World Cup: Day 16 recap and Day 17 open thread

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 26: Cabo Verde players celebrate after the 0-0 draw during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H match between Cabo Verde and Saudi Arabia at Houston Stadium on June 26, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images) | Getty Images Friends, I hardly watched any football yesterday. After two and a half weeks of daily, constant, relentless soccer, I finally hit a wall and just needed a break. So no match day commentary today — I didn’t watch them. Sometimes you just need to disconnect a while. (I went to bed at 9 m and slept for 10 hours).

class="has-text-align-none wp-block-paragraph">Here’s your daily recap and upcoming matches for today.

Day 16 RecapNorway 1-4 France (Group I)Goals: Aasgaard (14′) | Dembele (7′, 20′, 22′), Doue (90+4′)

France is better than Norway’s B-team. Pass it on.

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Senegal 5-0 Iraq (Group I)Goals: Diarra (4′), I. Sarr (56′), P. Gueye (59′, 71′), I. Ndiaye (82′)

Well, a 5-0 win over a hapless Iraq is one way to get yourself back into qualification position. Senegal finish third but get their goal differential up to +2. They’re now a virtual lock to progress as a third place team.

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Cape Verde 0-0 Saudi Arabia (Group H)Goals: none

Cape Verde, remarkably, qualify for the Round of 32, finishing second in the group behind Spain!

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Uruguay 0-1 Spain (Group H)Goals: Baena (42′)

Uruguay crash out of the World Cup in dramatic fashion, finishing third in the group and well outside the top 8 third placed finishers. Spain win the group.

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Egypt 1-1 Iran (Group G)Goals: Saber (5′), Rezaeian (14′)

New Zealand vs. Belgium (Group G)Goals: Just (85′) | Trossard (28′, 50′), De Brunye (66′), Lukaku (86′), Saelemaekers (90+4′)

Belgium win the group, New Zealand are out of the tournament.

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Day 17 MatchesCroatia vs. Ghana (Group L)5 p.m. ET / 10 p.m. BST Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, USA TV: Fox Sports 1 (USA), Telemundo (USA – Español), ITV 4 (UK) Stream: Fox One, Peacock (Español)

class="has-text-align-none wp-block-paragraph">Current/former Tottenham players involved: Luka Vuskovic, Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic (Croatia)

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Panama vs. England (Group L)5 p.m. ET / 10 p.m. BST MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey, USA TV: Fox (USA), Telemundo (USA – Español), ITV 1 (UK) Stream: Fox One, Peacock (Español)

class="has-text-align-none wp-block-paragraph">Current/former Tottenham players involved: Djed Spence, Harry Kane, Noni Madueke (England)

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Colombia vs. Portugal (Group K)7:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 a.m. (Sunday) BST Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, USA TV: Fox (USA), Telemundo (USA – Español), BBC One (UK) Stream: Fox One, Peacock (Español)

class="has-text-align-none wp-block-paragraph">Current/former Tottenham players involved: none

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DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan (Group K)7:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 a.m. (Sunday) BST Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta, USA TV: Fox Sports 1 (USA), Telemundo (USA – Español), BBC Two (UK) Stream: Fox One, Peacock (Español)

class="has-text-align-none wp-block-paragraph">Current/former Tottenham players involved: none

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Algeria vs. Austria (Group J)10 p.m. ET / 3 a.m. (Sunday) BST Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, USA TV: Fox Sports 1 (USA), Telemundo (USA – Español), BBC 2 (UK) Stream: Fox One, Peacock (Español)

class="has-text-align-none wp-block-paragraph">Current/former Tottenham players involved: Kevin Danso (Austria)

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Jordan vs. Argentina (Group J)10 p.m. ET / 3 a.m. (Sunday) BST AT&T Stadium, Arlington, USA TV: FOX (USA), Telemundo (USA – Español), BBC One (UK) Stream: Fox One, Peacock (Español)

class="has-text-align-none wp-block-paragraph">Current/former Tottenham players involved: Cuti Romero, Marcos Senesi (Argentina)