World Cup: Messi sends Argentina to top, England to face DR Congo, Iran out
Key takeaways
- Lionel Messi scored his sixth goal of the 2026 World Cup, Harry Kane sent England top of their group, and Iran exited the tournament.
- England have set up a last-32 clash with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the African underdogs who are through to the knockout rounds for the first time.
- Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane scored the goals in a laboured victory for England at the New York New Jersey Stadium in New Jersey, clinching first place in Group L and a date with the DR Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Lionel Messi scored his sixth goal of the 2026 World Cup, Harry Kane sent England top of their group, and Iran exited the tournament.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Lionel Messi came off the bench and scored a late goal as Argentina topped Group J with a 100 percent record [Paul Ellis/AFP]By Al Jazeera Staff and AFPPublished On 28 Jun 202628 Jun 2026Lionel Messi became the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches as Argentina continued their winning streak, while England defeated Panama 2-0 on Saturday to clinch the top spot in their group.
England have set up a last-32 clash with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the African underdogs who are through to the knockout rounds for the first time.