The World Cup is half over, with 54 of 104 matches complete, and the drama is just getting started

FLORIDA, USA: It’s halftime at the World Cup. Take a break, everyone.
Wednesday marked the midpoint of the 104-match tournament — technically, just past the midpoint, with 54 matches now in the books and 50 remaining before a World Cup champion are crowned in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19.
The US have reached the Round of 32, which shouldn’t be surprising.

Mexico and Canada, the other host nations for this biggest World Cup in history, are also through to the knockout stage.
And the stars are positively shining: Argentina’s Lionel Messi has five goals to kick-start what he hopes is a run toward a second consecutive World Cup title.
France’s Kylian Mbappé has four, as do Norway’s Erling Haaland and Brazil’s Vinicius Júnior.
Stadiums are mostly filled; FIFA is touting record attendance. And there have been some feel-good stories, most notably the tale of Cape Verde goalie Vozinha and how his mother was able to come to this World Cup.
“The best is yet to come,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino told SNTV earlier this week.
In other words, the second half of this tournament — just like the second half of matches — is when things might get really good.
Who’s in
Through Wednesday’s games, 13 teams have clinched spots in the Round of 32.
Mexico won Group A, Switzerland won Group B, Brazil won Group C, the US won Group D, Germany won Group E and Argentina won Group J.
France, Norway, Canada, Morocco, Colombia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and South Africa also are assured of moving into the knockout stage.
“I know how it feels, but it’s very difficult to explain how it feels,” South Africa coach Hugo Broos said after his team clinched its first-ever appearance in the knockout stage.