It is the final day of the World Cup group stages before the serious business starts tomorrow evening, but there is still plenty to be decided on a fascinating day 17.
Croatia 2-1 Ghana (FT)
Panama 0-2 England (FT)
Group L: England, Croatia and Ghana advance to Round of 32.
Colombia 0-0 Portugal (FT)
D.R. Congo 3-1 Uzbekistan (FT)
Group K: Colombia, Portugal and D. R. Congo advance to Round of 32.
Algeria 3-3 Austria (FT)
Jordan 1-3 Argentina (FT)
Group J: Argentina, Austria and Algeria advance to Round of 32.
The 2026 World Cup is taking place from June 11th to July 19th in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament features 48 national teams and is played at 16 modern stadiums.
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08:20 CET – As promised, here are our highlights from day 17 at the World Cup!
We will be back with another tracker this evening as the Round of 32 kicks off with South Africa vs Canada!
Follow day 18 at the World Cup as it happens here!
06:25 CET – Our team will bring you the daily highlights package of day 17 shortly, but in the meantime, here are our match reports from the final two games:
Argentina go perfect in group stage play after getting the better of Jordan
Austria and Algeria claim final knockout round places after enthralling stalemate
We'll do it all again tomorrow, this time with only one contest – co-hosts Canada hosting South Africa. Catch you then!
06:08 CET – Algeria will play Switzerland in Vancouver and Austria face Spain in Los Angeles. Hollywood themselves could not have scripted such a finish.
Click here to see all 16 of the Round of 32 fixtures. We won't list them all here to save you the trouble of reading them twice, but note the kick-off times and fill your diary with the ones you're most excited about!
Here are the 16 sides we must now bid farewell and thank you to: South Korea, Czech Republic, Qatar, Scotland, Haiti, Turkey, Curacao, Tunisia, Iran, New Zealand, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Uzbekistan and Panama. Many of them were worthy competitors who can be proud of their efforts. The 48-team expansion has so far been a success.
Spare a thought for the Iranian team, who had to deal with the logistical nightmares of flying in and out of the USA on gameday, and were already recovering from the heartbreak of having a stoppage time winner against Egypt overturned by VAR. Ouch.
06:02 CET – Don't forget the heartbreak that Iran suffered in their own game against Egypt yesterday. Twice in the space of two days, they thought they were going through to the Round of 32 because of a stoppage time goal.
05:57 CET – AUSTRIA EQUALISE!! IRAN ARE GOING HOME INSTEAD IN THE 96TH MINUTE!
This group stage could not have ended in more dramatic fashion. Sasa Kalajdzic scores a header that goes down in Austrian football folklore FOREVER!
The goals from Mahrez and Kalajdzic were the only two shots since the hydration break. It did not look at all likely that there was more action left in this match.
05:55 CET – ALGERIA SCORE A STOPPAGE TIME WINNER AND SEND IRAN TO THE ROUND OF 32!
Riyad Mahrez hands Austria the ultimate payback for the Disgrace of Gijon in 1982!
05:50 CET – Algeria and Austria aren't playing with a lot of risk as stoppage time approaches. Now they can be forgiven for settling for a draw. This is not the kind of draw that anybody was expecting and they have provided plenty of entertainment.
05:40 CET – The great man has done it once again. Lionel Messi from a set piece. He sent the stadium into complete raptures with his family in the stands. He was straight out in front near the edge of the box, curled it around the wall and a blinded goalkeeper watched it go past.
The footage even made the big screen of the Algeria v Austria game and drew applause from the spectators.
Messi has scored in seven consecutive World Cup matches. Our social media team will have to update this graphic already.
05:30 CET – The final hydration breaks of the group stage are taking place and nobody would be more nervous than the Iranian squad.
05:20 CET – ALGERIA EQUALISE AND RETURN TO THE ROUND OF 32! This is utter, utter madness. Riyad Mahrez scores for his country again.
