The matches of Groups K and L — the last of the first round of the 2026 World Cup group stage — concluded overnight on 17–18 June (Kyiv time). The morning digest did not have time to cover them, so the afternoon edition opens with exactly this batch of results and initial reactions.
England 4:2 Croatia: Kane, Bellingham and Tuchel's half-time team talk
The Group L match at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas was described by the media as the most spectacular game of the tournament so far. Harry Kane put England ahead twice in the first half, but Croatia responded each time — through goals from Martin Baturina and Petar Musa — to level at 2:2 by the break. A penalty was involved in that sequence and had to be retaken: goalkeeper Dominik Livaković saved Kane's first attempt, but the referee ruled he had come off his line early and ordered a retake.
At half-time, manager Thomas Tuchel urged his players to be bolder. In the second half, Jude Bellingham restored the lead immediately after the restart, and Marcus Rashford sealed the final score of 4:2. The victory sent England to the top of Group L after the first round.
Portugal 1:1 DR Congo: the Leopards' first-ever World Cup point
In Houston (NRG Stadium), Portugal failed to beat tournament debutants the Democratic Republic of Congo. João Neves opened the scoring in the first half, but Newcastle's Yoane Wissa equalised in first-half stoppage time. Cristiano Ronaldo, who turned 41, played in his record sixth World Cup but had no goal contributions. Congo's coach Sébastien Desabre called the result "an enormous source of pride" for the entire country after the match. Notably, DR Congo's preparations for the tournament had been complicated by an Ebola outbreak back home.
Several Portugal players wore black armbands on their wrists as a tribute to Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident last year.
Colombia 3:1 Uzbekistan and Ghana 1:0 Panama: Groups K and L wrap-up
At the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Colombia comfortably beat tournament debutants Uzbekistan 3:1. Daniel Muñoz opened the scoring in the first half, Luis Díaz restored the lead after Uzbekistan's equaliser — their first-ever World Cup goal — and Jhon Córdoba added the final touch in stoppage time. The win sent Colombia to the top of Group K following Portugal's draw.
In Toronto (BMO Field), Ghana beat Panama 1:0 thanks to Caleb Ekuban's goal in the 95th minute, denying Panama what would have been their first-ever point at a World Cup.
Pulisic in doubt for USA vs Australia
A separate talking point of the morning is the condition of Christian Pulisic: the United States' star attacking midfielder was substituted at half-time of the opening match against Paraguay (4:1) after taking a blow to his left calf. According to Sports Illustrated, coach Mauricio Pochettino admitted that after the muscle was iced at the break Pulisic "could not walk," yet both the player and the manager publicly played down the severity of the injury. The USA face Australia on 19 June in Seattle.
Tonight at the 2026 World Cup: Czech Republic vs South Africa (Group A, Atlanta) and Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (Group B, Los Angeles); a full preview will follow.
