Football/Soccer 3 Hours

Last updated: June 28, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

World Cup Knockout Stages Set for Star Power and Surprises

The 2026 World Cup group stage concluded with Lionel Messi making more history by scoring in his seventh consecutive World Cup match as Argentina defeated Jordan 3-1. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo played every minute of Portugal's group stage campaign raising concerns about his workload and potentially impacting their knockout run. A draw between Portugal and Colombia means a highly anticipated quarterfinal clash between Ronaldo and Messi is off the table until the final, at the earliest, derailing a marquee matchup. France's Ousmane Dembélé also shone, scoring a hat-trick against Norway demonstrating his attacking prowess.

Knockout Paths and Team Grades Emerge

As the tournament transitions to the knockout stages, England's path to the final is being analyzed detailing their required steps. Their last-32 tie against DR Congo will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with all 16 first knockout round matches covered by BBC Sport providing extensive viewing options. The progress of smaller nations like Cape Verde, who reached the knockouts, is providing inspiration, proving that underdog stories are possible. ESPN is also grading the performance of every team eliminated from the competition, assessing how their runs compared to expectations.

Late Drama and Lessons Learned

The final day of group play saw significant drama, with Austria surviving a scare to progress after a thrilling 3-3 draw with Algeria, a result that also saw Iran eliminated. The USMNT, despite a late 3-2 defeat to Türkiye, will have learned valuable lessons about their second-string players, according to coach Mauricio Pochettino analyzing the team's performance. Separately, Scotland's trajectory under head coach Steve Clarke over the past month is being charted documenting his tenure.