Day seven of the 2026 World Cup has already set the early tone in Group J — and the table now means that Round 2 on June 22 becomes a genuine test for both leaders. At the same time, Groups K and L kick off in the evening, with neither having played a single match yet. Three different tournament storylines — all in one evening.
Group J: Argentina and Austria — A Parallel Start
After Round 1, Group J presents a fascinating picture: Argentina have 3 points and a goal difference of +3 (a 3–0 win over Algeria), while Austria also have 3 points but a goal difference of +2 (3–1 over Jordan). Algeria and Jordan are both on 0 points. Messi scored a hat-trick against Algeria and drew level with Miroslav Klose for World Cup goals — both now on 18. Austria, meanwhile, snatched their win thanks to Arnautovic, even though Jordan kept the game alive until the very end.
The key match of Round 2 is Argentina vs Austria on June 22 in Dallas. It is a direct head-to-head battle for top spot in the group: the winner almost certainly advances as group leaders, while the loser will be nervously counting goal differences in Round 3. Algeria and Jordan face each other on the same day — a survival match for both.
Group L: England vs Croatia at 23:00 Kyiv Time
The headline match of the evening is England vs Croatia in Dallas, kicking off at 23:00 Kyiv time. This is the first round of Group L, which also features Ghana vs Panama (at 02:00 in Toronto). Croatia are 2018 finalists; England are 1966 champions — both sides enter the tournament without a point and with no margin for error in their opening match. The result of this fixture will immediately set the tone for the entire group: the winner gains both a psychological and a points advantage heading into Round 2.
Group K: Portugal Debut at 20:00
At 20:00 Kyiv time, Portugal take to the field against DR Congo in Houston — the first match of Group K. Ronaldo plays yet another World Cup. Uzbekistan vs Colombia kicks off at 05:00 in Mexico City. Group K starts from scratch, so by tomorrow morning we will have the first points and the first standings in this quartet.
Scenarios
- Argentina beat Austria on June 22 — the Albiceleste move to 6 points and effectively book first place; Austria must win in Round 3 and keep a close eye on goal difference. The most likely scenario given the class and form of the reigning champions.
- Argentina and Austria draw — both sides on 4 points, turning Round 3 into an open race. Algeria or Jordan could theoretically intervene if they win their match on June 22.
- England beat Croatia tonight — the Three Lions move to 3 points and become Group L favourites even before Round 2; Croatia come under pressure in their match against Panama on June 24.
The Race for the Eight Best Third-Place Sides
The tournament is still in Round 1, so the third-place rankings have not yet taken shape — most groups have played only one match or have not started at all. However, it is already clear that Algeria and Jordan (both on 0 points, with goal differences of –3 and –2 respectively) are in the worst starting position of any team that has already played. If either of them finishes third with 3–4 points, their chances of making the top eight third-place sides will be minimal — the competition across 12 groups is simply too fierce.
Tonight, watch how England and Croatia divide the spoils in Group L, and whether Portugal can open their Group K account without too much trouble. By tomorrow morning, the picture in both quartets will be considerably clearer.
