Edward Brain's Blog

FIFA World Cup 2026: Round of 32

Posted on June 28, 2026 by Edward Brain

The knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is now set. The ‘Round of 32’ starts on June 29th, 2026.

For the first time ever in the history of the tournament 32 teams qualify for the knockout stages, up from 16 thanks to the tournament increasing from 32 to 48 teams (with the addition of four new Groups – 12 Groups instead of eight Groups.)

The top two teams from each Group (Group A-L) automatically advance to the knockout stages (24 teams) with eight ‘wild card’ teams: the best eight of the 12 third place teams.

The top teams from each Group are:

Group A: Mexico (co-host)
Group B: Switzerland
Group C: Brazil
Group D: United States (co-host)
Group E: Germany
Group F: Netherlands
Group G: Belgium
Group H: Spain
Group I: France
Group J: Argentina (defending Champions)
Group K: Colombia
Group L: England

The second place teams from each Group are:

Group A: South Africa
Group B: Canada (co-host)
Group C: Morocco
Group D: Australia
Group E: Ivory Coast
Group F: Japan
Group G: Egypt
Group H: Cape Verde
Group I: Norway
Group J: Austria
Group K: Portugal
Group L: Croatia

The third place teams from each Group are:

Group A: South Korea
Group B: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group C: Scotland
Group D: Paraguay
Group E: Ecuador
Group F: Sweden
Group G: Iran
Group H: Uruguay
Group I: Senegal
Group J: Algeria
Group K: DR Congo
Group L: Ghana

The eight third place finishers who qualified are (ranked 1-8):

DR Congo (Group K)
Sweden (Group F)
Ghana (Group L)
Ecuador (Group E)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (Group B)
Algeria (Group J)
Paraguay (Group D)
Senegal (Group I)

All three host countries (Canada, Mexico, United States) and the defending champions (Argentina) qualified for the knockout stage. Of the four teams all but Canada finished first in their group – and Canada finished in second in their group.

Cape Verde is making their first appearance in the World Cup, and finished in second in their Group (Group H.)

As such, the following match-ups will occur in the ‘Round of 32’:

Paraguay vs. Germany
Sweden vs. France
Canada vs. South Africa
Morocco vs. Netherlands
Croatia vs. Portugal
Austria vs. Spain
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. United States
Senegal vs. Belgium
Japan vs. Brazil
Norway vs. Ivory Coast
Ecuador vs. Mexico
DR Congo vs. England
Cape Verde vs. Argentina
Egypt vs. Australia
Algeria vs. Switzerland
Ghana vs. Colombia

Look for the following 16 teams to advance:

Argentina
Australia
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
Colombia
England
France
Germany
Mexico
Netherlands
Portugal
Ivory Coast
Spain
Switzerland
United States

Posted in Sports | Tagged 2026, 2026 World Cup, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Colombia, Croatia, DR Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, England, FIFA, FIFA World Cup, France, Germany, Iran, Ivory Coast, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Scotland, Senegal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United States, Uruguay | Leave a comment

2026 FIFA World Cup

Posted on June 8, 2026 by Edward Brain

In just a couple of days the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to begin. The tournament runs from June 11th to July 19th, 2026.

Canada, Mexico, and the United States are hosting the tournament, and the 48 teams that qualified.

This year’s edition is the largest World Cup in history. Previously, only 32 teams qualified for the tournament.

The increase in the number of teams will see an increase in the number of Groups – from eight to 12 Groups, as well as an additional round for the knockout stages.

Here’s how the Groups break down:

Continue reading →

Posted in Sports | Tagged 2026, 2026 World Cup, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, DR Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, England, FIFA, football, France, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, news, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Senegal, Soccer, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sports, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, World Cup | Leave a comment

82nd Anniversary of the D-Day Landings

Posted on June 6, 2026 by Edward Brain

Today, June 6th, 2025, marks the 82nd Anniversary of the D-Day Landings as part of Operation Overlord – the opening of the second front in Europe as part of World War II.

As part of Operation Overlord, the D-Day Landings were officially given the code name of Operation Neptune.

