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# World Cup 2026 Group Stage Wraps Up: England, France, Colombia Secure Top Spots — Last 32 Set to Begin June 28
The 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage has officially concluded after an electrifying final day of matches on June 27. With 48 teams narrowed down to 32, the knockout rounds begin tomorrow (June 28) across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Here is everything you need to know from the final day of group play and what to expect in the Round of 32.
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## Results from Friday, June 27
### Group K — Colombia Take Top Billing
**Colombia 0–0 Portugal**
A tense stalemate in Kansas City saw Colombia secure top spot in Group K. Colombia came close through Jhon Córdoba and Luis Díaz, while Bruno Fernandes forced a brilliant save from Camilo Vargas. Portugal, led by a quiet 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, settled for second place. Colombia finishes unbeaten with 7 points; Portugal has 5.
**DR Congo 3–1 Uzbekistan**
DR Congo staged a remarkable comeback to crush Uzbekistan’s World Cup debut. The win lifts Congo to 4 points and secures them a Last 32 showdown with England — a fascinating matchup between African resilience and European pedigree.
### Group L — Bellingham and Kane Deliver for England
**England 2–0 Panama**
Jude Bellingham broke the deadlock early before Harry Kane made history, becoming England’s all-time leading men’s World Cup scorer with his second-half strike. Thomas Tuchel’s side finish top of Group L with 7 points, undefeated. Croatia took second place after beating Ghana 2–1.
**Croatia 2–1 Ghana**
Croatia’s experience proved decisive as they edged past Ghana to finish second in the group with 6 points.
### Group I — Dembélé Hat-Trick Fires France
**France 4–1 Norway**
Ousmane Dembélé stole the show with a stunning hat-trick as France blew past Norway to finish Group I with a perfect 9 points — the only team besides Mexico and Argentina to go 3-for-3 in the group stage.
**Senegal 5–0 Iraq**
Senegal kept their hopes alive with a dominant 5-0 thrashing of 10-man Iraq, but it wasn’t enough to advance.
### Group J — Final Matches
**Jordan vs Argentina** *(in progress)* — Argentina had already secured top spot. Jordan was already eliminated.
**Algeria vs Austria** *(in progress)* — Second place in Group J was up for grabs in Kansas City.
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## Group Stage Standings Summary
| Group | Winner | Runner-Up | Notable |
|——-|——–|———–|———|
| A | Mexico (9 pts) | South Africa (4 pts) | Mexico perfect record, 0 goals conceded |
| B | Switzerland (7 pts) | Canada (4 pts) | Switzerland unbeaten |
| C | Brazil (7 pts) | Morocco (7 pts) | Brazil edges on GD; Scotland eliminated |
| D | USA (6 pts) | Australia (4 pts) | Turkey stunned USA 3–2 but eliminated |
| E | Germany (6 pts) | Côte d’Ivoire (6 pts) | Ecuador upset Germany 2–1 |
| F | Netherlands (7 pts) | Japan (5 pts) | Netherlands unbeaten; Tunisia eliminated |
| G | Belgium (5 pts) | Egypt (5 pts) | Tight group with all drawn matches |
| H | Spain (7 pts) | Cape Verde (3 pts) | Spain perfect defensively (0 GA) |
| I | France (9 pts) | Norway (6 pts) | France dominant in all 3 matches |
| J | Argentina (9 pts)* | TBD | Messi leads with 5 goals |
| K | Colombia (7 pts) | Portugal (5 pts) | Colombia undefeated |
| L | England (7 pts) | Croatia (6 pts) | England unbeaten, Kane makes history |
*Argentina played last group match June 27*
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## Key Takeaways from the Group Stage
– **Attendance record shattered:** Over 4.5 million spectators have attended matches, surpassing the 1994 record.
– **New format works:** The expanded 48-team format with 12 groups has delivered drama, upsets, and high-scoring matches (205 goals in 70 games).
– **Host nations:** Mexico (9 pts, 0 GA) was the standout host, winning all three matches. The USA finished top of Group D despite a shock 3–2 loss to Turkey. Canada finished 2nd in Group B.
– **Surprise packages:** Morocco (7 pts in Group C), South Africa (advanced to Last 32), and Cape Verde (unbeaten, 3 draws) impressed on debut.
– **Big names eliminated:** Scotland (Clarke resigned as manager), Uruguay, and Turkey all failed to advance.
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## Upcoming: Round of 32 Schedule
The knockout stage kicks off June 28 with eight matches over six days. Confirmed fixtures include:
– **DR Congo vs England** — a classic David vs Goliath matchup
– **Argentina** will face a third-place qualifier
– **Brazil vs Netherlands** potential quarterfinal clash if both advance
The Round of 32 runs through July 3, followed by the Round of 16 (July 4–7), quarterfinals (July 9–11), semifinals (July 14–15), third-place match (July 18), and the **Final at MetLife Stadium on July 19** — featuring the first-ever Super Bowl-style halftime show.
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## FAQ
**Q: How many teams advance from the group stage?**
A: 32 teams advance — the top 2 from each of the 12 groups, plus the 8 best third-place finishers.
**Q: Who is the top scorer so far?**
A: Lionel Messi (Argentina) leads with 5 goals as of June 27.
**Q: When is the final?**
A: July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
**Q: Where can I watch the matches?**
A: In the US, matches are broadcast on FOX Sports and streamed on FuboTV.
**Q: Which host nation performed best?**
A: Mexico finished with a perfect 9 points and 0 goals conceded — the strongest showing among all three co-hosts.
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## Looking Ahead
The Round of 32 begins Saturday, June 28, with high-stakes knockout football. Will England live up to expectations? Can Argentina defend their title? Can an underdog like Morocco or Japan make a deep run? All questions will be answered over the next three weeks.
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