More details are emerging on Milan’s over €50m done deal for Goncalo Ramos, as the Paris Saint-Germain striker held secret medical tests over two weeks ago.
PORTO, PORTUGAL – NOVEMBER 16: Goncalo Ramos of Portugal looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Portugal and Armenia at Estadio do Dragao on November 16, 2025 in Porto, Portugal. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)
It was reported by A Bola today that the first formal offer had been received by PSG, and within hours The Athletic followed by Calciomercato and many others noted the clubs had agreed a transfer.
The precise figures aren’t clear yet, but they are believed to reach €53-55m including various bonuses.
Goncalo Ramos move in the works for weeks
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JULY 09: Goncalo Ramos #9 of Paris Saint-Germainn looks on during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 semi-final match between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid CF at MetLife Stadium on July 09, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Sky Sport Italia note that not only did Goncalo Ramos already undergo his medical tests in Florida, where Portugal are training for the World Cup, but that it was done 15 days ago.
That was a precaution requested by Milan before going further down the path of the negotiations, so they wouldn’t get any unfortunate surprises.
Paris Saint-Germain paid €65m to buy him from Benfica in 2024 following an initial loan period, and he contributed to their second consecutive Champions League success with 12 goals and two assists in 45 competitive games this season.
However, the 25-year-old was eager for more regular playing time, as he was only in the starting XI for 15 of those matches, none of them in the Champions League.
Goncalo Ramos already agreed personal terms with Milan and is eager to work with new coach Ruben Amorim.
The Athletic claim that Milan have agreed a club record fee with Paris Saint-Germain for Goncalo Ramos at €55m including add-ons, and that he underwent his medical on World Cup duty with Portugal.
They noted that it was around €40m and still below the asking price of €50m plus add-ons.
Goncalo Ramos to Milan imminently
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – MAY 30: Goncalo Ramos of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates scoring the team’s first penalty in the penalty shoot out during the UEFA Champions League Final 2026 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal FC at Puskas Arena on May 30, 2026 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – MAY 30: Goncalo Ramos of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates after the team’s victory in the penalty shoot out during the UEFA Champions League Final 2026 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal FC at Puskas Arena on May 30, 2026 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
It is also reported that he underwent his medical tests while with the Portugal squad at the 2026 World Cup in Florida.
Atletico Madrid and others were also interested, but RedBird chief Gerry Cardinale used his rapport with Paris Saint-Germain chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi to get there first.
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has hinted that he will play his strongest side available against Uruguay in their final group game, despite knowing that a point will be enough to qualify them as group winners. Their opponents know they must all but certainly win in order to make it through themselves.
La Roja come off a confidence boosting win over Saudi Arabia, with three goals in the opening quarter of the match. De la Fuente restored Pedro Porro, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo and Alex Baena to the line-up in favour of Marcos Llorente, Fabian Ruiz, Ferran Torres and Gavi. Less changes are expected this time round.
“The performance the other day doesn’t call for changes, but I am very happy with how the players who stepped in performed and with what I see in training. Whoever takes the field will do a good job. We’ll go over a few final details this afternoon, but I already know who is going to play,” he told Marca.
Baena and Valverde battle
Alex Baena in action.
If no changes are made, it will see Fede Valverde and Baena face each other on the same flank. The pair have an ongoing feud, with Valverde having punched Baena after a game two years ago.
“Baena and Fede are great professionals, but on the pitch, everyone defends their own,” responded de la Fuente on the prospect of the two facing off.
“Tomorrow will be a very demanding match for everyone. As for the physicality, football is what it is – it’s football. Everyone will stand their ground. It will be a high-intensity match.”
De la Fuente on Marcelo Bielsa
Former Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
“I have to tell you that I am a huge admirer of Bielsa. I have closely followed his career, and I spent five or six months watching his training sessions at Athletic. It is an honour to be able to play against him.”
“Marcelo has evolved, like everyone else. He got Athletic playing wonderfully well. He employed man-to-man marking all over the pitch… His tactical approach is based on knowing the players he coaches inside out; that is his greatest strength.”
Spain currently sit top of Group H on four points, trailed by Uruguay and Cape Verde on two points. Saudi Arabia sit last on a single point going into the final round of games.
Uruguay know they almost certainly need to win in order to make it through to the knockout stages of the World Cup against Spain, but they will have to do so in adversity. There has been talk of discontent in the Uruguay camp for some time with manager Marcelo Bielsa, and it has come to a head before their final group game.
Last year the iconic coach admitted in a press conference that he was ‘toxic’, following reports that he had fallen out with much of the dressing room in the Uruguay setup. Since, it has been confirmed that he will leave the celeste following the 2026 World Cup, but their opening two games have suggested not all is well in the camp.
Uruguay players revolt before Spain clash
Marcelo Bielsa LUFC 2021-22
According to reports in Uruguay, including from ESPN correspondent Jose Ramon Fernandez and radio station El Espectador (via Marca), various players have confronted Bielsa about his methods ahead of the Spain game. Two days before their decisive final group game in Guadalajara, Fede Valverde, Rodrigo Bentancur, Sergio Rochet and Manuel Ugarte all spoke to Bielsa about his plans.
TENSIÓN EN URUGUAY A HORAS DE ENFRENTAR A ESPAÑA.
Fede Valverde, Ugarte, Bentancur y Rochet habrían encarado a Bielsa por los entrenamientos y el planteamiento ante España. El DT respondió con una charla de 48 minutos en la que les recriminó que habían intentado sacarlo del… pic.twitter.com/FWiG195yic
— José Ramón Fernández (@joserra_espn) June 26, 2026
They told the manager that his methods were not to their liking, that the physical demands placed on the squad and that his approach with the players had to change. They blame his excessive demands on the injury crisis in the Uruguay camp, and did not agree with his approach against Spain. Bielsa has not backed down though, and has demanded that his side attack Spain.
Bielsa’s curious Uruguay spell
Things started off well for Bielsa with Uruguay, leading them to the top of the table in the first half of South American qualifying for the World Cup. That included impressive victories over Brazil and Argentina in Buenos Aires. Relationships appeared to break down after that though, and slipping to fourth, having won just two of their final seven games.