Oh and Lionel Messi has been subbed on against Jordan. Never thought I'd say that's far less important than a game between Austria and Algeria.
05:15 CET – It's of no consequence to the group standings, but take nothing away from Jordan's Mousa Al Tamari for scoring against Argentina!
Perhaps more importantly, Marcel Sabitzer hits a thunderbolt from the edge of the box to put Austria ahead and Algeria back on the plane home. Sabitzer's shot was recorded at 112kmh (70mph).
05:05 CET – Play is about to resume in the final two games of the group stage. Here are the Round of 32 fixtures as they stand. The group runners-up will play Spain and either Iran or the third-place finishers from this group will play Switzerland.
04:50 CET – It's half-time in both games and Algeria and Austria are both qualifying at Iran's expense on current results.
04:45 CET – Algeria equalise of the stroke of half-time and Iran's boarding passes are being reissued once again!
Rafik Belghali dribbled around two Austrian defenders after collecting a blocked shot.
04:40 CET – Algeria came agonisingly close to equalising on two separate occasions in two minutes through Rafik Belghali and Ibrahim Maza.
04:28 CET – Austria take the lead in Kansas City! It's just the result that Iran wanted – they qualify ahead of Algeria on current results.
In Arlington, Lautaro Martinez scores from the penalty spot to make it 2-0 for Argentina.
04:22 CET – Austria and Algeria have created 0.02 expected goals between them as of the hydration break. It's almost as if a 0-0 draw would suit them both…!
04:20 CET – One-nil to Argentina! Giovani Lo Celso slams it into the side of the net from a set piece, just as Lionel Messi wold have done.
04:10 CET – Argentina have had 80% of possession but are yet to take a shot at goal.
04:00 CET – The final matches of Group J are underway!
A draw between Algeria and Austria would see both teams go through at Iran's expense.
03:55 CET – And finally for Group K, our reports of the recently completed matches:
Portugal and Colombia split points in scoreless encounter as La Tricolor top group
DR Congo knock out South Korea and advance after comeback win over Uzbekistan
03:50 CET – Here are the confirmed lineups for the Group J teams with ten minutes until kickoff:
03:45 CET – We now know 14 of the 16 Round of 32 games, which can be found in our 2026 FIFA World Cup calendar.
Three more games were booked in following the resolution of Group K:
– Belgium vs Senegal
– Portugal v Croatia
– Colombia v Ghana
Spain will play the runners-up of Group J, whilst Switzerland will take on either Iran or the third-placed team of Group J.
03:30 CET – Congo seal a 3-1 victory and their date with England!
Colombia wins the group with a scoreless draw, one that their supporters will probably be a little disappointed with.
03:25 CET – 3-1 D. R. CONGO! They're coming back to Atlanta to play England next week.
Over in Miami, Davinson Sanchez wheeled away in celebration only to have his stoppage time winner disallowed for offside.
03:20 CET – Still no goals between Colombia and Portugal! Colombia's ten shots have produced just 0.60 expected goals, whilst Portugal have not had a single genuine scoring opportunity.
03:11 CET – D. R. CONGO LEAD! They're back into the Round of 32! That goal has them in fourth spot on the third-place rankings.
03:07 CET – Colombia-Portugal has ticked over to 75 minutes. Both teams have made four substitutions each, which you can see in the match centre by clicking the link above.
D. R. Congo made a triple substitution during the 72nd minute.
03:00 CET – D. R. Congo score from the penalty spot to level up the scores! They're one goal away from the Round of 32. It was elegantly and coolly taken by Yoane Wissa. 1-1 at the hydration break.
02:55 CET – Colombia have been putting enormous pressure on the Portugal goal in this half, recording three shots on target and one big chance. It goes to the hydration break scoreless.
02:40 CET – The second half of both games are now underway.
02:35 CET – Before we return to the second half, we can bring you the lineups for Group J's final games:
02:23 CET – Uzbekistan take a 1-0 lead into their game against D. R. Congo, with neither nation helped by that result. It is, however, good news for Iran (3pts, +0) and South Korea (3pts, -1) who are clinging desperately to 7th and 8th spot in the third-place rankings table.
