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.
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