Sports
Iran misses out R32 spot after Austria, Algeria play out thrilling 3-3 draw | FIFA World Cup 2026
Algeria and Austria played out one of the most dramatic matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage, battling to a pulsating 3-3 draw that sent both nations into the Round of 32 while condemning Iran to one of the cruelest eliminations in World Cup history.
The dramatic finale saw Austria’s towering striker Sasa Kalajdzic score deep into stoppage time to rescue a crucial point, ensuring both teams finished on four points in Group J. The result was enough to send Algeria through automatically as runners-up while Austria advanced as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.
For Iran, watching from afar after completing their campaign with three points, it was devastating. Carlos Queiroz’s side needed either Algeria or Austria to win. Instead, the draw proved the only outcome that eliminated them.
A contest that had everything
With qualification permutations changing almost every minute, the encounter quickly developed into an end-to-end spectacle.
Austria repeatedly looked on course for qualification before Algeria fought back. Then Algeria appeared set to snatch victory through a dramatic Riyad Mahrez strike in stoppage time, only for Kalajdzic to produce one final twist with virtually the last kick of the match.
The 3-3 draw perfectly reflected a contest filled with momentum swings, attacking football and relentless drama.
Mahrez thought he had become Iran’s unlikely hero
As the game entered stoppage time, Riyad Mahrez looked to have written one of the stories of the tournament.
His late goal gave Algeria a 3-2 advantage and, more importantly, appeared destined to eliminate Austria while handing Iran an unexpected passage into the knockout rounds.
Thousands of kilometres away, Iranian supporters suddenly had reason to celebrate.
Kalajdzic delivers Austria’s miracle
With virtually no time remaining, Austria launched one final attack.
Sasa Kalajdzic rose highest inside the penalty area to convert a dramatic equaliser, making it 3-3 and completely changing the World Cup picture.
The goal secured Austria the point they desperately needed and simultaneously ended Iran’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages for the first time in their history.
The Austrian bench erupted in celebration, while Algeria’s players also celebrated qualification despite surrendering victory in the dying seconds.
Iran’s World Cup ends in cruel fashion
Few eliminations in recent World Cup history have been as painful as Iran’s.
Only 24 hours earlier, Iran believed they had secured qualification after Shoja Khalilzadeh scored a stoppage-time winner against Egypt.
That goal, however, was ruled out following a VAR review for a marginal offside.
The 1-1 draw left Iran on three points and dependent on results elsewhere.
Croatia’s draw against Ghana and DR Congo’s comeback victory over Uzbekistan already pushed Iran to the edge. All they required afterwards was a winner between Algeria and Austria.
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Best 3rd placed team qualified in FIFA World Cup 2026 |
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|
Rank |
Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
GF/GA |
GD |
Pts |
|
1 |
Congo DR |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
04/03/26 |
1 |
4 |
|
2 |
Sweden |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
07/07/26 |
0 |
4 |
|
3 |
Ghana |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
02/02/26 |
0 |
4 |
|
4 |
Ecuador |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
02/02/26 |
0 |
4 |
|
5 |
Bosnia-Herzegovina |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
05/06/26 |
-1 |
4 |
|
6 |
Paraguay |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
02/04/26 |
-2 |
4 |
|
7 |
Algeria |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
05/05/26 |
0 |
4 |
|
8 |
Senegal |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
08/06/26 |
2 |
3 |
Knockout picture confirmed
The thrilling draw confirmed Algeria’s place in the Round of 32 with four points, while Austria also advanced after finishing with the same tally and a superior third-place ranking.
For Iran, the tournament ended in heartbreak despite collecting three points, falling victim to VAR, goal difference, and one of the most dramatic stoppage-time goals of the tournament.
A match that seemed destined to produce one qualifier ultimately delivered two, leaving Algeria and Austria celebrating one of the World Cup’s most unforgettable nights while Iran were left wondering how close they had come to making history.
Sports
India vs Ireland Live Score, 2nd T20I: After Belfast setback, will Shreyas Iyer’s side turn to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?