With reports of Arsenal interest, Roma midfielder Manu Koné is increasing his transfer value with France at the World Cup, breaking into the starting XI.
ROME, ITALY – JANUARY 10: Manu Kone with his teammates of AS Roma celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and US Sassuolo Calcio at Stadio Olimpico on January 10, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Now his value is set to sky-rocket above the current €50m, because reports in France note that he has really impressed for Les Bleus at the 2026 World Cup.
Koné raising profile at World Cup
SASSUOLO, ITALY – OCTOBER 26: Manu Kone of AS Roma celebrates victory after the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and AS Roma at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on October 26, 2025 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
It’s rumoured he is set to get his second consecutive start in midfield for this evening’s group game against Norway, which is a head-to-head for top spot.
This is a sign of the confidence that coach Didier Deschamps and his staff have for Koné, who has pushed his way past Aurelien Tchaouameni to start.
It is hardly new, as he started four of the six qualifying matches for the tournament too, and has impressed with his work-rate, positioning and ability to handle pressure.
The USMNT already knew its opponent in the upcoming Round 32 when manager Mauricio Pochettino sat down to fill out his starting 11 for the group stage finale against Turkey. As a result, there were nine changes from the lineup that blanked Australia. Weston McKennie and Ricardo Pepi were the only holdovers. An early strike from Auston Trusty in the third minute made it appear that a stress test of the U.S. depth would not be an issue. Then the Americans’ defense fell apart, ultimately leading to a Kaan Ayhan game-winner for Turkey in the final seconds of the match.
A 3-2 loss was certainly not what Team USA was looking for after starting the World Cup on the front foot. They’ll carry a little less momentum into the first knockout test against Bosnia Herzegovina Wednesday in Los Angeles. Yet nothing has really changed. Pochettino and his side passed the real test by quickly wrapping up the top spot in Group D and collected seven points in the group stage. When his best lineup was on the field, the USMNT looked like a squad perfectly capable of advancing and pushing even the top sides in the world to the limit.
So perhaps that’s why Pochettino had such a tough time with the tenor and tone of questions during his postgame press conference. In addition to categorizing them as “a bit weird”, the skipper also said it was sad that no reporter congratulated him and the players for clinching the group.
The defeat to Turkey means the Americans missed out on making history as they have never won all three group stage matches in a World Cup.
“Making history is winning the World Cup,” he said. “It’s not winning three matches only within the World Cup. I don’t really understand. It’s a little bit petty if you will — you’re thinking a little too small. You’re telling me you could make history — what does it mean to win three matches if you lose the next one?”
“The mood is like we [are going] home tonight and Türkiye is staying,” the U.S. coach added. “I need to [remind] you and everyone that we won the group. Sorry guys, we won.”
When I first saw the headline about Pochettino taking umbrage with “petty” questions, I’ll admit there was a strong urge to get a small pitchfork out and go full ugly American. How dare he not know how important winning at all costs is to us! The European mind could simply never understand!
But you know what? He’s right.
Once the initial sting of magically turning a hard-fought draw into a loss wears off, the rational mind can grasp that it doesn’t really matter. Winning would have kept vibes high. Yet this is just a dark lining of a very bright silver cloud.
Breezing through the group stage without breaking a sweat was a gift. Nothing is guaranteed for a country that has not proven itself reliable in the World Cup through the years. Yet Pochettino had the luxury of resting players and observing how the rest of the roster reacted to the big stage. A manager could not ask for anything more.
Heck, it’s probably a good thing that he now knows who cannot be trusted. That’s a much better thing to discover in a meaningless match as opposed to when facing elimination. Losing is not okay … unless it’s okay.
Pochettino is right
Pochettino’s point about the relative importance of the Turkey match compared to the do-or-die affair against Bosnia and Herzegovina is worth repeating. What is the value of winning all three group stage battles only to bow out early against a beatable opponent? If that had happened, not a single supporter of the USMNT would care at all about a silly 3-0 start.
The thing is now Pochettino needs to back it up a bit. If he thinks the questions last night were petty then he might be in for a rude awakening if Team USA lays an egg in the Round of 32. Expectations have been raised. Anything short of the quarterfinals is going to be seen as a major disappointment.
So, yes, that loss doesn’t matter. For now. It’s erased completely with a win on Wednesday. It’ll matter a heck of a lot if leads to a second straight defeat when it matters most.
Australia qualified for the 2026 World Cup knockout rounds on Thursday after battling to a 0-0 draw with Paraguay in Santa Clara to claim second place in Group D.
The Socceroos, who defeated Turkiye in their opening match before losing to the United States, were never seriously threatened on their way to securing a point to reach the last 32 at Levi’s Stadium in northern California.
It marks only the third time that Australia have advanced beyond the group stage in seven appearances at the World Cup.
The draw also left Paraguay firmly on course for the knockout rounds as one of the eight best third-placed teams in the group stage.
The United States had already secured top spot in Group D despite their 3-2 defeat to Turkey in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Are we back in 2013? Because five goals in two games is pretty ludicrous from a 39-year-old Lionel Messi, who leads the World Cup 2026 Golden Boot race.
The Argentine maestro hit a hat-trick in that win over Algeria in the first group game, before then hitting a brace in the second match as his country beat Austria.
Yes, that means Messi has scored all five of Argentina’s goals so far.
So, what next? The Inter Miami forward will no doubt be eyeing the World Cup trophy again after winning it back in 2022, but he could also bag himself the Golden Boot after putting himself in a strong position early on.
WC Picks at Stake will no doubt have some tempting odds for the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland now, and even if Messi’s fast start puts him ahead of them, there’s a long way to go yet.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
Who else is a main contender for the Golden Boot at this World Cup?
Here’s a look at the World Cup’s top scorers so far, and what it could mean for this summer’s race for the prestigious top scorer prize…
Player
Number of goals
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
5
Kylian Mbappe (France)
4
Erling Haaland (Norway)
4
Deniz Undav (Germany)
3
Jonathan David (Canada)
3
Cristiano Ronaldo only has two goals so far as he finally found the back of the net twice in Portugal’s 5-0 win over Uzbekistan, but now that he’s got going you perhaps can’t rule him out either.
Still, the main man to watch in terms of competing with Messi will surely be France star Mbappe.
