World Cup 2026 Locks In 30 of 32 Knockout Berths as Group Stage Ends
Updated
Updated · Bleacher Report · Jun 28
World Cup 2026 Locks In 30 of 32 Knockout Berths as Group Stage Ends
3 articles · Updated · Bleacher Report · Jun 28
Summary
Thirty of 32 Round-of-32 spots were secured Saturday as the World Cup group stage closed, with England, Croatia, Colombia, Portugal, DR Congo and Ghana all advancing.
England beat Panama 2-0 to win Group L on 7 points, while Croatia’s 2-1 victory over Ghana sealed second place; Ghana still advanced with 4 points.
Group K finished with Colombia atop on 7 points after a 0-0 draw with Portugal, whose 6 points were enough for second despite a late VAR disallowing Davinson Sanchez’s would-be winner.
DR Congo’s 3-1 win over Uzbekistan delivered its first-ever World Cup victory and a knockout berth, setting up a Round-of-32 meeting with England.
Two final group-stage matches—Algeria vs. Austria and Jordan vs. Argentina—were still to decide the last 2 berths and complete the knockout bracket.