The 2026 FIFA World Cup is gathering pace with records tumbling and expectations soaring. Defending champions Argentina have secured knockout tickets with a game to spare, and two-time winners France have punched through with a game to spare as well. Beaten Euro 2024 finalists England will look to secure knockout tickets today, while Portugal is bidding to bounce back from a disappointing start.
Lionel Messi scored another brace to inspire Argentina to a 2-0 win over Austria. He missed an early penalty against Austria but scored on either side of half-time, following a hat-trick against Algeria on the opening day that led to a 3-0 win. Messi has scored all five of Argentina's goals at the tournament and is steering further away from Miroslav Klose and Kylian Mbappe on the World Cup's all-time scoring charts.
Kylian Mbappe scored a brace against Senegal on day one. France thrashed Iraq 3-0, with Mbappe scoring another brace. Mbappe has drawn level with Klose as the joint-second highest goalscorer in World Cup history with 16 goals.
Erling Braut Haaland scored a game-winning brace against Iraq. Manchester City's Erling Haaland scored twice in a 3-2 win over Senegal. Haaland had a lapse of concentration towards the end of the first half against Senegal, hitting the post from close range with an empty net.
Ronaldo was a marginal figure in Portugal's 1-1 draw with DR Congo, a performance that exposed the 41 year old to widespread criticism and raised the stakes ahead of round two. Portugal now faces pressure to take all three points against Uzbekistan, with Ronaldo expected to lead the attack as he looks to answer Messi's scoring run and get Portugal's title ambitions back on track.
Harry Kane scored twice in the opening 45 minutes as England beat Croatia 4-2 in their Group D opener. England's captain Harry Kane plays for Bayern Munich. A victory over Ghana would send England through to the knockout rounds with a game to spare, and Thomas Tuchel is expected to put England's fate into Harry Kane's hands again. Harry Kane is 30 years old.
