The 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered another entertaining day of group-stage football, highlighted by England’s six-goal thriller against Croatia, Colombia’s hard-fought victory over World Cup debutants Uzbekistan, Ghana’s crucial win over Panama, and a historic result for DR Congo against Portugal.
With qualification races tightening across Groups K and L, every point gained — or dropped — is beginning to shape the path toward the knockout rounds.
England 4–2 Croatia (Group L)
England opened their Group L campaign with an attacking statement, defeating Croatia 4-2 in Arlington despite being forced to fend off multiple Croatian comebacks.
Captain Harry Kane led the charge with two goals, beginning with a retaken penalty in the 12th minute before adding a header from a corner in the 42nd minute to draw level with Gary Lineker’s England World Cup scoring record of 10 goals.
Croatia responded twice. Martin Baturina equalized in the 36th minute after capitalizing on England mistakes, while Petar Musa made it 2-2 deep into first-half stoppage time after being set up by Ivan Perisic.
England regained control immediately after the break when Jude Bellingham finished a sweeping counterattack in the 47th minute. Marcus Rashford then sealed the victory with a late goal in the 85th minute.
The victory places England atop Group L and continues the strong start expected under manager Thomas Tuchel. Croatia, meanwhile, faces pressure heading into its next matches against Panama and Ghana.
Colombia 3–1 Uzbekistan (Group K)
Colombia maintained its unbeaten start by overcoming a determined Uzbekistan side, 2-1, in Mexico City.
The South Americans entered the tournament as Group K favorites behind stars such as Luis Díaz and James Rodríguez, but Uzbekistan once again proved why many viewed them as a dangerous newcomer after an impressive qualifying campaign.
Uzbekistan battled evenly for long stretches and kept Colombia under pressure until the closing stages. However, Colombia’s superior finishing and tournament experience ultimately proved decisive as they secured another three points to remain in command of the group.
While the defeat hurts, Uzbekistan has earned respect by pushing one of South America’s strongest teams to the limit in its first World Cup appearance.
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Group L standings after 1st round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Next games:
23 June • England vs Ghana
24 June • Panama vs Croatia
28 June • Croatia vs Ghana / Panama vs England pic.twitter.com/4hY0TgVFcw— Football Beyond The Game (@fbtg_official) June 18, 2026
Ghana 1–0 Panama (Group L)
Ghana collected a valuable victory after edging Panama 1-0 in a tightly contested match.
Both teams entered the tournament knowing every point would matter in a difficult group featuring England and Croatia. Chances were limited throughout the contest, but Ghana found the breakthrough and protected its advantage through disciplined defending.
The result keeps Ghana firmly in the qualification race and sets up a massive showdown against England in the next round of fixtures. Panama, meanwhile, will need a response against Croatia to keep its hopes alive.
Portugal 1–1 DR Congo (Group K)
The biggest surprise of the day came in Houston, where DR Congo earned a historic 1-1 draw against Portugal.
Portugal struck first through Neves, appearing on course for a routine victory. But DR Congo refused to fold and equalized in first-half stoppage time through Yoane Wissa, who scored the nation’s first-ever World Cup goal.
The draw also delivered DR Congo’s first point in World Cup history, coming in its first tournament appearance since 1974. Coach Sébastien Desabre credited his players’ mentality and tactical discipline after the match.
Portugal dominated possession but struggled to create consistent chances against a well-organized Congolese defense. The result leaves Group K wide open heading into the next round of fixtures.
Standings Race Tightens
England and Colombia emerged as the day’s biggest winners, strengthening their positions atop Groups L and K respectively. Ghana stayed firmly in contention, while DR Congo produced one of the tournament’s most memorable results so far.
With upcoming matches featuring England versus Ghana and Colombia against DR Congo, the battle for qualification is only beginning to heat up.
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