The reigning T20 World Cup champions were beaten by 34 runs after Ireland recovered from 36/3 to post 182/9 before bowling India out for 148. The win gave Ireland a 1-0 lead and put them one victory away from a famous bilateral T20I series triumph over India.
For Shreyas Iyer’s side, Sunday’s game is a must-win if they are to avoid an unexpected series defeat.
India need better execution
India made a brilliant start with the ball in the opening match, reducing Ireland to 36/3 inside the Powerplay through Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh.
However, the visitors failed to maintain that pressure. Lorcan Tucker and Gareth Delany rebuilt the innings before George Dockrell’s late hitting helped Ireland score 66 runs in the final five overs.
Captain Shreyas Iyer admitted after the match that India lost control during the middle overs and allowed Ireland to target the shorter straight boundaries. He said the team would “forget what’s happened” and come back “all guns blazing” in the series decider.
Bowling under the spotlight
India’s bowling, especially in the death overs, is likely to come under focus.
Although Harshit Rana impressed with figures of 3/24, India struggled to contain Ireland in the final overs. Better execution and smarter use of bowlers will be crucial if they are to stop another late assault.
Batters need to step up
India’s batting also failed to deliver in the opening match.
Abhishek Sharma smashed a quickfire 50 off just 20 balls to keep the chase alive, but once he was dismissed, the innings fell apart.
Captain Shreyas Iyer managed only three runs, while Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel all failed to convert their starts. Shivam Dube played a useful cameo, but India never built the partnerships needed to chase 183.
Will India make changes?
With the series on the line, India could make changes to the playing XI.
Young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is waiting for his opportunity and could be considered if the team management decides to freshen up the batting line-up after the disappointing performance in the opener.
Ireland chasing another historic moment
Ireland will enter the match full of confidence after registering their first-ever T20I win over India.
Captain Lorcan Tucker led from the front with a composed half-century, while Gareth Delany made a valuable contribution with the bat.
Debutants Matthew Hollard and Jai Moondra also impressed. Hollard picked up three wickets to win the Player of the Match award, while Moondra claimed two wickets with a disciplined spell.
Ireland now have the chance to seal a memorable series victory over the world champions on home soil.
India look to bounce back
Despite the setback, India have often responded strongly after defeats.
Shreyas Iyer’s side will be determined to level the series and avoid a rare bilateral T20I series loss, while Ireland will look to complete another famous chapter in their cricket history.
With pride, momentum and the series on the line, an exciting contest awaits in Belfast.
Squads
India: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Sharma, Suryansh Shedge, Prasidh Krishna, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Ireland: Lorcan Tucker (captain), Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Matthew Humphreys, Gavin Hoey, Matthew Hollard, Liam McCarthy, Jai Moondra, Harry Tector, Tim Tector and Reuben Wilson.
Sports
Ben Stokes angrily calls out Jofra Archer after pacer skips Bashir wicket celebration | Cricket News
England captain Ben Stokes was seen urging Jofra Archer to join the team celebrations during the third Test against New Zealand after the fast bowler initially chose to stay away following a wicket claimed by spinner Shoaib Bashir. The brief on-field exchange quickly went viral, with fans praising Stokes’ leadership and his insistence on maintaining team unity despite the tense moment.
What happened?
The incident unfolded during the 114th over of New Zealand’s first innings at Trent Bridge. Earlier in the over, Bashir had put down a difficult return catch off Archer’s bowling, a missed opportunity that visibly frustrated the England pacer. However, the young off-spinner responded immediately by dismissing Nathan Smith with a superb caught-and-bowled effort. As the rest of the England players rushed in to celebrate the breakthrough, Archer remained near the boundary rope, appearing reluctant to join the huddle.Stokes’ leadership on displayNoticing Archer standing apart from the group, Ben Stokes quickly intervened. The England skipper was seen gesturing firmly and calling his fast bowler into the celebrations, emphasizing the importance of celebrating as a team. Archer eventually walked over and joined his teammates, although television cameras captured him looking subdued as the celebrations continued.
