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.
U.S. President Donald Trump sought a deal with Iran "out of deperation," Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said, in a statment on social me...
The leader of an extremist group that carried out so-called "Sharia patrols" targeting people suspected of drinking alcohol in Russia's Kabardino-Balk...
The U.S. has announced new visa restrictions targeting individuals it says are undermining peace efforts in Ethiopia, focusing on hardline members of ...
A Ukrainian drone strike has hit an oil refinery in south-east Moscow for the second time in three days, triggering a major fire, disrupting flights a...
The European Parliament has adopted one of its strongest resolutions on Georgia to date, calling for the release of political prisoners, backing sanct...
The leader of an extremist group that carried out so-called "Sharia patrols" targeting people suspected of drinking alcohol in Russia's Kabardino-Balkarian Republic has been sentenced to four years and three months in a penal colony.
The U.S. has announced new visa restrictions targeting individuals it says are undermining peace efforts in Ethiopia, focusing on hardline members of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and their immediate family members amid rising tensions in the country's north.
A Ukrainian drone strike has hit an oil refinery in south-east Moscow for the second time in three days, triggering a major fire, disrupting flights across the Russian capital and highlighting growing vulnerabilities in the country's energy infrastructure.
The United Arab Emirates has introduced a minimum age of 15 for social media use, becoming the first country in the Arab world to impose such a restriction amid growing global concerns about the impact of digital platforms on children.
Donald Trump has said the U.S. will resume bombing Iran if Tehran doesn't "behave," at the sidelines of the G7 summit in France. Earlier, the U.S. President criticised Israel for its tactics against Hezbollah, saying it was unnecessary to bomb entire apartment buildings to tackle militants.
U.S. President Donald Trump sought a deal with Iran "out of deperation," Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said, in a statment on social media. Khamenei added that he himself "held a different view," to Trump, but allowed the agreement after receiving assurances from Iran's President.
A cyber extortion group has claimed it stole more than a terabyte of data from Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk after the company allegedly refused to pay a $25 million ransom.
American technology company Snap has launched its first augmented-reality (AR) glasses for consumers, marking a major push into wearable computing as tech firms race to redefine personal devices in the AI era.
Britain has announced an additional £8 million ($11 million) to help Pakistan combat illegal migration, human trafficking and organised crime, while praising Islamabad's role in diplomacy that helped secure the recent U.S.-Iran agreement.
Uzbekistan’s first-ever FIFA World Cup match ended in a 3-1 defeat to Colombia on June 18, but the game still delivered a historic moment as Abbosbek Fayzullaev scored the national team’s first goal at a World Cup.
Caleb Yirenkyi’s stoppage-time goal secured a 1-0 win for Ghana over Panama as World Cup action delivered a mix of late drama and key results. Colombia and England also began their campaigns with victories, while DR Congo held Portugal in a historic 1-1 draw and Austria beat Jordan 3-1.
Iran’s World Cup campaign has been overshadowed by travel disruption, organisational problems and a shortage of key support staff, with players and coaches openly criticising conditions around the team.
Tunisia have appointed Hervé Renard as head coach after dismissing Sabri Lamouchi following the team's 5-1 defeat to Sweden.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 produced drama and surprises on 14-15 June, with Iran fighting back to draw 2-2 with New Zealand, Ivory Coast scoring a stoppage-time winner over Ecuador, Sweden thrashing Tunisia 5-1, and debutants Cape Verde holding Spain to a goalless draw.
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