In an exhilarating day of World Cup action, Argentina’s Lionel Messi, France’s Kylian Mbappe, and Norway’s Erling Haaland collectively netted seven goals. With thrilling performances still unfolding, it’s a compelling time for soccer fans.
Today is shaping up to be one of the most exciting days of the tournament. The NBC News team will provide live updates for every match, ensuring fans don’t miss a moment of the action.
World Cup Highlights
Mohamed Salah made a notable impact in the World Cup by scoring and providing an assist during Egypt’s 3-1 victory over New Zealand. This win marked Egypt’s inaugural success in the tournament, catapulting them to the top of Group G. However, their advancement to the final round remains uncertain, as they face Iran in a critical matchup on Friday in Seattle, where at least a draw is needed to progress.
Iran, looking to break a six-tournament streak without a finals appearance, still has a chance after a scoreless draw with Belgium. Despite taking 23 shots on target, Nathan Goy’s red card forced Iran to finish the match with ten players.
In Miami, Cape Verde continued to surprise by holding two-time champions Uruguay to a 2-2 draw, following their earlier draw against Spain. Meanwhile, Spain’s dominant performance led to a 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia, highlighted by Lamine Yamal becoming the second player under 18 to score in a FIFA World Cup match, following Pele’s historic feat in 1958.
Anticipated Matches Ahead
If you’re planning to catch just one day of the group stage matches, today is the day. Messi seeks to surpass Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer, currently tied at 16 goals.
Additionally, Mbappé, a former teammate of Messi at Paris Saint-Germain, has netted 14 goals and is on the verge of breaking the record following his two-goal performance against Senegal in Group I. He could further extend this tally with a hat trick against Iraq today.
Norway’s Haaland has already scored twice in the tournament and is poised to increase this count against Senegal later today, intensifying the competition.
Spain Emerges as Favorites
The current European champions, Spain, showcased their prowess by defeating Saudi Arabia 4-0, bolstered by the remarkable performance of young star Lamine Yamal. Coach Luis de la Fuente drew comparisons between Yamal and renowned artists, heightening expectations for his gameplay. Can this talent deliver early goals in future contests?
Meanwhile, Cape Verde’s fairy tale continues as they seek to realize their World Cup aspirations. After tying Uruguay 2-2, they are now on track to advance to the round of 32 with a victory over Saudi Arabia in their upcoming match.
Today, a highly anticipated match unfolds as Argentina faces off against Austria in Dallas at 1 PM ET. Messi aims to break Klose’s all-time goalscoring record, adding a thrilling narrative to the day’s events.
Kylian Mbappé’s France will then play Iraq in Philadelphia at 5 PM ET, followed by the highly anticipated match between Norway and Senegal at New Jersey Stadium at 8 PM ET. The stakes are high as Haaland attempts to lead Norway against Senegal’s formidable defenders, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy.
Match Schedule
All games will broadcast on Telemundo and Peacock, with kickoff times as follows (all times are in Eastern Time):
- 1 PM: Argentina vs Austria
- 5 PM: France vs Iraq
- 8 PM: Norway vs Senegal
- 11 PM: Jordan vs Algeria
