SuperNewsAffiliate

It was a day for football's biggest names.  Yet even amid such star quality, Lionel Messi still commanded centre stage. Author  | Jamie P Hours after France's Kylian Mbappe and Norway's Erling Haaland had illuminated the World Cup with two goals apiece, the scene was set. This, though, was no supporting role. This was the main attraction. The Messi show. His first World Cup hat-trick, a record-equalling 16th goal at the finals, and another reminder that, even at 38, he remains a force of remarkable influence. Argentina secured a 3-0 victory over Algeria, with Messi at the heart of everything. As the sun dipped behind the Kansas City skyline, the 38-year-old became the first player in history to appear at six World Cups, eclipsing rival Cristiano Ronaldo by a single day. World Cup 2026 | Argentina 3 - 0 Algeria Lionel Messi became the World Cup's joint all-time leading scorer with a hat-trick as reigning champions Argentina opened their title defence with an emphati...

A rare World Cup win for Austria They secured their first World Cup finals victory since 1990 with a hard-fought win over debutants Jordan in San Francisco. Author | Peter Grainger Stadium | San Francisco Bay Area Stadium The Europeans went ahead through a superb strike from Romano Schmid in the 21st minute, but Jordan responded five minutes after the break when Ali Olwan curled an excellent effort beyond the goalkeeper. Former Stoke City and West Ham United forward Marko Arnautovic believed he had restored Austria's lead after pouncing on a loose ball when Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila failed to deal with a corner. However, following a review by the video assistant referee, the goal was ruled out after replays showed the ball had struck the arm of Stefan Posch. READ MORE |  Iran 2 - 2 New Zealand READ MORE |  Argentina 3 - 0 Algeria Austria were not to be denied and regained the advantage in the 76th minute when Yazan Al Arab inadvertently turned the ball into his own ne...

Lionel Messi makes history again He became the World Cup's joint all-time leading scorer with a hat-trick as reigning champions Argentina opened their title defence with an emphatic victory over Algeria. Author  | Jamie P Stadium  | Kansas City Stadium Making his 200th appearance for his country, Lionel Messi scored the first World Cup hat-trick of his illustrious career. In doing so, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner took his tally of goals in World Cup finals to 16, drawing level with Germany's all-time leading marksman, Miroslav Klose. The three-time world champions were forced to work hard for the win It was also the first time Argentina had won their opening match at a World Cup as defending champions, having lost their first games in 1982 and 1990. Much of that was down to the brilliance of Messi, who curled home a superb opener in the 17th minute. The 38-year-old collected the ball from his Inter Miami team-mate Rodrigo De Paul before bending a precise finish beyond ...

Norway start World Cup with emphatic win They overcame a determined Iraq side in their opening Group I encounter as Erling Haaland marked his World Cup debut with two goals.  Author | Sean M Stadium | Boston Stadium The 25-year-old took his international tally to 57 goals in 51 appearances as Norway returned to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years. He came close to becoming the 55th player to score a World Cup hat-trick, only for Jalal Hassan to produce an excellent late save. Competing on football's biggest stage for the first time in 40 years, Iraq more than matched their opponents during the opening 25 minutes. However, the breakthrough arrived just 58 seconds after the first-half hydration break when David Moller Wolfe surged down the left and delivered a low cross that Haaland slid in at the far post. Iraq deservedly drew level in the 39th minute. Amir Al-Ammari's cross was met by Aymen Hussein, whose powerful downward header found the corner. Hussein had already s...

Kylian Mbappe became France's all-time leading goalscorer with a brilliant double Les Bleus opened their World Cup campaign with victory over Senegal in New Jersey. Author | James Y Stadium | New York New Jersey Stadium Mbappe broke Senegal's resistance in the second half with a low finish before adding a stunning long-range strike deep into stoppage time. The Real Madrid forward's second goal took him to 58 for France, moving him one clear of former record holder Olivier Giroud. Bradley Barcola had earlier doubled France's advantage before Ibrahim Mbaye pulled one back for Senegal, but Mbappe's late effort extinguished any hopes of a comeback. Watch |  Clips from the crowd It had been an underwhelming display by France prior to Mbappe's opener Senegal created the clearer chances and may feel unfortunate not to have broken the deadlock after an impressive first-half display. Nicolas Jackson came closest for the Lions of Teranga when his low strike cannoned off...

