Portugal to Play Croatia, Colombia to Face Ghana in World Cup Knockouts
Miami Gardens, Florida. Colombia finished the World Cup's opening round as the Group K winner after playing Portugal to a scoreless draw Saturday night.
Both squads had already secured spots in the knockout stage before the match, needing only to learn their opponents for the next round.
Colombia will play Ghana, which lost 2-1 to Croatia earlier Saturday. Portugal, which entered the expanded 48-team tournament as a favorite, will face Croatia as the Group K runner-up.
Both squads put forth lively efforts. Bruno Fernandez came close to putting Portugal ahead in the first half but was denied by Camilo Vargas. Portugal's Diogo Costo had six saves, more than in the team's first two matches combined.
Davinson Sanchez thought he had given Colombia a lead with a back- post header just a minute into stoppage time, but he was ruled offside, and the goal was disallowed.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal squad, looking for its first World Cup title, heads to the knockout stage after an up-and-down group stage.
Portugal opened group play with a surprising 1-1 draw against Congo. Ronaldo faced criticism after failing to score in that match, and answered by becoming the first player to score in six World Cups with two goals in Portugal’s 5-0 win over Uzbekistan.
Colombia, which did not qualify for the 2022 World Cup, opened with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan and then topped Congo 1-0.
The match played at the home stadium of the NFL's Miami Dolphins took place in front of a sellout crowd of 64,478 that included former Colombia soccer star Carlos Valderrama, FIFA President Gianni Infantino — who sat in a suite with FBI director Kash Patel and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio — NFL quarterback Jameis Winston, NBA player Jimmy Butler, actor Matt Damon and former NFL receiver Chad Johnson.
Multiple watch parties were held across South Florida to accommodate those who couldn't secure tickets to the high-demand match, including one with thousands in attendance at the home arena of the NHL's Florida Panthers.
Tags: Keywords:Related Articles
Canada’s Magical World Cup Run Ends in a 3-0 Loss to Morocco
Morocco becomes the first African nation to reach the World Cup quarterfinals more than once.Salah Captains Egypt to First-Ever World Cup Knockout Victory
Egypt beats Australia 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, earning its first-ever World Cup knockout victory.Messi Sends Argentina Past Cape Verde in 3-2 Extra-Time World Cup Thriller
Lionel Messi scores as Argentina survives a spirited Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time to reach the World Cup Round of 16.Spain Thrashes Austria 3-0 to Set Up Portugal World Cup Clash
Spain cruises past Austria 3-0 as Mikel Oyarzabal scores twice to book a World Cup last-16 showdown with Portugal.Portugal Rallies Past Croatia on Ramos' Stoppage-Time Winner
Gonçalo Ramos scores in stoppage time as Portugal beats Croatia 2-1 to reach the World Cup round of 16 after late VAR drama.US Beats Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 to Reach World Cup Round of 16
The US beat Bosnia 2-0 despite a second-half red card to Folarin Balogun, setting up a World Cup clash with Belgium.Belgium Rallies From 2-0 Down to Beat Senegal 3-2 in World Cup Thriller
Belgium overturned a two-goal deficit, with Youri Tielemans scoring a record-late 125th-minute penalty to beat Senegal 3-2.Harry Kane's Double Sends England Into World Cup Round of 16
Harry Kane scored twice in the second half as England rallied from a goal down to beat Congo 2-1 and advance to the World Cup round of 16.Mbappé Nets Brace as France Cruises Past Sweden to Reach World Cup Knockouts
Kylian Mbappé scored twice to tie Lionel Messi with six World Cup goals as France beat Sweden 3-0 to reach the Round of 16.Norway Reaches World Cup Round of 16 After Haaland Sinks Ivory Coast
Erling Haaland's late winner gave Norway its first World Cup knockout victory, a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast to set up Brazil.The Latest
Canada’s Magical World Cup Run Ends in a 3-0 Loss to Morocco
Morocco becomes the first African nation to reach the World Cup quarterfinals more than once.Toyota Dream Car Art Contest Highlights Children’s Creative Solutions for Future Mobility
Toyota Astra Motor named the winners of its 19th Dream Car Art Contest, celebrating children’s creative solutions to social and environmental issues.Astra Honda Safety Ambassadors Draw 4.8 Million Views Ahead of Safety Riding Camp 2026
Astra Honda’s safety riding ambassadors generated 4.8 million social media views ahead of the Safety Riding Camp 2026 finals.Indonesia, India in ‘Advanced’ Talks for ‘Affordable’ BrahMos Missile
India says that the BrahMos missile system is a "very affordable and reliable system" which Indonesia can acquire.Astra's FIFGROUP Launches Third Fostered Village to Advance ESG Goals
FIFGROUP launched its third fostered village, expanding ESG initiatives that empower communities and support local economies.Most Popular
