The 2026 World Cup group stage reaches day thirteen. On Tuesday 23 June, England play Ghana at Gillette Stadium, Portugal meet Uzbekistan, Panama face Croatia and Colombia take on DR Congo, a day after Lionel Messi became the tournament's all-time leading scorer with 18 goals in Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria and France beat Iraq 3-0 in a storm-hit match in Philadelphia. Five verified stories.
Day thirteen on 23 June brings four second-round group matches. England face Ghana at Gillette Stadium near Boston and Panama meet Croatia in Group L, while Portugal play Uzbekistan and Colombia take on DR Congo, with kickoffs running from the afternoon into the night.
England face Ghana at Gillette Stadium near Boston on 23 June in their second Group L match. England look to build on their opening result in a section that also contains Croatia and Panama, with a strong showing key to controlling the group.
Lionel Messi scored twice in Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria near Dallas on 22 June to become the World Cup's all-time leading scorer with 18 goals, passing Miroslav Klose. At 38, the holders' captain reached the mark in his sixth tournament as Argentina booked their place in the knockout stage.
France beat Iraq 3-0 at Lincoln Financial Field on 22 June, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice and Ousmane Dembélé adding his first World Cup goal. The match was suspended at halftime as a thunderstorm moved through Philadelphia before play resumed, and the result sent France into the round of 32.
Wins on 22 June carried France and Argentina into the knockout stage, among the first nations to seal their places in the expanded 32-team round of 32. Both booked their spots with a group game still to play as the second round of group matches reshaped the standings.