Anything is possible?

If World Cup debutants Cape Verde go on to knock out defending champions Argentina in the last 32 in Miami on Friday that would probably be the World Cup story to end all World Cup stories.

But the dream has taken the Blue Sharks this far, so, why not?

Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport

As the final whistle blew in their game, the Cape Verde players crowded around a phone to see the conclusion of the Uruguay match against Spain. There were joyous scenes when it was confirmed that their World Cup adventure would continue, thanks to Uruguay's 1-0 defeat.

The Blue Sharks, 67th in Fifa's rankings, drew with past World Cup winners Spain and Uruguay in a group that few would have expected them to get out of before a ball was kicked.

A nation of just 525,000 inhabitants has gained many more fans on this brilliant journey so far, reminding people of the joy football can bring.

They are the first African debutants to advance from the World Cup group stage since Ghana in 2006, and there is no doubt that Lionel Messi's Argentina will face a tough challenge against them.

Speaking after the match, Cape Verde midfielder Deroy Duarte said: "Honestly, it's mad. I feel like I'm in a dream.

"Ever since I was a kid, I've always dreamed of playing in a World Cup.

"To be man of the match and make history is something I could never have imagined.

"First, let's celebrate. We're so happy. Let's hope all Cape Verdeans are happy too. From tomorrow, we'll focus on the next match.

"It's against Argentina, isn't it? A tough match, but let's believe. Anything is possible."

Image source, Getty Images

Glenn Davis
Former USL soccer player on ITV

There was always going to be somebody from a smaller country that is here maybe for the first time that was going to get through and make some real noise. Cape Verde have.

Tonight they were the team with more intent, and trying in a bigger way to get the ball up the field, to bring the intensity.

Saudi Arabia never did until the very latter stages - too late to answer the bell.

The smile and clenched fist in that last post says it all.

Vozinha is only the third goalkeeper to keep multiple World Cup clean sheets after turning 40.

The Cape Verde shot-stopper joins two legendary goalkeepers - England's Peter Shilton (3) and Italy's Dino Zoff (2).

Not bad company to be in at all...

Image source, Getty Images

Spain secured top spot in Group H with a 1-0 win against Uruguay, meaning they will face the runner-up of Group J - either Austria or Algeria - in the last 32 on Thursday, 2 July in Los Angeles (20:00 BST).

Cape Verde secured second place in their first ever World Cup campaign by drawing 0-0 with Saudi Arabia, who finished bottom of the group with two points.

The African side will face Argentina in the next round in Miami on Friday (23:00 BST).

Uruguay took two points from three games and finished third, above the Saudis on goal difference.

However, two points was not enough to make them one of the eight-best third-place finishers, and so they are eliminated.

Iran did their best to steal the headlines with their late effort against Egypt, but the story of the day has to go to Cape Verde...

Iran will find out later on Saturday if they have done enough to progress as one of the eight best third-placed teams.

To go through, they require just one of the following scenarios to occur:

• Croatia to lose to Ghana in Group L
• DR Congo to fail to beat Uzbekistan in Group K, although Uzbekistan must not win by a seven-goal margin or better
• Either Algeria or Austria to win their meeting in Group J

Image source, Getty Images

Just look at the scenes when Iran thought they had netted a stoppage-time winner against Egypt, which would have sent them to knockout stages for the first time in their history. The goal was chalked off by VAR for offside.

They may yet reach that stage as a third-placed team, but will now have to wait to learn their fate.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Shaimaa Khalil
BBC News

Image source, Getty Images

There was a moment where the whole stadium of more than 66 thousand people seemed to be holding their breath... then the no-goal decision seemed to bring the Egyptian crowd back to life!

Egypt are breathing easy with a near escape of being defeated by Iran.

Egypt qualify for the round of 32 for the first time in their history!

Mohamed Salah walks on the pitch and shakes hands with an emotional Mehdi Taremi.

