2026 FIFA World Cup: Group Stage – Matchday Three Roundup

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Roundup of all the action across the final matchday of the group stage at 2026 FIFA World Cup.

With knockout stage qualification or top spot still at stake for many teams, this final round of group matches didn’t disappoint as teams battled out to determine their fates – including England and Scotland.

 

Group A

Second-half goals from Mateo Chaves, Julian Quinones and Alvaro Fidalgo saw Mexico finish Group A unbeaten with a 3-0 victory over Czech Republic.

The Czechs however were eliminated after Thapelo Maseko’s 63rd-minute winner saw South Africa snatch a shock 1-0 win over South Korea to finish second.

 

Group B

Ruben Vargas and Johan Manzambi fired Switzerland to the summit of Group B with a 2-1 victory over Canada, despite Promise David’s consolatory effort for the tournament co-hosts.

Kerim Alajbegovic and Ermin Mahmic found the net on top of Mahmud Abunada’s own-goal as Bosnia & Herzegovina defeated Qatar 3-1 to finish third in the group, despite Hassan Al Haydos’ consolatory effort.

 

Group C

Vinicius Junior’s brace and Matheus Cunha’s second-half strike saw Brazil win Group C with a 3-0 demolition of Scotland.

Second-half goals from Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine saw second-placed Morocco complete a 4-2 comeback win over eliminated Haiti, having fought back twice through Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari after Yassine Bounou’s own-goal and Wilson Isidor put Haiti in front.

 

Group D

Kaan Ayhan netted a 98th-minute winner as eliminated Turkey defeated Group D winners – USA 3–2 in Los Angeles, as Auston Trusty initially put the co-hosts ahead before Arda Guler and Baris Alper Yilmaz put the Turkish side ahead prior to Sebastian Berhalter’s equaliser for the Americans.

Australia advanced as Group D runners-up ahead of Paraguay who qualified in third as both teams played out a goalless draw.

 

Group E

Gonzalo Plata smashed in a 77th-minute winner as Ecuador came from behind to beat Germany 2-1, after Nilson Angulo cancelled out Leroy Sane’s second-minute opener.

Nicolas Pepe’s brace saw Ivory Coast cruise past Curacao to finish second in the group with a 2-0 win.

 

Group F

Ellyes Skhiri’s own-goal plus goals from Brian Brobbey and Jan Paul van Hecke saw Netherlands top Group F with a 3–1 win over eliminated Tunisia, despite Hazem Mastouri’s consolatory header for the African team.

Japan finished second ahead of Sweden after the pair played out a 1-1 draw in which Daizen Maeda’s opener was cancelled out by Anthony Elanga.

 

Group G

Leandro Trossard’s brace plus goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers saw Belgium defeat New Zealand 5-1 to top Group G on goal difference, despite Elijah Just’s header for the eliminated Kiwis.

Egypt consequently finished second after Mahmoud Saber’s early finish was cancelled out by Iran’s Ramin Rezaelan’s equaliser.

 

Group H

Alex Baena netted a 42nd-minute winner to secure Group H for Spain with a 1-0 victory over Uruguay, who were eliminated as a consequence and a man down after Agustin Canobbio was red carded in the 95th minute for a high-footed foul on Pau Cubarsi.

Cape Verde progressed as runners-up in the group after a goalless draw against Saudi Arabia.

 

Group I

Ousmane Dembele’s brace and Desire Doue’s finish saw France win Group I with a 4-1 victory over second-placed Norway, despite Thelo Aasgaard’s effort for the Norwegians.

Pape Gueye’s brace plus goals from Habib Diarra, Ismaila Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye saw Senegal thrash eliminated Iraq with a 5-0 win to finish third, whilst Iraq had Rebin Sulaka red carded in the 13th minute for denying Sadio Mane a goalscoring opportunity.

 

Group J

Giovani Lo Celso, Lautaro Martinez and Lionel Messi found the net as Argentina topped Group J unbeaten with a 3-1 win over Jordan, as Mousa Al Tamari pulled a goal back early in the second half.

Algeria and Austria both advanced in third and second respectively after they played out a 3-3 draw, in which Marko Arnautovic and Marcel Sabitzer put Austria ahead either side of Rafik Belghali’s equaliser before Riyad Mahrez’s brace put Algeria ahead prior to Sasa Kalajdzic’s headed leveller.

 

Group K

Colombia topped Group K with a 0-0 draw against runners-up, Portugal.

Yoane Wissa’s brace and Fiston Mayele’s finish saw DR Congo claim a 3-1 comeback win over Uzbekistan to qualify amongst the third-placed teams, after Elder Shomurodov had fired the latter into a first-half lead.

 

Group L

Second-half goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane saw England top Group L with a 2-0 victory over Panama.

Croatia progressed as runners-up with a 2-1 win over Ghana through goals from Petar Sucic and Nikola Vlasic, although Ghana have too progressed via the third-placed route despite Derrick Luckassen’s brief equaliser.

16 Trackbacks / Pingbacks

  1. 2026 FIFA World Cup: Round of 32 – South Africa vs Canada – Sport Grill
  2. 2026 FIFA World Cup: Round of 32 – Brazil vs Japan – Sport Grill
  3. 2026 FIFA World Cup: Round of 32 – Germany vs Paraguay – Sport Grill
  4. 2026 FIFA World Cup: Round of 32 – Netherlands vs Morocco – Sport Grill
  5. 2026 FIFA World Cup: Round of 32 – Ivory Coast vs Norway – Sport Grill
  6. 2026 FIFA World Cup: Round of 32 – France vs Sweden – Sport Grill
  7. 2026 FIFA World Cup: Round of 32 – Mexico vs Ecuador – Sport Grill
  8. 2026 FIFA World Cup: Round of 32 – Belgium vs Senegal – Sport Grill
  9. 2026 FIFA World Cup: Round of 32 – USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina – Sport Grill
  10. 2026 FIFA World Cup: Round of 32 – Spain vs Austria – Sport Grill
  11. 2026 FIFA World Cup: Round of 32 – Portugal vs Croatia – Sport Grill
  12. 2026 FIFA World Cup: Round of 32 – Switzerland vs Algeria – Sport Grill
  13. 2026 FIFA World Cup: Round of 32 – England vs DR Congo – Sport Grill
  14. 2026 FIFA World Cup: Round of 32 – Australia vs Egypt – Sport Grill
  15. 2026 FIFA World Cup: Round of 32 – Argentina vs Cape Verde – Sport Grill
  16. 2026 FIFA World Cup: Round of 32 – Colombia vs Ghana – Sport Grill

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