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Algeria and Austria produced an incredible finish as both secured the point they needed to reach the World Cup knockout stages - and eliminate Iran. 28 Jun 2026
Austria - who led twice - were heading out when Riyad Mahrez scored his second of the game to put Algeria 3-2 ahead in the 93rd minute. At that stage, Iran were going through as one of the eight best third-placed teams. But then Sasa Kalajdzic headed a 96th-minute equaliser to secure a point in the Group J meeting that sparked dramatic scenes of celebration among the Austria contingent in Kansas City. In snatching that late draw, Austria became the first team to avoid defeat in a World Cup match having fallen behind after the 90-minute mark. Iran - who had seen a late winning goal disallowed for offside following a video assistant referee check in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Egypt in Group G - are out despite being unbeaten, having drawn all three of their matches. But even though Austria and Algeria went into this match knowing a draw would take them both through, there was no sense of a repeat of the 'Disgrace of Gijon'. In that infamous match at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, West Germany beat Austria 1-0 in a group match where both teams went through the motions. They had known that scoreline would put them both through at the expense of Algeria. But this match was played in the right spirit throughout, with the intensity only dropping off in the final few minutes before two goals in added-time. After finishing as Group J runners-up, Austria now face Spain in the last 32 in Los Angeles on Thursday (20:00 BST) while Algeria, who eliminated Iran to become the final third-placed finisher, will take on Switzerland in Vancouver at 04:00 BST on Friday. The game began with high intensity and pot-shots at both ends in the opening 10 minutes, though it petered out by the first half hydration break. However moments after the resumption, Marko Arnautovic raced on to David Alaba's ball over the top to control and scuff a shot past the flat-footed Oussama Benbot, picked in goal ahead of Luca Zidane. Facing the prospect of elimination, Algeria went on the front foot and Fares Chaibi thumped the post with a superb 20-yard effort before Rafik Belghali reacted quickest to a ball bouncing back into play off the corner flag to bundle into the box and jink some space before lashing high inside the near post with half-time looming. Austria restored their lead 10 minutes after the break as Marcel Sabitzer side-footed home first-time from Konrad Laimer's cut-back to the edge of the box. But within five minutes, Mahrez turned in at the far post after a fine run and cross from Houssem Aouar. Both sides came close to what would have been a winner before the intensity dialled down after the 85th minute. After boos had begun to rain down from the stands in the first of four minutes of added time, it ramped up again when Mahrez ended a period of continuous possession by lashing home an angled shot from the right of the box in the 93rd minute to put Algeria 3-2 up and on course to finish second. However just 61 seconds after coming off the bench, Kalajdzic headed home in the 96th minute - two more than was allotted - to snatch a draw in the most dramatic of finales.
Colombia had a late goal controversially ruled out for offside but they still topped Group K at the expense of Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in Miami. 28 Jun 2026
The South Americans appeared to have won a thrilling game in the 90th minute when Davinson Sanchez headed home, but he was denied by the verdict of the assistant referee - having been offside by a fraction. Replays, broadcast in the stadium to hearty boos, showed the tip of the former Tottenham centre-back's right boot was offside when the cross was delivered for him to head past Diogo Costa. While it was offside by the letter of the law and did not affect the group standings, it denied Colombia a win they would have deserved on the balance of play and left a sour taste in the BBC studio. "It's onside, I don't care what they're telling me and what information they're giving me, that is onside," former England striker and BBC pundit Wayne Rooney said. "That cannot be offside. Imagine that goal was to decide if Colombia were in or out of the next round." Colombia manager Nestor Lorenzo meanwhile joked in his post-match media conference that he would ask Sanchez to visit a podologist before their next game.
Harry Kane broke Gary Lineker's record to become England's all-time leading World Cup scorer when he struck during Saturday's 2-0 win against Panama. 28 Jun 2026
The Three Lions captain doubled his side's lead when headed home superbly from Jude Bellingham's cross in the second half. The goal took Kane's overall World Cup tally to 11 goals, surpassing Lineker's total of 10. "It is a proud one for sure," Kane told BBC Sport. "I spoke before the tournament about the World Cup being the biggest competition we play as professional footballers, so to get to 11 goals is a proud feeling. "It is always hard to take in. I just want to enjoy this moment with the team, enjoy being top of the table. "I never take these moments for granted. Another good milestone to hit, and I hope it is not the last one in this tournament." Lineker, who scored six times at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and four times in Italy four years later, said recently that Kane was "the greatest English striker we've ever had". Kane got two goals in England's opening 4-2 win against Croatia, which made him only the second England men's player to score at three different World Cups (Russia 2018, Qatar 2022 and North America 2026). He joins former Manchester United midfielder David Beckham, who scored at the 1998, 2002 and 2006 World Cups. Kane won the Golden Boot in Russia eight years ago with six goals, before adding two further strikes in Qatar. He has three in total so far at this World Cup after helping England into the last 32.
Nikola Vlasic scored a late header as Croatia booked their place in the World Cup last 32 with victory over already-qualified Ghana in Philadelphia. 28 Jun 2026
Zlatko Dalic's side needed to avoid defeat against the Black Stars to be sure of a place in the knockout stages, but Vlasic's effort seven minutes from time ensured they qualified as runners-up to England – who beat Panama in Group L's other game. Ghana defender Derrick Luckassen had cancelled out Petar Sucic's stunning first-half opener in the 73rd minute, but the Black Stars were unable to hold on for a point and will now head into the last 32 as one of the best third-placed sides. Croatia's victory also ended any lingering hopes Scotland may have had of qualifying for the knockout stages.
Leandro Trossard scored twice as Belgium booked their place in the World Cup knockout stage with a dominant win over New Zealand. 27 Jun 2026
In a must-win game for both sides, Belgium shook off two lacklustre displays to start the tournament and showed their superiority from the first whistle in Vancouver. Trossard opened the scoring in the 28th minute as New Zealand allowed a Kevin de Bruyne corner to bounce in the six-yard box, allowing the Arsenal forward to finish from close range after the ball had bounced off the back of defender Tim Payne. Rudi Garcia's side could have been out of sight by half-time but it was not until five minutes after the break that they got their second. De Bruyne punched a pass into Trossard, his first shot was blocked but he volleyed the follow-up in smartly at the near post. The result was put beyond doubt in the 66th minute when De Bruyne drilled a crisp left-foot shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards. New Zealand got a goal back as Elijah Just thumped in his third goal of the tournament but Belgium's three-goal lead was restored moments later as Romelu Lukaku headed in just 56 seconds after coming off the bench. Another substitute, Alexis Saelemaekers, added an extra shine to the scoreline as he slotted in the fifth in injury time. With Egypt failing to beat Iran, Belgium top Group G on goal difference and will face a third-placed team in the last 32 on Wednesday (21:00 BST). Meanwhile, New Zealand bow out of their third World Cup after taking just one point from three games.