By Jessica Afuye
The 2026 FIFA World Cup continued to captivate fans around the globe as football’s biggest stars delivered standout performances, while a series of surprising results underlined the unpredictable nature of the tournament.
Defending champions Argentina kicked off their campaign in emphatic fashion, defeating Algeria 3-0 thanks to an inspired display from captain Lionel Messi. The 38-year-old produced a vintage performance, netting all three goals to remind the world of his enduring brilliance and lead La Albiceleste to a comfortable opening victory.
France also got their campaign off to a winning start with a 3-1 victory over Senegal. Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring, sliding the ball past Edward Mendi after a sleek pass from Michael Olise, before Bradley Barcola doubled the score shortly after replacing Ousmane Dembele.
Ibrahim Mbaye pulled one back for Senegal in the 95th minute to give the African side some momentum late on, but right after that, Mbappe surged forward to make it 3-1 and, in the process, became France’s all-time leading goalscorer. His record-breaking brace helped secure three valuable points for Les Bleus.
Meanwhile, Norway announced their arrival on the World Cup stage with a commanding 4-1 victory over Iraq. Erling Haaland marked his World Cup debut in style, scoring twice as the Scandinavian side showcased their attacking prowess and signalled their intent to challenge the tournament’s established powers.
Austria also celebrated a successful return to football’s biggest stage with a 3-1 win over World Cup debutants Jordan. Romano Schmid gave Austria an early advantage before Ali Olwan restored parity for Jordan. However, sustained Austrian pressure resulted in an own goal, while veteran striker Marko Arnautović converted a late penalty to seal the victory.
Elsewhere, several unexpected results highlighted the competitiveness of the group stage. Spain were frustrated in a goalless draw by Cape Verde, while Belgium and Egypt shared the spoils in a 1-1 stalemate. Saudi Arabia earned a respectable 1-1 draw against Uruguay, and Iran battled to an entertaining 2-2 draw with New Zealand.
With the tournament gathering momentum, the World Cup has already produced goals, drama, surprises and moments of individual brilliance. As more heavyweight clashes loom on the horizon, fans can expect even more excitement in the days ahead.