FIFA World Cup Day 12 recap: Lionel Messi breaks scoring record; Algeria wins

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Algeria scored off two corner kicks in the second half to rally from an early deficit and defeat Jordan 2-1 on Monday night to bolster its chances of advancing to the knockout round of the World Cup.

Second-half substitute Nadhir Benbouali headed in a corner kick in the 69th minute and Amine Gouiri provided the game-winner in the 82nd to give Algeria its first win at the World Cup since 2014.

The Jordanians had taken the lead for the first time at a World Cup on a first-half goal by Nizar Al Rashdan but couldn’t withstand the continual pressure from Algeria in the second half.

This marked the first time Algeria had ever won a World Cup game after conceding the first goal. They had seven losses and two draws previously when that happened.

Algeria bounced back after a 3-0 to Argentina in its opening game and can finish second in Group J — and clinch a spot in the knockout round — with a win on Saturday against Austria.

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Jordan is out of contention for the knockout rounds with a second straight loss. It opened with a 3-1 defeat to Austria but put up a strong effort in its first appearance on soccer’s biggest stage.

Momentum clearly swung after Benbouali equalized when Riyad Mahrez’s corner kick found him in the middle of the box and he sent a header into the corner that Yazeed Abulaila couldn’t stop.

Algeria kept up the attack and took the lead when Gouiri got a touch on a ball in the box that deflected off Abulaila and into the net, setting off an Algerian celebration with their fans just behind the goal at Levi’s Stadium.

Dubow writes for the Associated Press.

Algeria 2, Jordan 1 — 82nd minute

Amine Gouiri scored off a deflection in front of Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila to push Algeria into the lead.

Like its first tally, the goal came off a corner kick. A header was knocked down deep in the box before Gouiri broke free and scored.

Jordan 1, Algeria 1 — 69th minute

Algeria’s Nadhir Benbouali scored on a header off a corner kick to tie the score. Benbouali perfectly timed his jump to redirect the ball into the bottom corner of the goal.

Jordan goaltender Yazeed Abdulaila didn’t help his cause, backpedaling on the corner kick and compromising his ability to make a save.

Benbouali was subbed in at the start of the second half, replacing midfielder Hicham Boudaoui.

It was Algeria’s first World Cup goal since 2014.

Jordan 1, Algeria 0 — Halftime

Nizar Al-Rashdan scored on a right-footed shot from the center of the box in the 36th minute to put Jordan ahead.

The goal came after Mousa Al-Tamari missed on his shot attempt, the ball rolling to Al-Rashdan, who found the bottom corner past diving Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane.

Algeria has dominated possession, controlling the ball 74% of the time, but it has struggled to put pressure on Jordan, which has three shots on goal to Algeria’s two.

Jordan 0, Algeria 0 — 15th minute

Jordan and Algeria continue to trade scoring chances.

In the first minute, Jordan’s Nizar Al Rashdan sent a cross pass just wide of the goal on a header. Algeria’s Amine Gouiri then had a chance in the third minute, but his right-footed shot missed to the left.

In the 12th minute, Jordan’s Mousa Al-Tamari shot from outside the box, but Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane was in position to make the save.

Algeria and Jordan are in desperation mode after falling in their World Cup openers.

Coming into the World Cup, Algeria was seen as a team capable of reaching the knockout stage, and that continues to be the case despite a 3-0 loss to defending champion Argentina.

Jordan, ranked 68th in the world, must avoid a loss to stay in contention for the knockout stage.

Here’s where things stand in each group heading into the Jordan vs. Algeria match on Monday night:

Two games, two wins and the U.S. is already through to the knockout stage of a World Cup it is hosting.

For forward Folarin Balogun, things couldn’t be going any better.

“You know, if someone said before the tournament, two games and you’d be through to the knockouts, I think we all would have taken it,” he said. “We’re delighted.”

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Erling Haaland scored twice to raise his World Cup goals total to four, and Norway advanced to the round of 32 with a 3-2 win over Senegal on Monday night.

Marcus Pederson had put the Vikings ahead in the 43rd minute after replacing an injured teammate, and Haaland kept up his incredible goals streak in the 48th and 58th minutes to build a 3-1 lead.

