The opening round of the World Cup delivered exactly what these tournaments are built for: shocks, storylines and a handful of results nobody saw coming. From Cape Verde holding Spain to Australia upsetting a heavyweight, the so‑called smaller nations have ripped up the script and forced everyone, fans, analysts and bettors, to reassess what they thought they knew. With goals flowing, favourites firing and a few tactical trends already emerging, the first 24 matches have given us plenty to learn from. Here are the key World Cup lessons to take from the tournament so far.
1. Gulf in Class is Smaller Than Ever
Cape Verde, Qatar, DR Congo, Australia, New Zealand. Not traditional footballing hotbeds, but all of them overcame the odds to deliver stunning first round results. Cape Verde were the story of the round, drawing 0-0 with Spain, with goalkeeper Zozinha earning 11m new Instagram followers in the process, and if they can get a result against Saudi Arabia, they’ll be in with a chance of making the knockout round.
Similar to DR Congo, who will now fancy their chances against Uzbekistan and make it through. Australia pulled off the most impressive victory from an underdog, and Saturday’s game with USA now ramps up in importance, as the draw could open up for the winners of Group D.
2. Draws a Strong Betting Strategy
A level stakes bet on every match at the tournament so far being a draw would have returned 21x your stake, an incredible return. Helped by Cape Verde, who were available at 12.00 on Cloudbet, it could pay to follow that path for the remaining group stage matches, as pressure builds and games naturally get tighter.
My usual strategy is the back the unders, but after a slow start we’ve had 72 goals from 24 matches, an average of three per game, so clearly that wouldn’t have been one to follow. It’s worth keeping an eye on though, teams in the second round of matches will want to try to keep things tight before all hell breaks loose in the final round, so there could be some value in the under 2.5 and 1.5 goals brackets.
3. The Cream Always Rises
Leo Messi, Kyllian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Erling Haaland. Those were the most backed players in the World Cup top goalscorer market, and none of them disappointed, with Messi’s hattrick the individual performance of the opening round of games. It’s a remarkable feat that he became the first player to play at six World Cups in the same game that he equalled the all time World Cup scoring record. Not many would bet against him going clear of Miroslav Klose in the matches that follow.
Further forward, strikers Mbappe, Haaland and Kane all scored two goals in strong wins for their teams, and the race of the Golden Boot is well and truly on. Mbappe in particular shone with two brilliant goals, while Kane and Haaland’s were typical finishes that we’ve come to expect from the two mighty goalscorers.
4. Hydration Breaks Cannot be a Permanent Fixture in our game
Hydration breaks can’t stay in football after the World Cup. They create an unfair pause in play far too often, breaking momentum and giving teams a tactical timeout the sport was never designed to have. Many of the stadiums are air‑conditioned anyway, which makes the idea of mandatory cooling breaks feel unnecessary and artificial.
And fans don’t want more stoppages that inevitably turn into extra advertising windows. Football already struggles with creeping commercialisation, adding more enforced breaks only pushes it further away from the flow, intensity and authenticity that make the sport what it is.
5. VAR Has Quietly Had Its Best Tournament Yet
For once, VAR hasn’t dominated the headlines, and that’s a lesson in itself. Decisions have been quick, consistent and largely correct, helped by the semi‑automated offside technology that has taken the guesswork out of tight calls. Aside from the mishap in Switzerland v Qatar, the system has worked exactly as intended: fast interventions, minimal disruption, maximum accuracy. It’s the closest we’ve come to VAR enhancing the game rather than overshadowing it, and a reminder that when the technology is used properly, it can support the flow of football rather than interfere with it.
6. Set Pieces More Valuable Than Ever
We’ve already seen a spike in goals from corners, recycled phases and long throws. With teams fitter, more organised and more tactically drilled than ever, set pieces are becoming the clearest path to an edge. Coaches know it, bettors know it, and the numbers back it up.
Some teams look particularly well‑placed to exploit that trend: England, Australia, Czechia and Norway have all shown real threat from dead‑ball situations, with size, delivery quality and rehearsed routines that consistently generate chances. On the other side, Jordan and Curaçao have looked especially vulnerable, struggling with marking assignments, second balls and basic defensive structure.
In a tournament where margins are thin, set‑piece dominance is becoming a genuine differentiator.
7. Lesser Lights Who Have Impressed
One of the joys of any World Cup is seeing players outside the global spotlight seize their moment, and this tournament has already delivered a handful of breakout performances. Eli Just lit up New Zealand’s draw with Iran, scoring two terrific goals and showing a level of composure rarely associated with the All Whites on this stage. Richard Ríos produced a towering midfield display for Colombia, clearly benefiting from the tactical discipline instilled during his time under José Mourinho at Benfica.
Then there’s Nestory Irankunda, who absolutely terrorised the Turkey defence. Having moved from Australia to Bayern before landing at Watford, he looked completely at home on the world stage, direct, fearless and electric. And Romano Schmid delivered the goal of the round, a beautiful curling finish against Jordan that capped a superb all‑action performance for Austria.
These aren’t household names yet, but they’ve already shaped the opening round in a big way.
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