Croatia secured second place in Group L with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Ghana at Philadelphia Stadium, advancing to the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout rounds on Sunday.

Zlatko Dalic's side will face the Group K runners-up — currently Portugal — in Toronto on Friday July 3. Ghana finish third and will learn their next opponents in the early hours of Sunday morning. The result also confirmed Scotland's elimination from the tournament.

A slow start in Philadelphia

With both teams aware that a draw would guarantee progression, the opening exchanges were cautious in the extreme. Neither side registered a shot or a touch inside the opposition box during the first 15 minutes. It was the 17th minute before Croatia's Nikola Vlasic forced the first attempt, his effort skimming the outside of the left-hand post.

Ghana had frustrated England to a goalless draw in their midweek fixture, deploying a disciplined defensive structure. That resolve, however, crumbled just after the half-hour mark when Petar Sucic picked up the ball in open space around 35 yards from goal, took one composed touch, and drove a low, precise strike into the bottom-left corner.

Luckassen levels, then Vlasic wins it

At that stage, with England drawing 0-0 with Panama, Croatia were on course to top the group. Jude Bellingham's opener for England changed the picture, eventually sending the Three Lions to a 2-0 win and pushing Croatia back into second place.

Croatia's situation deteriorated further when Derrick Luckassen — brother of Netherlands forward Brian Brobbey — guided in an equaliser 17 minutes from time. The goal was confirmed after a lengthy VAR review, and suddenly Ghana and Croatia were level on the scoreboard.

The decisive moment came from a Luka Modric corner. The Croatian captain whipped an outswinging delivery to the far side and Vlasic peeled away from his marker to direct a firm header in off the inside of the left-hand post — 2-1 to Croatia, and enough to see Dalic's men through as runners-up.