On the penultimate day of group stage play, we saw blockbuster showdowns, Cinderella stories, and plenty of late drama, especially in the Egypt vs. Iran game (which somehow didn’t result in a goal but was riveting television).
With that match ending in a draw however, it were Belgium who snuck back into first place in Group G after a 5-1 hammering of New Zealand. Belgium’s opponents will be decided today, and the winner of that game will face the winner of USA vs. Bosnia in the Round of 16. All set up for a rematch of the extra-time classic between from Belgium and the USA in 2014!
There was also plenty of late drama in Spain’s 1-0 win in Group H, with Uruguay desperately trying to get the goal that would’ve kept them in contention for the knockout rounds. Instead, they are heading home, alongside Saudi Arabia with plucky little Cape Verde moving on. Their reward for making history is a Round of 32 match against Argentina. Ouch.
And there was of course France’s dominant 4-1 win over Norway, featuring a hat-trick from Ousmane Dembélé and finally a few minutes of action for Malo Gusto, even. France and Norway were both assured of qualification before the game, and only the former seemed to really care about this game. Still, France are looking mighty fine and it’s going to take a miracle (or Messi, again) to stop them.
Senegal were not assured of qualification by any means, but they put up a five-spot against ten-man Iraq, which should give them the goal difference necessary to finish as one of the eight-best third place teams (and set up a Round of 32 tie, potentially, against England). Nicolas Jackson did not start but came off the bench with a little over half an hour to go. He didn’t manage to get on the scoreboard, but at least he played, unlike Mamadou Sarr, who’s still looking for his first minutes.
One more day of group games then, and then the knockout rounds starts on Sunday!
Panama are already out, but the rest of the group is anyone’s game. That includes Thomas Tuchel’s England, who need a win to guarantee top spot. Reece James is set to miss out with a hamstring concern unfortunately, and the game after as well in the Round of 32. Not ideal!
GILLETTE STADIUM, FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS, UNITED STATES - 2026/06/23: Reece James of England looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L football match between England and Ghana. The match ended 0-0 tie. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
GILLETTE STADIUM, FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS, UNITED STATES - 2026/06/23: Reece James of England looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L football match between England and Ghana. The match ended 0-0 tie. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
LightRocket via Getty Images
CROATIA vs. GHANA
Date / Time: Saturday, June 27, 2026, 5pm EDT; 10pm BST
Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Referee: Drew Fischer (Canada)
On TV: FOX Sports 1, Universo (USA); ITV 4 (UK); elsewhere
Streaming online: FOX One, Peacock (USA); ITVx (UK)
PANAMA vs. ENGLAND
Date / Time: Saturday, June 27, 2026, 5pm EDT; 10pm BST
Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ, USA
Referee: Ibrahim Al-Jassim (Qatar)
On TV: FOX, Telemundo (USA); ITV 1; elsewhere
Streaming online: FOX One, Peacock (USA); ITVx (UK)
Colombia and Portugal are both already through, with Colombia needing just a draw to notch the top spot in the group. In the other game, both DR Congo and Uzbekistan need three points just to stay in contention, though the latter’s goal difference just about rules them out regardless.
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA - JUNE 25: Pedro Neto #18 of Portugal attends a press conference prior to Portugal training session during the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Palm Beach Gardens Tennis & Pickleball Center on June 25, 2026 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images)
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA - JUNE 25: Pedro Neto #18 of Portugal attends a press conference prior to Portugal training session during the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Palm Beach Gardens Tennis & Pickleball Center on June 25, 2026 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images)
Getty Images
COLOMBIA vs. PORTUGAL
Date / Time: Saturday, June 27, 2026, 7:30pm EDT; 12:30am BST (next day)
Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL, USA
Referee: Alireza Faghani (Iran)
On TV: FOX, Telemundo (USA); BBC One (UK); elsewhere
Streaming online: FOX One, Peacock (USA); BBC iPlayer (UK)
DR CONGO vs. UZBEKISTAN
Date / Time: Saturday, June 27, 2026, 7:30pm EDT; 12:30am BST (next day)
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA, USA
Referee: Felix Zwayer (Germany)
On TV: FOX Sports 1, Universo (USA); BBC Two (UK); elsewhere
Streaming online: FOX One, Peacock (USA); BBC iPlayer (UK)
Last but certainly not least, we have Argentina’s group. The defending champs are already through as group winners, and Jordan are already out, so that’s going to be little more than just an exhibition. Plenty at stake in the other game however, with both Austria and Algeria coming in on three points. A draw would do for either side.
Argentina’s forward #09 Julian Alvarez (L) and midfielder #24 Enzo Fernandez (R) look at the ball in an MD-1 training session at the Compass Minerals National Performance Center in Kansas City on June 26, 2026, on the eve of the 2026 World Cup Group J football match between Jordan and Argentina. (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP via Getty Images)
Argentina’s forward #09 Julian Alvarez (L) and midfielder #24 Enzo Fernandez (R) look at the ball in an MD-1 training session at the Compass Minerals National Performance Center in Kansas City on June 26, 2026, on the eve of the 2026 World Cup Group J football match between Jordan and Argentina. (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
ALGERIA vs. AUSTRIA
Date / Time: Saturday, June 27, 2026, 10pm EDT; 3am BST (next day)
Venue: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO, USA
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)
On TV: FOX Sports 1, Universo (USA); BBC Two (UK); elsewhere
Streaming online: FOX One, Peacock (USA); BBC iPlayer (UK)
JORDAN vs. ARGENTINA
Date / Time: Saturday, June 27, 2026, 10pm EDT; 3am BST (next day)
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX, USA
Referee: István Kovács (Romania)
On TV: FOX, Telemundo (USA); BBC One (UK); elsewhere
Streaming online: FOX One, Peacock (USA); BBC iPlayer (UK)