Emerging
Jun 18, 20261
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World Cup 2026: Early Group Stage Results Shape Tournament Picture After Wednesday Matches

The 2026 World Cup group stage proceeded Wednesday with notable results including England's 4-2 victory over Croatia, Argentina's 3-0 win led by Messi's hat-trick, and Congo DR's historic 1-1 draw against Portugal in their World Cup debut. Early group standings are taking shape ahead of Thursday's continued matches.





Quick Facts
Who
England
What
England defeated Croatia 4-2
When
Wednesday
Where
Group K
- England defeated Croatia 4-2
- Argentina won 3-0 with Messi hat-trick
- Congo DR drew 1-1 with Portugal
- Ghana defeated Panama 1-0
- Group stage matches concluded
The FIFA World Cup 2026 continued its group stage on Wednesday with several notable results shaping the early tournament landscape. Argentina advanced impressively with a 3-0 victory highlighted by a hat-trick from Lionel Messi, signaling strong form from one of the tournament favorites. In other significant matches, England dominated Croatia 4-2 in an anticipated Group L clash, with Harry Kane scoring twice and Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford adding goals to secure a commanding opening statement.
England's emphatic victory over Croatia showcased the depth of the English squad, with manager demonstrating the ability to deploy high-quality attacking talent off the bench, including Bukayo Saka and Morgan Rogers. The win positions England as heavy favorites in Group L, supporting the team's ambitions to end a 60-year World Cup title drought. Croatia mounted a comeback attempt with goals from Martin Baturina and Petar Musa, but could not overcome England's superior firepower.
In a historic upset, Congo DR earned its first-ever World Cup point by drawing 1-1 against Portugal in Group K. Making its World Cup debut, Congo displayed resilience despite Portugal's dominance in possession (75 percent). João Neves had given Portugal an early lead just six minutes in, but Yoane Wissa leveled the match with a first-half stoppage-time header. Remarkably, Congo generated superior expected goals (0.82 to 0.64) and registered 8 shots compared to Portugal's 7, with 2-1 on target. Ghana also won Group L play, defeating Panama 1-0 on Wednesday.
After one round of matches, strong early performers included Germany in Group E with a +6 goal differential, Sweden in Group F with +4, and several teams earning three points. Norway and France both advanced in Group I, while Mexico and South Korea topped Group A. The tournament schedule continues Thursday with matches across multiple groups, including Czechia vs. South Africa, Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada vs. Qatar, and Mexico vs. South Korea, as teams vie for positioning ahead of the knockout bracket.
Why This Matters
These opening matches establish critical momentum for tournament favorites while signaling surprising competitive depth—Congo DR's debut draw demonstrates that historical underdogs can now challenge elite teams, reshaping expectations for group advancement and knockout qualification. England's dominance and Argentina's clinical finishing suggest intense competition ahead, affecting betting odds, qualification probabilities, and narrative stakes for fans globally.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 18, 2026
WireEngland defeated Croatia 4-2 in Group L
Jun 18, 2026
WireCongo DR drew 1-1 with Portugal in Group K debut
Jun 18, 2026
WireGhana defeated Panama 1-0 in Group L
Jun 18, 2026
WireArgentina won 3-0 with Messi hat-trick
Jun 19, 2026
WireScheduled Group Stage matches: Czechia vs South Africa, Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada vs Qatar, Mexico vs South Korea