Co-hosts, Messi and the winners and losers of the World Cup group stage

The group stage ended in dramatic fashion as Austria’s 96th-minute equaliser against Algeria sent them through and eliminated Iran. Lionel Messi came off the bench to help Argentina maintain a perfect record with a 3-1 win over Jordan, extending his finals goals tally to 19, while Portugal were held to a 0-0 draw by Colombia.

DR Congo rallied to beat Uzbekistan and Croatia secured progression with an 83rd-minute winner against Ghana. So far, the co-hosts have fared well. The United States, Mexico and Canada all qualified with a game to spare, with the USMNT and El Tri already securing top spots after their opening wins.

Mexico will play on home soil in the round of 32 and could again at the Azteca in the last 16, Canada recorded its first-ever World Cup win in a 6-0 rout of Qatar despite a 2-1 loss to Switzerland in Vancouver, and Canada will face South Africa in Inglewood while the USMNT meet Bosnia & Herzegovina in Santa Clara.

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