{"id":16363,"date":"2026-06-29T06:07:41","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T00:37:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/?p=16363"},"modified":"2026-06-29T06:07:41","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T00:37:41","slug":"fifa-world-cup-2026-june-28-messi-makes-history-as-the-group-stage-signs-off-in-style","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-june-28-messi-makes-history-as-the-group-stage-signs-off-in-style\/","title":{"rendered":"FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122: June 28 \u2014 Messi Makes History as the Group Stage Signs Off in Style"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div><p>Six matches. The final day of the group stage. And the biggest individual moment of the entire FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 so far. Lionel Messi came off the bench against Jordan, won a free-kick, and curled it into the corner to become the first player in football history to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches. That was the headline. But June 28 had plenty more to offer \u2014 a historic DR Congo comeback, a nine-change Argentine rotation that still produced a win, and a six-goal thriller in Kansas City that went down to the very last second.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_86 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-black ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Page Contents:<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #282fff;color:#282fff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #282fff;color:#282fff\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-june-28-messi-makes-history-as-the-group-stage-signs-off-in-style\/#Results_at_a_Glance_%E2%80%94_June_28\" >Results at a Glance \u2014 June 28<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-june-28-messi-makes-history-as-the-group-stage-signs-off-in-style\/#Watch_Match_Highlight_Free_Only_On_ZEE5\" >Watch Match Highlight Free Only On ZEE5.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-june-28-messi-makes-history-as-the-group-stage-signs-off-in-style\/#Story_of_the_Day_Messi_and_the_Record_Books\" >Story of the Day: Messi and the Record Books<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-june-28-messi-makes-history-as-the-group-stage-signs-off-in-style\/#Through_to_the_Round_of_32\" >Through to the Round of 32<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-june-28-messi-makes-history-as-the-group-stage-signs-off-in-style\/#Teams_that_Bow_Out\" >Teams that Bow Out<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>Three draws and three decisive results. Every group featuring a June 28 match has now concluded. Sixteen groups, forty-eight teams, ninety-six matches. The group stage is over. The Round of 32 begins.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Watch every FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 match live in India on ZEE5. Check out the ZEE5 subscription guide for streaming details.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Results_at_a_Glance_%E2%80%94_June_28\"><\/span><b>Results at a Glance \u2014 June 28<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Watch_Match_Highlight_Free_Only_On_ZEE5\"><\/span><b>Watch Match Highlight Free Only On ZEE5.<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/match-clips\/0-6-4z5974253\/pan-vs-eng-quickfire-highlights-fifa-world-cup-2026\/0-1-6z5993635?utm_source=GoogleOneBox&amp;utm_medium=GoogleSearch&amp;utm_campaign=OneBox_quick_fire_highlight\">England 2\u20130 Panama<\/a> \u2014 New York\/New Jersey<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/match-clips\/0-6-4z5974253\/cro-vs-gha-quickfire-highlights-fifa-world-cup-2026\/0-1-6z5993613?utm_source=GoogleOneBox&amp;utm_medium=GoogleSearch&amp;utm_campaign=OneBox_quick_fire_highlight\">Croatia 2\u20131 Ghana<\/a> \u2014 Philadelphia<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/match-clips\/0-6-4z5974253\/col-vs-por-quickfire-highlights-fifa-world-cup-2026\/0-1-6z5993650?utm_source=GoogleOneBox&amp;utm_medium=GoogleSearch&amp;utm_campaign=OneBox_quick_fire_highlight\">Colombia 0\u20130 Portugal<\/a> \u2014 Miami<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/match-clips\/0-6-4z5974253\/cod-vs-uzb-quickfire-highlights-fifa-world-cup-2026\/0-1-6z5993640?utm_source=GoogleOneBox&amp;utm_medium=GoogleSearch&amp;utm_campaign=OneBox_quick_fire_highlight\">DR Congo 3\u20131 Uzbekistan<\/a> \u2014 Atlanta<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/match-clips\/0-6-4z5974253\/jor-vs-arg-quickfire-highlights-fifa-world-cup-2026\/0-1-6z5994077?utm_source=GoogleOneBox&amp;utm_medium=GoogleSearch&amp;utm_campaign=OneBox_quick_fire_highlight\">Argentina 3\u20131 Jordan<\/a> \u2014 Dallas<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/match-clips\/0-6-4z5974253\/alg-vs-aut-quickfire-highlights-fifa-world-cup-2026\/0-1-6z5994075?utm_source=GoogleOneBox&amp;utm_medium=GoogleSearch&amp;utm_campaign=OneBox_quick_fire_highlight\">Algeria 3\u20133 Austria<\/a> \u2014 Kansas City<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Story_of_the_Day_Messi_and_the_Record_Books\"><\/span><b>Story of the Day: Messi and the Record Books<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Lionel Scaloni made nine changes and left his captain on the bench. Argentina were already through, and he was managing minutes. When Messi came on in the 60th minute alongside Mac Allister and Almada, the crowd at the Dallas Stadium reacted as if the match had only just started.