Match context
New Zealand enter Day 4 of the decisive third Test at Trent Bridge in complete control, leading England by 204 runs with seven second-innings wickets in hand. With the series locked at 1-1, the Black Caps are well placed to bat England out of the contest before unleashing their bowlers on a pitch that has begun to show signs of uneven bounce and increasing assistance for spin.The visitors will resume with Rachin Ravindra (60)* and Daryl Mitchell (26)* at the crease, looking to extend their unbeaten partnership and push the lead beyond the 350-run mark. England, meanwhile, will rely on Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, and spinner Shoaib Bashir to strike early and keep their hopes of a series-clinching victory alive.
Austria and Algeria both secured places in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage after producing one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament, with a thrilling 3-3 draw that knocked Iran out of the competition.
The result meant Austria finished second in Group J and booked a last-32 clash with Spain, while Algeria claimed one of the final qualifying spots among the best third-placed teams and will face Switzerland.
Austria looked set for elimination when captain Riyad Mahrez scored his second goal of the match in the 93rd minute to give Algeria a 3-2 lead in Kansas City.
At that moment, Iran, who had drawn all three of their group matches, were on course to progress to the knockout stage.
However, substitute Sasa Kalajdzic produced a dramatic late equaliser in the 96th minute, heading home just over a minute after coming off the bench to send Austria through and spark wild celebrations among their players and supporters.
The draw also saw Austria make history as the first team to avoid defeat in a World Cup match after falling behind beyond the 90-minute mark.
Despite the fact that both teams knew a draw would guarantee qualification, the match was played with great intensity and excitement from start to finish.
Austria took the lead in the first half through Marko Arnautovic, who controlled a long pass from David Alaba before finishing past goalkeeper Oussama Benbot.
Algeria responded before half-time when Rafik Belghali scored after reacting quickest to a loose ball inside the penalty area.
Austria regained the lead shortly after the break as Marcel Sabitzer fired home from a cut-back by Konrad Laimer.
But Algeria hit back again within five minutes when Mahrez converted a brilliant cross from Houssem Aouar.
As the match entered stoppage time, Mahrez appeared to have completed a famous comeback when he fired home from a tight angle in the 93rd minute to put Algeria 3-2 ahead and seemingly send Austria out.
However, Kalajdzic had the final say, heading home in the sixth minute of added time to rescue Austria and ensure both teams advanced.
The result was particularly painful for Iran, whose hopes had already suffered after a late winner was ruled out by VAR in their 1-1 draw against Egypt earlier on Saturday.
Austria will now face Spain in Los Angeles on Thursday, while Algeria travel to Vancouver to take on Switzerland on Friday in the last 32.
Jul 19, 2019; Miami Beach, FL, USA; A general view of custom PlayStation controllers sold by a vender during the Call of Duty League Finals e-sports event at Miami Beach Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images OpTic Texas charged into the upper-bracket final of the Call of Duty League Stage 4 Major, cruising to a 3-0 win over G2 Minnesota on Saturday in Nanterre, France.
OpTic move on to face Los Angeles Thieves, who eked out a 3-2 win over FaZe Vegas in the other upper-bracket semifinal.
Meanwhile, the host Paris Gentle Mates stayed alive with a pair of victories in the lower bracket. First, the Gentle Mates overtook the Miami Heretics 3-2. Then Paris ousted G2 Minnesota 3-1 in a lower-bracket quarterfinal match.
In the other lower-bracket quarterfinal, FaZe Vegas swept the Toronto KOI 3-0.
The 12 Call of Duty League teams played five qualifying matches apiece to determine seeding for the fourth major of the season, which is being held through Sunday with a $365,000 prize pool. The winning team earns $150,000 and 100 CDL points. All matches are best-of-five until the best-of-seven grand final.
On Saturday, Texas toppled Minnesota 250-186 on Scar Hardpoint, 6-2 on Gridlock Search and Destroy and 3-1 on Den Overload.
