Spain booked their place in the World Cup last 16 with an emphatic 3-0 win over Austria on Thursday, producing another polished performance that rarely gave their opponents a foothold. 

Portugal booked their place in the World Cup 2026 round of 16 after a 2-1 win over Luka Modric's Croatia in Toronto, decided by a stoppage-time goal from Gonçalo Ramos. Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates will face Spain on Monday.  

Folarin Balogun scored before being sent off as the United States defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the World Cup last 16. Balogun struck just before halftime but was later dismissed following a nasty clash with Bosnia's Tarik Muharemovic. Malik Tillman sealed a US victory with a free kick, setting up a last-16 clash with Belgium. 

England survived a major scare in Atlanta, coming from behind to beat a spirited DR Congo side 2-1 thanks to a late Harry Kane brace, as Lionel Mpasi produced a heroic display but could not prevent the Three Lions from sealing victory and a qualification for the World Cup round of 16, where they will face Mexico.  

Norway survived an Ivory Coast comeback to progress to the round of 16 with a hard-fought 2-1 victory in Arlington. Erling Haaland's late winner proved decisive as the Drillos held their nerve when it mattered most, withstanding a relentless African assault that saw the Elephants equalise through Amad Diallo's brilliant strike before the "Cyborg"'s clinical finish sealed the win. 

Paraguay stunned Germany in a penalty shootout on Monday to reach the World Cup last 16 after a 1-1 draw following extra time. The South Americans won 4-3 on spot kicks, handing Germany their first-ever defeat in a World Cup penalty shootout and booking a place in the knockout stage. 

Morocco booked their place in the World Cup round of 16 after defeating the Netherlands on penalties following a dramatic 1-1 draw after extra time in Monterrey. Cody Gakpo gave the Dutch the lead before Issa Diop headed home a stoppage-time equaliser, with Ismael Saibari converting the decisive spot-kick to send the Atlas Lions through. 

Iran were deprived of a certain place in the World Cup knockout phase when a goal in stoppage time that would have given them a 2-1 win against Egypt was disallowed. The draw means the Pharaohs advance to the last 32 along with Belgium, who demolished New Zealand 5-1 to clinch top spot in Group G. 

Portugal needed to beat Colombia to reclaim first place in Group K. But in the end, it was Colombia who came closest to victory. The two teams ultimately drew.

Ousmane Dembélé scored a magnificent hat-trick, his first with Les Bleus, as France beat Norway 4-1 on Friday to seal top spot in Group I. Star striker Erling Haaland was one of several players rested by the Norway coach ahead of the World Cup knockouts stage. 

The Netherlands claimed an emphatic 3-1 victory over Tunisia to secure their Group F top spot. The Dutch struck early through an own goal from Ellyes Skhiri and Brian Brobbey's clinical finish, before JP van Hecke added a third to seal the victory. Tunisia's Hamza Mastouri pulled one back, but it proved merely a consolation as the Oranje cruised to victory. The Netherlands will take on Morocco in their Round of 32 encounter. 

Just Fontaine has reigned as the World Cup's record scorer at a single tournament since 1958. But with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland each piling on the goals for their respective countries, and the likes of Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo in pursuit, the decades-old record is looking vulnerable for the first time. 

England and Ghana played out a tense 0-0 draw at Foxborough Stadium, a result that keeps both sides' knockout qualification hopes alive but denies the Three Lions top spot in Group L. Despite dominating possession with 79% of the ball, England were unable to break down Ghana's resolute defensive organisation, with the Black Stars frustrating their opponents throughout. 

HOUSTON, June 23 (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo silenced his critics in spectacular fashion, becoming the first player to score ​in six World Cups while netting twice in Portugal’s emphatic 5-0 Group K rout of Uzbekistan in Houston on Tuesday.

Norway survived a Senegal onslaught to claim a crucial 3-2 victory in Group I, with Erling Haaland scoring twice to secure their qualification to advance to the knockout stage. The Africans fought back from 2-0 down with a goal from Ismaila Sarr before mounting a desperate late assault, but Norway held firm. 

France defeated Iraq 3-0 in Philadelphia to mathematically secure their passage to the knockout stages. Kylian Mbappé scored twice and Ousmane Dembélé added a third, but the match was overshadowed by severe thunderstorms that forced a two hour and 12-minute delay, the evacuation of spectators and a complete washout of the pitch. 

Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 in Arlington, Texas, with Lionel Messi scoring twice to become the all-time leading goal-scorer in World Cup history. The 38-year-old Argentine legend broke Miroslav Klose's record of 16 goals, cementing his status as one of football's greatest players. With two victories from two matches, Argentina have mathematically secured their passage to the last 32. 

Houston (AFP) – Cody Gakpo and Brian Brobbey both scored twice as the rampant Netherlands thrashed Sweden 5-1 in a World Cup warning on Saturday in Houston. 

Vinícius Júnior scored and set up one of Matheus Cunha's two goals as Brazil beat Haiti 3-0 on Friday to strengthen their bid for a place in the World Cup knockout stage. Haiti became the first team eliminated from the tournament, while Brazil responded emphatically after their opening draw with Morocco. 

Co-hosts Mexico became the first team to secure a place in the World Cup knockout stage after a 1-0 victory over South Korea at a jubilant Guadalajara Stadium on Thursday. Luis Romo scored shortly after half-time, capitalising on a goalkeeping error, to seal Mexico's second straight win and confirm them as Group A winners with one match remaining. 

Canada secured their first-ever World Cup victory with a 6-0 rout of nine-man Qatar in a Group B match overshadowed by a serious injury to midfielder Ismael Koné and two red cards for Qatar. 

Ghana secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama thanks to a stoppage-time strike from Caleb Yirenkyi. The Black Stars were frustrated for long spells by a disciplined Panamanian side but found a breakthrough deep into added time to claim all three points. 

Portugal and DR Congo played out a dramatic 1-1 draw in Houston as the African underdogs showed remarkable resilience against one of the tournament's favourites. João Neves gave the Portuguese an early lead, but Yoane Wissa's equaliser just before half-time earned the Leopards a crucial point in their first World Cup appearance since 1974. 

England claimed a convincing 4-2 victory over Croatia in an enthralling Group L encounter in Arlington, Texas, with Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford combining to overcome a resilient Croatian comeback. The Three Lions survived sustained pressure from Zlatko Dalic's side in a match that lived up to its billing as a rematch of the 2018 World Cup semi-final. 

Lionel Messi piled up the records as he scored all three goals for Argentina in their 2026 World Cup opener against Algeria on Tuesday, becoming the first player to feature in six World Cups and matching former Germany ​striker ​Miroslav ​Klose's tally ​of 16 goals on football's biggest stage.