Hayters Live Blog
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The latest World Cup news, including more reaction to England’s draw with Ghana.
That’s it for our live blog today!
A busy night of games awaits with three groups to be decided.
We’ll be back tomorrow.
Canada can keep their home advantage in the knockouts if they top their group, something boss Jesse Marsch is very keen to do. They face Switzerland later on.
“Staying here in Vancouver is definitely our number one goal,” Marsch said.
“When I took the job, as soon as the format of the tournament, as soon as I found that out, I said, okay, we have a clear objective, we want to win the group. Two years ago, everybody thought I was crazy, right? That prospect at the time wouldn’t be possible, but this is where I expected us to be.
“When we drew Switzerland, we thought, okay, let’s position ourselves to make sure that we are competing for our goal to stay in Vancouver in that last match, and so we’re here, and we’re going to be ready for it.”
Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti ahead of tonight’s game: “It will be a difficult game. Scotland have quality, they are fighters, they are well-organised,” Ancelotti told reporters.
“They have good players, [Scott] McTominay, [John] McGinn, they are experienced players.
“Easy games at the World Cup were over a long time ago. We are ready to play a difficult game.”
A win or a draw for Brazil against Scotland will see them through, and for Morocco against Haiti.
Scotland would, however, progress by beating Brazil, while a draw would give them a strong chance of going through as one of the best placed third teams.
Canada can confirm their progression with either a win or a draw against Switzerland in their final game, while Switzerland winning would confirm their qualification. Both already have four points, however, which would likely see them through anyway.
Bosnia and Qatar face off knowing a win for either side gives them a fair chance of reaching the knockouts by finishing third. They would need a win by a significant margin if they hope to finish second and secure certain qualification, however.
Hosts Mexico know they are already through to the knockouts as group winners. A win or a draw for South Korea in their final game against South Africa would see them secure their progression, while South Africa need to beat South Korea if they want to make it through. The other team in the group, Czechia, will also need a win against Mexico to stand a chance.
There is still plenty to be decided ahead of the final games of the group stage.
Here’s a complete guide to whose already through and who needs what to progress: World Cup 2026: The nations already through to the knockouts, those eliminated, and what the others need to progress
The World Cup enter its third round of group stage fixtures tonight, with the outcome of three groups to be decided – Group A, Group B and Group C.
Here are the full list of fixtures…
GROUP B – 8pm kick off in UK
Bosnia & Herzegovina v Qatar
Switzerland v Canada
GROUP C – 11pm kick off in UK
Morocco v Haiti
Scotland v Brazil
GROUP A – 2am kick off in UK
Czechia v Mexico
South Africa v South Korea
“How much to panic about a poor England performance is always a difficult dilemma for supporters and the media too. Time will tell whether their drab goalless draw with Ghana is indicative of wider, more serious problems, or if it is simply one of those dreadful group stage games against a team set out to frustrate you, and that seem to occur for England at every major tournament.”
Read our World Cup daily bulletin here.
A huge game awaits tonight as Scotland face Brazil, with the chance for Steve Clarke’s side to reach the knockouts of the World Cup.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game: How to watch Scotland v Brazil, team news, predicted line-ups and more
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in Portugal’s 5-0 win over Uzbekistan yesterday, having been the subject of huge criticism following his performance in his side’s opening game draw with DR Congo.
“I can tell you it was a very, very tough week, a difficult week where public opinion was very harsh on us, on all the players, especially on me and the coach,” he said after the win over Uzbekistan. “But it’s always like that, it’s nothing new, because as you can imagine, it’s been 23 years in this profession.
“When things go well, Cristiano is great. When they go badly, he’s finished, he’s old. It will always be like that.”
In the other game in England’s group, Croatia secured a narrow victory over Panama, who England will face in their final group game.
The substitute makes the difference!
Ante Budimir breaks the deadlock for Croatia 🇭🇷 pic.twitter.com/nlGGZ6yn0R
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 24, 2026
More reaction from Jude Bellingham after last night’s draw with Ghana: “No worries, no stress, no drama. My message is just to make sure we stay positive, keep the good atmosphere we’ve got going. It’s not the end of the world.”
READ MORE: ‘No drama’ – Bellingham urges positivity after Ghana draw
Ghana boss Carlos Queiroz was left bemused that his side were not awarded a penalty for a challenge by Ezri Konsa in the second half.
“I’m not sure VAR is still working in the World Cup,” he said. “We still have VAR? It’s working? I have some doubts about that because another penalty that they need give to Ghana, a clear penalty against England [was missed].
“We had our chances to the point that they’re lucky. They’re very lucky. Once again, VAR went for a coffee. It’s natural, I would like to also take my coffees once in a while, but it was a clear penalty, red card. You have any doubts about that? You guys who saw the game have any doubts about that or is it only me that was in the game?
“I’m sorry for my sarcasm, but if I say these kind of things seriously they punish me, so I hope you understand that I’m joking.”
There was some nervy late moments for the Three Lions 😬 pic.twitter.com/plgECW4grD
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 23, 2026
England defender Marc Guehi says it is important not to overreact to last night’s draw.
“The takeaway is that it’s important we put things into perspective,” he said. “I think, on the whole, there’s a lot of things we can take from this game and build and learn from.
“On another day we score those chances and everyone says how great we were.”
It could have been a very different story for England had Harry Kane buried his late chance, and the Three Lions captain has reflected on his miss.
“You go through games like that. I was just waiting for an opportunity like that to fall my way. It was the kind of game as a striker where you’re just waiting for the ball to bounce, and it did.
“I just couldn’t quite get over the ball, but I’d back myself to score that more often than not. It is what it is. I’ve been a striker long enough to know they don’t always go in, so I have to accept it.”
Two HUGE chances for England as Nico O'Reilly hits the bar before Harry Kane shoots over! 😮 pic.twitter.com/5EwiccE8rl
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 23, 2026
Declan Rice was seen wearing strapping and limping after last night’s game.
🚨 Declan Rice walked through mixed zone with left calf strapped & noticeable limp after #England 0-0 draw with #Ghana in 2nd match at #2026FIFAWorldCup. Severity unclear ahead of last Group L game against #Panama in New Jersey this Saturday @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/1lKh7u1Aaq pic.twitter.com/4uw7NU59oU
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) June 24, 2026
England midfielder Jude Bellingham says the draw with Ghana brought up a familiar feeling.
“It feels like in all the tournaments I’ve been to, it’s been the same, a decent performance to start and a good win. And then just the second one, frustrated a little bit with how they defended, how they set up,” he said.
“Credit to them, they got exactly out of the game what they played for, we couldn’t quite break them down, and even with all the corners, all the possession, all the shots on goal from distance. But it’s one of those things that happens.”
England struggled to create many chances against a stubborn Ghana side, but boss Thomas Tuchel says fans must keep faith in his side.
“It is a long tournament,” he said. “The boys tried everything and again they played with the right energy.
“I know it is a very difficult game and in this case, if one team tries to play and run against this deep block, you don’t find the spaces and it is difficult for you to create chances, it can be difficult to watch and it is not as exciting as two teams trying to win it in a more open game.
“We know. We always try to entertain our fans. It was difficult today, I hope they don’t lose belief. It is a long way to go. Credit to our opponent and I just feel like I was right: we play in a very difficult group.”
Good morning and welcome to today’s live blog.
We’ll have more reaction to England’s disappointing draw with Ghana last night plus build up to tonight’s round of games, with two groups in action.
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