World Cup Daily: Matches and storylines for June 27
On this final day of group stage matches, we'll get to see the full unveiling of the Round of 32, but we know enough now to know of some tasty potential Round of 16 matchups.
Cabo Verde is on to the knockout rounds! I repeat, Cabo Verde is on to the knockout rounds!
Think back to 2026 years from now, and unless you don't have a heart, you'll think fondly of the small archipelagic state off the African coast, with about 1500 square miles of land and 560,000 people, which drew all three of its group stage matches — against No. 2 Spain and then No. 18 Uruguay for starters. Cabo Verde will now face Argentina in the Round of 32, which is not a great reward for finishing second in a group, but it's impressive nonetheless. (And you know the Blue Sharks will have a literal several billion people rooting for them.)
In other news from Friday, the Golden Boot battle between Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland fizzled a bit, as Mbappé failed to score and Haaland didn't even play, as Norway's coach decided to do a U.S.-style 10-man rotation. However, Ousmane Dembélé entered the Golden Boot conversation with a hat trick in 32 minutes — the fastest ever in World Cup history. And Norway's Jørgen Strand Larsen missing a penalty, though depriving me of hitting on my 4-2 score prediction exactly, allowed me my best dad joke moment of the tournament: "Norway was that going in."
If you stayed up late, you saw 15 of the most exciting minutes this World Cup, with Egypt and Iran trading goals and Iran missing a penalty in there as well. That match eventually settled into the 1-1 draw it started as, while Belgium rolled on to a 5-1 win and after starting the day third in the group standings, not only won the group, but locked in as the United States' likely Round of 16 opponent, assuming chalk.
Also, Spain beating Uruguay (and Ismail Elfath doling out a red card to Uruguay's insufferable Agustín Canobbio, who then took issue with that in a way that will test FIFA's disciplinary committee) means that the Marcelo Bielsa-coached team that thought it was too good to take Austin FC's Facundo Torres with it is now out of the tournament entitrely, whereas Senegal recovered from losses with France and Norway, via a 5-0 win over Iraq, to recover its chances of getting into the knockout stages.
Today is the last day of group stage games, and the last day you can gorge on six games in a single day. The knockout rounds start Sunday with Canada and South Africa in Los Angeles.
Group A
Predictions vs. Reality
Projected winner: Mexico (9) / Winner: Mexico
Projected runner-up: South Korea (31) / Runner-up: South Africa
Projected 3rd-place team: Czechia (48) / 3rd-place team: South Korea
Projected 4th-place team: South Africa (54) /4th-place team: Czechia
Austria 3, Jordan 1 (June 16, Santa Clara, Calif.)
Argentina 2, Austria 0 (June 22, Jerryworld)
Algeria 2, Jordan 1: (June 22, Santa Clara, Calif.)
Today's matches
Jordan vs. Argentina: Saturday, June 27, 9 pm (Jerryworld)
Algeria vs. Austria: Saturday, June 27, 9 pm (Kansas City)
Most compelling narrative
It's been two matches for Argentina so far, and all five goals have been scored by Lionel Messi. Given that the Albiceleste have wrapped up their group already, and play a Jordan team already eliminated, and Messi is pushing 40, I wonder how many minutes he'll actually get — possibly enough to add to his Golden Boot lead, now that Kylian Mbappé has been held scoreless for a match — and whether anyone else on this Argentina team can score in this World Cup. (Look at the replay of Messi's most recent goal and you'll especially wonder that along with me.)
Player to watch
Julian Álvarez has started twice already, and if anyone on this team other than Messi can score, I'd look to him.
Group K
Predictions
Projected winner: Portugal (8)
Projected runner-up: Colombia (11)
Projected 3rd-place team: DR Congo (46)
Projected 4th-place team: Uzbekistan (57)
Past matches
Portugal 1, DR Congo 1 (June 17, Houston)
Colombia 3, Uzbekistan 1 (June 17, Mexico City)
Portugal 5, Uzbekistan 0: (June 23, Houston)
Colombia 1, DR Congo (June 23, Guadalajara)
Today's matches
Colombia vs. Portugal: Saturday, June 27, 6:30 pm (Miami)
DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan: Saturday, June 27, 6:30 pm (Atlanta)
Most compelling narrative
With a win — and depending on how decisive a win — Colombia, which started this tournament 14th in the world, could overtake Portugal in the world rankings. (And they started the World Cup in 5th.)
Player to watch
Luis Diaz has only scored once in this World Cup so far, but he's looked one of the most goal-dangerous players so far. And he's been singularly able to supercharge the superchargable Colombia fans with his on-field exploits.
Group L
Predictions
Projected winner: England (4)
Projected runner-up: Croatia (13)
Projected 3rd-place team: Panama (42)
Projected 4th-place team: Ghana (65)
Past matches
England 4, Croatia 2 (June 17, Jerryworld)
Ghana 1, Panamá 0 (June 17, Toronto)
England 0, Ghana 0 (June 23, Foxborough, Mass.)
