France, Argentina and Norway cruise to victory on day 6 as Austria edges Jordan in a dramatic opener at 2026 World Cup

Jun 16, 2026

The 2026 World Cup began with dominant performances from top stars. Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick for Argentina in a 3-0 win over Algeria, tying the all-time men's World Cup scoring record with 16 goals. Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland each scored twice as France beat Senegal 3-1 and Norway beat Iraq 4-1, respectively. The opening matches also saw a controversial VAR decision in France's game and a historic first goal for Jordan.

Opening Match Results

▪Austria defeated World Cup debutants Jordan 3-1 in Santa Clara in their opening Group J match.
▪France defeated Senegal 3-1 at MetLife Stadium in their opening Group I match on June 16, 2026.
▪Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 in their opening Group J match of the 2026 World Cup in Kansas City.
▪Norway defeated Iraq 4-1 in Foxborough, Massachusetts, in their opening Group I match on June 16, 2026.

Star Player Performances

▪Kylian Mbappé scored two goals for France in their victory over Senegal.
▪Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick for Argentina against Algeria, his first in a World Cup.
▪Erling Haaland scored two goals for Norway in his World Cup debut against Iraq.

Key Match Incidents

▪In the first half against France, Senegal missed key chances, with Nicolas Jackson hitting the post and Ismaila Sarr missing from point-blank range.
▪Ali Olwan scored Jordan's first-ever World Cup goal in their 3-1 loss to Austria.
▪France attempted only one shot in the first half against Senegal but improved significantly in the second half to win.
▪Algeria failed to register a single shot on target against Argentina, a first in the team's World Cup history.

Controversies and Key Moments

▪A penalty was not awarded to France after a VAR review for a challenge on Kylian Mbappé in the match against Senegal.
▪Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic criticized a tackle by Lionel Messi that did not result in a red card, stating "everyone saw it, including me."

Records and Tournament Context

▪Lionel Messi also became the first man to play in six different World Cup tournaments.
▪Lionel Messi's hat-trick tied him with Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading men's World Cup goalscorer with 16 goals.
▪Norway's match against Iraq marked the country's return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence.
▪The next round of matches on June 22 will see Argentina play Austria, France play Iraq, and Norway face Senegal.