World Cup 2026: Everything you missed overnight and what's coming up on Wednesday
Luka Modric made his 200th appearance for Crotia in their victory over Panama. Pic: Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP
Luka Modric’s 200th appearance for Croatia ended in a 1-0 victory over Panama as they kept their World Cup campaign alive.
Substitute Ante Budimir supplied the decisive touch, grabbing the only goal early in the second half as Panama’s hopes of qualification were ended.
A tight first half produced few openings, Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic stretching to tip Jose Luis Rodriguez’s header onto the bar although the ball was adjudged to have crossed the line before Amir Murillo’s cross.
Croatia enjoyed plenty of possession, but uncharacteristically gave it away and allowed Panama to look threatening on the break with Murillo making a dangerous run into the box.
The first shot on target arrived in the first minute of stoppage time, Orlando Mosquera turning Martin Baturina’s low drive from 25 yards around the post.
Their next opening nine minutes into the second half proved decisive, Josip Stanisic delivering a wonderful cross which Budimir steered in at the far post.
A through ball from Modric released Marco Pasalic from halfway as Croatia broke from a Panama corner, but Mosquera stood tall and the striker was unable to turn in the rebound from a tight angle.
Livakovic made two quick saves from Murillo and pushed Carlos Harvey’s header over the bar as Panama pressed for an equaliser, but their efforts petered out as Croatia were able to see out the victory.
Croatian coach Zlatko Dalic said he was glad to win Modric’s landmark match.
“To be honest, I didn’t expect it to be this difficult,” he said. “We didn’t react the best, maybe that was due to the pressure as we really needed these three points.” His opposite number Thomas Christiansen said his side had gone “toe-to-toe” with their opponents, but accepted “that’s just how football goes”.
“They had one clear chance and scored it,” he said. “The truth is that they did not create too much danger against us.”
Daniel Munoz scored for the second successive game as Colombia booked their place in the World Cup last 32 with a 1-0 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Crystal Palace full-back finally beat the heroics of Congolese goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, leaving the Africans needing a victory against Uzbekistan in their final group game to keep their hopes alive.
Edo Kayembe fired a shot over the bar for DR Congo in the opening minutes, but it was a rare foray as Colombia dominated the opening exchanges with eight shots in the opening 20 minutes.
Mpasi was forced into saves from Jhon Arias, Munoz – who bundled in the rebound, but was flagged offside – James Rodriguez and Gustavo Puerta with Luis Diaz’s effort deflecting wide after going through the goalkeeper’s legs.
DR Congo, who had left too much room early on, tightened up after the hydration break as the rain began to fall in Guadalajara, Yoane Wissa almost profiting on a loose back pass and coming close to connecting with a teasing cross from Arther Masuaku.
Mpasi saved again from Diaz to start the second half, but he was finally beaten 14 minutes from time when Munoz’s shot beat him at his near post via a deflection.
Having waited so long to beat Mpasi, Diaz managed it twice in the next four minutes as the game opened up, only for both to be ruled out – the first for a push on a defender before he lofted the ball over the goalkeeper, the second for offside.
Mpasi was forced into another save from Juan Quintero before his opposite number Camila Vargas faced his first shot on target in stoppage time, turning away Nathanael Mbuku’s long-range strike and smothering Chancel Mbemba’s header from a corner.
Munoz, who was named player of the match, said the victory gave Colombia a “morale boost” but they were not settling for that.
“We played with intensity and aggression, and we stuck to our style,” he said. “This achievement belongs to the entire team, we earned these three points as a team and for all the fans who came out to support us.” DR of Congo coach Sebastian Desabre admitted it was “a difficult match” for his team.
“We played against a very good team. They were superior,” he said. “Our players, as usual, fought on the pitch to get a result, but we couldn’t manage.”
Thomas Tuchel’s stilted side stumbled to a 0-0 draw with well-drilled Ghana as England edged closer to the World Cup knockout phase in forgettable fashion.
Six days on from the thrilling 4-2 victory against Croatia in Texas, things fell flat in Foxborough as the back-to-back European Championship runners-up failed to break down the Black Stars.
England were a far cry from the swashbuckling side that thrilled in their Group L opener, with Tuchel’s team unable to find a way through Carlos Queiroz’s organised outfit as Harry Kane missed their best chance late on.
Neither side so much as mustered a shot on target in a first half that began with widespread boos for Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, who is scheduled to stand trial next year on seven counts of rape and one of sexual assault that he denies.
Not even England’s set-piece prowess and strength on the bench could swing a late goal, although substitute Nico O’Reilly saw a header rattle the crossbar and Kane uncharacteristically skied the rebound as they pushed for a winner.
Ghana felt aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty for an Ezri Konsa challenge but both sides look all but assured of a place in the round of 32 after this stalemate as Tuchel’s men turn their attention to Saturday’s group finale against Panama at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Cristiano Ronaldo announced his arrival at the 2026 World Cup with two goals as Portugal ignited their campaign with a 5-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan.
Portugal and Ronaldo were heavily criticised after an uninspiring 1-1 draw in their Group K opener against DR Congo, but they came alive under the roof at the Houston Stadium on Tuesday.
And the star striker appeared to take aim at his critics as he shouted “I’m back, I’m back” into a television camera after the final whistle.
Nuno Mendes and Rafael Leao were also on target, while Uzbekistan conceded an own goal in a convincing performance by Roberto Martinez’s side.
Thomas Partey booed by England fans as Djed Spence appears to snub handshake
Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey was heavily booed by England fans and Djed Spence appeared to snub a handshake with the Ghana international ahead of the World Cup clash in Boston.
