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Jun 18, 20261
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World Cup 2026: Ghana Stuns Panama 1-0, England Routs Croatia 4-2, Portugal Draws with DR Congo

Ghana defeated Panama 1-0 on a late goal, England dominated Croatia with a 4-2 victory, and Portugal drew 1-1 with DR Congo on the same World Cup 2026 day. In an evening match, Colombia beat debutant Uzbekistan 2-1, with Uzbekistan marking its first-ever World Cup goal in the process.





Quick Facts
Who
Ghana
What
Ghana defeated Panama on a late goal
When
World Cup 2026
Where
Mexico City
- Ghana defeated Panama on a late goal
- England defeated Croatia with four goals
- Portugal and DR Congo drew 1-1
- Colombia defeated Uzbekistan 2-1
- Uzbekistan scored its first-ever World Cup goal
In a busy day of World Cup 2026 action, Ghana secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama with a late goal, while England delivered a dominant performance to defeat Croatia 4-2. Portugal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo played out a 1-1 draw in an earlier fixture. In the evening's standout match, Colombia narrowly edged debutant Uzbekistan 2-1 in a historic encounter, with Uzbekistan scoring its first-ever World Cup goal.
England's commanding win over Croatia showcased the depth of their attacking options, with Harry Kane contributing two goals alongside single strikes from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford. The performance highlighted England's credentials as serious contenders in the tournament. Ghana's late goal against Panama proved decisive in a tightly contested match that remained goalless through the first half, demonstrating the unpredictability of early World Cup encounters.
In Mexico City, Colombia made a strong start against Uzbekistan, with Daniel Muñoz opening the scoring in the 40th minute with an outstanding volley. Uzbekistan showed remarkable resilience for a debutant nation, pulling level when Fayzullayev headed in a goal following a scramble in the box—a historic moment as the nation's first-ever World Cup goal. However, Colombia responded swiftly, with Luis Díaz restoring their lead to secure a 2-1 victory in what was Díaz's first World Cup goal. The presence of Colombian reggaeton star Maluma at Estadio Azteca added to the vibrant atmosphere of the match.
Why This Matters
These World Cup 2026 results provide early insights into tournament dynamics: England's dominant performance against Croatia demonstrates their offensive firepower as serious title contenders, while Ghana's dramatic late victory and Portugal's draw signal that upsets are possible even against established opponents. Uzbekistan's historic first World Cup goal marks a cultural milestone for Central Asian football, attracting global attention to an emerging region in international competition.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 18, 2026
WireWorld Cup 2026 matches begin on June 18, 2026
Entities
- Ghana national football team
- Mexico City
- England national football team
- James Rodríguez
- Croatia national football team
- Harry Kane
- Estadio Azteca
- Marcus Rashford
- Portugal national football team
- Colombia national football team
- Maluma
- Uzbekistan national football team
- Fayzullayev
- Democratic Republic of the Congo national football team
- Daniel Muñoz
- Luis Díaz
- Panama national football team
- Jude Bellingham