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World Cup heats up: Scotland coach resigns, Cape Verde advances, Messi benched, England wins

The World Cup continues with significant developments including a coach resignation, underdog advancements, star player news, and key match results.

By World Brief · 2026-06-28
World Cup heats up: Scotland coach resigns, Cape Verde advances, Messi benched, England wins

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup has seen a flurry of significant developments as the group stage concludes. Scotland's head coach, Steve Clarke, resigned on June 27, 2026, following the team's elimination from the tournament after failing to advance from Group C. Meanwhile, in a historic achievement, debutants Cape Verde secured their place in the knockout stage, becoming the smallest nation ever to do so after drawing all three of their group matches.

In other major news, Argentina's star player Lionel Messi was benched for their final group stage fixture against Jordan. This decision by coach Lionel Scaloni came after Argentina had already guaranteed the top spot in Group J, with Messi having scored all five of their goals in the preceding matches. England also confirmed their dominance in Group L, securing first place with a 2-0 victory over Panama thanks to second-half goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, ensuring their progression to the next round.

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