<\/p>\n<p>Twenty minutes later, Argentina won a free-kick 25 yards from the goal. Messi placed the ball, stepped back, and curled a low strike around the Jordanian wall and inside the far post. The net rippled. The record was confirmed: seven consecutive FIFA World Cup\u2122 matches, seven goals. No player in the history of the game has ever done it. He now has six goals in this tournament alone. For the millions of fans watching on ZEE5 across India, it was the kind of moment that stops time \u2014 a reminder of why this tournament, above all others, produces stories that no script could have written.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Through_to_the_Round_of_32\"><\/span><b>Through to the Round of 32<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Colombia advanced from Group K as winners with seven points \u2014 unbeaten across all three matches. Portugal qualifies as the runner-up. Their 0-0 draw was settled in stoppage time by a VAR call that disallowed a Davinson S\u00e1nchez header for the narrowest of offsides.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/argentina\/argentina-squad\">Argentina<\/a> tops Group J. Austria follow as runners-up \u2014 Sasa Kalajdzic\u2019s 96th-minute header, keeping them level against Algeria. England finish top of Group L and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/croatia\/croatia-squad\">Croatia<\/a> advance as runners-up, having beaten Ghana 2-1 with a Mo\u0111ri\u0107-assisted winner that set a World Cup record for the oldest player to register an assist.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/congo-dr\/congo-dr-squad\">DR Congo<\/a> are through as one of the best third-placed teams after their stunning 3-1 comeback win over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/uzbekistan\/uzbekistan-squad\">Uzbekistan<\/a> \u2014 their first-ever FIFA World Cup\u2122 knockout stage appearance. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/algeria\/algeria-squad\">Algeria <\/a>also advanced from third place. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/ghana\/ghana-squad\">Ghana<\/a> go through as the best third-placed team from Group L. Three African nations advancing on the same day is not a footnote. It is the story of a continent making its presence felt.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><i>Don\u2019t miss the <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\"><i>FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122<\/i><\/a><i> Round of 32 live on <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/myaccount\/subscription?plan-ref=0-11-7467&amp;asset-ref=0-6-4z5914493&amp;visibility=SELECTED&amp;context=FIFA\"><i>ZEE5 FIFA Subscription<\/i><\/a><i> \u2014 subscribe from \u20b9799 for three months.<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Teams_that_Bow_Out\"><\/span><b>Teams that Bow Out<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Jordan leaves this tournament having scored in all three group-stage appearances \u2014 a detail that captures exactly what made them such an engaging side to watch. For a nation making its World Cup debut, that record is something to build on. They won nothing on the scoreboard. They gained everything in terms of experience. Uzbekistan, also on debut, exited having shown quality in flashes but without the consistency needed to progress.<\/p>\n<p>Iran were eliminated on the previous day\u2019s results. Uzbekistan and Panama join them, along with the other third-placed sides who did not accumulate enough points across the group stage.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>The FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 Round of 32 begins now. Watch every match live on ZEE5 \u2014 subscribe from \u20b9799 for three months.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Six matches. The final day of the group stage. And the biggest individual moment of the entire FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 so far. Lionel Messi came off the bench against Jordan, won a free-kick, and curled it into the corner to become the first player in football history to score in seven consecutive World Cup [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":15163,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3019],"tags":[3369,3031],"class_list":["post-16363","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fifa-world-cup-2026","tag-day-seventeen-of-2026-fifa-world-cup","tag-fifa-world-cup-2026"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png","author_info":{"display_name":"Sourav K","author_link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/author\/sourav-k\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.3 - 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