By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
The group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to a thrilling conclusion on Saturday as six decisive matches across Groups J, K and L produced goals, drama and late twists, with Argentina, England, Colombia, Portugal, Croatia and DR Congo among the teams securing places in the Round of 32.
England confirmed their status as Group L winners with a disciplined 2-0 victory over Panama. After a frustrating first half, Jude Bellingham broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute before setting up captain Harry Kane five minutes later to seal victory and send the Three Lions into the knockout stage with confidence.
Croatia also booked their place in the last 32 after edging Ghana 2-1 in a tense encounter. Petar Sučić gave the Croatians the lead in the 31st minute before Ghana equalised through Luckassen in the 73rd minute. Nikola Vlašić restored Croatia’s advantage seven minutes from time to secure a vital victory.
In Group K, Colombia and Portugal played out a goalless 0-0 draw, a result that was enough for Colombia to finish top of the group while Portugal advanced as runners-up despite relentless pressure from the South Americans throughout the contest.
The day’s biggest comeback came in Atlanta, where DR Congo recovered from an early setback to defeat Uzbekistan 3-1 and qualify for the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams. Eldor Shomurodov had handed Uzbekistan an early lead, but Yoane Wissa struck twice—including a stoppage-time goal—while Fiston Mayele also found the net to complete a memorable victory for the Congolese, who recorded their first-ever FIFA World Cup win.
In another dramatic contest, Algeria and Austria shared the spoils in a pulsating 3-3 draw. Marko Arnautović, Marcel Sabitzer and Sasa Kalajdžić scored for Austria, while Mohamed Belghali and Riyad Mahrez, who netted twice including a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser, rescued a valuable point for Algeria in one of the tournament’s most entertaining matches.
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Argentina rounded off the evening with a commanding 3-1 victory over Jordan. Giovani Lo Celso opened the scoring before Lautaro Martínez converted from the penalty spot. Jordan briefly threatened through Mousa Al-Taamari’s goal, but Lionel Messi ended any hopes of a comeback by adding Argentina’s third goal late in the match as the South American champions comfortably progressed to the knockout rounds.
With the completion of the group stage, attention now shifts to the Round of 32, which begins on Sunday, June 28. Every fixture from this point becomes a knockout affair, with no second chances as the remaining 32 nations battle for a place in football history.
The expanded 48-team tournament has delivered compelling football, surprise results and remarkable performances from emerging nations, setting the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating knockout phase. As the race for the coveted FIFA World Cup trophy intensifies, fans across the globe can expect even greater drama, tactical battles and unforgettable moments in the quest for international glory.