Even if Haaland is currently level with Mbappe on four goals, he’s surely less likely to progress as far in this tournament.
Perhaps the Manchester City striker’s fine form can inspire Norway on a surprise run, but France will likely be one of the big favourites to at least reach the final, so more games means more opportunities for Mbappe to add to his tally.
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
Similarly, even if Canada’s Jonathan David has started well and has a fine scoring record throughout his club career, he’s surely going to struggle due to the fact that his national side are one of the weaker ones in this tournament.
It was Messi vs Mbappe in the World Cup final in 2022, and we could be about to see the same this summer. It’s surely also Messi or Mbappe for the Golden Boot.
It looks like England won’t risk James for the upcoming game against Panama, with the Chelsea right-back once again rocked by fitness issues that have plagued a large chunk of his Stamford Bridge career.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
According to the Telegraph, there’s mixed news for England as James probably won’t make it for their next game, but Declan Rice is waiting to be cleared to take part, so that sounds a little more positive.
Still, the issue at right-back means Tuchel is now likely to have to decide to play either Djed Spence, Jarrell Quansah, or Ezri Konsa in that position.
England will surely live to regret Thomas Tuchel’s Trent Alexander-Arnold snub
James is a fine player, but leaving Alexander-Arnold out of the World Cup squad looks like a huge mistake already.
Quite simply, if England end up having to take on any top teams in the knockout stages with any one of Spence, Quansah, or Konsa at right-back that’s a huge step down from what James offers.
Given that everyone knows the Chelsea defender’s poor injury record, it seems bizarre that Tuchel didn’t include Alexander-Arnold.
The former Liverpool man may not have quite had the best debut season for Real Madrid, but he remains someone with world class crossing delivery, and a superb range of passing.
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
Even if the plan was to have James as first choice, there was surely still a role for Alexander-Arnold, who could have filled in in midfield if required.
England will probably be fine against a team like Panama, but it already looks like one of Tuchel’s biggest calls for this World Cup has majorly backfired.
Curacao vs Ivory Coast kicks off this evening, with both sides’ future in the FIFA World Cup still very much hanging in the balance.
Ivory Coast’s three points put them in a commanding position in second, with two points gap between themselves and Curacao and Ecuador.
Curacao, meanwhile, battled hard for a draw against Ecuador, meaning a shock victory over their opposition today would probably be enough for them to move second – barring any surprises from Ecuador against Germany.
There are no Serie A players in the Curacao lineup, but Atalanta’s Odilon Kossounou and Inter’s Ange-Yoan Bonny both start for the Ivory Coast.
Former Atalanta winger Amad Diallo also starts for the African side, as Roma’s Evan Ndicka continues to sit out through fitness related concerns.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – JUNE 20: Curacao players including man of the match goalkeeper Eloy Room #1 applaud fans after the 0-0 draw during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match between Ecuador and Curacao, with Curacao vs Ivory Coast in sight, at Kansas City Stadium on June 20, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Ecuador vs Germany is one of this evening’s two World Cup Group E deciders, with the European side already through into the next round and the South Americans with just a point to their name so far.
Ecuador have largely disappointed and are yet to score a single goal, losing 1-0 to Ivory Coast before a goalless draw with Curacao.
Germany, meanwhile, thumped Curacao 7-1 before a comeback 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast.
One Serie A stars lines up for Ecuador this evening, with Pervis Estupiñán of Milan having been benched, Venezia’s John Yeboah starts in the attack.
For the Germans, former Rossoneri defender Malick Thiaw sits on the bench, having been beaten to the eleven by Antonio Rüdiger.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JUNE 25: General view outside New York New Jersey Stadium before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match between Ecuador vs Germany on June 25, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
A Russian team may be allowed to participate in a FIFA event for the first time since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine after football’s global authority said its inaugural U-15 World Cup and Festival, set to be held in Azerbaijan in October, is open to all FIFA member associations.
FIFA banned Russia from international competition in February 2022 after it invaded Ukraine, but it lifted the suspension from the country’s U-17 boys’ and girls’ teams the next year.
However, Russian teams have remained absent from U-17 tournaments organised by FIFA and UEFA as several European countries, including Ukraine and England, continue to boycott Russia over its ongoing invasion of its neighbour.
“The first edition will be open to boys’ teams from all FIFA member associations, the second instalment in 2027 will feature girls’ teams only,” FIFA said on Wednesday about the U-15 World Cup and Festival.
“From 2028 onwards, all member associations will be invited to participate with both their boys’ and girls’ U-15 teams in two separate competitions.”
The U-15 event will kick off on October 22 and conclude nine days later.
Rio Ferdinand has hit back at comments being attributed to him about Thomas Partey after Djed Spence appeared to snub him in the pre-match handshake this week.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
This comes amid Partey being charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault back in 2025, relating to incidents which allegedly took place between 2021 and 2022.
It seems a fake quote doing the rounds had Ferdinand hitting out at Spence for his judgement, as Partey has not yet been found guilty, though the pundit has since posted on X that these comments are fake…
Rio Ferdinand post on X
Ferdinand has not commented on the incident any further, it would seem, so it’s not clear if these are in any way an accurate representation of what he thinks.
There is seemingly no record of Ferdinand saying this anywhere apart from social media quotes that do not mention an original source.
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
Despite the very serious allegations against Partey, he continued to play for Arsenal until leaving the club in summer 2025, and he’s now on the books at La Liga club Villarreal.
What’s the latest on the Thomas Partey case?
Partey is due to have a further trial after previously pleading not guilty to the charges against him, as reported by the BBC.
The report adds that Partey “remains on bail during the legal proceedings, with the condition that he does not contact the alleged victims”.
Ghana manager Carlos Queiroz has defended selecting the 33-year-old, saying: “Let events run their normal course, let the river flow and one day, when the river meets the ocean, we will find the truth.”
New York — Fifty-two years separated Haiti’s last two World Cup goals from the two scored against Morocco on Wednesday. For 52-year-old Murielle Lodvil, the wait spanned her entire lifetime.
She was one of the many watching from the pockets of New York’s Little Haiti, where bars and restaurants fell quiet as fans watched the match unfold on screens before it burst into further chaos: an equaliser, a goal and then another equaliser in the frantic first half.