Croatia 1, Panamá 0 (June 23, Toronto)
Today's matches
Panamá vs. England: Saturday, June 27, 4 pm (East Rutherford, N.J.)
Croatia vs. Ghana: Saturday, June 27, 4 pm (Philadelphia)
Most compelling narrative
After Harry Kane failed to score against a Ghana team now very much in the mix, how will he (and the rest of the Three Lions) fare against a Panamá team that might provide even more of a low-block defensive challenge than Ghana did.
Player to watch
Adalberto Carrasquilla hasn't played a minute of the World Cup yet, but his presence seems essential to any upset. Most eyes will rightly be on Kane, but I'll be looking at the starting lineups intently to see if the former Dynamo player shows up on it.
The knockout rounds: What we know
Sound the klaxon now: We have potential U.S.-Belgium, Canada-Netherlands/Morocco, Mexico-England, and France-Germany matches in the Round of 16, whereas Argentina's glide path to a possible matchup against Portugal in the quarterfinals (though this could also be Colombia, though Messi vs. Ronaldo would be a ratings bonanza) includes Cabo Verde in the Round of 32 and Egypt in the Round of 16.
Note: All times CT
Sunday, June 28
Canada vs. South Africa, 2 pm, Inglewood, Calif. (winner plays winner of Netherlands-Morocco in Round of 16)
Monday, June 29
Brazil vs. Japan, noon, Houston (winner plays winner of Côte d'Ivoire-Norway in Round of 16)
Germany vs. Paraguay, 3:30 pm, Foxborough, Mass. (winner plays winner of France-Sweden in Round of 16)
Netherlands vs. Morocco, 8 pm, Monterrey (winner plays winner of Canada-South Africa in Round of 16)
Tuesday, June 30
Côte d'Ivoirevs. Norway, noon, Jerryworld (winner plays winner of Brazil-Japan in Round of 16)
France vs. Sweden, 4 pm, East Rutherford, N.J. (winner plays winner of Germany-Paraguay in Round of 16)
Mexico vs. Group C/E/F/H/I third place, 8 pm, Mexico City (winner plays winner of Group L winner-Group E/H/I/J/K 3rd place in Round of 16)
Wednesday, July 1
Group L winner vs. Group E/H/I/J/K 3rd place, 11 am, Atlanta (winner plays winner of Mexico-Group C/E/F/H/I third place in Round of 16)
Belgium vs. Group A/E/H/I/J 3rd place, 3 pm, Seattle (winner plays winner of in United States-Bosnia and Herzegovina in Round of 16)
United Statesvs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 7 pm, Santa Clara, Calif. (winner plays winner of Belgium-Group A/E/H/I/J 3rd place in Round of 16)
Thursday, July 2
Spain vs. Group J runner-up, 2 pm, Inglewood, Calif. (winner plays winner of Group K runner-up-Group L runner-up in Round of 16)
Group K runner-up vs. Group L runner-up, 6 pm, Toronto (winner plays winner of Spain-Group J runner-up in Round of 16)
Switzerland vs. Group E/F/G/I/J 3rd place, 10 pm, Vancouver (winner plays winner of Group K winner-Group D/E/I/J/L 3rd place in Round of 16)
Friday, July 3
Australiavs. Egypt, 1 pm, Jerryworld (winner plays winner of Argentina-Cabo Verde in Round of 16)
Argentina vs. Cabo Verde, 5 pm, Miami Gardens, Fla. (winner plays winner of Australia-Egypt in Round of 16)
Group K winner vs. Group D/E/I/J/L 3rd place, 8:30 pm, Kansas City (winner plays winner of Switzerland-Group E/F/G/I/J 3rd place in Round of 16)
Where to watch
This Ghana-Croatia and Colombia-Portugal double feature at Riviere Austin (1501 E. 7th) features a live caricature artist. (That's what the big Easy Tiger on E. 7th turned into, by the way.)
What to read
The Athletic will help you Nelson laugh at Uruguay, if that's a thing you want to do.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
The World Cup rolls on with six more matches today, with fans of Japan, Sweden, and Ecuador on the precipice of feeling the disappointment that Canada and South Korea fans are currently feeling.
It took a lot longer than we expected for France to lock up another win, thanks to thunderstorms. Today, our focus turns to a pair of aging goalscorers and some groups in flux.
Cabo Verde is on to the knockout rounds! I repeat, Cabo Verde is on to the knockout rounds!