Dion Dublin
Former England striker on BBC One

(Romelu Lukaku's goal) is great for a centre-forward's mindset and confidence. Lukaku is not having the best tournament or in the best fitness and health. His standards are so high and it's brilliant he's got the goal.

Image source, Getty Images

Sam Drury
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

It has taken until the last game of the group stage, but Belgium have finally arrived at this World Cup.

While they may not be the side they once were, with those remaining from that golden generation of 2018 now approaching the end of their careers, more was still expected than what they managed against Egypt and Iran.

The manner in which they dismantled a battling, but ultimately outclassed, New Zealand showed just why.

There was an intensity to their play which had been sorely lacking to this point, and the sharpness of their one-touch passing around the penalty area meant the All Whites were clinging on within just a couple of minutes of kick-off.

Trossard was relentless, his direct approach every time he got the ball causing huge problems for the defenders - and with the masterful De Bruyne supplying him, those moments came frequently.

One such combination between the pair led to the award of a Belgium penalty for handball - overturned following a VAR intervention - and De Bruyne had a hand in both Trossard's goals before essentially ending the contest by scoring the third himself.

The quality of the opposition will only get stronger from this point, but if Trossard and De Bruyne can maintain this kind of form then Belgium may yet make a telling impact on this tournament.

Belgium claimed top spot with a 5-1 win against New Zealand, so will face a third-place finisher in Seattle on Wednesday, 1 July (21:00 BST).

Egypt hung on for a 1-1 draw with Iran to finish in second place, behind Belgium on goal difference. As group runners-up, the Pharaohs will play Australia on Friday, 3 July (19:00 BST).

A point means Iran finish third with three points, and must wait to find out if they are one of the eight-best third place finishers.

New Zealand finish bottom with one point and are out.

Tonight's results will now be key to Iran's hopes of making it through, but they look to be in with a good chance.

If Algeria draw their final match against Austria in Group J then they will move above Iran in the third-place rankings.

A victory for DR Congo against Uzbekistan in Group K, or an eight-goal win for Uzbekistan, would push either side above Iran.

And a win or draw for Croatia against Ghana would mean the third-place finisher in Group L would finish with a better record than Iran.

All three of those scenarios would have to play out for Iran to be eliminated.

Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport reporter

Iran had a goal ruled out for offside and hit the crossbar in the final seconds of a 1-1 draw against Egypt in Seattle, leaving their hopes of reaching the World Cup last 32 in the balance.

Shoja Khalilzadeh turned home after a goalmouth scramble but his effort was disallowed following a lengthy video assistant referee check, while Saeid Ezatolahi headed against the woodwork in the seventh minute of added time.

Wild celebrations had followed Khalilzadeh putting the ball in the net, with the defender removing his shirt - for which he was later booked - and posing for a photograph with a pair of sunglasses.

His, and Iran's, joy was short-lived, though.

Iran, who have drawn all three of their group matches, remain in with a chance of reaching the World Cup knockout phase for the first time ever as a best third-placed qualifier.

Their hopes now rest on the outcomes of Groups J, K and L, while Egypt finished second in Group G.

Sam Drury
BBC Sport reporter

Leandro Trossard scored twice as Belgium booked their place in the World Cup knockout stage with a dominant win over New Zealand, who bow out as bottom side in Group G.

In a must-win game for both sides, Belgium shook off two lacklustre displays to start the tournament and showed their superiority from the first whistle in Vancouver.

Trossard opened the scoring in the 28th minute as New Zealand allowed a Kevin de Bruyne corner to bounce in the six-yard box, allowing the Arsenal forward to finish from close range after the ball had bounced off the back of defender Tim Payne.

Rudi Garcia's side could have been out of sight by half-time but it was not until five minutes after the break that they got their second. De Bruyne punched a pass into Trossard, his first shot was blocked but he volleyed the follow-up in smartly at the near post.