First he ran onto Martin Ødegaard’s pass and put a left-footed shot past the outstretched left hand of goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, capping an end-to-end counterattack for a 2-0 lead.

For his second goal, Haaland tunneled through the defense and 8 yards out raised his weaker right foot to volley in Patrick Berg’s pass. Haaland raised a hand to an ear to inspire the thousands of red clad Norway supporters behind the north goal who performed the Viking Row — chanting “Ro!” while mimicking oarsmen.

Haaland has 24 goals in his last 12 international games — scoring at least once in every match — and 59 goals in 52 international appearances. The 25-year-old striker joined England’s Harry Kane in 2018 as the only players in the last 50 years with two-goal games in their first two World Cup appearances.

He is second in the Golden Boot race, one behind Argentina’s Lionel Messi and tied with France’s Kylian Mbappé. Haaland nearly got another in first-half stoppage time, hitting a post after Mendy lost control of the ball.

Ismaïla Sarr scored in the 53rd minute and in the third minute of second-half stoppage time for the Lions of Teranga.

Making its first World Cup appearance since 1998, Norway (2-0) is assured of advancing from Group I along with France. The Vikings need to beat Les Bleus on Friday for first place and what would appear to be an easier path in the knockout bracket.

While not eliminated, Senegal is 0-2 in a World Cup for the first time and needs a win over Iraq (0-2) to have any chance of advancing as a third-place team.

Pederson entered in the 13th minute for his World Cup debut after Julian Ryerson got hurt, and he put the Vikings ahead with the help of mistakes by Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly and Mendy.

Ødegaard made a centering pass that Koulibaly cleared straight to Pedersen at the top of the arc. Pederson took two touches and sent a savable shot inside the near post that glance off Mendy’s left hand and into the goal.

Mendy left in the 63rd minute because of an injury.

Blum writes for the Associated Press.

Norway 3, Senegal 2 — 90th minute + 3

Ismaila Sarr scored his second goal of the game in stoppage time to make it a one-goal game and give Senegal hope of a potential comeback.

Norway 3, Senegal 1 — 58th minute

Erling Haaland, seconds after he thought he missed an opportunity to score, extended Norway’s lead when he right-footed a pass from Patrick Berg off the crossbar and across the line for his second goal of the match.

Haaland has scored four goals in this year’s World Cup tournament.

Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was injured on the play. Mory Diaw took over for him.

Norway 2, Senegal 1 — 54th minute

Ismaila Sarr took advantage of a fantastic touch off the heel of Sadio Mane to score on a sliding kick in front of sprawling Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland to score a huge goal for Senegal.

The goal immediately wiped out Norway’s momentum following a tally by Erling Haaland in the 50th minute. Senegal has controlled the ball for 55% of the match and hasn’t made things easy for Norway.

Norway 2, Senegal 0 — 50th minute

Capitalizing off a Senegal turnover, Erling Haaland scored his 58th goal in 52 international appearances to double Norway’s lead.

Martin Odegaard made a perfect pass to Haaland, who made a sliding kick into the top right corner of the goal.

PHILADELPHIA — Kylian Mbappé scored twice to move into a tie for second in career World Cup goals with 16, and France played through the tournament’s first rain delay to beat Iraq 3-0 on Monday and advance to the knockout stage.

Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé also scored for Les Bleus, giving fans who stuck out a rainy night in Philadelphia a reason to cut loose.

Mbappé scored in the 14th and 54th minutes to cap a momentous and soggy 100th international appearance for one of the best players in the world.

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Mbappe’s first goal gave France a 1-0 lead at halftime, when heavy rain and an incoming thunderstorm prompted a delay of just over two hours and forced the grounds crew to squeegee water off the swampy Kentucky bluegrass at Lincoln Financial Field.

Scoreboard messages directed the crowd to take shelter in the stadium’s covered areas, warning that a severe storm was on the way. Sheets of rain continued to fall through halftime as fans wrapped themselves in ponchos and huddled in the concourse and under balconies.

Iraq coach Graham Arnold wrestled with a poncho for a few seconds before he pulled it over his head and returned to the covered dugout. French fans who stayed in their seats in the last few covered rows of the top of the stadium waved the country’s flag, and many splashed around the concourse to pass time.

