Lionel Messi matched the all-time World Cup scoring record as Argentina began their title defence with a 3-0 win over Algeria. Austria, France and Norway also secured opening victories in Group J and Group I matches on Tuesday.
Austria marked their return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence with a tense 3-1 win over debutants Jordan in their Group J opener on Tuesday.
Austria took the lead on 20 minutes through a Romano Schmid thunderbolt, but were pegged back five minutes after the break when striker Ali Olwan found space in the area and fired a sizzling shot inside the far post.
Austria's veteran target man Marko Arnautovic slammed a low shot into the net from a goalmouth scramble in the 69th minute but it was ruled out for handball by teammate Stefan Posch following a VAR review.
Seven minutes later, though, Austria were celebrating again as Yazan Al‑Arab deflected a Marcel Sabitzer corner into his own net, before Arnautovic slotted home a penalty deep into stoppage time after Saleem Obeid was penalised for handball.
Lionel Messi earned a spot in the World Cup history books with a hat-trick that saw Argentina begin the defence of their title with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Algeria on Tuesday.
Messi became the tournament’s joint all-time leading scorer as he advanced to a total of 16 goals, equalling the record held by Miroslav Klose of Germany.
The opening game in Group J saw another masterclass from the Argentina captain, who turns 39 later this month and was marking his 200th cap for his country as he became the first player to compete at six World Cups.
Nicolas Jackson thought he had opened the scoring after beating Mike Maignan, only to be denied by the post and an unfortunate deflection, before Ismaila Sarr squandered another clear opportunity.
Jackson also had a goal ruled out for offside as Pape Thiaw’s side repeatedly threatened early on.
France improved after the break, with Desire Doue’s effort signalling a shift in momentum. Michael Olise and Mbappe both forced strong saves from Edouard Mendy before the breakthrough arrived in the 66th minute, when Mbappe finished clinically to level France’s all-time scoring record of 57 goals set by Olivier Giroud.
Bradley Barcola then put France ahead in the 82nd minute, but the match still had late drama. Senegal pulled one back in stoppage time through Ibrahim Mbaye (90+5), before Mbappe sealed the win moments later with a superb long-range strike (90+6), taking his international tally to 58 goals.
The France captain now sits on 14 World Cup finals goals, chasing Miroslav Klose’s record of 16.
Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway beat Iraq 4-1 in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener, with both sides marking their return to the global stage for the first time this century.
Norway took an early lead in a well-worked move that ended with Haaland finishing at the back post after a 14-pass build-up involving goalkeeper Orjan Nyland and David Møller Wolfe.
Iraq responded well, and Aymen Hussein became only the second Iraqi player to score at a World Cup when he headed in Amir Al Ammari’s cross in the 39th minute.
But Haaland struck again just before half-time, capitalising on a defensive mix-up between Zaid Tahseen and Jalal Hassan to restore Norway’s advantage.
Substitute Leo Østigård extended the lead in the 76th minute, rising unmarked from a corner to head home, before Iraq’s night worsened in stoppage time when Hussein turned the ball into his own net (90+6), completing a comprehensive Norway victory that sends them top of Group I.
Southeast Asian foreign ministers called for restraint on Tuesday as renewed conflict in the Middle East overshadowed regional talks in Manila, warnin...
Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said it had struck U.S.-linked military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain, claiming damage to air defences and radar sys...
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has completed its latest review of Ukraine's financing programme, clearing the way for the immediate release of ...
Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said it had struck U.S.-linked military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain, claiming damage to air defences and radar systems, as U.S. forces carried out a 10th consecutive night of strikes on Iran. The IRGC also said two oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has completed its latest review of Ukraine's financing programme, clearing the way for the immediate release of around $690 million in additional support. The latest disbursement brings total funding under the programme to about $2.2 billion.
Türkiye has taken a new technical step to facilitate direct trade with Armenia as part of the ongoing normalisation process between the two countries.
Defence companies are accelerating efforts to develop a new generation of high-speed interceptor drones as Russia increasingly deploys jet-powered versions of its Shahed attack drones, posing a growing challenge to Ukraine's air defences.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
At least six people were killed and 21 others injured after two earthquakes struck Peru's central Junín region, destroying dozens of homes and triggering a major emergency response.
Kylian Mbappé has become the first player to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot on more than one occasion. The French forward won the award presented to the top goalscorer of the tournament for the second time, despite France being knocked out in the semi-finals.
The United States launched fresh strikes against Iran after two U.S. service members were killed in Jordan. U.S. President Donald Trump paid tribute to the fallen troops as Iran warned of further escalation.
Overnight U.S. strikes caused blackouts in southwestern Iran and hit the northwestern city of Tabriz for the first time. Separately, a U.S. soldier died in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone.
Kylian Mbappé has become the first player to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot on more than one occasion. The French forward won the award presented to the top goalscorer of the tournament for the second time, despite France being knocked out in the semi-finals.
Spain are world champions for the second time after Ferran Torres' extra-time winner secured a 1-0 victory over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at New York New Jersey Stadium.
France star Kylian Mbappé became the leading goalscorer in men’s World Cup history after scoring twice in his side’s 6-4 defeat by England in the third-place play-off.
Lionel Messi's Argentina face Spain in World Cup final with history on the line. Spain and Argentina meet on Sunday in the 2026 World Cup final, bringing together the reigning champions of Europe and South America.
France coach Didier Deschamps took responsibility for his team's "unacceptable" first-half collapse in a 6-4 defeat to England on Saturday, bringing his 14-year reign as France coach to an end.
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