‘Disgrace of Gijon’ – Why teams play final World Cup group matches same time

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage enters its decisive phase, a noticeable feature in the schedule is that all final games for each group will be played simultaneously.
A number of teams, including co-host USA, Mexico and Germany, have qualified for the round of 32, while others must wait for the conclusion of the games to see if they will advance or if they are eliminated.
Unlike the opening two rounds, where matches are played separately, all games in each group’s final round will kick off at the same time. The decision stems directly from events that unfolded more than four decades ago.
The practice, which is now a standard part of the World Cup and other football cup games, ...