France: 3, Senegal: 1
Embed from Getty ImagesFrance played a terrible first half of soccer to start their World Cup campaign. The stars were playing sloppy, and they were giving up chance after chance. In the second half, it clicked.
It started with striker Kylian Mbappe thinking he won a penalty. The referee went to a VAR check, but decided not to give a penalty. Soon after, a brilliant pass from right winger Michael Olise, Mbappe found the opener for the French.
It was the substitute, Bradley Barcola, someone who would start for nearly every country with ease, who scored the second goal for France to ease the tensions. Another substitute, and Barcola’s club teammate at PSG, Ibrahim Mbaye, who got Senegal on the board in the second half stoppage time.
Senegal didn’t get to celebrate for very long, as Mbappe sent a scorching strike past the goalkeeper to become France’s all time top goal scorer.
France has the best crop of attackers in the tournament, and this was on display in the second half. Even when they do not play well, they can flip a switch and score goals in bulk.
Player of the Match: Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
Norway: 4, Iraq: 1
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was the first World Cup appearance for Norway since 1998, and it was the first chance for superstar striker Erling Haaland to make his impact on the big stage. In the 29th minute, he did just that, finishing off a great cross from left back David Moller Wolfe.
Iraq got their first goal of the World Cup in their first appearance since 1986, a header from striker Ayman Hussein over the tall Norwegian centre backs found the back of the net. The tie score didn’t last long, and an error from the Iraqi goalkeeper led to Haaland bagging his second of the first half.
Right at the end of the first half, centre back Akam Hashem fired a ball from outside the box that just barely missed the net, coming just inches away from the goal of the tournament.
Norway controlled most of the game in the second half, and substitute Leo Ostigard scored on a corner from central midfielder Martin Odegaard to make it 3-1. The Norwegians scored a fourth in stoppage time on a Hussein own goal.
Group I may be the toughest group in the tournament, and it is Norway who lead the group after one game on goal difference.
Player of the Match: Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Argentina: 3, Algeria: 0
Embed from Getty ImagesArgentina’s first match in trying to defend their 2022 title, and it was striker Lionel Messi’s show. Algeria are a good team and didn’t make things easy on the top ranked team, but Messi took over.
His first goal came in the 17th minute, ripping the ball past the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Luca Zidane, an unbelievable strike from outside the box.
The second goal came in the 60th minute, as Messi slid in a rebound on a shot from central midfielder Alexis Mac Allister.
Messi’s third goal came in the 76th minute, another great strike past Zidane right at the start of the box. Fans were crying at his presence before the match, and were bowing down to one of the game’s all time greats after his first World Cup hat trick.
Messi’s performance also ties him with Miroslav Klose for the most World Cup goals ever. It was the first hat trick at the 2026 World Cup, putting him in the lead for the Golden Boot.
Player of the Match: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
Austria: 3, Jordan: 1
Embed from Getty ImagesAustria had to work for the 3 points in this game against Jordan in their first ever World Cup game. Each team ended with the same amount of shots and shots on target despite Austria having the better attacking quality.
Right winger Romano Schmid got the scoring started in the 20th minute with a great shot from outside the box, and it looked like it would be easy for the Austrians, but they didn’t score a goal by themselves until the 12th minute of second half stoppage time.
Jordan equalized in the 50th minute, their first World Cup goal scored by left midfielder Ali Iyad Olwan. The middle eastern countries were finding success against other nations, and Jordan was no different, until an own goal from centre back Yazan Abu Al-Arab put the Austrians back in front in the 76th minute.
There were chances to equalize later in the match, but it was substitute Marko Arnautovic who put the game away with a penalty minute, in the 102nd minute of action.
Austria had to put up a big result after Argentina did what they did in the previous match. It wasn’t easy, but they are still in the race, and the two teams will face off in five days.
Player of the Match: Romano Schmid (Werder Bremen)