Videos on social media looked to show the Tottenham defender refuse to put his hand out to the 33-year-old after the national anthems were sung.
Partey returned to the Black Stars’ starting XI after missing last Wednesday’s game with Panama in Toronto. He was denied entry to Canada having been charged with seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in London between 2020 and 2022.
Partey told officials in the host country that he had never been arrested or charged with a crime. He denies all charges and will attempt to clear his name at a trial next summer.
But England fans seemed unwilling to forget and were hostile towards him from the start, booing as his name was read out ahead of kick-off.
He was also jeered when he was on the ball in the opening five minutes of the game.
England boss Thomas Tuchel was stopped from answering a question on the issue after the game, but Ghana counterpart Carlos Quieroz said it was important to keep politics outside of the game.
“We refuse to be part of people that try to bring dust and politics inside the game,” he said.
“We fight to keep the four lines sacred. It’s difficult sometimes, but it happens. So we have to congratulate everybody who leaves politics outside the four lines.”
Fifa says a hydration break was called in the England v Ghana game to ensure “equal conditions” for all teams – even though play had been halted for head injuries minutes earlier.
The breaks, which have been criticised by England head coach Thomas Tuchel and consistently booed by England fans, have been introduced for all World Cup matches by Fifa for these finals in North America for player welfare reasons.
Their necessity in all games – such as those played in air-conditioned venues like Dallas – has been questioned and there appeared to be no need for one in Tuesday night’s England game, with play having been halted around the 20-minute mark because of a clash of heads between Reece James and Jordan Ayew.
In the 26th minute referee Said Martinez called a hydration break. In every break at the tournament so far American broadcaster Fox has gone to an advert break.
FIFA told the Press Association hydration breaks are implemented “involving all teams in every match, so matches are played under the same conditions”.
A spokesperson added: “We want to ensure equal conditions for everyone and that’s why these breaks are implemented in every match.”
When it rains, it pours. Once Switzerland went ahead against Bosnia and Herzegovina, there was no turning back. The Swiss, profligate in their 1-1 draw with Qatar, made amends on matchday two, easing to a 4-1 win to leaving them well placed to book a knockout stage spot.
Johan Manzambi (pictured) opened the scoring for Switzerland in the 74th minute last week. Six minutes later, Bosnian centre-back Tarik Muharemovic received his marching orders. Ruben Vargas, Manzambi again and Granit Xhaka wrapped up a comfortable win. The 20-year-old will hope this is where his career really kicks on. The Freiburg man has been linked with a Premier League switch. His two-goal salvo last time out proves why.
In the other Group B clash, one of Bosnia and Herzegovina or Qatar needs to come out and attack. Both are locked on one point apiece having followed up hard-fought draws with resounding defeats to Switzerland and Canada, respectively.
And in a bid to progress as one of the best third-placed teams, it’ll mean a change of gameplan as both teams strive to keep their World Cup dream alive. Both rank among the bottom 10 teams for possession, while no team is averaging fewer shots per 90 than Qatar (4). Bosnia and Herzegovina aren’t faring much better, with 6.5 per 90. It’s unfamiliar territory for the backs-to-the-wall pair.
A little more composure in front of goal, and Haiti wouldn’t have been heading home already. The Grenadiers’ time in North America will end come full time of their Group C clash with Morocco.
Two defeats from two, however, means the World Cup dream is over. The aim will be to at least score a goal before their tournament draws to a close. At the time of writing, Haiti are one of four teams yet to net at the competition. Their quest to do so is far easier said than done. After all, Morocco have kept a clean sheet in three of their last five matches and are yet to concede more than once in a match in 2026.
Scotland’s narrow 1-0 win over Haiti means they have effectively booked their knockout spot. Defeat to Morocco didn’t exactly aid the Tartan Army and they now face arguably their toughest group stage test to round off this part of the World Cup.
Brazil are nowhere near as strong as they once were but the South American powerhouse are still a force to be reckoned with. Carlo Ancelotti’s men also boast a superb record against Scotland. Indeed, they are unbeaten in the last 10 matches between the two sides, winning eight. That includes a current six-game winning run. Tartan Army boss Steve Clarke needs to focus his side for the Miami clash to end that Brazil hoodoo.
Son Heung-min is South Korea’s leading light. The LAFC man captain’s his nation but hasn’t been their star player this summer. Rather, that honour is bestowed upon Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in.
Lee struggled for regular minutes for the Parisian powerhouse last season. He started just 18 league matches. With that, he needed a stand out showing in order to put himself in the shop window. And he’s doing just that in North America. The 25-year-old leads the way for successful dribbles (9) and chances created (6) for the Taegeuk Warriors. Against South Africa in the early hours of Thursday morning, back Lee to put in his best performance of the World Cup so far.
Cesar Montes received his marching orders late on in Mexico’s World Cup opening 2-0 win over South Africa. For all intents and purposes, captain Edson Alvarez deputised well as the co-hosts claimed a 1-0 win over South Korea.
Head coach Javier Aguirre now has a big decision to make for Thursday’s meeting with the Czech Republic. Does he continue with Alvarez at the heart of the defence, or immediately reinstate Montes? Mexico are a more threatening side from set-pieces with Montes at the back.
Additionally, Adam Hlozek and Patrik Schick are more physically imposing forwards than Son Heung-min. If, as expected, Miroslav Koubek continues with a 3-5-2 setup, then it makes sense to bring Montes straight back into the XI.
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