In brief
- Before the Colombia-Ghana match, defending World Cup champions Argentina had to fight to fend off tiny Cape Verde.
- The Socceroos also have plenty to ponder after Egypt brought their dream run at the tournament to a halt.
Following Argentina's win over Cape Verde and Egypt's over Australia, Colombia saw off Ghana 1-0 on Friday to become the final team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026's Round of 16.
The South Americans dominated the game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City but ended up with just Jhon Arias's early goal to show for their superiority as they now look forward to a meeting with Switzerland in Vancouver on Tuesday.
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey fizzed a shot just wide in the opening minute but that proved a false dawn for the African nation.
Colombia were forced into an early change when Jhon Cordoba pulled up with an apparent groin injury and was replaced by Luis Suarez.
Minutes later Ghana were forced into a change of their own when Alidu Seidu came on for the stricken Marvin Senaya.
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Colombia went ahead in the 14th minute after substitute Suarez showed persistence on the right flank and crossed for an unmarked Arias to steer home.
That gave Carlos Queiroz's goal-shy Black Stars, who scored just twice in the group phase, a major headache.
Colombia continued to dominate, playing fluid, inventive football as they searched for a second goal.
Bayern Munich forward Luis Diaz had a wonderful chance to double Colombia's lead in the 39th minute but scuffed his shot wide.
Early in first-half stoppage time, Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi produced a superb save from Johan Mojica's downward header.
The half-time numbers made grim reading for Ghana — not a single shot on target and less than half of Colombia's 319 completed passes — but they were still in the game.
Colombia made hard work of the second half, squandering a number of chances to finish off their opponents. Diaz put the ball in the net but was flagged offside before striking another shot straight at Zigi.
As time ticked down, Juan Quintero flashed a powerful shot wide but one goal turned out to be enough against a side that failed to muster a single shot on target.
Cape Verde's World Cup fairytale ends
It was a true David-versus-Goliath contest when defending World Cup champions Argentina were made to fight until the final minute in extra time to beat tiny Cape Verde.
Argentina overcame Cape Verde 3-2 on Saturday (AEST) to book their spot in the round of 16 against Egypt — who knocked out Australia 4-2 in a penalty shootout earlier.
The winning goal for Argentina was credited as an own-goal after Cristian Romero's header deflected off Cape Verde's Diney Borges in the 111th minute.
Lionel Messi earlier scored in regulation to record his 20th World Cup goal and give La Albiceleste the lead.
Deroy Duarte then scored for Cape Verde before Lisandro Martinez netted in the 103rd minute to put Argentina 2-1 ahead.
But Sidny Lopes Cabral scored another great equaliser to stun the pro-Argentina crowd in South Florida.
Cape Verde's memorable World Cup debut had been a stunning run that few outside the tiny island nation off the western coast of Africa could have predicted.
Behind the stellar play of 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, Cape Verde became the smallest country to reach the knockout round, securing surprise draws against Spain and Uruguay and another against Saudi Arabia.
Vozinha made 10 saves against Argentina, including five against Messi. Messi himself also made some history of his own.
He added another brilliant goal to his resume, sneaking behind the Cape Verde defence on a well-timed run as Martinez lofted a pass towards him, taking a quick touch and hammering a finish into the roof of the net in the 29th minute.
The Argentina captain has seven goals in this tournament — one more than France's Kylian Mbappé in the Golden Boot race as the top scorer in this year's World Cup — and extended his World Cup record, moving two goals ahead of Mbappé on the all-time list.
He has scored 12 goals during his record eight-match scoring streak.
Egypt leaves Socceroos still chasing knockout victory
Earlier, the Socceroos' World Cup campaign came to a heartbreaking halt in a dramatic penalty shootout, with a defeat to Egypt in the Round of 32.
The Socceroos' first-ever World Cup knockout match win will have to wait another four years.
Egypt made history playing its first-ever knockout stage match and will now go on to face the winner of Argentina vs Cabo Verde for the round of 16 on Wednesday.
Australia's dream was shattered by costly misses, with Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington both missing the target.
Goalkeeper Mathew Ryan was subbed on for Patrick Beach in the last minutes of the game, to play his first minutes of the tournament, and didn't manage any penalty saves.
Egypt scored the opener at the 13-minute mark, but as Australia improved their momentum in the second half, an Egypt own goal gifted them an equaliser in the 55th. Extra time couldn't unlock either defence.
The match was played in front of 70,000 at Dallas Stadium.
Australia's World Cup campaign started with an unexpected win against Türkiye, continued with a loss against the US, and a draw against Paraguay that secured Australia's second spot in Group D.
Now, after the disappointing result against Egypt in a close match, Tony Popovic's young team will return home.
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