The United States’ Mason “Mercules” Ramsey produced 75 kills and a plus-11 kill-death differential. Cesar “Skyz” Bueno of the U.S. paced G2 with 64 kills and a minus-1 K-D differential.
The Thieves opened with a 250-202 win on Den Hardpoint and a 6-3 victory on Gridlock Search and Destroy, but FaZe equalized by taking Scar Overload 5-0 and Scar Hardpoint 250-141. On the decisive fifth map, Den Search and Destroy, Los Angeles prevailed 6-5.
France’s Paco “HyDra” Rusiewiez amassed 98 kills and a minus-7 K-D differential for the Thieves. The United States’ Jovan “04” Rodriguez totaled 119 kills and a plus-28 K-D differential for Vegas.
Miami jumped to a 2-1 edge on Paris by sandwiching a 250-167 victory on Gridlock Hardpoint and a 4-1 win on Gridlock Overload around a 6-2 loss on Fringe Search and Destroy. The Gentle Mates took the final two maps, 250-227 on Scar Hardpoint and 6-0 on Hacienda Search and Destroy.
Joseph “JoeDeceives” Romero of the U.S. carried Paris with 103 kills and a plus-22 K-D differential. David “RenKoR” Isern propelled the all-Spanish Heretics with 95 kills and a plus-17 K-D differential.
The Gentle Mates got off to a hot start in their second match of the day, taking Colossus Hardpoint 250-188 and Fringe Search and Destroy 6-4. Minnesota extended the contest by winning 4-3 on Den Overload, but Paris wrapped up the series by claiming Den Hardpoint 250-144.
JoeDeceives shined again, finishing with 106 kills and a plus-23 K-D differential. The United States’ Dylan “Envoy” Hannon wound up with 86 kills and a minus-21 K-D differential for G2.
Vegas blitzed the KOI 250-208 on Gridlock Hardpoint, 6-2 on Fringe Search and Destroy and 8-2 on Scar Overload behind the United States’ Zachary “Drazah” Jordan (68 kills and a plus-17 K-D differential). Jamie “Insight” Craven of Great Britain and Nicholas “Kips” Lyons of the U.S. each had 55 kills for Toronto.
The Sunday schedule
–Upper-bracket final: Los Angeles Thieves vs. OpTic Texas –Lower-bracket semifinal: Paris Gentle Mates vs. FaZe Vegas
–Lower-bracket final: Los Angeles/Texas winner vs. Paris/Vegas winner
–Grand final: upper-bracket winner vs. lower-bracket winner
Call of Duty League Stage 4 Major prize pool (Money winnings, CDL points) 1. $150,000, 100 — TBD
2. $90,000, 75 — TBD
3. $50,000, 60 — TBD
4. $30,000, 45 — TBD 5-6. $15,000, 30 — G2 Minnesota, Toronto KOI
7-8. $7,500, 15 — Boston Breach, Miami Heretics
9-12. no money, no points — Carolina Royal Ravens, Cloud9 New York, Riyadh Falcons, Vancouver Surge
–Field Level Media
Jude Bellingham scored one goal and set up another to ensure England qualified for the World Cup knockout rounds as group winners on Saturday with a laboured 2-0 victory over Panama in New Jersey.
Bellingham provided the crucial breakthrough for England with a 62nd-minute goal at a rainswept MetLife Stadium and then provided the cross for Harry Kane to double England’s advantage minutes later and seal top spot in Group L.
Until Bellingham’s intervention, England had looked to be heading for another lacklustre stalemate following their 0-0 draw with Ghana in their second group game.
But the Three Lions’ victory means they will now face one of the best third-placed teams in the last 32 in Atlanta on Wednesday, rather than a potential meeting with Portugal in the knockout rounds.
Read moreWorld Cup 2026: Group standings
Croatia meanwhile made sure of claiming second place in the group behind England with a 2-1 victory over Ghana in Philadelphia.
