World Cup: Messi sends Argentina to top, England to face DR Congo, Iran out | World Cup 2026 News
Messi Scores in Argentina Victory; England Clinches Top Spot in Group
Published on June 28, 2026
Lionel Messi has made history once again, becoming the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches. His sixth goal of the tournament came as Argentina secured a 3-1 victory over Jordan, concluding their group stage with a perfect record.
Meanwhile, England defeated Panama 2-0 at the New York/New Jersey Stadium, ensuring they topped Group L. With this victory, England set up a last-32 clash against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who advanced to the knockout rounds for the first time in their history.
In the match against Panama, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane each found the net to secure the win for England. The team will face DR Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday.
DR Congo clinched their spot in the knockout stages after a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan, marking their first-ever victory in a World Cup match. They finished third in Group K, qualifying as one of the best third-placed teams.
Colombia also advanced, topping Group K after holding Portugal to a scoreless draw in Miami. The result means the Portuguese will meet Croatia in the next round.
In Philadelphia, Croatia secured second place in Group L by defeating Ghana 2-1, extinguishing Scotland’s hopes of advancing. Ghana will not proceed past the group stage, and Scotland’s manager Steve Clarke has since resigned.
Friday’s results confirmed the advancement of England, Croatia, and Ghana, with their final standing in the group being the only question that remained.
Tuchel Aims for Improvement
England manager Thomas Tuchel acknowledged the challenges posed by Panama, who he described as a well-organized team. After a difficult first half that resembled their earlier match against Ghana, Bellingham broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute, followed by Kane’s strike five minutes later.
“It was what we expected: a tough match against a physical opponent,” Tuchel said. He expressed confidence that England would elevate their performance in the knockout rounds, stating, “We will step up. The bigger the games get, the bigger we will get.”
Argentina’s Strong Finish
Back in Arlington, Texas, Argentina’s victory concluded with Messi, a second-half substitute, scoring his record-extending 19th career World Cup goal. The reigning champions now face Cape Verde, the smallest nation to qualify for the knockout stage.
In another match in Group J, Austria and Algeria played to a thrilling 3-3 draw, both advancing to the round of 32. The result confirmed Iran’s elimination from the tournament.
Austria, with a dramatic equalizer in injury time, finished second in Group J and will face Spain, while Algeria qualified as one of the best third-placed teams and will meet Switzerland.
