The 2026 World Cup group stages are now complete, and four Wolves men are returning home, but for another four the journey continues.
Sasa Kalajdzic stole the headlines with an injury time equaliser over the weekend, booking Austria’s place in the round of 32 alongside Raul Jimenez and Mexico, David Moller Wolfe and Norway and Jose Sa and Portugal.
For Ladislav Krejci, Hee Chan Hwang, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Santiago Bueno, the tournament is over and they will begin turning their attention back to club football.
Sasa Kalajdzic | Algeria 3-3 Austria
Kalajdzic produced the fairytale moment of his international career over the weekend, as his equaliser against Algeria in the sixth minute of injury time sent Austria through to the knockout stages. A draw was enough to send both teams, and that was the situation at half-time after Marko Arnautovic’s opener was cancelled out by Rafik Belghali. Riyad Mahrez grabbed Algeria’s second equaliser after Marcel Sabitzer had put Austria ahead for a second time. Mahrez then thought he’d won it in the 93rd minute, only for Kalajdzic to pop up with the latest feel-good story of his remarkable season. The striker came off the bench to nod in from close range to spark wild scenes of celebration and send Austria into the knockout stages for only the second time in their history.
Ladislav Krejci & Raul Jimenez | Czech Republic 0-3 Mexico
Krejci and the Czech Republic had their World Cup journey ended by co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City. The Czechs needed to win against a Mexico side who had already sealed top spot and could rest Jimenez. Krejci was on the left of a back three and the game was goalless at the break, but Mateo Chavez and Julian Quinones scored within the opening six minutes of the second half to swing the momentum fully Mexico’s way. Alvaro Fidalgo wrapped up the win in stoppage time as Mexico progressed with maximum points and zero goals conceded. They face Ecuador in the last 32.
Hee Chan Hwang | South Africa 1-0 South Korea
Like Krejci, Hwang’s tournament is over, after South Korea were beaten by South Africa in their final group game. The Wolves man was given his first start of the World Cup on the left, but his evening only lasted 45 minutes, as he was withdrawn at the break. It was after that point when South Africa won the game as Thapelo Maseko netted the only goal of the game. Korea finished in third but had to wait for the remaining groups to finish to learn if they’d done enough to progress with three points, but goal difference saw them eliminated.
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde | Morocco 4-2 Haiti
Haiti’s World Cup journey may be over, but they played their part in one of the games of the tournament against Morocco. Bellegarde once again started in midfield and an early own goal saw them score at a World Cup for the first time in 52 years. Morocco levelled though Achraf Hakimi but a stunning Wilson Isidor effort regained the lead for the Haitians. However, Ismael Saibari popped up with Morocco’s second equaliser before the break, and they kicked on after it. Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine netted late on to earn Morocco their win and send Haiti home with no points to their name.
Elsewhere
David Moller Wolfe was given the night off on Friday, as Norway were already through to the knockout stages, but they were beaten 4-1 by France meaning they had to settle for second place. Jose Sa once again watched on from the bench as Portugal battled out a goalless draw with Colombia, meaning they progressed in second place. Santiago Bueno’s World Cup is sadly over without the Wolves defender playing a minute, after Spain beat Uruguay 1-0 at the Estadio Guadalajara.
Coming up
Four Wolves men remain in the competition which has now reached the knockout stage. Wolfe is up first on Tuesday evening when Norway face the Ivory Coast. Then, in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Jimenez and Mexico take on Ecuador in Mexico City. Finally, Sa’s Portugal have a meeting with Croatia in the round of 32.