Petar Sucic and Nikola Vlasic scored the goals for Croatia, as Ghana were forced to settle for third.
Kane moves past Lineker
Kane’s third goal of the tournament, after his brace in the opening 4-2 win over Croatia, means the England captain has now moved clear of Gary Lineker as his country’s all-time leading World Cup scorer with 11.
Three of those goals came when England thrashed Panama 6-1 at the 2018 tournament in Russia, but the Three Lions did not have things quite so easy this time against hard-working but limited opponents.
Questions were perhaps being asked about England’s World Cup prospects an hour into this match, following the goalless draw against Ghana in Boston last Tuesday.
They have not yet reached the same heights again as in their victory against Croatia, but England advance to the next round on top of the group with seven points out of a possible nine.
Topping the section is important, as it means they avoid a possible clash with Spain in the last 16.
Instead they will head to Atlanta for a tie next Wednesday, July 1 against a third-placed team. Win that, and they will be off to Mexico City in the last 16, possibly to play Mexico, in the Azteca Stadium where they lost to Diego Maradona’s Argentina in 1986.
Read morePelé’s third, Baggio’s miss and the ‘Hand of God’: Iconic World Cups in Mexico and the US
Tuchel will not be getting carried away thinking that far ahead, and there is surely a lot for England still to do before they are truly ready to take on and beat the tournament’s other heavyweights.
That said, it is unlikely they will come up against any more sides who play with such a low defensive block as Ghana did, and as Panama did for much of this contest.
The Central American nation, ranked 34th in the world, competed well but created few chances and have still never won a point at the tournament.
They lost all three group games at their debut World Cup in 2018, and go out after losing all three matches this time — all without scoring, with this result following 1-0 reverses against Ghana and Croatia.
Rashford to the fore
Tuchel made five changes to his line-up following the Ghana encounter, notably choosing to rest Declan Rice from the midfield. Marcus Rashford and Saka got their first starts of the World Cup on the wings.
Rashford forced a good save from Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera inside the opening 10 minutes, and later headed over an Elliot Anderson cross before curling a free-kick just past in first-half stoppage time.
Panama did also threaten once in the opening period, when Jordan Pickford had to get down to stop a Jose Luis Rodriguez shot at his near post.
England were pedestrian before the break, but the match started to open up for them following the restart.
Jose Cordoba nearly forced an own goal when his clearance came off teammate Andres Andrade and went narrowly over, and Mosquera then denied Kane.
A goal was beginning to feel inevitable and it arrived on 62 minutes as Bellingham held off Jorge Gutierrez at Saka’s corner to turn the ball in.
That was his second goal of the competition, and he then turned provider for Kane to make sure of the win.
Jose Fajardo then thought he had a late consolation for Panama, but his effort was disallowed for offside.
It has probably been England’s least remarkable group-stage showing at a World Cup since 2014, when they went out in the first round. This time, however, they are safely through.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Ngarava explains toss decision
“We are going to bowl first. We know these conditions well, with a bit of grass on the wicket, we want to bowl first,” said Zimbabwe captain Richard Ngarava.
On leading the side, he added: “There are no nerves. You don’t become a leader in one or two days, it’s long coming. We had a preparation camp that lasted almost two months.”
Shanto wanted to bowl too
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto admitted he would also have chosen to bowl first.
“We would have bowled first, but it doesn’t matter if we bat properly for the first two hours. There is some moisture in the wicket and the new ball will be challenging with extra bounce,” he said.
Shanto confirmed Bangladesh are playing one spinner, Taijul Islam, along with three seamers.
Pitch report | Early help for pacers
The pitch at Harare is expected to favour the fast bowlers early on.
“It’s a nice spread of grass with good coverage. The seamers will have a big say in the first hour if they keep hitting the right areas,” said commentator Athar Ali Khan in his pitch report.
He also advised batters to stay patient, saying it’s a five-day game and there is plenty of time to build an innings.
Ben Curran confident after long break
Zimbabwe opener Ben Curran believes the break from Test cricket has helped him work on his game.