The live standings remain as they were below (see 02:00 CET).
02:17 CET – Both games are in stoppage time of the second half. Three minutes for Colombia v Portugal and seven for DR Congo v Uzbekistan.
Colombia v Portugal is confirmed as scoreless at the break.
02:00 CET – Thanks for your company if you've been sticking with us throughout the night. Here are the latest live standings, with Uzbekistan's points and goal difference not enough to go to the Round of 32.
Mexico v Ecuador is the tenth Round of 32 game to have been scheduled, by the way. That was following the confirmation of Ghana's progression. That should be a very spicy encounter.
01:54 CET – Uzbekistan have the only goal of the group so far as the players from all four teams take in a drink.
01:48 CET – D. R. Congo may have hit back! Brian Cipenga finds Nathanael Mbuku with a precise pass that is drilled past a stunned goalkeeper. The goal is being reviewed for a potential foul in the build-up. The goal is cancelled due to an infringement committed by the goalscorer himself.
We have not even given any love to the marquee game yet, where Colombia have had six shot attempts but only one on target.
01:42 CET – Shomurodov opens the scoring! D.R. Congo are in a spot of bother now. This is not a helpful result for anybody as Uzbekistan cannot qualify via third unless they were to win by several goals.
01:33 CET – Uzbekistan almost had a first minute strike through legendary goalscorer Eldor Shomurodov but it was ruled out for offside.
01:25 CET – Anthems are complete in Miami and Atlanta and we're almost set for action! Portugal need to defeat Colombia to claim top spot, whilst DR Congo need to beat Uzbekistan to advance via a third-place finish.
01:10 CET – Match reports from the Group L games are coming through now:
England top Panama to win Group L as Canaleros exit tournament without scoring
Croatia hold off Ghana to finish second in group as both teams advance to knockout stage
01:05 CET – Our match reports for Croatia-Ghana and Panama-England are only a few minutes, but before then we can now take a look at the lineups for the final two matches from Group K.
Ruben Neves is in for Joao Neves. Colombia have brought in Jhon Cordoba, Jhon Arias and Deiver Machado for Luis Suarez, Daniel Munoz and Johan Mojica.
01:00 CET – Full-time in both games! England book themselves a meeting with a third-placed team, whilst Croatia will play against the runners-up of Group K, which will be decided in the next series of matches.
Ghana will play the winning team of Group K in Kansas City.
00:55 CET – England finish top of the group with their 2-0 win over Panama. Their supporters probably would have wanted to see more during that performance, especially during a wasteful first half.
Ghana will advance as a third-placed team even if they cannot find an equaliser against Croatia.
00:50 CET – Here are the live standings as the games approach stoppage time – seven minutes for Croatia-Ghana, six minutes for Panama-England.
00:45 CET – Croatia score and move back to second place! Nikola Vlasic heads the ball into the corner… from a corner.
00:35 CET – Ghana were celebrating an equaliser against Croatia, but it is currently under review for a potential offside or a push. It's a very lengthy review – we can't help but wonder if there's a technological issue.
Ghana move above Croatia with an equaliser! Very poor set piece defence from Croatia as a free kick curled into the box is nudged home by Derrick Luckassen. Sibo started the set piece in an offside position but it did not have an impact on play. Luckassen scores on his competitive debut for Ghana.
The Ghanaian defender has scored the 200th goal at this World Cup.
00:30 CET – Kane's fourth career goal against Panama boosts their goal difference and it'll be a much more enjoyable hydration break.
00:25 CET – The floodgates may have burst open now following that Bellingham breakthrough. England move 2-0 up as Kane nods home a cross from Bellingham.
00:20 CET – England are back on top of Group L through Jude Bellingham!
Despite being marked with a defenders arms wrapped around his body, Bellingham was able to toe-poke a corner kick into the side of the net.
