2026 World Cup: Group Stage Matchday 1 Concludes
Matchday 1 of the 2026 World Cup has ended, highlighted by DR Congo's surprise draw against Portugal and Croatia's victory over England.
The first round of the 2026 World Cup group stage has officially concluded. After six days of action, the final matches in Groups K and L rounded out the opening week of the tournament.
A major surprise occurred as the Democratic Republic of Congo held Portugal to a 1-1 draw. In the highly anticipated UEFA clash, Croatia defeated England 4-2, solidifying their status as a major contender in the tournament.
In other action, Ghana secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Panama, while Colombia delivered a commanding 3-1 performance against Uzbekistan, playing in front of over 70,000 passionate fans.
June 17 results: Portugal 1-1 DR Congo, England 2-4 Croatia, Ghana 1-0 Panama, Uzbekistan 1-3 Colombia.
The tournament continues immediately. On June 18, the second round begins with Groups A and B: Czech Republic faces South Africa, followed by Switzerland against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The day concludes with host nations in action, as Canada plays Qatar and Mexico hosts South Korea in Guadalajara.