Others fled for the exits — at the same stadium where last season’s opener for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles was delayed 65 minutes in the third quarter because of lightning — as the delay dragged on, giving overseas spectators a triple dose of American sports nuisances: rain delays, overpriced concessions and TV timeouts in the form of hydration breaks. There was no second-half hydration break in this game after the long, wet pause in the action.

Weather aside, this game — as so many do for France — belonged to Mbappé as he tries to keep pace on the career goals list with new record holder Lionel Messi.

Playing in his third World Cup, the 27-year-old Mbappé matched Miroslav Klose of Germany on the goals list and moved one ahead of Brazil great Ronaldo.

Messi scored twice for Argentina earlier Monday to set the tournament record at 18. He had equaled Klose with his first World Cup hat trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria last Tuesday night in Kansas City, Missouri.

Mbappé scored his third goal of the tournament with a left-footed strike — his supposed weaker foot — from the edge of the box that got past Iraq goalkeeper Ahmed Basil, who got his first start in the tournament after captain Jalal Hassan allowed all four goals in Iraq’s 4-1 loss to Norway.

For his second goal, Mbappé took advantage of a poor pass to the goalkeeper by Iraq defender Zaid Tahseen. Dembele controlled the loose ball and passed to Mbappé, who tapped it in with his right foot.

Mbappé had a chance at the hat trick on a late breakaway, but missed before he was subbed out at the 90-minute mark.

Mbappé helped France win the World Cup in 2018 and reach the final in 2022, when he was awarded the Silver Ball as the second-best player. Joined up front by Désiré Doué and Dembélé, France entered this year’s tournament as a co-favorite with Spain.

France could return to Philadelphia to play Germany on July 4.

Iraq striker Aymen Hussein was subbed out with an apparent injury in the 26th minute of the first half and replaced by Ali Al-Hamadi. Hussein scored his 34th international goal in Iraq’s World Cup opener.

Iraq is playing in the World Cup for just the second time after debuting in 1986.

Gelston writes for the Associated Press.

Norway 1, Senegal 0 — 43rd minute

Marcus Holgren Pedersen scored on a right-footed shot from right high center of the box to give Norway the lead.

Pedersen entered as a substitute for fellow defender Julian Ryerson in the 13th minute after Ryerson sustained injury.

Norway 0, Senegal 0 — 30th minute

Norway has been the better team so far, despite Senegal controlling the ball for 61% of the match.

Senegal has done a good job fending off Norway’s attacks and has had some decent chances. Norway has felt the pressure, committing four fouls to Senegal’s one so far.

France 3, Iraq 0 — 66th minute

Ousmane Dembélé found the far lower corner of the net on feed from Michael Olise to give France a commanding 3-0 lead over Iraq.

France 2, Iraq 0 — 54th minute

Kylian Mbappé scored his second goal of the game when Iraq goalkeeper Admed Basil misplayed a pass for a turnover deep in the box that allowed France to double its lead.

Zaid Tahseen’s pass seemed to catch Basil off-guard, and Ousmane Dembélé took the ball and quickly passed it to Mbappé who didn’t miss the wide-open goal. It was Mbappé’s 16th career World Cup goal and the fourth of this tournament.

France 1, Iraq 0 — Second half underway

Play resumed between France and Iraq at Lincoln Financial Field at 5 p.m. PDT after a two-hour delay because of thunderstorms in the Philadelphia area.

The players got the chance to warm up for 15 minutes. They needed it after leaving the pitch at 2:49 p.m. PDT at the end of the first half. Halftimes normally don’t last 131 minutes.

Coming off an impressive win over Iraq last week, Erling Haaland and Norway are looking to clinch a spot in the round of 32 with a win over Senegal.

Senegal, which lost to France in its World Cup opener, will be looking to play spoiler and build some cushion for itself heading into its final group play match against Iraq.

France 1, Iraq 0 — Play suspended

The start of the second half between France and Iraq at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia will begin at 5 p.m. PDT after thunderstorms in the area halted the match for more than an hour.

The players are back on the field warming up.

FIFA said the game will resume once conditions are “deemed safe.” The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the Philadelphia area earlier Monday that remains in effect until 6 p.m. PDT.

