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Jun 23, 2026 Major4
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World Cup 2026: England Face Ghana, Portugal Take On Uzbekistan in High-Stakes Group Matches
England and Portugal feature in World Cup 2026 group-stage action on matchday 13. England, fresh from a 4-2 win over Croatia with Harry Kane scoring twice, face Ghana who defeated Panama late. Portugal seeks their first win against Uzbekistan with Cristiano Ronaldo hunting his opening goal, following a previous round dominated by Messi becoming the all-time goalscorer.
Quick Facts
Who
England national team
What
England defeated Croatia 4-2
When
2026-06-23
Where
North America
- England defeated Croatia 4-2
- Ghana defeated Panama with stoppage-time goal
- Portugal drew 1-1 with Democratic Republic of Congo
- Messi became all-time World Cup leading goalscorer
- Mbappé scored twice against Iraq
England and Portugal are among the featured sides in the second round of World Cup 2026 group-stage matches, with both teams looking to build on opening performances. England, buoyed by a commanding 4-2 victory over Croatia in which Harry Kane scored twice, will face Ghana, who pulled off a dramatic stoppage-time win against Panama. Both teams enter the clash with three points. Portugal, seeking their first tournament victory after a 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo, will take on Uzbekistan with Cristiano Ronaldo aiming to register his first goal of the tournament after being held scoreless in their opener.
The matchday follows a star-studded previous round that saw Lionel Messi cement his legacy by becoming the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer with a brace against Austria, moving to 18 goals and surpassing Germany's Miroslav Klose. Kylian Mbappé continued his prolific form with two goals against Iraq, bringing his tally to 16, while Erling Haaland led Norway to a 3-2 victory over Senegal with a pair of strikes. France overcame a two-hour weather delay to defeat Iraq 3-1, and Algeria recovered from a deficit to beat Jordan 2-1.
England's attack, spearheaded by Kane alongside attacking talent including Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka, will test Ghana's defense in what is expected to be a competitive group-stage encounter. Meanwhile, Portugal's attacking options feature João Félix, Gonçalo Ramos, and Rafael Leão alongside Ronaldo. The Portugal-Uzbekistan match is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, while England-Ghana follows at 4 p.m. ET, with both matches carrying significant implications for progression from their respective groups.
The tournament has generated considerable interest across betting platforms, with England favored at -500 odds against Ghana's +1400, while Portugal enters at -600 odds versus Uzbekistan's +1600. Jordan Henderson is on track to become the first England player to appear in four World Cup tournaments should he receive minutes in North America. The day's action will conclude with Panama facing Croatia at 7 p.m. ET and Colombia meeting the Democratic Republic of Congo at 10 p.m. ET.
Why This Matters
These World Cup 2026 group-stage matches carry direct implications for tournament progression, with both England and Portugal in high-stakes encounters. England's momentum and attacking firepower against Ghana, combined with Portugal's need to secure their first win and Cristiano Ronaldo's quest for his opening goal, make these fixtures critical for both nations' knockout-stage qualification prospects. Betting odds heavily favor the European sides, yet Ghana's late-game resilience and Uzbekistan's unpredictability add genuine competitive intrigue. For global audiences, these matches represent the convergence of established world powers testing their mettle in the tournament's intense middle phase.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 23, 2026
WirePortugal vs Uzbekistan match scheduled (1 p.m. ET)
Jun 23, 2026
WireEngland vs Ghana match scheduled (4 p.m. ET)
Jun 23, 2026
WirePanama vs Croatia match scheduled (7 p.m. ET)
Jun 23, 2026
WireColombia vs Democratic Republic of Congo match scheduled (10 p.m. ET)
Entities
Sources
- World Cup 2026: England vs Ghana - who will start for Thomas Tuchel's side?BBCMediaJun 23, 2026
- World Cup predictions: England vs Ghana, Portugal vs Uzbekistan and the rest of matchday 13The New York TimesMediaJun 23, 2026
- World Cup 2026 live updates: Portugal vs. Uzbekistan, England vs. GhanaNBC NewsMediaJun 23, 2026
- How to Bet on Today's World Cup Action Including Portugal vs. Uzbekistan, England vs. GhanaFOX SportsMediaJun 23, 2026