What happened at the World Cup on Wednesday, June 17, 2026?
England edged a wild 4-2 win over Croatia behind a Harry Kane brace, while Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by DR Congo. Colombia survived Uzbekistan 3-1, and Ghana stole a 1-0 win over Panama in the 95th minute. The theme of the day: the favorites all looked beatable.
- 1England beat Croatia 4-2 in a six-goal thriller; Harry Kane scored twice[1]
- 2Portugal were held 1-1 by DR Congo — Ronaldo, 41, is now the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match[2]
- 3Uzbekistan scored their first-ever World Cup goal but still lost 3-1 to Colombia[3]
- 4Ghana beat Panama 1-0 with a 90+5' stoppage-time winner from Caleb Yirenkyi[4]
- 5Harry Kane reached 10 career World Cup goals, equalling Gary Lineker's all-time England record[5]
1. England Win a Six-Goal Thriller With Croatia, 4-2
England's opener was chaos in the best way. Harry Kane scored twice (a 12th-minute penalty and again on 42'), but Croatia hit straight back both times through Martin Baturina and a stoppage-time Petar Musa strike, so it was 2-2 at the break. Then England's young stars took over: Jude Bellingham nudged them ahead two minutes into the second half, and Marcus Rashford sealed it late. For a newcomer, this is the perfect team to adopt — loaded with Premier League names, thrilling to watch, and just leaky enough to keep every game tense.
2. Ronaldo's Portugal Stumble to a 1-1 Draw With DR Congo
The biggest name in the sport had the most frustrating night. Cristiano Ronaldo — at 41, now the oldest outfield player ever to start a World Cup match — couldn't break through as Portugal were pegged back by debutant-spirited DR Congo. João Neves headed Portugal ahead inside six minutes, but Yoane Wissa equalized in first-half stoppage time and Congo dug in for a famous point. In a 48-team World Cup, this is exactly the kind of upset-by-draw the expanded format promises.
3. Uzbekistan Score Their First-Ever World Cup Goal — but Colombia Hold On 3-1
Tournament debutants Uzbekistan gave Colombia a real scare at the Estadio Azteca. Daniel Muñoz opened the scoring, then Abbosbek Fayzullaev struck just after halftime for Uzbekistan's first goal in World Cup history. Colombia's star winger Luis Díaz restored the lead on 65', and Jáminton Campaz headed in a stoppage-time third to make the result safe.
4. Ghana Break Panama's Hearts in the 95th Minute
Some games are decided by the very last kick. Ghana 1, Panama 0 looked headed for a goalless stalemate until Caleb Yirenkyi tucked away a Brandon Thomas-Asante cross deep into stoppage time (90+5') to snatch all three points in their Group L opener in Toronto.
5. The Stat: Kane Just Tied a 36-Year-Old England Record
Harry Kane's two goals took him to 10 career World Cup goals, equaling Gary Lineker's all-time England record. He's also now just the second England player ever — alongside David Beckham — to score at three different World Cups (2018, 2022, 2026).
What to Watch Today
Match Day 2 rolls on Thursday, June 18: Czechia–South Africa, Switzerland–Bosnia, Canada–Qatar, and the night ends with co-hosts Mexico–South Korea — the marquee draw for Asian viewers.
Key Takeaways
- England beat Croatia 4-2; Harry Kane scored twice and tied Gary Lineker's England World Cup goals record.
- Ronaldo's Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by debutants DR Congo.
- Ghana won with a 95th-minute strike; Uzbekistan scored their first-ever World Cup goal in a 3-1 loss to Colombia.
- ESPN — England 4-2 Croatia recap(accessed 2026-06-18)
- FIFA — Portugal 1-1 DR Congo match report(accessed 2026-06-18)
- ESPN — Uzbekistan 1-3 Colombia(accessed 2026-06-18)
- ESPN — Ghana 1-0 Panama(accessed 2026-06-18)
- Opta Analyst — England 4-2 Croatia stats (Kane record)(accessed 2026-06-18)
- Olympics.com — Every result Wednesday 17 June(accessed 2026-06-18)