robert Lewandowski may have resolved to leave FC Barcelona after this legendary season but he was still going strong for the Polish national football team.

It was a fearsome Polish XI lineup.

On the other side, lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, Japan had Suzuki in between the posts while ahead of him was a 3-man defense of Takai, Itakura, and Ito. In midfield was the quadruple of Sugawara, Wataru Endo, Tanaka, and Nakamura.

The striker of the night was Maeda, while slightly behind him to his left and right respectively were Tite Kubo and Kamada.

FWEEE!

The referee's whistle sounded and all hell broke loose in Canada.

This was not just any game, this was a tournament game. And not just any tournament either, it was the FIFA World Cup.

There was something fundamentally different about it when you play for you country, not just representing a club but a nation, your nation. That emotion, the patriotism, it makes you feel like giving your life for the badge.

That is why FIFA World Cups are always so exciting, it was a fight to the death.

And tonight, it was Poland and Japan's turn to sing the lullaby of death.

For the first few minutes of the game, it was even till Poland suddenly gained control of the game. Immediately after they took control of the game, they capitated on the advantage and ran away with it.

The first Polish shot came in the 36th minute, Lewandowski winning an aerial duel, heading the ball towards an unmarked Frankowski who wriggled into the box with the ball before sneaking a shot into the bottom right corner.

The Japanese goalkeeper was beaten.

BOOM!

The stadium erupted.

0-1 to Poland.

The 1-nil lead didn't last… because Poland added to it.

In the 39th minute, mere 3 minutes after assisting the first goal, Lewandowski struck from outside the box, sending the ball towards the edge, stretching the goalkeeper and scoring an outrageous goal with the effort.

Poland celebrated exuberantly.

The first half came to an end with Poland leading 0-2.

Nobody knew what the Japanese coach told or gave his players in halftime, because they came out with Blue Lock energy.

Crazy things happened on the pitch in the second half.

Japan ran themselves to the ground, playing with passion and heart. In the 72nd minute, their efforts was finally rewarded with a goal, Wataru Endo scoring a banger from outside the box.

And then, when all hope seemed lost, in the 89th minute, Nakamura cut in from the left before curling a stunner past Skorupski.

The stadium was stunned. Poland was stunned.

The game ended 2-2.

It was a thriller.

It was a legendary Japanese comeback.

Both teams shared the spoils, 1 point a piece.

…

The next day, the first of Group B took to the pitch.

(GROUP B:)

(France - Morocco)

(Venue: BC Place, Canada)

(Date: June 12, 2026)

(Time: 15:00)

This time, it was 2 heavyweights of world football; France, 2-time World Champions and finalists in the last world cup and Morocco, a semifinalist in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Both teams fielded their strongest lineups, with the likes of Amrabat, En-Nesyri, Brahim Diaz, and Achraf Hakimi all starting for Morocco.

For France, big names, some of the biggest in football entered the pitch wearing the dark blue of the French national football team. The likes of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Dayot Upamecano, Saliba, Kounde, and Marcus Thuram all lined up on the pitch.

FWEEE!

The referee's whistle sounded, and a FIFA World Cup classic began.

The fans who got tickets and were in attendance in Canada did not regret their choice because France and Morocco played pure football, simple, straight to the point and exciting.

And of course, France dominated.

Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring, bursting into the stage in the 28th minute of this game as he wriggled past 2 players before curling a shot into the top right corner out of the Moroccan goalkeeper's grasp.

Yassine Bono stood no chance before that shot.

Morocco responded almost immediately through Sofyan Amrabat, who leaped highest from a corner kick, connecting to the ball with his head and sending it past Maignan and into the net.

The first half ended in a 1-1 draw.

But when the second half started, France ran away with the game.

Ousmane Dembele erupted into the scene with his speed and crazy dribbling, wriggling through players like they were not there. He fed Kylian Mbappe the ball, who cut back for him to tap into a suddenly empty net.

"GOALLLLLL…!!!"

French fans in the stadium erupted.

Ousmane Dembele scored in the 66th minute.

In the 74th minute, Marcus Thuram and Dembele were taken out of the game, introducing the youngsters, Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola.

Their introduction brought renewed energy to the team, and with it came electric dribbling and excitement.

And both youngsters created the final goal of the game.

After a rampaging dribble from the right, Desire Doue played Bradley Barcola in who calmly rounded the goalkeeper before tapping into an empty net.

And just like that, France scored its 3rd goal of the game.

Morocco tried for the remaining minutes of the game, but they never came close to scoring a 2nd goal not to talk of an equalizer.

The game came to an end 3-1 to France.

3 points for the French.