On this day in 1944, troops from Canada, the U.K., and the U.S.A landed at five beaches along the Normandy coast: Gold, Juno, Omaha, Sword, and Utah,

Omaha and Utah Beaches were lead by U.S. troops while Golf and Sword were led by British troops. For Canadians, Juno Beach was the responsibility of the First Canadian Army.

The First Canadian Army would be assisted with the transportation of troops and a naval bombardment force by the Royal Canadian Navy and the British Royal Navy. There were also elements of the Free French, Norwegian, and other Allied navies in their action.

Juno Beach would see 961 Allied casualties: 340 dead, 574 wounded, and 47 taken captive.

Juno Beach was divided into two sections: Mike and Nan. Mike was the western section with Nan was the eastern section. The 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade would take charge of landing in the Mike section while the Nan Section’s assault was led by the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade.

Regiments included in the landing were the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, The Canadian Scottish Regiment, the 1st Hussars, North Shore Regiment, the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, the Fort Garry Horse, Le Régiment de la Chaudière, and The Sherbrooke Fusilier Regiment. Also involved were The Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, Royal Canadian Engineers, the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, and the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps.

The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion would serve with the British 3rd Parachute Brigade during the operation.

On June 6th, 2003 the Juno Beach Centre was opened to honour the Canadian veterans who served during the war.

While the first day of fighting was not as successful as planned, Juno Beach saw some of the most success on the first day of fighting.

The war in Europe would come to an end 11 months later on May 8th, 1945.

Lest We Forget the sacrifices of Canadian service personnel, and their allied counterparts, who served during the D-Day operations.

For more information about Canada’s involvement on D-Day:

Posted in General | Tagged Canada, Canadian Scottish Regiment, D-Day, D-Day Landings, Dominion of Canada, Le Régiment de la Chaudière, North Shore Regiment, Operation Overlord, Royal Canadian En, Royal Canadian Engineers, Royal Winnipeg Rifles, Sherbrooke Fusilier Regiment, the 1st Hussars, The Fort Garry Horse, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, The Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals | Leave a comment

Some New Gardening Pictures (June 2nd 2026)

Posted on June 2, 2026 by Edward Brain

I thought that I would share some pictures from my garden bed as we enter the month of June 2026.

I hope that you enjoy these pictures:

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Posted in General | Tagged Allium Bulb, Bleeding Heart, Clematis, Columbine, Garden, Garden Bed, Gardening Adventure, Verbena | Leave a comment

Walking for MS Canada (May 2026)

Posted on May 31, 2026 by Edward Brain

“Canada has the highest rate of MS in the world.
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As we head into the last hours of May 2026, I would like to update everyone on something I have been doing in my personal life.

During the month I have been tracking the steps I have taken every day and have so far walked over 200km during the month for MS Canada.

“Canada has the highest rate of MS in the world.
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Posted in General | Tagged Canada, Dominion of Canada, MS, MS Canada, Multiple Sclerosis | Leave a comment

Happy Victoria Day 2026

Posted on May 18, 2026 by Edward Brain

Today, May 18th 2026, is Victoria Day in Canada. I want to wish every Canadian a very happy and safe Victoria Day.

Today marks the celebration of the birthday of Canada’s first monarch, Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1837 to 1901 and was Monarch when four British colonies – Canada West (Ontario), Canada East (Quebec), New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia – were combined together to create the Dominion of Canada.

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Posted in General | Tagged #victoriaday, 2026, Canada, Dominion of Canada, King Charles III, Queen Victoria, Victoria Day | Leave a comment

Bluebeard’s Castle and Erwartung at the COC

Posted on May 10, 2026 by Edward Brain

I attended the May 8th, 2026 performance of the Canadian Opera Company‘s (COC) double bill production of Bluebeard’s Castle and Erwartung at the Four Seasons Centre. Bluebeard’s Castle is a ‘Symbolist opera’ by Béla Bartók while Erwartung is monodrama by Arnold Schönberg.

The production is directed by Robert Lepage, with a set by Michael Levine, and the COC Orchestra conducted by the COC’s Music Director, Johannes Debus.

The set is dark and a long hallway. It works well for both operas (although stage right remains dark during Erwartung.) The set doesn’t distract from either opera which is always a good thing in my books.

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