Texas [US], June 28 (ANI): The 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage ended with a sequence of historic milestones, led by Lionel Messi changing into the primary participant to attain in seven consecutive World Cup matches throughout Argentina’s 3-1 win over Jordan.
Cristiano Ronaldo additionally reached one other notable World Cup landmark, at the same time as Portugal have been held to a goalless draw by Colombia of their closing Group Ok match on Saturday (native time). Notably, Africa made historical past with 9 of its 10 groups advancing to the Round of 32, marking a record-breaking achievement for the continent. The event now shifts to the knockout stage, setting the stage for the Round of 32 clashes.
In the newest match of the day, Argentina completed the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage with an ideal document, beating Jordan 3-1 to high Group J. Despite rotating their squad and beginning Messi on the bench, they led 2-0 by way of targets from Giovani Lo Celso and a Lautaro Martinez penalty.
Jordan pulled one again within the second half by way of Musa Al-Taamari, however Messi got here off the bench to attain a trademark free-kick and seal the win.
Messi etched one other exceptional milestone into soccer historical past by changing into the primary males’s participant to attain in seven consecutive FIFA World Cup matches, persevering with his extraordinary run throughout Argentina’s flawless FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage marketing campaign. Messi additionally turned the fourth participant to attain in all three group stage matches of a single World Cup for the reason that format was launched in 1998, becoming a member of Cristiano Ronaldo (2018), David Villa (2010), and Fernando Torres (2010).
Messi’s record-breaking streak started with a hat-trick in opposition to Algeria in Argentina’s opening Group J fixture earlier than he adopted it up with a brace in opposition to Austria. The objective in opposition to Jordan prolonged his unprecedented scoring sequence to seven successive World Cup appearances. The strike additionally took Messi’s tally to 19 FIFA World Cup targets, additional extending his document as Argentina’s all-time main scorer within the event. He is the main goal-scorer within the event with six targets after the tip of the group stage.
Notably, Messi additionally made historical past by changing into the primary participant to achieve the knockout stage in six consecutive FIFA World Cups (2006-2026), based on 433’s X deal with.
Argentina will now face Cape Verde within the Round of 32, whereas Jordan exits the event after three straight losses.
In a Group Ok encounter between Portugal and Colombia, each groups performed out a 0-0 attract Miami, with Colombia ending high of the group and Portugal ending second. Colombia solely wanted a draw to safe first place, whereas Portugal required a win however couldn’t break by way of regardless of dominating phases of possession.
Both sides had possibilities, together with a disallowed late header from Davinson Sanchez and key saves from goalkeepers Diogo Costa and Camilo Vargas. Both groups have now certified for the Round of 32.
In the match, Cristiano Ronaldo etched his identify into one other document e-book. According to Opta Analyst, the 41-year-old Portugal captain made his twenty fifth FIFA World Cup look, drawing degree with Germany nice Lothar Matthaus for the second-most appearances within the event’s historical past. Only Argentina captain Messi, with 29 appearances, has featured in additional World Cup matches than Ronaldo. Ronaldo additionally prolonged an uncommon event statistic within the match. The veteran ahead has now been flagged offside 11 instances throughout the final two FIFA World Cups, 4 greater than some other participant throughout that span. France’s Kylian Mbappe and Colombia’s Luis Diaz are subsequent on the listing with seven offsides every.
In their Group L match, England wrapped up their FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage marketing campaign in type with a 2-0 win over Panama, ending high of the group for the second straight version. They collected seven factors, matching their best-ever World Cup group stage tally and lengthening their unbeaten run throughout the final two tournaments.
Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane have been on the right track, with Kane changing into England’s all-time main World Cup scorer with 11 targets, transferring previous Gary Lineker’s long-standing England males’s document of 10. Meanwhile, Bellingham turned the youngest England participant since 1966 to each rating and help in a World Cup match.
England topped the group forward of Croatia, whereas Ghana additionally superior. Panama exited the event with out a win or a objective.
In one other Group Ok encounter, Congo DR got here from behind to beat Uzbekistan 3-1 in Atlanta, securing their first-ever FIFA World Cup win and a historic place within the knockout stage of the 2026 event.
Uzbekistan took an early lead by way of Eldor Shomurodov, however DR Congo fought again within the second half with a Yoane Wissa penalty and a late brace from him to finish the comeback. Fiston Mayele additionally scored as Congo sealed a well-known victory. Uzbekistan, on their World Cup debut, have been eradicated regardless of a robust begin.
Croatia defeated Ghana 2-1 in a tightly contested FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L match to safe their place within the Round of 32.
Petar Sucic opened the scoring with a long-range strike, earlier than Derrick Luckassen equalised for Ghana within the second half. Nikola Vlasic then scored a late winner from a Luka Modric nook within the 83rd minute to seal Croatia’s victory. Despite the loss, Ghana additionally progressed as top-of-the-line third-placed groups, whereas Croatia completed second within the group behind England.
Elsewhere, Algeria and Austria performed out an exciting 3-3 draw of their closing FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match, with each groups securing qualification to the Round of 32.
The recreation noticed a number of lead modifications, with targets from Marko Arnautovic and Marcel Sabitzer for Austria, and strikes from Belghali, Riyad Mahrez (twice), and others for Algeria. Mahrez appeared to have gained it late, however Sasa Kalajdzic scored a stoppage-time equaliser to rescue Austria.
The outcome ensured Austria completed second within the group, Algeria superior as top-of-the-line third-placed groups, whereas Iran have been eradicated.
Notably, with Ghana, Algeria and Congo DR making it by way of to the Round of 32, Africa made historical past on the FIFA World Cup 2026, with 9 of its 10 taking part teams–Morocco, South Africa, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Egypt, Algeria, Congo DR, and Cabo Verde–qualifying for the Round of 32, marking a record-breaking achievement. Tunisia was the one African aspect to overlook out.
The qualification spherical featured dramatic moments, together with Algeria’s 3-3 draw with Austria, DR Congo’s first-ever World Cup win over Uzbekistan, and Cabo Verde advancing with out a single victory. Morocco additionally impressed with robust performances, together with a draw in opposition to Brazil.
The achievement far surpasses the earlier document of two African groups reaching the knockout stage in a single version (2014). In distinction, solely Japan and Australia symbolize Asia within the Round of 32.
Teams within the spherical of 32
Group A: Mexico, South Africa
Group B: Switzerland, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group C: Brazil, Morocco
Group D: USA, Australia, Paraguay
Group E: Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden
Group G: Belgium, Egypt
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde
Group I: France, Norway, Senegal
Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria
Group Ok: Colombia, Portugal, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 matches schedule:
South Africa vs Canada: 29 June, 12:30 am IST
Brazil vs Japan: 29 June, 10:30 pm IST
Germany vs Paraguay: 30 June, 2:30 am IST
Netherlands vs Morocco 30 June, 6:30 am IST
Ivory Coast vs Norway: 30 June, 10:30 pm IST
France vs Sweden: 1 July, 2:30 am IST
Mexico vs Ecuador: 1 July, 6:30 am IST
England vs DR Congo: 1 July, 9:30 pm IST
Belgium vs Senegal: 2 July, 1:30 am IST
USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2 July, 5:30 am IST
Spain vs Austria: 3 July, 12:30 am IST
Portugal vs Croatia: 3 July, 4:30 am IST
Switzerland vs Algeria: 3 July, 8:30 am IST
Australia vs Egypt: 3 July, 11:30 pm IST
Argentina vs Cabo Verde: 4 July, 3:30 am IST
Colombia vs Ghana: 4 July, 7:00 am IST. (ANI)