Haiti went into the last group match with Morocco with elimination already sealed, after losing to both Scotland and Brazil in Group C. Haiti would concede twice more, but the result did little to diminish the occasion for Murielle.
As a birthday gift to herself, she bought tickets for her and 41-year-old sister, Barbara Albert, to watch Haiti face Brazil last week.
“That is why Haiti participating on this world stage was so special to me,” she said. “Every moment of this experience counts, ending with two goals, even with the outcome.”
Ms Albert said the experience at the Brazil match underscored the pride many supporters felt simply seeing Haiti return to the World Cup stage.
“The representation was really good. We’re proud of our Haitian community. We really showed up for them,” she said.
The sense of pride was also visible at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York last Wednesday. The state is home to the country’s second-largest Haitian community, home to about 113,000 Haitian residents, according to the US Census Bureau in 2024.
Last week, an hour before Haiti faced Brazil, the Haitian flags were already gone. The Brazil flags, handed out alongside them at the door, remained half-stacked on distribution tables.
Thousands in wigs, Haitian jerseys and flags draped over their shoulders had filled the nearly sold-out, 19,000 seat stadium, with a handful in Brazilian yellow and green. Amid the sea of red and blue was Maude Schwartz, who waved a Haitian flag as she danced into the arena alongside her family, pumping her hands up in the air.
The 58-year-old Pilates studio owner, who moved to the US from Haiti in 1990 on a student visa, had come seeking a taste of the World Cup atmosphere. While her twin sons were at the match, she was satisfied with a $10 ticket to the watch party.
“Oh my goodness, my entire family is here,” she said, gesturing at the crowd around her.
But not everyone that wanted to be here could make it. “I have a niece who has repeatedly been denied a visa to come to the United States,” she said.
Her experience reflects broader constraints facing Haitian supporters. A travel ban imposed by the Trump administration, which began last year and was expanded in January, kept some supporters like Maude’s niece from attending.
Supporters dressed in red and blue dominate the stands as they stream in for the match [Lauren Ong/Al Jazeera]
Even players were affected. The defensive midfielder Woodensky Pierre, who lives in Haiti, was unable to travel to the United States to join the national team until 10 days before Haiti’s opening match against Scotland on June 13th.
“This is a world event and people should not be denied entry to this country,” said 55 year old Jean-Marc, a former player in the Long Island Football League dressed in a Haitian jersey and a wig dyed in the national colours. Born in the US to Haitian parents, he spent part of his childhood in Haiti before returning in 1986, following the fall of the Duvalier regime many called a dictatorship.
Watching Haiti compete in the country he has lived in for decades, he called it a “momentous event for all Haitians”.
An arena full of gasps and sighs as Brazil scored three goals before half-time [Lauren Ong/Al Jazeera]
‘Afraid of a raid’
Back in Flatbush, the Brooklyn neighbourhood that many call Little Haiti, Nadege Fleurimond has thrown open the doors of her Haitian-Caribbean restaurant, BunNan, for every Haiti match, offering those priced out of the stadium, a way in.
She came to the United States from Haiti as a seven-year-old and has watched immigration uncertainty touch nearly every Haitian family she knows. Watching Haiti’s World Cup run in the country where she built her life carried its own weight.
“I am Haitian, and I am also American,” she said. “The United States gave me opportunities, education and the ability to build businesses and create jobs. Haiti gave me my roots, my values, my resilience and my culture,” she added.
“It’s a reminder that immigrants don’t have to choose one identity over the other,” she added.
For Fleurimond, who grew up hearing more stories about what Haiti couldn’t do than what it could, the team’s appearance alone in the World Cup was enough.
“It was proof that we belong in rooms and on stages people often count us out of,” she said.
As South Africa’s football team danced the night away in Guadalupe’s Monterrey Stadium after making World Cup history, fans in Johannesburg were celebrating in the streets long before the sun came out and heralded what would become an unparalleled day in the nation’s football history.
Two red cards, one loss, a draw and a win later, South Africa did it all in their group stage matches at the World Cup and advanced to the knockout round of the tournament for the first time.
Thapelo Maseko fired into the net in the 63rd minute to give Bafana Bafana a stunning 1-0 win over South Korea, who now straddle the uncertain line between possible round of 32 qualification or elimination.
Monterrey Stadium will long reverberate with the raw emotions of South Africa fans and players celebrating the win in a fairy-tale ending to their group stage run that began with a disastrous opening match loss for Hugo Broos’ side.
While much of the nation had yet to wake up to the team’s historic achievement, die-hard football fanatics sacrificed sleep to watch the South Korea kickoff at 3am, oblivious to the quiet countdown of history about to be made.
A couple of hours later, as the sun began to make its presence known, the streets were filled with supporters dancing and celebrating South Africa’s feat in their pyjamas and winter clothing; some 10,000km (6,200 miles) away, the team danced the night away in their locker room in Guadalupe, Mexico.
One day, I’ll tell my kids that I woke up at 3am to watch Bafana Bafana qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stages. It was absolutely worth it. 😭🇿🇦
“It’s like the whole country stayed awake and probably won’t even go to work tomorrow!” joked South Africa football fan Lorenz Kohler.
The Johannesburg-based football fan last saw his team play at the World Cup when South Africa hosted the tournament in 2010, where they notoriously became the first host nation in history that failed to advance past the group stage.
I can definitely say this moment surpasses anything of 2010; it will never be forgotten,” Kohler told Al Jazeera.
“I know many watch parties took place this evening as if it were in the afternoon – people had faith and knew something big could happen.”
South Africa players celebrate after the match [Raquel Cunha/Reuters]
‘People wrote us off’
South Africa’s performance saw several critics put their hands up in defeat after doubting what Hugo Broos’ men could do this time round.
“So many people wrote us off before the tournament started, and said we would be the whipping boys of the group, so it’s made the performance and victory even sweeter,” football fanatic Byron Pillay told Al Jazeera.
“This is an incredibly proud moment; Clive Barker got us dreaming once upon a time, and now Hugo Broos is making those dreams a reality.”
Regardless of further outcomes at the tournament, South Africa’s achievement was historic for the Belgian coach, who will see the curtain fall on his nearly four-decade-long managerial career after the 2026 World Cup.
