Matchday 17 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup saw the group stages end. Here's where it stands for Group J, K and L:
Group L - England top group, Croatia second, Ghana third (into knockouts), Panama eliminated.
Group K - Colombia top group, Portugal second, Congo DR third (into knockouts), Uzbekistan eliminated.
Group J - Argentina top group, Jordan eliminated. Austria second, Algeria finished third (into knockouts).
Results today mean South Korea and Iran were also eliminated.
Jordan 1 - 3 Argentina
(Al-Tamari 55' - Lo Celso 19', Martinez 31' P, Messi 80')
Argentina strolled to a perfect group stage with a 3-1 win over Jordan, as Lionel Messi came off the bench to become the first man to score in seven consecutive World Cup games.
Giovani Lo Celso made sure Argentina weren't missing Messi too much at the start, as he opened the scoring with a superb curling free-kick in the 19th minute. Jordan then gifted Argentina the second goal, when Ehsan Haddad fouled Julián Álvarez in the box, and Lautaro Martínez stepped up to convert the resulting penalty, making it 2-0 on the hour mark and going into the break.
Haddad redeemed himself ten minutes into the second half, curling a low cross into the box that Mousa Al-Tamari was able to turn in from close range, reducing the deficit for Jordan. Messi came on soon after and sealed the game for Argentina in the 80th minute, curling in a low, direct free-kick after wrong-footing the keeper, and also creating another World Cup record in the process.
Algeria 3 - 3 Austria
(Belghali 45', Mahrez 60' 90+3' - Arnautovic 28', Sabitzer 55', Kalajdzic 90+6')
Algeria and Austria played out a thrilling 3-3 draw which meant both teams went through to the knockout, although Austria scored a last-gasp equaliser to stay in the World Cup.
Arnautovic scored a brilliant opener for Austria just before the half-hour mark, running onto a long ball from David Alaba before finishing with aplomb. Algeria then came back into the game with a brilliant goal on the stroke of half-time, as Rafik Belghali beat multiple defenders before thundering a shot into the net.
Ralf Rangnick's side retook the lead ten minutes into the second half, when Marcel Sabitzer powered an accurate shot into the net from the edge of the box after Konrad Laimer found him with a low cross from the right. The lead barely lasted five minutes when Riyad Mahrez turned in Houssem Aouar's cross from the left at the far post from close range to make it 2-2 on the hour mark.
The game ended on a dramatic note, as Mahrez looked to have won it for Algeria (and thus eliminating Austria in favour of Iran) in the 93rd minute, only for Sasa Kalajdzic to score with his first touch with the last kick (header) of the game in the 96th minute to keep Austria in the World Cup.
Colombia 0 - 0 Portugal
Colombia dominated Portugal for large swathes and that meant they finish top of their group, pushing Portugal to second.
Colombia had a goal disallowed by the length of a toe as Davinson Sánchez's late header was ruled offside. Colombia created much the bulk of the chances: they had 24 shots vs Portugal's 13 and created an xG of 1.63 to 0.69.
Colombia will now take on Ghana in the round of 32, while Portugal face Croatia.
Congo DR 3 - 1 Uzbekistan
(Wissa (P) 68', 90+1', Mayele 78'; Shomurodov 10')
Eldor Shomurodov gave Uzbekistan a shock lead with a stunning piece of finishing, running onto a through ball and chipping Congo DR keeper Lionel Mpasi with a most delightful first-time chip. Nathananel Mbuku had a stunning goal ruled out for a foul he committed in the buildup and the first half ended with Congo DR on the brink of elimination.
They came out with the foot on the pedal in the second half, and the pressure told when Yoanne Wissa was taken out by Abdukodir Khusanov in the box. Wissa stepped up to convert the penalty and that gave Congo DR further belief. Fiston Mayele made it two ten minutes later before a stunning solo effort from Wissa saw Congo DR seal their place in the knockouts with panache.
Panama 0 - 2 England
(Bellingham 62', Kane 67')
An uninspiring England had too much class for Panama as they maintained they eased to a 2-0 win in their last group stage game to finish top.
After a dull, goalless half in which England dominated possession but didn't trouble Panama keeper Orlanda Mosquera much, they amped up the pressure in the second half. That led to them scoring two inside five minutes after the hour mark - first when Jude Bellingham turned in a Bukayo Saka corner that was defended poorly, the next when Harry Kane thumped home a header after a brilliant cross from Bellingham.
Panama, meanwhile, end their campaign as the only one of the 48 teams to not score a goal in the tournament.
Croatia 2 - 1 Ghana
(P.Sucic 31', Vlasic 83'; Luckassen 73')
Croatia pulled out the stops when it mattered to beat Ghana and finish second in Group L. Ghana, who'd already sealed qualification ahead of kickoff, finished third.
In a game that took time to warm up, Petar Sucic blaster Croatia ahead with a superb strike from range. That seemed to wake the game up, and Ghana manager Carlos Queiroz made attacking changes at half time. Croatia repelled waves of Ghana attack before Derrick Luckassen scored off a set piece. It was initially ruled out off for a blocker being offside, but on VAR advice, the decision was overturned.
Knowing they risked getting knocked out if Ghana won, Croatia poured forward in counterattack and a late Luka Modric corner was brilliantly headed into goal by Nikola Vlasic.