Football/Soccer 8 Hours

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

World Cup Knockout Stages Take Shape

The FIFA World Cup enters its knockout phase with several storylines developing. Portugal's 0-0 draw against Colombia secured Colombia top spot in Group K, with Portugal finishing second. This result means a highly anticipated quarterfinal clash between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi is off the table until at least the final, as Ronaldo has played every minute of Portugal's group campaign raising concerns about his workload. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi made more history by scoring in Argentina's 3-1 victory over Jordan, becoming the first man to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches.

England Eyes Path to Final

England has qualified for the knockout stages and BBC Sport outlines their path to the final. Their last-32 tie against DR Congo will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with comprehensive coverage of all knockout matches across BBC Sport. England's 2-0 win over Panama secured them top spot in Group L, setting up a clash with DR Congo, who reached the next round after a comeback win featuring two goals from Yoane Wissa against Uzbekistan. Despite topping their group, England faces questions about their ability to win the tournament unless they improve their performance according to BBC Sport. Harry Kane became England's top World Cup scorer with his 12th goal in the win against Panama surpassing previous records.

Team Grades and Surprises

As teams are eliminated, ESPN Soccer is grading their performances against expectations. The expanded 48-team World Cup format has allowed smaller nations to make an impact, with Cape Verde's progress to the knockouts serving as an example of this trend for countries like theirs. However, not all major nations are performing as expected. Spain's 3-1 loss to Uruguay, which saw Uruguay yank their goalkeeper at halftime after a significant error gifted Spain the lead, has raised concerns about their title aspirations, compounded by an injury to winger Nico Williams jeopardizing his tournament.

European Contenders and Setbacks

In other European action, Austria survived a scare to progress after a thrilling 3-3 draw with Algeria, a result that saw both sides advance and Iran eliminated from Group J. Scotland's World Cup journey has come to a close, with BBC Scotland charting Steve Clarke's final month as head coach and summing up their exit as a sorry end. Meanwhile, France's Ousmane Dembélé delivered a hat-trick against Norway, showcasing the team's depth of talent led by his performance. Egypt's Mohamed Salah is a doubt for their last-32 tie against Australia due to a hamstring injury suffered in their group stage matches.

North American Teams and Lessons Learned

The USMNT experienced a late 3-2 defeat to Türkiye, a result that provided manager Mauricio Pochettino with insights into his second-string players despite its limited long-term impact. to the knockout rounds, Alphonso Davies is available for Canada's round of 32 match against South Africa after playing a 'decoy' role. Croatia secured their place as Group L runners-up after a 2-1 victory over Ghana in Philadelphia.