FIFA World Cup 2026 LIVE updates: Colombia face Uzbekistan; Ghana defeat Panama 1-0; England beat Croatia 4-2; Ronaldo’s Portugal draw 1-1 with DR Congo

We’re into the second half in Mexico City.

Fun fact, by the end of this game, every nation will have played their opening match of the tournament.

It’s been interesting opening week to this World Cup, with underdog nations going toe-to-toe with football heavyweights.

Some personal favourites of mine include the Socceroos 2-0 win again Turkey (duh), The Congo’s 1-1 draw with Portugal this morning, Spain and Cape Verde’s 0-0 draw and Iran and New Zealand’s 2-2 draw.

Colombia 1-0 Uzbekistan, 49 minutes

Colombia strike!

After 42 scoreless minutes, it’s Daniel Munoz who scores for Colombia.

The mostly Colombian crowd are roaring inside the stadium in Mexico City, as Munoz and Diaz team up to score the opener.

Colombia 1-0 Uzbekistan, 43 minutes

Here on FIFA world rankings watch, we’ve noticed something very curious indeed.

Every single match at this World Cup has an impact on the rankings, because FIFA awards +/- points based on the outcome. That has led to a whole bunch of changes up and down the charts, including the Socceroos (up to 22nd from 27th, now back to 23d) and USA (up to 15th from 17th, now 14th).

The weirdest of those rankings changes? Italy, who have managed quite incredibly to rise from 12th to 11th despite their infamous failure to qualify for this 48-team World Cup altogether (there’s a proper explanation on the FIFA rankings page which gets into the maths if that’s your thing… it’s not mine).

The biggest movers among the top 50? Qatar is up six spots to 50th, while mighty Scotland have risen five spots into 37th.

Take a look here.

It’s 0-0 at the first hydration break.

Plenty of opportunities for Colombia so far, with 71 per cent of possession, but the scrambling Uzbekistan defence has been able to keep them out for now.

It looks like only a matter of time before world No. 15 Colombia break through.

Colombia 0-0 Uzbekistan, 25 minutes

Our final match of the day is under way.

It’s Uzbekistan against Colombia in Mexico City, and it’s a sea of yellow inside the stadium.

Caleb Yirenkyi completed a sweeping counterattack with a tap-in goal in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time, lifting Ghana to a 1-0 win over Panama in both teams’ opening World Cup match in rainy Toronto.

After Ghana quickly moved the play from their own half, Brandon Thomas-Asante drove the ball into the 18-yard box down the left flank. He rolled a pass toward the middle for Yirenkyi to redirect into the net.

After a very quiet first half, the teams picked up the tempo in the second half, but scoring chances remained minimal until the decisive play.

Panama were the superior team before half-time, while Ghana dictated more of the play after intermission.

That’s the final whistle in Toronto. Ghana have won, and the fans go wild. They move to second in Group L.

Let’s take another look at some of those goal celebration pics.

Full-time: Ghana 1-0 Panama