Wildest results from latest World Cup 2026 action: Cristiano Ronaldo returns to form, England gets exposed

Ghana found England's weakness

England opened its 2026 World Cup account with a swashbuckling 4-2 win over Croatia. The match was evenly balanced in the first half, but England's superior bench — and superior creativity — won out in the second.

Ghana, led by former Sir Alex Ferguson assistant coach Carlos Queiroz, saw all of that bounty and talent and figured out exactly how to stymie it. It's not traditionally a sticky, defensive side, but it played that way on this occasion and drove England crazy along the way. England and Ghana are now level at the top of Group l; their performances on Matchday 3 will determine which team advances to the knockout rounds in first place. 

England 0-0 Ghana

Croatia sent Panama packing

Panama is a fascinating team. It destroyed the USMNT on two separate occasions in the run-up to this World Cup — once in the Copa America in 2024, then again in the Nations League semifinals in 2025 — and seemed perfectly content in its role as a North American spoiler. Its qualification for this 2026 World Cup was much deserved, but its stay in the tournament wound up being far too short.

Croatia beat Panama 1-0 on Matchday 2 to mathematically eliminate it from knockout-round contention. It's great news for the Croats, who needed that victory to keep their advancement hopes alive, but very, very sad news for the Panamanians. They're a wonderful side that could've done great things in a slightly less terrifying group. 

Croatia 1-0 Panama

Colombia got away with one...again

If you look at Colombia's stats at this World Cup, you'll see plenty of green flags: two wins, six points, lots of possession and plenty of shots. But if you actually watch Colombia at this World Cup, you'll see something completely different: a manic, unstable, untrustworthy side whose two wins feel very lucky indeed.

It took Colombia nearly 50 minutes to break through Uzbekistan on Matchday 1; it took it nearly 80 to break through the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Matchday 2. The intervening minutes were chock-full of botched attacks and shoddy finishing. Yes, this Colombia side is capable of greatness...but it really hasn't shown much of that greatness thus far. 

Colombia 1-0 DR Congo

The World Cup will continue on Wednesday, June 24 with the tournament's first sextuple-header: Switzerland vs. Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar, Czechia vs. Mexico, South Africa vs. South Korea, Morocco vs. Haiti and Scotland vs. Brazil.