The group stages concluded at the FIFA World Cup 2026 with the final matches in Groups J, K and L as DR Congo earned themselves a place in the Round of 32 alongside England, Argentina, and Colombia who all topped their respective sections as attention now switches to the reality of knockout football in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Group L
Panama 0 England 2
Croatia 2 Ghana 1
England topped Group L with a 2-0 win over Panama to progress to the Round of 32 as group winners thanks to two second half goals from their superstars Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane. Bellingham and Kane scored within five minutes of each other as England finally found a way past a stubborn Panamanian defence to head into the knockout phase with two wins and a draw.
After huffing and puffing for the opening forty-five minutes, England finally made the breakthrough via a set-piece. A corner from Bukayo Saka was swept into the near post and Bellingham swung a left boot to steer the ball into the bottom corner. When Kane rose to meet a Bellingham cross and convert his third goal of the competition, it was game over for the Central Americans.
Over in Philadelphia, Croatia ensured they finished the group stage in second place with a 2-1 win over Ghana, both sides progressing into the Round of 32, Ghana as one of the best third placed teams. The Croatia win ended any faint hopes of Scotland of making the knockout phase, the goal from Nikola Vlašić seven minutes from time confirming their exit.
Vlašić restored Croatia’s lead after Ghana had levelled matters with seventeen minutes remaining thanks to a strike from Derrick Luckassen, a goal which at the time had the African team in second spot on the table. Earlier, Petar Sučić had given Croatia the lead, as the two vied for the second-placed progression slot in what was an entertaining encounter.
Group K
Colombia 0 Portugal 0
DR Congo 3 Uzbekistan 1
DR Congo booked themselves a place in the knockout rounds, and a clash with England in the last 32, after coming from behind to defeat Uzbekistan 3-1 in Atlanta as Group K concluded. Uzbekistan had taken an early lead in the match, Eldor Shomurodov scoring after just ten minutes to threaten progression for the White Wolves, but they came unstuck after the break as DR Congo hit back.
Yoanne Wissa levelled from the penalty spot in the 68th minute to once more change the dynamic of the race for third place, and when Fiston Mayele put Congo in front for the first time ten minutes later, they were almost home and hosed. The African representatives sealed the win, and their fixture with England, in stoppage time as Wissa struck again.
At the top end of the table, Colombia finished first after drawing 0-0 with Portugal and were unlucky to not win the match as defender Davison Sánchez saw a stoppage time header ruled out for a marginal offside call. The goalless draw was the first time that Colombia had ever been involved in a 0-0 stalemate in their history at the FIFA World Cup.
The South Americans had the better of the game, and created the better opportunities, while Portugal were unable to get their forwards, and much vaunted creative talent, into the fixture, substitute Rafael Leao firing across the face of goal with time running out arguably their best moment.
Group J
Jordan 1 Argentina 3
Algeria 3 Austria 3
Lionel Messi came off the bench to score his sixth goal of the FIFA World Cup group stages to cap a perfect Group J for Argentina as they recorded a third win from three with a 3-1 win over Jordan. Messi curled home a free-kick with ten minutes to play to seal the victory after Jordan had threatened a comeback after their own substitute, Mousa Al Tamari, had reduced an early deficit.
A much-changed Argentine side had settled nicely into the contest and taken then lead through a set-piece inside twenty minutes. Giovani Lo Celso placing a superb free-kick into the cop corner. A penalty, converted by Lautaro Martinex some dozen minutes later had Argentina cruising, before Jordan rallied.
In the other match in the group Algeria and Austria shared six goals in an exciting 3-3 draw that ultimately made sure of progression into the Round of 32 for both teams, Algeria as one of the eight best third-placed nations. Austria led twice, firstly through Marko Arnautović, and then through Marcel Sabitzer, but Algeria hit back both times.
Rafik Belghali netted a late equaliser at the end of the first half, and the North African side drew level for a second time on the hour when Riyad Mahrez finished well. Mahrez appeared to have won it for Algeria when he scored a second three minutes into stoppage time only for Saša Kalajdžić to level matters again for Austria with almost the last touch of an exhilarating contest.
RESULTS
Group L
Panama 0 England 2 (Jude BELLINGHAM 62’, Harry KANE 67’)
(New York / New Jersey)
Croatia 2 (Petar SUČIĆ 31’, Nikola VLAŠIĆ 83’) Ghana 1 (Derrick LUCKASSEN 73’)
(Philadelphia)
Group K
Colombia 0 Portugal 0
(Miami)
DR Congo 3 (Yoanne WISSA 68’ (p), 90+1’, Fiston MAYELE 78’) Uzbekistan 1 (Eldor SHOMURODOV 10’)
(Atlanta)
Group J
Jordan 1 (Mousa AL TAMARI 55’) Argentina 3 (Giovani LO CELSO 19’, Lautaro MARTINEZ 31’ (p), Lionel MESSI 80’)
(Dallas)
Algeria 3 (Rafik BELGHALI 45’, Riyad MAHREZ 60’, 90+3’) Austria 3 (Marko ARNAUTOVIĆ 28’, Marcel SABITZER 55’, Saša KALAJDŽIĆ 90+6’)
(Kansas City)
WHAT’S NEXT
Monday 29 June
Round of 32
South Africa v Canada (7am, Los Angeles)
Photo credits: FIFA via Getty Images