“I’ve had a few months to simplify my game and focus on the basics. I had good preparation with net sessions and time in the middle. I’ve also worked on my batting skills and technique,” he said.
Playing XIs announced
Zimbabwe: Ben Curran, Innocent Kaia, Brendan Taylor, Brian Bennett, Craig Ervine, Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), Wessly Madhevere, Brad Evans, Newman Nyamhuri, Richard Ngarava (capt), Blessing Muzarabani.
Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Towhid Hridoy, Amite Hasan (wk), Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain.
Great Britain’s Ben Whittaker marked his American debut with an impressive second-round victory against Richard Rivera at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
The flamboyant Whittaker dropped the American at the end of the first round with a right hand, although Rivera pointed that the punch had caught him on the back of the head.
But Whittaker, nicknamed ‘The Surgeon’, clinically caught his rival with a left-hander at the start of the second and, although Rivera staggered to his feet, the referee stopped the light-heavyweight bout.
The win improved Whittaker’s record to 12 wins and a draw from his 13 professional fights, while Rivera suffered the third defeat of his 30 fight career.
“Brooklyn, that’s how you do it man,” said Midlands boxer Whittaker, who is renowned for his showboating and did a little dance at the end of the first round on the way back to his corner.
The fight took place on the undercard of Xander Zayas, who attempted to defend his WBA and WBO super-welterweight titles against Jaron Ennis.
But Zayas succumbed to a seventh-round stoppage, with the referee ending the contest after the Puerto Rican boxer had been knocked down for a third time in the fight.
It was the first defeat Zayas had suffered in his 24-fight career, while unbeaten American Ennis has 36 wins from as many fights.
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Iyo Sky and Liv Morgan met in the Queen of the Ring final on Saturday at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia with the opportunity of a championship match at SummerSlam.
Morgan had the benefit of already being the women’s world champion going into the match. If she won, she would earn a shot at Rhea Ripley’s WWE Women’s Championship at SummerSlam in August. If Sky won, she would need to choose between Morgan and Ripley.
COMPLETE PRO WRESTLING COVERAGE ON FOX NEWS DIGITAL
Iyo Sky celebrates becoming Queen of the Ring during Night of Champions at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on June 27, 2026. (Rich Freeda/WWE)
Unfortunately for Morgan, Danhausen addressed the champion and put a “curse” on her. Morgan and her Judgment Day cronies tried to bribe Danhausen to put curses on their opponents. When Morgan told Danhausen he owed them money, Danhausen brushed it off and put the hex on her. Morgan responded with a slap and brush off of the voodoo.
As the match started and progressed through the night, the WWE Universe may have really started to buy into the curse. Morgan did her best to try to put Sky away. She went to the high-rent district but Sky got up and countered.
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U.S. wrestler Liv Morgan and Japanese wrestler Iyo Sky fight during the WWE Night of Champions event in Riyadh on June 27, 2026. (Fayez Nureldine/AFP via Getty Images)
Sky hit Morgan with a Spanish Fly and then set her up for the Over the Moonsault. She nailed it perfectly and pinned Morgan for the victory.
Sky is the Queen of the Ring.
She spoke to Byron Saxton after the match and wasted no time declaring her intentions to go after the Women’s World Championship.
“Liv, I’ll see you at SummerSlam,” Sky said.
Just like that, Sky vs. Morgan was the first match set for SummerSlam. The two-day event takes place at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Aug. 1 and 2.
Iyo Sky celebrates in the ring after defeating Liv Morgan during Night of Champions at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on June 27, 2026. (Andrew Timms/WWE)
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Sky has already held the WWE Women’s Championship and the Women’s World Championship one time each. A win in August would make her a three-time champion.
The 2026 World Cup is storming towards the knockout stages after this year’s bumper 48-team tournament had its first culling.
After a build-up that centred on controversy, greed and conflict, fans have been captivated by some enthralling performances and disappointed by others, with the likes of France and holders Argentina stamping their marks as rightful favourites, while England, Portugal and Brazil have all made slight missteps.