“It was an emotional moment,” the 74-year-old said after the match.
“We came here to Mexico and we wanted to survive the group stage… and that for me was really a moment of emotions, not only because we won the game, but also for me, because as I’ve said in the past it probably will be one of my last games of my career,” Broos added.
No sooner had the team won than the South African government congratulated them on their victory that “reflects the team’s determination, discipline and fighting spirit on one of the world’s biggest sporting stages.
“The performance has inspired hope and excitement among South Africans at home and abroad, while showcasing the country’s football talent to the world,” it said in a statement. “ALL OF US. ALL IN. KAOFELA.”
Diplomats, ambassadors and politicians alike flooded social media with congratulatory messages as supporters across the globe revelled in the glory.
For Sahil Ebrahim, Wednesday’s victory was an upgraded deja vu moment from 2010.
“The celebration in 2010 was more about the joy of hosting, but in terms of our football performance, this performance in its pure sense is something celebrated nationwide,” he told Al Jazeera.
being South African means waking up and finding out you won something . it’s not easy being the greatest country in Africa but someone gotta do it 🤷🏽
“Today you saw a team that believed in itself,” said Broos, who took the reins of South African men’s football in 2021.
“On Sunday again you will see a team that will believe in itself and that will fight for the 90 minutes, and more if we have to.”
The unexpected triumph seems to have satiated a nation whose journey to the tournament was delayed by an almost comedic administrative gaffe that turned into a public blame game.
“Anything after this is just a bonus – a last-16 would be a performance beyond expectations,” Kohler said.
“But there’s a belief they can get beyond Canada; they are not considered one of the giants of world football, and it’s also an advantage that they need to go to LA for the game instead of being in Canada.”
Broos, ostensibly, has been the team’s biggest supporter.
“I think we played a very good game tactically. It was very good; everyone did their job. I’m very proud of the performance of my team.”
South Africa coach Hugo Broos celebrates with fans after the match [Raquel Cunha/Reuters]
Brazil advanced to the knockout stages of the World Cup in style after Vinicius Jr netted twice in a 3-0 win over Scotland in their final Group C match while Neymar also made his first appearance in a Brazil shirt in three years.
The victory on Wednesday came at a full house in Miami Stadium where 64,478 fans watched Carlo Ancelotti’s side top the group with seven points while Morocco finished second with a 4-2 win over Haiti.
Vinicius has scored in every game so far and the 25-year-old has four goals in the tournament to find himself in elite company, going level with Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland while he sits one goal behind Lionel Messi.
Scotland boss Steve Clarke said he expected Brazil to attack from the outset and the South Americans needed seven minutes to go 1-0 up when Scott McKenna failed to clear the ball, allowing Rayan to nick it and find Vinicius unmarked.
As goalkeeper Angus Gunn scrambled to stop him, the Real Madrid forward simply took one touch to move the ball past him and tap it into an empty net as the fans in yellow erupted.
Brazil nearly made it 2-0 just before the first hydration break when Vinicius nicked the ball off Jack Hendry to score, but Scotland earned a reprieve after a VAR check and the goal was overturned by the referee for a foul by the Brazilian.
That remained the theme in the first half, with Brazil being more combative to win the ball back while Scotland failed to capitalise on set-pieces — the only time they had opportunities to score — as they finished the half with no shots on target.
Brazil’s second goal was a dagger to Scotland’s hearts on the stroke of halftime when once again they won the ball high up the pitch and Bruno Guimaraes crossed the ball to the far post, where a grateful Vinicius headed home his second.
In the second half, Brazil pressed for a third goal and it came with another scything move through the midfield as Guimaraes grabbed his second assist, dancing into the box before setting up Matheus Cunha for his third goal of the tournament.
But the biggest cheer of the night was reserved for Neymar as Ancelotti brought the 34-year-old on for his first appearance in a Brazil shirt since October 2023.
Scotland had little to show in attack and Alisson remained a rock in goal, denying them one last chance in the dying minutes as Brazil kept a clean sheet.
Kerim Alajbegovic has been linked with potential Serie A moves to Atalanta and Roma, so he showed what he can do with a stunning goal for Bosnia and Herzegovina at the World Cup.
The teenager is not set to reach his 19th birthday until September, but is already a sensation on the global football stage.
Alajbegovic stunner lights up World Cup
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 24: Kerim Alajbegovic #19 of Bosnia and Herzegovina scores his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar at Seattle Stadium on June 24, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
He dribbled past two Qatar players and then smashed a screamer into the net from well outside the penalty area, giving Bosnia and Herzegovina the lead in this evening’s Group B game.
Bayer Leverkusen allowed the player to flourish in their youth academy, then sent him to RB Salzburg, where he scored 13 goals with four assists in 44 competitive games this season.
The Germans activated their buy-back option for €8m, but Alajbegovic is not expected to remain, as he is reportedly eager for a Serie A move.
1 – Kerim Alajbegovic (18 Jahre, 276 Tage) ist der jüngste Spieler mit einem Tor von außerhalb des Strafraums bei einer FIFA-Weltmeisterschaft seit detaillierter Datenerfassung 1966.
Er löste damit Kylian Mbappé ab (19 Jahre, 207 Tage bei der WM 2018).
Sassuolo midfielder Ismael Kone insisted on being pitch side with his CANMNT teammates for tonight’s World Cup game against Switzerland, saluting fans from his wheelchair.
He was stretchered off and whisked straight to surgery to fuse the leg back together, and it remains to be seen how many months he will be out of action for.
Kone still participating in World Cup
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – JUNE 24: Ismael Kone #8 of Canada is seen before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B match between Switzerland and Canada at BC Place Vancouver on June 24, 2026 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
However, Kone remained in good spirits and insisted on attending this evening’s final group game against Switzerland in Vancouver.
He was wheeled out in his chair and saluted the crowd before joining his Canada teammates on the touchline during the warm-up.
While Team Canada hits the field for warmups, Ismael Kone could be seen in a wheelchair saluting the fans.
The 24-year-old already has 42 senior caps for Canada, in which he scored four goals, and was hoping to make a real impression at this tournament co-hosted with the USA and Mexico.
There are several Serie A players involved in tonight’s World Cup games, as Group B will be decided with Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar and Switzerland vs. Canada.
ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Haris Tabakovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina celebrates with his teammates after scoring his team’s equalizing goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
There are quite a few Serie A representatives in that squad, including Sead Kolasinac of Atalanta, Sassuolo’s Tarik Muharemovic, new Venezia signing Ivan Basic and ex-Roma, Inter and Fiorentina striker Edin Dzeko.
Bosnia are still looking for their first 2026 World Cup victory after a 1-1 draw with Canada and 4-1 defeat to Switzerland, where Muharemovic was sent off and is therefore suspended here along with Qatar’s Assim Madibo and Homam Al-Amin.
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 17: Manuel Akanji of FC Internazionale Milano warms up prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Cagliari Calcio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 17, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
In the other match, both Canada and Switzerland have four points, so go head-to-head for top spot.
However, the tournament is over for Sassuolo midfielder Ismael Kone, who fractured his leg in that match.
Inter defender Manuel Akanji, Bologna midfielder Remo Freuler and Pisa’s Michel Aebischer are all familiar faces, but Milan’s Ardon Jashari is on the bench.
World Cup Group B
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Vasilj; Radeljic, Katic, Malic, Kolasinac; Bakaktarevic, Sunjic, Basic, Alajbegovic; Demirovic, Dzeko
Qatar: Abunada; Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi, Laye, Sultan Albrake; Jassem Gaber, Fathy, Boudiaf; Hassan Alhaydos, Akram Afif, Edmilson Junior
After last night’s disappointing draw with Ghana, there’s more worrying World Cup news breaking for England today as Declan Rice and Reece James are reportedly fitness concerns for the Panama game.
The pair are key players for Thomas Tuchel’s side, and started both games of the World Cup campaign so far against Croatia and Ghana.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
However, the Telegraph are now reporting that the duo face fitness checks ahead of the Panama game.
Here’s what we know so far based on the report…
Declan Rice injury doesn’t look too serious
Rice couldn’t complete the 90 minutes against Croatia and also had some issues at the end of the 0-0 draw with Ghana.
It could, however, be an issue that requires late checks for Rice ahead of England’s final group game against Panama.
Reece James was uncomfortable against Ghana
The report is a bit vague on James’ fitness, with the Chelsea right-back said to have felt uncomfortable in the Ghana game.
Still, James was able to complete 90 minutes in both of England’s games so far, even if it’s perhaps sensible to be cautious with him due to his poor injury record over the years.
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
The 26-year-old is an important player for England, with the Telegraph noting that Tuchel has also had him training in midfield as he could fill in for Rice in that position.
Now, however, both players could be out for the Panama game, in a major blow for the Three Lions’ preparations in what looks a close group at the moment.
England have four points, putting them level with Ghana, while Croatia have three and Panama have zero.
There are suggestions Bologna are in negotiations with Glasgow Rangers for Nico Raskin, who is valued at €20m, with Lewis Ferguson potentially as part of an exchange.
According to teamTALK, initial talks have started between the two clubs with regards to Raskin.
Bologna targeting Raskin
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 21: Nicolas Raskin #23 of Belgium plays the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match between Belgium and IR Iran at Los Angeles Stadium on June 21, 2026 in Los Angeles, United States. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
He came to Rangers in January 2023 at a cost of just €1.5m from Standard Liege and then flourished, this term scoring seven goals with nine assists in 50 matches.
It is reported that the asking price now is around €20m, a significant investment for the Rossoblu and new coach Domenico Tedesco.
A potential solution to lower the cost would be to involve Scotland international Ferguson as part of an exchange, seeing as Rangers are reportedly eager on the midfielder.
However, Ferguson is captain of Bologna and not necessarily in a rush to leave the Stadio Dall’Ara, where he has been since leaving Aberdeen in 2022.
This would be more a proposal put forward by Rangers than the Italian club or Scottish player.
Jonathan David admits his World Cup form for Canada might be because they ‘have a different playing style’ to Juventus, but is adamant he wants to stay at the club.
The striker struggled badly in his first Serie A season after arriving as a free transfer from LOSC, albeit with at least €12.5m in various costs and commissions.
David struggled at Juventus
BERGAMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 05: Jonathan David of Juventus reacts during the Coppa Italia Quarter-Final match between Atalanta BC and Juventus FC at the New Balance Arena on February 05, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
He scored eight goals with five assists in 46 competitive games for the Bianconeri, often seeming to look lost under first Igor Tudor and then Luciano Spalletti.
Rogers is a top target for the Gunners but is currently at the World Cup with England, though Ben Jacobs reports that manager Thomas Tuchel has no issues with his players undergoing medicals whilst on international duty.
Speaking to Latte Firm, Jacobs provided an update on Arsenal’s pursuit of Rogers, with some interesting information emerging about the Aston Villa star’s preferences.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
It seems Rogers is happy to play as either a winger or a number ten at his next club, with no strong preference either way, while Jacobs generally seems confident that the 23-year-old will be heading to the Emirates Stadium…
Ben Jacobs on Morgan Rogers to Arsenal transfer
“I do expect Arsenal to sign Morgan Rogers. He is Arsenal’s leading target for left-wing and/or #10,” Jacobs said.
“My information is that Rogers has zero preference as to whether he’s signed as a left-winger or a #10. Arsenal are expected to bid and this could move quickly.
“Remember Thomas Tuchel is perfectly happy for players to do medicals on England duty. That may be the case with Elliot Anderson and Manchester City. But Arsenal perhaps in less of a rush than Aston Villa.
Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
“Aston Villa, even with Champions League football, are looking for a major sale to balance their books. When Rogers extended last year, there was an understanding that he could leave this summer for a fee of £80m as a starting point.
“It’s not a release clause or gentleman’s understanding, but Villa had said they will not unduly stand in his way. I’m still told engagement will start at £80m, that’s not to say it’ll be the number that secures a transfer, but that is the beginning to start a conversation with Aston Villa. I think there’s a very strong chance this deal happens.”
World Cup won’t delay Morgan Rogers deal
Arsenal fans will also surely be pleased to hear that Rogers can have a medical even while he’s away at the World Cup.
The Premier League champions will no doubt want this major deal done as quickly as possible to avoid other clubs getting involved, with Rogers sure to be hot property after two outstanding seasons in a row at Villa Park.
