World Cup 2026 Ends Group Stage With 6 Matches as Round of 32 Starts June 28
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Jun 27
World Cup 2026 Ends Group Stage With 6 Matches as Round of 32 Starts June 28
3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Jun 27
Summary
Six final group-stage matches on Friday will settle the last World Cup 2026 knockout places, with England vs. Panama and Croatia vs. Ghana kicking off at 5 p.m. ET.
Three later games complete the slate: Colombia vs. Portugal and Uzbekistan vs. DR Congo at 7:30 p.m. ET, then Jordan vs. Argentina and Algeria vs. Austria at 10 p.m. ET.
Croatia enter their match needing at least a draw to strengthen their path to the last 32, with Ivan Perisic citing an unbeaten World Cup record against African opponents since 2014.
Hard Rock Stadium in Miami faces added scrutiny for Colombia vs. Portugal, returning nearly 2 years after the 2024 Copa America final crowd breach prompted heightened security and extra checkpoints.
The expanded 48-team format sends the top 2 teams in each group plus the 8 best third-place finishers into the Round of 32, which begins Saturday.