But the group stage is only the beginning – history will be written on the road to the final, with 32 remaining teams now raring to sink their teeth into the drama of knockouts football.
Here’s how every team in the knockout stages stacks up in The Independent’s World Cup 2026 power rankings, delving deeper into the top 10:
Rankings are based on a combination of performance and potential at the 2026 World Cup, as well as how teams are faring relative to pre-tournament expectations:
1. France 🇫🇷 ↔️
There was a slightly slow start for France (emphasis on slightly) as they failed to impress in their first half against Senegal. However, they sparked into life in the second half, showing off the depth of attacking talent that made them one of the pre-tournament favourites. Kylian Mbappe was a big part of that improved spell, scoring twice en route to a 3-1 win, and he did the same again in the 3-0 victory over Iraq.
That saw him surpass Miroslav Klose’s 16 all-time World Cup goals, but unfortunately for the France forward, someone else had done the same a few hours earlier – and by a greater margin…
Mbappe failed to add to his tally in their group finale against Norway, with qualification already in the bag. Instead, his compatriot stole the show, with Ousmane Dembele bagging a hat-trick in a 4-1 win. Didier Deschamps’ side are firing on all cylinders at the moment – no team will want to face them.
2. Argentina 🇦🇷 ↔️
This World Cup has been the Lionel Messi show so far. Turning 39 this week, he faced questions about whether he could be as influential as he was during Argentina’s 2022 title-winning run; he has answered those questions emphatically. He scored all three goals in the opening 3-0 win over Algeria, then he scored both of his side’s goals in the 2-0 dismissal of Austria and came off the bench to net his sixth of the tournament in a 3-1 triumph over Jordan – becoming the first man to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches. Although he missed a penalty before that double against Austria, he should be commended for his resilience in finding the net thereafter to become the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer (19 goals).
Now, you could suggest that Argentina’s one flaw so far is looking a little bit reliant on their ageing captain, but the team has played well in general to serve him as best as possible, and we know how much quality the defending champions have. It might just show, beyond Messi’s individual magic, as the tournament progresses.
3. Spain 🇪🇸 ↔️
Spain are into the swing of things now, after that frustrating opening 0-0 draw with Cape Verde.
It took Lamine Yamal just 10 minutes of his first World Cup start against Saudi Arabia to follow in the footsteps of the other global superstars at this tournament and join the goalscoring party, getting the ball rolling for a 4-0 win that properly got La Roja off the mark. They then ensured they topped the group with a spicy win over a collapsing Uruguay side.
Yet to concede a goal as they head into the knockouts, there is no reason to remove the favourites tag bestowed upon Spain before the World Cup began, despite that early shock. They slipped up in their opening match of the 2010 World Cup (losing 1-0 to Switzerland) as well before recovering and going on to win it, remember.
4. England 🏴 ↔️
England haven’t exactly set the world ablaze since stoking expectation in their impressive opening win against Croatia. Their drab goalless draw versus Ghana was the exact sort of game that led to the phrase “reality check” being used in a footballing sense, and while they bounced back from that result with a 2-0 win against Panama to top the group, it was hardly the most inspiring performance.
Nevertheless, Thomas Tuchel’s side are through as group winners and have done enough to avoid a side of the draw that could have pitted them against Portugal and then Spain in their first two knockout matches. Jude Bellingham is performing while Harry Kane’s three goals very much puts him in golden boot contention, so don’t go burning your “It’s Coming Home” t-shirts just yet.
5. Brazil 🇧🇷 ⬆️
After their sluggish opening performance against Morocco, things have begun to click for Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil. A delightful outing against an easier opponent in Haiti saw them get their first win of the tournament, but it was Scotland where that fear factor really kicked in.
Vinicius Jr bagged a brace while Matheus Cunha kept up his goalscoring form at this World Cup, dismantling the Scots in a 3-0 win to basically send them packing. The result completed their group-stage recovery as they topped Group C.
