FIFA World Cup 2026 results roundup: Lionel Messi makes more history, DR Congo, Algeria advance, Portugal held
World Cup 2026 results: The final round of group stage matches saw England take on Panama and Croatia play Ghana in Group L. Portugal faced Colombia for the top spot in Group K, while DR Congo and Uzbekistan square off in the other game. Group J saw Argentina square off against Jordan as Austria and Algeria took on each other.
Group J: More history for Messi and Algeria-Austria play thriller
Lionel Messi became the first player to score in seven successive World Cup games after coming off the bench to net a free-kick against Jordan in the Group J clash. The goal meant he extended his record breaking World Cup tally to 19 goals.
Argentina made a lot of changes to their playing XI for their final group match and went ahead in the 19th minute after Giovani lo Celso drilled a free-kick into the top corner. La Albiceleste controlled the game largely, and Lautaro Martinez doubled their lead from the penalty spot after Marcos Senesi was inadvertently kicked in the head inside the box.
The defending champions continued their dominance in the second half as Martinez struck the crossbar. But Jordan then pulled a goal back in the 55th minute. A well-worked move saw Ehsan Haddad play a perfect ball across the goal, which was swept in by Mousa Al Tamari. Five minutes later, Messi came from the bench and once again showed why he is still making headlines. With 10 minutes to go, he curled in a brilliant free-kick around the wall of the The Chivalrous Ones to make it 3-1 to Argentina, scoring his sixth goal in three games.
The other game in Group J was a thriller. Austria and Algeria knew that a draw would be enough to take them both to the knockout stages. But unlike the infamous events of the Disgrace of Gijon 44 years ago, there was no hint of two teams playing for a favourable result. Instead, fans at the Arrowhead Stadium were treated to an all-time World Cup classic.
Both teams started with high intensity, but Austria went ahead after 28 minutes when Marko Arnautovic caught David Alaba’s aerial ball and bundled a finish past Oussama Benbot. The African side responded resoundingly with Fares Chaibi hitting the post from a brilliant left-footed strike. Algeria then drew level at the stroke of half time when Rafik Belghali skipped past the opposing defenders from the left side and smashed the ball into the net.
The second half saw Ralf Rangnick’s men restore their advantage in the 55th minute as Marcel Sabitzer scored from a first-time shot just at the edge of the box. The Desert Warriors refused to back off and were level after five minutes. Houssem Aouar played a tempting ball across goal, and Riyad Mahrez finished emphatically to make it 2-2. Vladimir Petković’s side then turned things around when Mahrez drilled a low finish past the Austrian goalkeeper in the third minute of stoppage time. But there was more drama to come as Sasa Kalajdzic headed home to rescue a point for Das Team in a frantic finale. With this result, both teams are through to the round of 32.
Group K: Colombia top group and DR Congo go through
Colombia and Portugal clashed in Group K to determine which team would seal the top spot. The game in Miami started at a good pace with chances for both teams. Jhon Arias sent a header just over the bar, and Ruben Neves couldn’t find the target from close range. These exchanges continued in the first half with the South American side edging the contest.
Los Cafeteros continued to remain in ascendancy after the break, with Diogo Costa denying Jefferson Lerma after a long-range strike by the Crystal Palace man. Portugal, on the other hand, failed to create clear-cut chances as they saw their talisman Cristiano Ronaldo not have the desired impact.
Colombia kept going closer to the winner and thought their dominance paid off when Davinson Sanchez headed in Juan Fernando Quintero’s cross in the 91st minute. However, a VAR review revealed that the tip of Sanchez’s boot was just ahead, and the goal was ruled out for offside. The game ended in a draw and ensured Colombia finished top of their group and will face Ghana in the next round, while Seleção das Quinas finished second with a tie against Croatia in the last 32 waiting for them.
Meanwhile, DR Congo secured progress after winning their first-ever game at the World Cup. The African nation, making just their second World Cup finals appearance, beat Uzbekistan 3-1 to reach the round of 32. But their start was far from ideal.
Eldor Shomurodov took advantage of a defensive lapse and lobbed an effort from the left side inside the box to give Fabio Cannavaro’s side the lead inside 10 minutes. The Central Asian side continued to look lively for most of the first half, and it appeared they would double their advantage. But DR Congo turned things around in the second half.
Yoane Wissa was brought down inside the box Abdukodir Khusanov and the Newcastle forward strolled the resulting penalty low into the right corner to bring his side level in the 68th minute. The Leopards completed the comeback in the 78th minute after a deflected Meschack Elia shot was delicately guided into the net by Fiston Mayele. Wissa then made sure of the victory after cutting in from the left and turned around to drill a low shot into the far corner from the edge of the box to secure a monumental result for the African side. They will now play England in the round of 32.
Group L: Croatia leave it late, and England overcome Panama
England were made to work by Panama in their Group L clash before they finally won 2-0. Thomas Tuchel’s side were looking to finish the group well after playing out a drab draw with Ghana in the previous game. But in New Jersey, they struggled to get going against their less fancied opponents.
The Three Lions looked unconvincing in the first half but did see Marcus Rashford’s curling effort parried away by Orlando Mosquera. At the other end, Jordan Pickford kept out Jose Luis Rodriguez’s low effort as the English defense looked shaky. The half plodded along with England appearing bereft of any creativity and Panama happy to let them have the ball.
The second half saw both teams again go close, and the English fans finally had a sigh of relief when Jude Bellingham deftly flicked in Bukayo Saka’s corner in the 62nd minute. Bellingham was at the forefront as the 2024 Euros runner-ups doubled their advantage five minutes later. His cross picked out Harry Kane, and the Bayern Munich striker headed in to score his 11th World Cup goal, one ahead of Gary Lineker and an English record. With this win, England progress to the knockout stage as the group leaders.
Croatia also overcame a stubborn Ghana to secure second spot in Group L. Zlatko Dalic’s side had the better of early exchanges and controlled the game. Nikola Vlasic saw his long drive from a distance clip the left side of Benjamin Asare’s goalpost, and Ivan Perisic saw his header saved. But the breakthrough arrived just after the half-hour mark.
Petar Sucic arrowed in from long range and found the bottom right corner to put his side ahead. Having failed to get a shot on target in the first 45 minutes, the Black Stars came out with more intent in the second half. Abdul Fatawu fired just wide as they grew in confidence. However, Asare had to keep his side in the game after he pushed away a strike and then saw his side go level.
Ernest Nuamah played in a tempting free-kick, and Derrick Luckassen slotted a low finish past Dominik Livakovic in the 73rd minute. The African side were good value for their equalizer and looked like scoring again. But in the 83rd minute a Luka Modric corner was headed home by Vlasic to give his side the win and help them finish second.
The Vatreni now face Portugal in an enticing round of 32 match, while Ghana also progress and will take on Colombia in the knockout stage.
