England’s ahead #09 Harry Kane celebrates scoring his workforce’s second objective throughout the 2026 World Cup Group L soccer match between Panama and England on the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on June 27, 2026. — AFP
LOS ANGELES: England defeated Panama 2-0 on Saturday to clinch high spot of their World Cup group and arrange a last-32 conflict with the Democratic Republic of Congo because the African underdogs reached the knockout rounds for the primary time.
Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane scored the objectives in a laboured victory for England on the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey that clinched first place in Group L — and a date with the DR Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday.
DR Congo superior after a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan in Atlanta — their first ever victory in a World Cup match — that noticed them end third in Group Okay as probably the greatest third-placed groups.
Colombia topped Group Okay after holding Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal to a 0-0 attract Miami — a consequence meaning the Portuguese will now face Croatia within the final 32.
England have been made to work onerous by a well-organised Panama workforce and heading for a repeat of their lacklustre 0-0 draw with Ghana till Bellingham opened the scoring on 62 minutes earlier than offering an help for Kane 5 minutes later.
“It was what we expected: a tough match against a physical opponent,” England supervisor Thomas Tuchel mentioned.
“They are a difficult team to score against and we were the only team to create this amount of chances and score twice,” Tuchel added, earlier than confidently predicting England would enhance throughout the knockout section.
“We will step up,” the German mentioned. “The bigger the games get, the bigger we will get.”
Croatia in the meantime made certain of claiming second place within the group behind England with a 2-1 victory over Ghana in Philadelphia.
Petar Sucic and Nikola Vlasic scored the objectives for Croatia, as Ghana have been pressured to accept third.
Croatia’s win extinguished Scotland’s hopes of compacting into the final 32 as probably the greatest third-placed groups, sealing their elimination from the event. Scotland supervisor Steve Clarke promptly resigned.
Friday’s outcomes had already assured England, Croatia and Ghana a spot within the knockout rounds, with the one difficulty to be settled the order of qualification.
Croatia face Portugal in Toronto on Thursday.
Portugal annoyed
Portgual had gone into their tussle with Colombia in Miami needing a win to high the group — and provides themselves a theoretically simpler route within the knockout rounds.
(L-R) Colombia’s defender #04 Santiago Arias, Portugal´s ahead #07 Cristiano Ronaldo, and Colombia’s midfielder #11 Jhon Arias battle for the ball throughout the 2026 World Cup Group Okay soccer match between Colombia and Portugal on the Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens on June 27, 2026. — AFP
However after an exciting, end-to-end battle Portugal needed to accept a degree towards a Colombia workforce who so almost snatched a win within the dying minutes solely to see a fractional offside determination deny them a successful objective.
The consequence means Portugal will face a difficult tie with the skilled Croatians within the final 32 — and probably a gathering with European champions Spain within the final 16.
Saturday’s early fixtures left simply two locations within the final 32 to be determined from the ultimate two matches of the primary spherical, in Group J.
Austria and Algeria — who meet in Kansas Metropolis — are each within the hunt for a final 32 ticket, together with Iran, who’re bidding to advance as probably the greatest third-placed groups.
Within the different recreation, Argentina, who’re already certified for the final 32, tackle Jordan in Arlington, Texas.