There is work to do defensively heading into the knockouts and the injury to Raphinha is concerning, but Brazil are definitely growing into this World Cup, with Ancelotti’s dangermen up and firing.
6. Portugal 🇵🇹 ⬆️
Caveat it all with the quality of opposition – and boy were Uzbekistan poor – but that 5-0 win in their second group game is the levels Roberto Martinez will want his Portugal side to hit from here. They were more fluid and showed some depth behind Cristiano Ronaldo with the way they kept pushing for more even once the substitutes arrived. That was much better than their uninspiring opening 1-1 draw with DR Congo, while they finished the gorup with one of the most entertaining 0-0s you could wish to see against Colombians. It wasn’t perfect, and they would have lost but for Davinson Sanchez’s late goal being ruled out, but that spark was still present for the Portuguese. Croatia in the last 32 presents an intriguing test before a potentially monumental last-16 clash against Iberian rivals Spain.
7. Netherlands 🇳🇱 ⬆️
Few doubted the quality of their defence and midfield pre-tournament but now Brian Brobbey seems to be the answer to Ronald Koeman’s centre-forward puzzle. The Sunderland striker has struck three times in the last two group games, powering them to the top of Group F. Heading into the knockouts, the most renowned nation to have never become world champions may be more than just a dark horse in this tournament.
8. Morocco 🇲🇦 ⬇️
The Afcon (sort of) champions impressed with their draw against Brazil and if nothing else they will remember this World Cup for Ismael Saibari’s goal just 70 seconds into a hard-fought 1-0 win over a gritty Scotland. But the world’s seventh-ranked side showed their first real jitters against already-eliminated Haiti, falling behind twice in the first half before recovering to win 4-2.
Failing to score big against the Caribbean minnows has proved costly, with their second-place finish in Group C meaning they face a very tough round of 32 test against the Netherlands to begin their knockouts campaign. The Atlas Lions have looked dangerous so far this tournament but in their bid to prove that their run to the semi-finals in 2022 wasn’t a fluke, the Dutch will seriously test their credentials.
9. Germany 🇩🇪 ⬇️
Germany are into the knockouts for the first time since winning the tournament in 2014, and they’re through as group winners which should signal the end of an era of failure on the global stage. However, they’re yet to properly prove they are once again real contenders.
Their opening 7-1 win over debutants Curacao was impressive but had to be taken with a pinch of salt given the level of opposition. Ivory Coast were tricky opponents and Julian Nagelsmann’s side found it difficult to finish clear chances, at least until Deniz Undav’s arrival, who snatched a last-gasp winner. But against Ecuador, they showed their fallibility, beaten by a team who simply wanted it more despite taking an early (and controversial) lead.
There are still a lot of questions to be asked surrounding their depth, team choices and whether goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, 40, is still up to the task. Those will be answered in the knockouts.
10. Mexico 🇲🇽 ⬆️
Taking the spot of their noisy upstairs neighbours in the top 10 heading into the knockouts, Mexico have hardly put a foot wrong in the early stages of their home World Cup. They’ve recorded three wins on the trot to top their group but their credentials as “dark horses” will be tested against Ecuador in the round of 32, who come into the match off the stunning high of a win over Germany. Get through that and England could await them at the Azteca… what an occasion that would be.
Teams 11-32
11. Croatia
12. Colombia
13. USA
14. Norway
15. Japan
16. Switzerland
17. Egypt
18. Ecuador
19. Ivory Coast
20. Belgium
21. Austria
22. Sweden
23. Senegal
24. Ghana
25. Canada
26. Australia
27. Algeria
28. Cape Verde
29. Bosnia and Herzegovina
30. South Africa
31. Paraguay
32. DR Congo
Eliminated
Czech Republic
Qatar
Haiti
Turkey
Curacao
Tunisia
New Zealand
Uruguay
Saudi Arabia
Iraq
Jordan
Panama
Scotland
South Korea
Iran
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