It’s another full day of soccer action at the FIFA World Cup with Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo on the pitch, a heavyweight clash between England and Croatia as well as Toronto stadium hosting its second game of the tournament.
Here’s a rundown of what you can expect.
Portugal vs. Democratic Republic of the Congo
Group K – Houston Stadium
1pm ET/10am PT across the TSN Network, TSN.ca and TSN App
Even at 41, Cristiano Ronaldo still moves the needle.
The Portuguese captain is set to compete at his sixth – and likely final – World Cup this year and will lead his side in a Group K opener against the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Wednesday.
Ronaldo’s 143 international goals, eight of which have come at the World Cup, are the most in men’s soccer history. He scored once at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as Portugal made the quarter-final where they fell to Morocco.
Ronaldo led Portugal to victory at the 2016 UEFA European Championship.
When it comes to club soccer, Ronaldo is no longer competing in the top leagues in the world, but still has a scoring touch with 129 goals over four seasons with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.
This will be Portugal’s seventh straight appearance at the World Cup. If Portugal is going to win their first world title, Ronaldo will need plenty of help from his younger teammates, including world-class midfielder Vitinha and defender Ruben Dias.
DR Congo will be Portugal’s first opponent in Group K.
DR Congo haven’t been to the FIFA World since 1974 when they competed as Zaire and were outscored 14-0 over three group-stage games.
Newcastle forward Yoane Wissa is the star player on this squad, scoring nine goals over 37 appearances with the national team.
Captain Chancel Mbemba, centre back for Ligue 1 club Lille who has made 109 appearances for DR Congo, and Greek Super League midfielder Samuel Moutoussamy, are other key players for the African team.
England vs. Croatia
Group L – Dallas Stadium
4pm ET/1pm PT on TSN1/3/4, TSN.ca and TSN App
Dallas Stadium will host one of the World Cup’s most anticipated group-stage matches when world No. 4 England takes on No. 11 Croatia.
Croatia, led by their 40-year-old captain Luka Modric, have made back-to-back deep runs at the FIFA World Cup, including a runner-up showing in 2018 when they defeated England in the semifinal and a third-place finish in Qatar in 2022.
Modric is just two games away from reaching 200 for his career for Croatia, scoring 29 goals.
The English have qualified for seven straight World Cups and 10 out of the last 11 but haven’t won it all since 1966. At the 2022 World Cup, England was eliminated by eventual champion French in the quarter-final after a strong group stage and a blowout win over Senegal in the Round of 16.
England’s squad is stacked with star players at almost every position, including speedy forward Bukayo Saka, Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, regarded as one of the best players in the world, and veteran captain Harry Kane.
The 32-year-old Kane is a goal-scoring machine, netting a career-high 61 goals this past season with Bayern Munich of Bundesliga.
Kane is England’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 114 games, including eight World Cup goals.
With lower-ranked Ghana and Panama the other teams in Group L, a victory in this match could secure first place entering the knockout stage.
Ghana vs. Panama
Group L – Toronto Stadium
7pm ET/4pm PT across the TSN Network, TSN.ca and TSN App
Toronto Stadium will host its second of six FIFA World Cup games on Wednesday when Ghana battles Panama in a Group L clash.
Panama, ranked 34th, will be the favourites against No. 73 Ghana.
Michael Amir Murillo is Panama’s star player as the 30-year-old Beşiktaş right-back has nine goals in 94 games with the national team.
Panama has one previous appearance at the tournament, losing all three group stage games in 2018 while being outscored 11-2.
They’ll look to capture their first World Cup point on Wednesday in Toronto.
Ghana enters the World Cup with controversy.
Veteran midfielder Thomas Partey was denied entry into Canada ahead of Ghana’s World Cup opener while he awaits trial on rape and sexual assault charges.
Ghana’s failed to advance for the group stage at the World Cup in Qatar with their best finish coming with a quarter-final appearance in 2010.
Antoine Semenyo will be counted on to lead Ghana offensively at the World Cup. The 27-year-old forward is coming off a strong first season with Manchester City, scoring 11 goals in 27 matches. He has three goals over 34 international appearances with Ghana.
Uzbekistan vs. Colombia
Group K – Mexico City Stadium
10pm ET/7pm PT across the TSN Network, TSN.ca and TSN App
Wednesday’s action at the FIFA World Cup wraps up at Mexico City Stadium with a clash between Colombia and Uzbekistan.
Colombia, ranked 14th in the world, returns to the World Cup for a seventh time after missing out four years ago in Qatar.
Luis Diaz and Luis Suarez will lead the charge up front for Colombia.
Diaz, 29, had 26 goals for Bayern Munich this past season while Suarez, 28, scored 38 times for Sporting CP in Portugal.
James Rodríguez, who broke out on the international scene with a tournament-leading six goals at the 2014 World Cup, returns with national team as their captain. This will be the 34-year-old’s third World Cup.
This will be the first World Cup appearance for 50th ranked Uzbekistan.
Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov, 22, leads the team on the backend, making 26 career appearances with the national team.
Forward Eldor Shomurodov has 44 goals for Uzbekistan the most in the country’s history.
