Argentina 3-0 Algeria
Defending champions Argentina opened their Group J campaign in style with a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria. Lionel Messi stole the show with a hat-trick, delivering one of the tournament’s standout performances so far and sending a strong message to the rest of the field.
Norway 4 – 1 Iraq
Norway marked its return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence with an impressive 4-1 win over Iraq. Erling Haaland scored twice on his World Cup debut, helping Norway take control of Group I and boosting hopes of a deep tournament run.
France 3-1 Senegal
France began its World Cup campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over Senegal. Kylian Mbappé scored twice, becoming France’s all-time leading scorer and moving higher on the list of World Cup goal scorers.
Today’s Fixtures (June 17)
Austria vs Jordan (Group J)
Portugal vs DR Congo (Group K)
England vs Croatia (Group L)
Ghana vs Panama (Group L)
Uzbekistan vs Colombia (Group K)
Tournament Headlines
– Messi leads the Golden Boot race with four goals after his hat-trick against Algeria.
– Haaland announced himself on the World Cup stage with a brace for Norway.
– Mbappé continues to break records as France starts strongly.
The tournament has already produced more than 50 goals in its opening week, highlighting the attacking football on display.
Times Asian Sports Desk
Messi dazzles, Haaland shines, and Mbappé makes history as football’s biggest stars light up the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage.
