World Cup 2026: Messi, Mbappe, Haaland deliver as Argentina, France, Norway secure crucial wins

By Jessica Afuye

The FIFA World Cup 2026 continued yesterday and this morning with another exciting round of group-stage matches as football fans witnessed brilliant goals, dramatic moments and outstanding performances from some of the biggest names in world football.

In Group J, defending champions Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 in a strong performance. Captain Lionel Messi once again proved his importance to the team, scoring both goals to guide Argentina to victory. Messi’s brace helped Argentina strengthen their position and seal qualification for the knockout stage.

Messi with his two goals, now has 18 World Cup goals, two more than the previous record holder, Miroslav Josef Klose and Kylian Mbappe with 16 each.

In Group I, France recorded a convincing 3-0 win over Iraq as Mbappé produced a brilliant performance. Mbappé opened the scoring in the 14th minute after receiving an assist from Michael Olise. He doubled France’s lead in the 54th minute with an assist from Ousmane Dembélé. Dembélé later completed the scoring in the 66th minute after another assist from Olise, sealing a comfortable victory for the French team.

Another entertaining match saw Norway defeat Senegal 3-2 in a thrilling contest. Erling Haaland was the star for Norway, scoring twice, while Marcus Pedersen added another goal. Senegal responded strongly through Ismaïla Sarr, who scored two goals, but Norway held on to claim all three points in a dramatic finish.

Senegal now has a slim chance of making the round of 32, and must win the last group match to stand any chance.

The final match of the day saw Algeria complete a comeback victory over Jordan, winning 2-1. Jordan took the lead through Nizar Al-Rashdan, but Algeria fought back in the second half. Nadhir Benbouali equalised before Amine Gouiri scored the winning goal to give Algeria a valuable victory.

The latest results have made the World Cup group stage even more competitive, with several teams battling for qualification. With football’s biggest stars delivering memorable performances, the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to provide excitement, surprises and unforgettable moments for fans around the world.