The England international hit double figures for goals and assists again in the 2025/26 season, and it’s clear he could improve this Arsenal side in the one area they arguably struggled most in despite winning the title.
Mikel Arteta’s men sometimes struggled in the final third, and someone like Rogers should be able to add a bit more spark, as well as more of a goal threat than the inconsistent Martin Odegaard.
If AFC can get this done, it will be just the kind of signing that could take this team to another level next season, with Arteta’s side only narrowly missing out on the Champions League when they again just lacked a little bit of attacking quality in the final defeat to PSG.
After 48 matches in North America, it’s time for the final round of games in the group stage at World Cup 2026.
Sixteen teams will be eliminated after these fixtures, with 32 nations heading through to the knockout stages.
The top two teams from each of the 12 groups – along with the eight best third-placed teams – will proceed to the next phase.
Here are the top five “must-watch” matches in the second round of fixtures from June 24 until June 27.
Neymar could return for Brazil against Scotland [Reuters]
⚽️ Scotland vs Brazil
Miami Stadium – Wednesday, 6pm (22:00 GMT)
These two sides will meet at the World Cup for the fifth time and there’s plenty to play for in an intriguing encounter in Miami.
Brazil are looking to secure their place in the knockout stages as group winners and are currently tied with Morocco on four points at the top of Group C.
Scotland are aiming to escape the group for the first time at a major international tournament and know that a point will almost certainly guarantee a spot in the round of 32.
Expect Group C to change a lot during these final fixtures, with Morocco taking on Haiti at the same time.
If that isn’t enough, Brazil’s Neymar is also set to make his first appearance at this World Cup.
Sweden have been unpredictable at this tournament [Raquel Cunha/Reuters]
⚽️ Japan vs Sweden
Dallas Stadium – Thursday, 6pm (23:00 GMT)
It’s difficult to predict which Sweden will turn up in Dallas on Thursday.
Graham Potter’s side beat Tunisia 5-1 in their opening match of the World Cup, before losing by the same score to the Netherlands.
Japan have been entertaining to watch at this tournament and were in fine form during their 4-0 win over Tunisia at the weekend.
Expect plenty of goals in this match and plenty of drama. The winner will secure a top-two finish in Group F, so there is a lot to play for.
France’s Kylian Mbappe has scored four goals so far [Kyle Ross/Reuters]
⚽️ Norway vs France
Boston Stadium – Friday, 3pm (19:00 GMT)
Norway and France are already through to the knockout stages, but this game looks set to be a blockbuster affair with both sides looking to top Group I.
Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe have both scored four goals so far and they’ll be desperate to add to their tally as they chase down Lionel Messi.
France are one of the favourites to lift the World Cup next month and are looking to end the group stage with three wins from three.
But Norway have the opportunity to prove that they truly are dark horses in this tournament and can compete with elite international sides.
Buckle in for a big one in Boston.
Spain’s Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Victor Munoz celebrate after the match against Saudi Arabia [Claudia Greco/Reuters]
⚽️ Uruguay vs Spain
Seattle Stadium – Friday, 6pm (00:00 GMT on Saturday)
Group H has been a tight affair following some surprise results in the opening round of fixtures.
Uruguay drew with Saudi Arabia, while Cape Verde shocked the world with a goalless draw against Spain.
La Roja bounced back by thrashing Saudi Arabia and they go into their final game as group leaders, with Uruguay two points behind in second.
Spain will secure top spot with a win in Seattle, ensuring that they avoid Argentina in the round of 32.
Egypt are looking to reach the knockout stages at the World Cup for the first time [Anne-Marie Sorvin/Reuters]
⚽️ Egypt vs Iran
Seattle Stadium – Friday, 8pm (04:00 GMT on Saturday)
Neither of these sides have ever made it out of the group at a World Cup, but on Friday, at least one of them will achieve that feat.
Group G is closely bunched after a number of drawn matches and it sets things up nicely for an intriguing final round of fixtures.
Victory for either Egypt or Iran will guarantee them a spot in the knockout phase, so expect both sides to be up for this one.
Iran have faced numerous challenges at this World Cup, with restrictions on travel and visa issues before the tournament even began.
If Iran progress, there’s also still a chance that they will face the US in the knockout stages.
World Cup 2026: Remaining group-stage full schedule
Wednesday, June 24
Switzerland vs Canada at 12pm PT (19:00 GMT) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Bosnia vs Qatar at 12pm PT (19:00 GMT) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, US
Scotland vs Brazil at 6pm ET (22:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, US
Morocco vs Haiti at 6pm ET (22:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
Czechia vs Mexico at 7pm CST (01:00 GMT on Thursday) – Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico
South Africa vs South Korea at 7pm CST (01:00 GMT on Thursday) – Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, Mexico
Thursday, June 25
Ecuador vs Germany at 4pm ET (20:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
Curacao vs Ivory Coast at 4pm ET (20:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, US
Japan vs Sweden at 6pm CDT (23:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
Tunisia vs Netherlands at 6pm CDT (23:00 GMT) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US,
Turkiye vs USA at 7pm PT (02:00 GMT on Friday) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
Paraguay vs Australia at 7pm PT (02:00 GMT on Friday) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, US
Friday, June 26
Norway vs France at 3pm ET (19:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, US
Senegal vs Iraq at 3pm ET (19:00 GMT) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia at 7pm CDT (00:00 GMT on Saturday) – Houston Stadium, Houston, US
Uruguay vs Spain at 6pm CST (00:00 GMT on Saturday) – Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico
Egypt vs Iran at 8pm PT (03:00 GMT on Saturday) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, US
New Zealand vs Belgium at 8pm PT (03:00 GMT on Saturday) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Saturday, June 27
Panama vs England at 5pm ET (21:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
Croatia vs Ghana at 5pm ET (21:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, US
Colombia vs Portugal at 7:30pm ET (23:30 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, US
DRC vs Uzbekistan at 7:30pm ET (23:30 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
Algeria vs Austria at 9pm CDT (02:00 GMT on Sunday) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US
Jordan vs Argentina at 9pm CDT (02:00 GMT on Sunday) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
Colombia secured their place in the FIFA World Cupround of 32 with a game to spare after a 1-0 victory over the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Group K on Tuesday, with Daniel Munoz scoring the winner after the South Americans had been frustrated for much of the evening.