Maxi Araujo scored a late equaliser for Uruguay This denied Saudi Arabia another memorable opening-match victory at a World Cup. Author | Peter Grainger Stadium | Miami Stadium Saudi Arabia stunned the footballing world when they defeated eventual champions Argentina in their opening fixture at the 2022 tournament in Qatar. This time, however, they could not withstand a relentless second-half assault from Uruguay, who finished with 28 attempts on goal, as Marcelo Bielsa's side battled back to claim a point in the Group H encounter. A closer analysis of what happened Abdulelah al Amri bundled home four minutes before half-time after Hassan al Tambakti's powerful header from a corner was parried by Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, putting Saudi Arabia ahead and raising hopes of another famous World Cup upset. Pictures taken by readers Thommo and JP Former Leeds manager Bielsa responded with a double substitution at the interval, including the withdrawal of the ineffective for...

New Zealand still searching for their first win at a World Cup Iran twice came from behind in Los Angeles to deny them that elusive victory. Author  | Josh T Stadium  | Los Angeles Stadium Motherwell forward Elijah Just gave New Zealand a dream start, thumping home a half-volley after Chris Wood held the ball up and played it into his path. New Zealand continued to show promise but, as has often been the case at this World Cup, the first hydration break midway through the opening half proved costly. The momentum shifted and Iran found a route back into the contest when Ramin Rezaeian flicked the ball beyond Max Crocombe. Before drawing level, Iran's star forward Mehdi Taremi had gone close when he struck the post with a powerful effort from outside the area. After making it 1-1, Iran also had a goal ruled out for offside. New Zealand took time to regain their rhythm after the break However, Just struck again to restore their lead. The forward combined cleverly with Wood b...

Belgium and Egypt play out an entertaining draw A second-half own goal denied Egypt a first ever World Cup win as Belgium rescued a point from their Group G opener. Author  | Jamie P Stadium  | Seattle Stadium The Pharaohs took the lead in the 21st minute through Al Ahly midfielder Emam Ashour, who thundered a 20-yard strike into the bottom corner past Thibaut Courtois. Lukaku has an impact from the bench However, Thomas Meunier's low cross was turned into his own net by Egypt defender Mohamed Hany in the 66th minute, under pressure from substitute Romelu Lukaku. Egypt were backed by a passionate support base on the USA's west coast as they hunted their first World Cup win in eight games, having made their tournament debut back in 1934. Instead the seven-time African champions spent the final moments holding on and managed to avoid defeat at a World Cup for only the third time. Best reaction Reading through all the hundreds (and maybe thousands comments about the game online) ...

No goals but a remarkable 90 minutes in Atlanta. Debutants Cape Verde produced one of the biggest World Cup shocks in recent memory by holding Spain.  Author | Ed Stadium | Atlanta Stadium Cape Verde, the third-smallest nation by population ever to qualify for a World Cup, arrived ranked 67th in the latest FIFA standings and were widely expected to be overwhelmed by second-ranked Spain in their opening Group H fixture. Instead, the reigning European champions struggled to find fluency in attack for long periods and, when they did threaten, 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha stood firm with a series of outstanding saves. Spain tried to change things from the bench The introduction of Lamine Yamal as a second-half substitute injected fresh energy into both his side and the Spain supporters inside the stadium. However, the Barcelona teenager, making his first appearance in almost eight weeks after recovering from a hamstring injury, was unable to provide a decisive moment on his World Cup...

Ivory Coast edged past Ecuador in Philadelphia Manchester United winger Amad Diallo scored a superb 90th-minute winner to give Ivory Coast a great start to the tournament. Author | James Y Stadium | Philadelphia Stadium It was a brilliant finish from the substitute, who guided the ball into the corner with his left foot after a powerful run from Wilfried Singo. The goal also brought an end to Ecuador's 19-match unbeaten run, which had stretched for almost two years. Making a huge impact from the bench Amad's omission from the starting line-up was a surprise as Ivory Coast returned to the World Cup for the first time in 12 years. However, he made a decisive impact from the bench, scoring the goal that gives his side a significant chance of progressing from Group E, which also features Germany and Curacao , and reaching the knockout stages for the first time in their history. Ecuador struck the woodwork three times but were unable to make the breakthrough, with John Yeboah and A...