The result was put beyond doubt in the 66th minute when De Bruyne drilled a crisp left-foot shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

New Zealand got a goal back as Elijah Just thumped in his third goal of the tournament but Belgium's three-goal lead was restored moments later as Romelu Lukaku headed in just 56 seconds after coming off the bench.

Another substitute, Alexis Saelemaekers, added an extra shine to the scoreline as he slotted in the fifth in injury time.

Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport reporter

Cape Verde made history as they finished runners-up in Group H to reach the knockout stage of the World Cup with a goalless draw against Saudi Arabia.

The Blue Sharks finished in second place on three points in their debut tournament, a point above two-time winners Uruguay and 2034 hosts Saudi Arabia.

Bubista's side became the third African nation to remain unbeaten in the group stages on their tournament debut and will now face defending champions Argentina in the last 32 at Miami Stadium on Friday, 3 July.

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport reporter

Uruguay are out of the World Cup after another costly error by Fernando Muslera led to defeat by Spain - with head coach Marcelo Bielsa substituting the legendary goalkeeper at half-time.

European champions Spain were already practically guaranteed a place in the last 32 before kick-off, but Alex Baena's strike late in the first half meant they topped Group H.

Uruguay's miserable night was completed when midfielder Agustin Canobbio was sent off in stoppage time for a high challenge on Pau Cubarsi.

Bielsa's side needed a positive result to secure progression, but defeat meant they suffered a second successive World Cup group stage exit with two points from three games.

Adwaidh Rajan
BBC Sport reporter

Senegal sealed their place in the knockout stages of the World Cup with a 5-0 victory against 10-man Iraq.

The Lions of Teranga finished third in Group I with three points to climb to fifth among third-placed teams.

Senegal played a near-perfect game in Toronto as they looked to bounce back from defeats by France and Norway, scoring after only four minutes. Abdoulaye Seck's header from a corner took a decisive deflection off Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra on its way past Iraq goalkeeper Ahmed Basil.

Iraq's problems were compounded nine minutes later when referee Anthony Taylor sent off defender Rebin Sulaka for pulling down Sadio Mane at the edge of the penalty area - deeming it denial of a goalscoring opportunity after a video assistant referee review.

Mane tested Basil from the resulting free-kick, but Pape Thiaw's side, who needed goals to improve their goal difference and thereby their chances of progressing to the next stage, failed to register another shot on target in the first half.

But they capitalised on former Manchester United midfielder Zidane Iqbal giving away possession at the edge of the box as Lamine Camara cut the ball back for Ismaila Sarr to apply a simple finish to make it 2-0 in the 56th minute.

Their lead was extended three minutes later as Pape Gueye curled a left-foot strike into the top corner - his first involvement after coming on moments earlier.

Villarreal defensive midfielder Gueye added his second goal with another thunderous effort in the 71st minute before fellow substitute Iliman Ndiaye sealed the 5-0 win.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport reporter

Ousmane Dembele scored a superb hat-trick in 32 minutes as France defeated a rotated Norway side to finish top of Group I at the 2026 World Cup.

Pre-match hopes that this game would be an epic showdown between Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe were quashed by the arrival of the teamsheets.

Norway manager Stale Solbakken made 10 changes after two group victories, including resting Manchester City forward Haaland.

But into the narrative void stepped Dembele, who delivered the second-fastest men's World Cup hat-trick ever with three goals of the purest quality.

It was the first time a player had scored three goals in the opening half of a match in the tournament since Russia's Oleg Salenko in 1994.

And it was the second-quickest World Cup hat-trick ever from the start of a match, behind Erich Probst's 24-minute treble in 1954 for Austria.

Norway did briefly threaten France, striking back after Dembele's first two goals with a clever fade and finish from Rangers attacker Thelo Aasgaard.

But Dembele moved himself into contention for the Golden Boot with his fourth goal of the tournament.

And after the hat-trick hero was subbed on 65 minutes, his Paris St-Germain team-mate Desire Doue stepped up to add a fourth in stoppage time with a looping header.