Tonight, transitioning into tomorrow morning, the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will conclude. In the final matches of the first stage, Uzbekistan will play DR Congo, Portugal vs Colombia, England vs Panama, Croatia vs Ghana, Argentina vs Jordan, and Austria vs Algeria. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

Group K, Matchday 3, June 28, 04:30, Atlanta, Mercedes-Benz Stadium

⚽ DR CONGO – UZBEKISTAN (first meeting)

Coaches: Sebastien Desabre (France) – Fabio Cannavaro (Italy)

Having lost to Colombia and Portugal in their debut World Cup, Uzbekistan still has a chance to advance to the playoffs from third place. However, it is purely mathematical. A miracle requires several factors to align.

To finish third in the group, Fabio Cannavaro's men need to beat DR Congo in Atlanta by any score. But to continue in the tournament, "any score" is not enough. They need a big, even huge, win.

To overtake Croatia and South Korea in the table above, Uzbekistan must beat the Congolese by a margin of 6 goals. To overtake Iran, a 7-goal victory is needed. However, even such fantastic wins would not be enough if Croatia does not lose to Panama in Group L, and Austria and Algeria draw in Group J.

Colombia and Portugal will compete for first place in the "Uzbek" group, with a draw sufficing for the South Americans. In that case, they would play on July 3 in Kansas City against one of the third-placed teams. The second-placed team in Group K will face England, Croatia, or Ghana on July 2 in Toronto, and could meet Spain in the round of 16.

Such a prospect is unlikely to appeal to either Portugal or Colombia, so the evening in Miami is unlikely to be dull.

Group K, Matchday 3, June 28, 04:30, Miami, Hard Rock Stadium

⚽ COLOMBIA – PORTUGAL (first meeting)

Coaches: Nestor Lorenzo (Argentina) – Roberto Martinez (Spain)

To top Group L, England does not need to repeat the result of their 2018 World Cup match against Panama in Nizhny Novgorod (6-1). A win by any margin is enough for the Three Lions, provided Ghana does not beat Croatia by a large score.

Both conditions are quite achievable. England impressed with brilliant football against Croatia, while Panama has not improved since the Russian World Cup. The CONCACAF representative has already lost to both Ghana and Croatia here.

Group L, Matchday 3, June 28, 02:00, New York, MetLife Stadium

Coaches: Thomas Christiansen (Spain) – Thomas Tuchel (Germany)

The match between Croatia and Ghana in Philadelphia will likely decide second place in the group. The "Checkered Ones" cannot afford to lose, as they risk failing to advance as one of the best third-placed teams.

The Group L winner, if successful in the round of 32, has a good chance of facing Mexico in the next round, who have been dominant on home soil. The second-placed team will face Colombia or Portugal in the first knockout round, and very likely Spain in the round of 16. As the classic writer said about three- and five-ruble crayfish: choose, but carefully.

Group L, Matchday 3, June 28, 02:00, Philadelphia, Lincoln Financial Field

Coaches: Zlatko Dalic – Carlos Queiroz (Portugal)

The last teams to determine their playoff delegates will be from Group J. Specifically, Algeria and Austria, since Jordan and Argentina, like the USA and Turkey, will play a mere sparring match, albeit within the tournament.

Group J, Matchday 3, June 28, 07:00, Dallas, AT&T Stadium

Coaches: Jamal Sellami (Morocco) – Lionel Scaloni

Argentina, with Lionel Messi breaking World Cup scoring records, secured the group win early. Jordan, without anyone remotely resembling Messi, finished last early. It will be interesting to see if Lionel Scaloni rests his namesake ahead of the playoffs or lets the "newborn" (the Argentine captain turned 39 on June 24) continue his goal-scoring streak, risking injury—physical or moral if he fails to score against Jordan.

Group J, Matchday 3, June 28, 07:00, Kansas City, Arrowhead Stadium

Coaches: Vladimir Petkovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) – Ralf Rangnick (Germany)

A draw in the other group match would theoretically suit both Algeria and Austria. In that scenario, the Europeans would finish second, while the Africans, with 4 points, would advance from third place. However, if that happens, Austria would face one of the World Cup favorites, Spain. So elements of "tanking" from the Austrians cannot be ruled out.

Moreover, Austria has engaged in chicanery at the World Cup before. In 1982, their "strange" draw with West Germany eliminated Algeria from the tournament. Ironically, the Algerians, not particularly striving for victory today, could repay the Austrians for that memorable match in Gijon.

The 23rd FIFA World Cup final tournament started on June 11 and will end on July 19. It is the first to be held in three countries—the USA, Canada, and Mexico—and the first to feature 48 teams.

After the group stage, the top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams will continue the competition. The playoffs will begin with the round of 32.