Ronaldo Scores Twice as Portugal Dominates Uzbekistan 5-0 to Reach World Cup Knockout Stage; England Held to 0-0 Draw by Ghana

Portugal has officially advanced to the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup following a commanding 5-0 win against Uzbekistan. The victory, secured at NRG Stadium in Houston, saw Cristiano Ronaldo net two goals, leading his team's dominant offensive display.

Joao Cancelo opened the scoring with an assist to Ronaldo in the sixth minute. Nuno Mendes doubled Portugal's lead with a curling free-kick in the 17th minute. Although Uzbekistan's Azizjon Ganiev scored in the 29th minute, the goal was disallowed after a VAR review. Ronaldo scored his second goal in the 39th minute, assisted by Bruno Fernandes, before an own goal by Uzbekistan's goalkeeper Abduvakhid Nematov in the 60th minute made it 4-0. Substitute Rafael Leao sealed the scoring in the 83rd minute with a powerful strike.

Meanwhile, England's World Cup aspirations remain uncertain after a frustrating goalless draw against Ghana in Boston. Despite controlling possession for large parts of the match, Thomas Tuchel's side struggled to create clear scoring opportunities. Their best chances included a Declan Rice header in the first half and missed openings by Noni Madueke and Anthony Gordon after the break. Nico O'Reilly also hit the crossbar late in the game.

Ghana's disciplined defense, marshaled by goalkeeper Benjamin Asare, successfully thwarted England's attacks throughout the match. The draw leaves England's qualification for the next round undecided, setting up a tense final group stage match.