Colombia moved to six points from two matches and guaranteed their progress to the knockout stage ahead of their final group game against Portugal, who beat Uzbekistan 5-0 earlier on Tuesday.
DR Congo remained on one point and will need a result against Uzbekistan to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Colombia dominated possession and created the better chances throughout, but were repeatedly denied by goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who produced a series of saves to keep out efforts from James Rodriguez, Luis Diaz and Jhon Arias.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 76th minute, when Juan Quintero’s pass found Munoz surging into the penalty area, and the defender fired a low shot that took a deflection on its way past Mpasi.
It begins with the round of 32, which runs from June 28 to July 3.
What is the format and criteria for qualification, and which teams have progressed or been eliminated?
What is the format of the World Cup knockouts?
The top two teams in each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-place finishers, advance to knockouts.
The knockout phase begins with the round of 32, introduced for the first time at a World Cup after the expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams.
Then comes the round of 16, followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals and a playoff for third place. The final is on July 19.
The stage-wise breakdown of the tournament’s schedule is:
Group stage: June 11 to June 27
Round of 32: June 28 to July 3
Round of 16: July 4-7
Quarterfinals: July 9-11
Semifinals: July 14-15
Bronze medal match: July 18
Final: July 19
What are the rules change for the tie-breaker criteria at the 2026 World Cup?
FIFA is using head-to-head records instead of goal difference as the primary tiebreaker for teams level on points for the first time at a World Cup.
Haiti, Turkiye, Tunisia, Jordan and Panama have been eliminated because they are unable to catch the third-placed teams in their respective groups, as they lost to those teams.
Tie-breaker criteria for World Cup groups
According to FIFA’s rules for the tournament, if two or more teams in the same group are equal on points after the group stage ends, the following criteria, in the order below, will be applied to determine the ranking:
Step one
Greatest number of points gained in the group matches.
Superior goal difference in the group matches between the teams concerned (head-to-head).
Greatest number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned (head-to-head).
If the teams are still tied, the criteria below applies:
Step two
Superior goal difference across all group matches.
Greatest number of goals scored across all group matches.
Highest team conduct score (players and team officials) relating to the number of yellow and red cards obtained.
If the teams somehow still cannot be separated, then the following criteria below applies:
Step three
The two or more teams still equal on points shall be ranked according to the most recent published edition of the FIFA world rankings.
The criteria for the eight best‑ranked teams
The eight best teams among those ranked third will be determined as follows:
Greatest number of points gained in all group matches.
Goal difference resulting from all group matches.
Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches.
Highest team conduct score (players and team officials) relating to the number of yellow and red cards obtained in all group matches.
The two or more teams still equal on points shall be ranked according to the most recent published edition of the FIFA world rankings.
The FIFA World Cup trophy is displayed during a stop of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City on June 2, 2026 [Timothy A Clary/AFP]
Which teams have reached the World Cup round of 32?
(As of June 24, 04:15 GMT)
⚽️ Mexico (Group A)
The cohosts were the first to qualify for the knockouts, after taking top spot in Group A with a 1-0 win over South Korea on Thursday, June 18. The Mexicans started their campaign with a 2-0 win over South Africa in a chaotic tournament opener.
⚽️ USA (Group D)
The United States were the second team to punch their ticket to the knockouts, thanks to their 2-0 win over Australia that sent them on top of Group D on Friday, June 19. The USA thumped Paraguay 4-1 to kick off their campaign.
⚽️ Germany (Group E)
Germany became the third team to enter the last 32 with a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast on Saturday, June 20. The Germans – who failed to get out of the group stage both at Russia 2018 and four years ago in Qatar – started their tournament with a 7-1 thrashing of Curacao.
⚽️ Argentina (Group J)
Argentina sealed their ticket to the knockouts with a 2-0 victory over Austria on Monday, June 22, as Lionel Messi scored twice, becoming the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 18 goals. The Argentina captain also bagged his maiden tournament hat-trick in their 3-0 opening game win over Algeria. Reigning champions Argentina are guaranteed the top spot in Group J.
⚽️ France (Group I)
Pre-tournament favourites France secured a place in the round of 32 with a 3-0 win over Iraq later on Monday, as Kylian Mbappe scored a brace. The 2018 world champions beat Senegal 3-1 to kick off their tournament, with Mbappe scoring twice in that game, too.
⚽️ Norway (Group I)
Norway beat Senegal 3-2 in their second game of the tournament, sealing their place in the knockouts. The Norwegians, who are back at the World Cup after 28 years, started their campaign with a 4-1 thrashing of Iraq.
Norway team do the traditional rowing celebration with their fans after the match [Jeenah Moon/Reuters]
Which teams have been knocked out of the World Cup 2026?
⚽️ Haiti (Group C)
Haiti became the first team to be sent home packing from the World Cup after suffering a 3-0 loss to Brazil on Friday, June 19. Playing in their first tournament since 1974, they also lost 1-0 to Scotland in their first game.
⚽️ Turkiye (Group D)
Turkiye soon followed suit, bowing out of the tournament after a 1-0 defeat to 10-man Paraguay later on Friday. They also suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to Australia in the first group match – their first appearance at the tournament after 24 years.
⚽️ Tunisia (Group F)
Tunisia became the third team to be eliminated after they lost 4-0 to Japan on Saturday, June 20. The defeat came shortly after they suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat to Sweden in the opener. Tunisia were the first African team to win a World Cup match when they beat Mexico in 1978, but they have never progressed beyond the group stages.
⚽️ Jordan (Group J)
Jordan, one of the four debutants at the tournament, bowed out on Monday, June 22, after losing 2-1 to Algeria in their second group game. The Asian side also lost 3-1 to Austria in their opening game.
⚽️ Panama (Group L)
Panama were knocked out of the World Cup on Tuesday, June 23, after suffering their second defeat of the group stage, falling 1-0 to Croatia. They also lost 1-0 to Ghana in their first game.
Panama’s midfielder Carlos Harvey looks dejected after his team bowed out of the tournament [Cole Burston / AFP]
Login
