World Cup 2026 delivered more goals on Saturday as the final six group fixtures were played and the Round of 32 confirmed. Lionel Messi continued his rich vein of scoring form with another strike as Argentina cruised past Jordan, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham were on target for England, while Algeria and Austria played out a six-goal thriller.
Let’s take a look at the best goals of the day…
Kane & Bellingham deliver
England progressed to the round of 32 and a match-up against DRC Congo by beating Panama 2-0 to top Group L.
Thomas Tuchel’s side were far from impressive but took the lead when Bellingham guided a low volley from Bukayo Saka’s corner home at the near post.
Bellingham then turned provider as England finished off Panama. The Real Madrid man surged down the left, teased his defender and crossed for Kane to head home his 11th World Cup goal.
Croatia seal second place
Croatia also progress from Group L after finishing as runners-up behind England. Petar Sucic lit up their match against Ghana with a fine strike from range. The Inter star was allowed far too much time and space in midfield and took full advantage, taking a touch and then fizzing a low shot home to make it 1-0.
Ghana defender Derrick Luckassen volleyed the Black Stars level on 73 minutes but Croatia were simply not to be denied. Nikola Vlasic headed home a winner 10 minutes later to seal their place in the knockout stages and a tie against Portugal.
Colombia denied at the death
Colombia and Portugal had both secured their places in the knockout stages before kick-off in Miami and went on to play out a goalless draw in Miami. Yet Colombia thought they had nicked it late on. Davinson Sanchez headed home in the 90th minute but saw his goal chalked out for a marginal offside.
World Cup history for Congo
DRC Congo made it through to the World Cup knockouts for the first time ever by beating Uzbekistan 3-1, although they had to come from behind. Eldor Shomurodov opened the scoring in style for Uzbekistan with a delightful chip over the goalkeeper and into the far corner.
The Leopards regrouped and Yoane Wissa levelled the game after being tripped inside the penalty by Manchester City’s Abdukodir Khusanov. The DRC Congo forward promptly dusted himself off and fired the penalty past the goalkeeper for 1-1.
Fiston Mayele then nipped in behind the Uzbekistan defence to put Congo ahead with a clever flick.
Wissa’s second of the game secured a first World Cup win for DRC Congo. The Newcastle striker turned and curled a low shot across goal and into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area.
Late drama in six-goal thriller
There’s no doubt the game of the day was in Kansas City where Austria and Algeria shared six goals and both went through to the last 32. Marko Arnautovic got the party started by racing onto David Alaba’s ball and scuffing a shot past goalkeeper Oussama Benbot.
Rafik Belghali equalised just before half-time, jinking his way towards goal and rifling a shot into the top corner.
The goals kept on coming after half-time. Marcel Sabitzer made it 2-1 by side-footing home a cut-back from Konrad Laimer.
Algeria pulled level again when Houssem Aouar crossed for Mahrez to convert at the far post.
An incredible finish then saw both sides score in stoppage time. Mahrez lashed home his second of the match from an angle in the 93rd minute to grab what appeared to be the winner.
Sasa Kalajdzic then turned out to be the unlikely hero. Just 61 seconds after coming on, the Austria substitute headed home to make it 3-3 and finish the game in the most dramatic style.
More Messi magic for Argentina
Defending champions Argentina made it three wins from three in the group phase by beating Jordan 3-0. Giovani Lo Celso got Lionel Scaloni’s side up and running with a wonderful free-kick from just outside the penalty area.
Lautaro Martinez’s penalty doubled Argentina’s lead before Jordan pulled one back through Musa Al-Taamari just before the hour mark. It was then left to Messi to have the final say after coming off the bench for Argentina.
The Inter Miami star curled a low free-kick around the wall to score in a record-breaking seventh World Cup game in a row and seal the game for Argentina.
The goal sees Messi extend his lead in the Golden Boot standings at World Cup 2026, while Argentina go on to face Cabo Verde in the Round of 32.
