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Ghana secured a spot in the knockout stage by finishing third in Group L. The team will face Colombia on July 3 after a 2-1 loss to Croatia.
abcnews.go.comGhana advanced to the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup after finishing third in Group L. The side will play Colombia on July 3. The team secured its place with a 2-1 loss to Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia. Ghana had earlier defeated Panama 1-0 on June 17 in Toronto.
Head coach Carlos Queiroz, 73, said the larger number of teams reduces the tournament's value. He noted Ghana would not have advanced under the previous format that sent only 16 teams to the knockout phase. "Today, money talks. In the game, money talks.
This is called not football but moneyball," Queiroz said after the Croatia match. He added that qualification matches in Europe and Africa have lost significance under the new structure. Queiroz became the oldest coach to win a World Cup match with the victory over Panama.
He said the expanded field turns the competition into something ordinary rather than rare.
The Round of 32 features 16 matches between the 32 nations that progressed from group play. The pairings include Germany against Paraguay, France against Sweden, South Africa against Canada, Netherlands against Morocco, Portugal against Croatia, Spain against Austria, United States against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium against Senegal, Brazil against Japan, Côte d’Ivoire against Norway, Mexico against Ecuador, England against DR Congo, Argentina against Cape Verde, Australia against Egypt, Switzerland against Algeria, and Colombia against Ghana.
These outlets didn't split into competing frames — coverage was uniform.
Paraguay defeated Germany 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw that went to extra time. The result marks Germany's earliest World Cup exit since 2018 and Paraguay's first appearance in the knockout stage.
winnipegfreepress.comThe Memphis Grizzlies agreed to send two-time All-Star Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for forward Jerami Grant and guard Kris Murray. The deal, reported June 29, still needs NBA approval and physical examinations.
onwardstate.comThe Detroit Lions released cornerback Terrion Arnold hours after a judge set his bond at $1 million on kidnapping and armed robbery charges. Arnold faces eight felony counts tied to a February incident in Florida.