00:05 CET – The second half is underway in both matches and we are ready for some more twists and turns!
Half-time changes were as follows:
Panama – Tomas Rodriguez is replaced by Jose Fajardo Nelson
Ghana – Kojo Peprah and Issahaku Fatawu replaced Elisha Owusu and Jonas Adjetey.
23:50 CET – Croatia head into half-time at the top of the standings and on track to meet a third-placed team from Group I/J/K.
23:45 CET – We've seen a couple of shots of some concerned England fans getting impatient with this scoreline. Their 72% possession has been converted into only 0.45 expected goals, and most importantly, no material goals. Trust the process, boys.
Both games are into stoppage time, three minutes each.
23:40 CET – Here are the latest live standings with England bumped down to second.
23:33 CET – Petar Sucic fires Croatia to the top of the standings! It was a 'skimmer' from outside the box that squeezed between the legs of Luckassen and to the right of the goalkeeper Asare.
23:25 CET – No goals yet today in Group L as the matches head into their hydration breaks. It has been all Croatia and England so far.
The England and Panama players certainly don't need their hydration break – they've probably all swallowed enough rainwater as it is!
23:20 CET – Nikola Vlasic struck the post as Croatia created their first scoring opportunity of the game, whilst England have had three shots on target with their 75% possession.
Those four England players we were thinking of below? Jarell Quansah (Leverkusen), Hey Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona) and of course Harry Kane (Bayern Munich).
23:10 CET – This is the first England World Cup XI to have four players who are committed to clubs outside of England. Can you name all four? We'll drop the answers shortly – or you can use the Lineups tab on the Flashscore website or app to cheat!
All eleven of them, and their Panama opponents, are playing in a bit of heavy rain at present, but England are still moving the ball around quickly at times.
23:00 CET – We are underway in the first two games of the day, which will see the remaining round of 32 matches take shape.
21:55 CET – The team news is out for both games tonight, with England making five changes to their starting XI. Bukayo Saka, Morgan Rogers, Jarell Quansah and Marcus Rashford make their first starts of the tournament, while Declan Rice is rested. The Three Lions have a chance to clinch top spot against Panama.
For Croatia, Josko Gvardiol is dropped to the bench, as Croatia look to secure their qualification against a Ghana side also targeting top spot.
17:30 CET – As we continue the long build-up to the first games today from Group L, why not read our latest features on Colombia ahead of their blockbuster clash against Portugal overnight?
From Falcao to Diaz: Colombia’s strong connection with Liga Portugal in recent history
Luis Suarez facing task of turning club form into goals for Colombia at World Cup
15:55 CET – There is a long way to go until the first two matches of the day, so check our latest features to keep you occupied!
EXCLUSIVE: Hoarau on Dembele against Norway, team unity and preparations for Sweden
Inside the AT&T Stadium: 'pink pitch' and giant screen that can interfere with the ball
Inside the 'Pride Match' between Egypt and Iran: No red flags as Seattle unites
13:30 CET – Good afternoon and welcome to a big day at the World Cup with an action-packed lineup. The final three groups reach their conclusion over the course of tonight and to the delight of those wanting to follow all the action, each group is back-to-back until 6am CET!
So strap in with us as we build up towards an epic day of football and prepare for what promises to be an epic night.
As always, catch up on all of yesterday's action with our daily highlights, or relive all of the drama as it unfolded in the day 16 live tracker.
First up is the conclusion of Group L with England hoping to secure top spot against Panama, and Croatia take on Ghana with aspirations of securing their place in the knockouts.
That is quickly followed by the fascinating final games in Group K as Portugal and Colombia go head-to-head to decide who wins the group. In the other game, D.R. Congo can book their place as one of the best third-placed sides if they can secure three points against Uzbekistan.
And finally, in the early hours, Group J concludes with a winner-takes-all clash between Algeria and Austria. In the other clash, group winners Argentina are expected to rotate against a Jordan side with nothing to play for.
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