Portugal, England and other teams face decisive group games in World Cup 2026

The third round of the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on Tuesday, June 23, with four matches that could shape the knockout picture. In Group K, Portugal takes on Uzbekistan at 14:00, hoping a win secures a strong position after a draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo, while Colombia meets the DR Congo at 23:00 in a contest that may decide the group leader. In Group L, England seeks to build on its 4‑2 opening‑match victory over Croatia by playing Ghana at 17:00, and Panama faces Croatia at 20:00 in a must‑win for both sides to stay alive in the tournament. The outcomes will determine which nations advance to the last‑16 stage.

Traditional powerhouses such as Portugal, England and Croatia are favored to progress, but lower‑ranked sides including Uzbekistan, Ghana, Panama and the Democratic Republic of Congo are aiming to cause upsets and keep their knockout hopes alive.