England have secured their place in the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup, finishing top of Group L with an unbeaten record. Meanwhile, Scotland's elimination has prompted manager Steve Clarke to resign.
England's Group Victory
Thomas Tuchel's side defeated Panama 2-0 in their final group match, with second-half goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane. The victory gave England seven points and top spot in the group. Croatia finished second after beating Ghana 2-1, while Ghana advanced as one of the best third-placed teams.
Harry Kane's goal was his 11th at World Cups, making him England's all-time leading scorer in the tournament, overtaking Gary Lineker's record of 10.
Round of 32 Opponent: DR Congo
England will face DR Congo in the Round of 32 on Tuesday, July 1, in Atlanta. The opponent was initially thought to be Senegal but was confirmed as DR Congo after the final group matches.
Scotland's Exit and Clarke's Resignation
Scotland were eliminated after Croatia's 2-1 win over Ghana left them bottom of their group. Despite a 1-0 victory over Haiti in their opening match, defeats to Morocco (1-0) and Brazil (3-0) meant their goal difference was insufficient to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.
Steve Clarke resigned just a month after signing a four-year contract extension. The former Chelsea and Newcastle assistant manager faced criticism for an overly cautious approach, particularly in the narrow win over Haiti.
Lionel Messi's Record
Lionel Messi came off the bench to score in Argentina's 3-1 win over Jordan, extending his all-time World Cup record to 19 goals. The 39-year-old has now scored in seven consecutive World Cup matches, a new record. Argentina will face Cape Verde in the Round of 32.
England's Injury Concerns
England manager Thomas Tuchel faces defensive problems after Jarell Quansah limped off injured against Panama. With Reece James and Tino Livramento already sidelined, Djed Spence is the only natural right-back available. Tuchel's decision to omit Trent Alexander-Arnold, who had a poor season after leaving Liverpool, has been questioned.
TV Presenter Apologises
ABC Los Angeles reporter Abigail Velez issued an apology after making inappropriate on-air comments about Bosnia and Herzegovina. In a World Cup segment, she said she did not know the first thing about the country and did not want to know, adding: "Get prepared, Bosnia, because you don’t want it. But you’re gonna get it." She later apologised, calling her comments "thoughtless" and "insensitive."
Algeria vs Austria Thriller
In a dramatic 3-3 draw, Algeria and Austria both advanced to the knockout stage, eliminating Iran. Algeria's Riyad Mahrez scored in the 93rd minute, but Austria's Sasa Kalajdzic equalised in the 96th minute. Iran would have advanced as a best third-placed team if either side had won.