Think back to 2026 years from now, and unless you don't have a heart, you'll think fondly of the small archipelagic state off the African coast, with about 1500 square miles of land and 560,000 people, which drew all three of its group stage matches — against No. 2 Spain and then No. 18 Uruguay for starters. Cabo Verde will now face Argentina in the Round of 32, which is not a great reward for finishing second in a group, but it's impressive nonetheless. (And you know the Blue Sharks will have a literal several billion people rooting for them.)
In other news from Friday, the Golden Boot battle between Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland fizzled a bit, as Mbappé failed to score and Haaland didn't even play, as Norway's coach decided to do a U.S.-style 10-man rotation. However, Ousmane Dembélé entered the Golden Boot conversation with a hat trick in 32 minutes — the fastest ever in World Cup history. And Norway's Jørgen Strand Larsen missing a penalty, though depriving me of hitting on my 4-2 score prediction exactly, allowed me my best dad joke moment of the tournament: "Norway was that going in."
If you stayed up late, you saw 15 of the most exciting minutes this World Cup, with Egypt and Iran trading goals and Iran missing a penalty in there as well. That match eventually settled into the 1-1 draw it started as, while Belgium rolled on to a 5-1 win and after starting the day third in the group standings, not only won the group, but locked in as the United States' likely Round of 16 opponent, assuming chalk.
Also, Spain beating Uruguay (and Ismail Elfath doling out a red card to Uruguay's insufferable Agustín Canobbio, who then took issue with that in a way that will test FIFA's disciplinary committee) means that the Marcelo Bielsa-coached team that thought it was too good to take Austin FC's Facundo Torres with it is now out of the tournament entitrely, whereas Senegal recovered from losses with France and Norway, via a 5-0 win over Iraq, to recover its chances of getting into the knockout stages.
Today is the last day of group stage games, and the last day you can gorge on six games in a single day. The knockout rounds start Sunday with Canada and South Africa in Los Angeles.
Group A
Predictions vs. Reality
CzechiaGroup B
Predictions vs. Reality
QatarGroup C
Predictions vs. Reality
HaitiGroup D
Predictions vs. Reality
TürkiyeGroup E
Predictions vs. Reality
CuraçaoGroup F
Predictions vs. Reality
TunisiaGroup G
Predictions vs. Reality
New ZealandGroup H
Predictions vs. Reality
UruguaySaudi ArabiaGroup I
Predictions vs. Reality
IraqRunning total: 22 of 36 correct (61.1%)
Group J
Predictions
Past matches
Today's matches
Most compelling narrative
It's been two matches for Argentina so far, and all five goals have been scored by Lionel Messi. Given that the Albiceleste have wrapped up their group already, and play a Jordan team already eliminated, and Messi is pushing 40, I wonder how many minutes he'll actually get — possibly enough to add to his Golden Boot lead, now that Kylian Mbappé has been held scoreless for a match — and whether anyone else on this Argentina team can score in this World Cup. (Look at the replay of Messi's most recent goal and you'll especially wonder that along with me.)
Player to watch
Julian Álvarez has started twice already, and if anyone on this team other than Messi can score, I'd look to him.
Group K
Predictions
Past matches
Today's matches
Most compelling narrative
With a win — and depending on how decisive a win — Colombia, which started this tournament 14th in the world, could overtake Portugal in the world rankings. (And they started the World Cup in 5th.)
Player to watch
Luis Diaz has only scored once in this World Cup so far, but he's looked one of the most goal-dangerous players so far. And he's been singularly able to supercharge the superchargable Colombia fans with his on-field exploits.
Group L
Predictions
Past matches
Today's matches
Most compelling narrative
After Harry Kane failed to score against a Ghana team now very much in the mix, how will he (and the rest of the Three Lions) fare against a Panamá team that might provide even more of a low-block defensive challenge than Ghana did.
Player to watch
Adalberto Carrasquilla hasn't played a minute of the World Cup yet, but his presence seems essential to any upset. Most eyes will rightly be on Kane, but I'll be looking at the starting lineups intently to see if the former Dynamo player shows up on it.
The knockout rounds: What we know
Sound the klaxon now: We have potential U.S.-Belgium, Canada-Netherlands/Morocco, Mexico-England, and France-Germany matches in the Round of 16, whereas Argentina's glide path to a possible matchup against Portugal in the quarterfinals (though this could also be Colombia, though Messi vs. Ronaldo would be a ratings bonanza) includes Cabo Verde in the Round of 32 and Egypt in the Round of 16.
Note: All times CT
Sunday, June 28
Monday, June 29
Tuesday, June 30
Wednesday, July 1
Thursday, July 2
Friday, July 3
Where to watch
This Ghana-Croatia and Colombia-Portugal double feature at Riviere Austin (1501 E. 7th) features a live caricature artist. (That's what the big Easy Tiger on E. 7th turned into, by the way.)
What to read
The Athletic will help you Nelson laugh at Uruguay, if that's a thing you want to do.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
ByPhil West Updated on Jun 26, 2026world cup
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