The 2026 World Cup group stage reaches its final day. On Saturday 27 June, Groups J, K and L finish: Jordan face Argentina in Arlington and Algeria meet Austria in Kansas City (Group J), Colombia play Portugal in Miami Gardens and DR Congo meet Uzbekistan in Atlanta (Group K), and Panama face England in East Rutherford while Croatia meet Ghana in Philadelphia (Group L). It comes a day after France beat Norway 4-1 and Senegal beat Iraq 5-0 to settle Group I. With the group stage complete, the expanded round of 32, the new first knockout round of the 48-team tournament, is set to begin on 28 June. Six verified stories.
Day seventeen on 27 June completes the group stage in Groups J, K and L, the final matchday of the first round. Argentina, Portugal and England all play their third group games, with six simultaneous pairs of kick-offs deciding the last places in the round of 32 across the United States.
Jordan face Argentina at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on 27 June, with Algeria meeting Austria at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City at the same time. The simultaneous kick-offs settle the final order in Group J and the section's qualifiers for the round of 32.
Colombia face Portugal at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on 27 June, with DR Congo meeting Uzbekistan at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta at the same time. The two Group K matches decide who advances behind the section's leaders into the round of 32.
Panama play England at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on 27 June, while Croatia meet Ghana in Philadelphia at the same time. The two Group L matches complete the group-stage programme and confirm the last qualifiers for the round of 32.
France defeated Norway 4-1 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on 26 June to take top spot in Group I, while Senegal beat Iraq 5-0 at BMO Field in Toronto to keep their World Cup alive. The results confirmed the section's order ahead of the round of 32.
For the first time, the 48-team World Cup has a round of 32 as its first knockout stage. The 12 group winners, the 12 runners-up and the 8 best third-placed teams advance, and the new round is set to begin on 28 June, a day after the final group matches.