It rained heavily during the final 15 minutes of the first half. At halftime, big screens around the stadium displayed a message asking fans to leave their seats and seek shelter.

With the start of the second half of the France-Iraq game being delayed by more than an hour because of severe weather, Fox will show the Norway-Senegal match on FS1 at 5 p.m. PDT.

Fox will continue to carry the France-Iraq match, which is expected to resume at 4:50 p.m.

Sometimes it takes a visitor or six million to remind folks of treasures in their own backyard.

How else to explain the fascination of World Cup fans from 47 other countries expressing unabashed delight on social media for destinations and products woven deeply into American life but hardly considered cutting-edge: ranch dressing, Waffle House, Boston Lager on tap, Texas barbecue, ubiquitous supermarkets — the list goes on.

Meanwhile, the allure is reciprocal. Americans are captivated by the dizzying displays of group fervor, zany behavior and national pride that accompany nearly every match at each of the 16 venues in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

France 1, Iraq 0 — Halftime

A goal by Kylian Mbappé in the 14th minute was the highlight of a first half dominated by France as it looks to clinch a spot in the knockout stage with a win over Iraq.

France has controlled the ball for 58% of the match so far and play has mostly been on the Iraq side of the field. Iraq had a couple chances, but it was unable to test France goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

France leads on a goal Kylian Mbappé in the 14th minute during a first half

France 1, Iraq 0 — 37th minute

France continues to keep the ball mostly on the Iraq side of the field as heavy rain started to fall at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia around the 34th minute.

Iraq has had some limited chances, but it’s still looking for its first shot on goal. France has controlled the ball for 65% of the match.

France 1, Iraq 0 — 14th minute

Kylian Mbappé scored from outside the box on a ball that went off the hands of the Iraq goalkeeper and into the top left corner of the net for his 15th career World Cup goal.

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France has dictated play so far, and Mbappé nearly scored in the 13th minute when Iraq goalkeeper Ahmed Basil knocked down his shot.

But coming off an Iraq turnover, Michael Olise found Mbappé with space just outside the box, and Mbappé scored his third goal of the 2026 World Cup.

After a win over Senegal in its World Cup opener, France is looking to move to the top of the Group I standings with a win over Iraq team that gave up four goals to Norway last week.

France star Kylian Mbappé enters the match with 14 World Cup goals, tied for fourth all-time. It also marks his 100th career match for France, which will qualify for the knockout stage with a win.

Both teams and fans will hope the weather cooperates. The Philadelphia area is under a thunderstorm watch, and its possible play could be interrupted by lightning.

Argentina 2, Austria 0 — Final

Lionel Messi would not be denied another goal to give him the outright all-time World Cup scoring record, regardless of gender.

Shortly after an Austrian header sailed wide, Austria regained possession and took a run toward Argentina’s goal in stoppage time.

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Leandro Paredes blocked a kick into the box and Lionel Messi gained possession at midfield. Messi raced up the right side of the field and crossed the ball to Julián Álvarez, whose shot was blocked.

Paredes got the rebound and passed to Messi in traffic. Messi’s first shot was blocked, but he followed the rebound and put it back for a goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

With the score, he passed Brazilian women’s soccer star Marta for the most career World Cup goals. He now has five goals so far this tournament.

Messi nearly tacked on one more goal on a free kick, but he missed wide left.

Austria had no answers in the waning seconds of the match and Argentina clinched a spot in the knockout round.

Argentina 1, Austria 0, 76th minute

Argentina earned a corner kick. Lionel Messi lofted the ball into the box and Nicolás González headed it wide right.

In the 76th minute, Austria’s Konrad Laimer was hit with a yellow card after a hard tackle on Argentina’s Nico González. Argentina’s Facundo Medina joined the scuffle and shoved Laimer, earning a yellow card.

Argentina 1, Austria 0, 68th minute

The teams seem a bit frustrated as they head to the hydration break.

Messi took a shot near the edge of the box and believes it was deflected by Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager, but the officials ruled it was untouched and a goal kick rather than an Argentina corner in the 65th minute.

Two minutes later, Austria’s Michael Gregoritsch hit a promising header in traffic that sailed over the top of goal.

Argentina 1, Austria 0, 56th minute

Both teams have had chances early in the second half, but neither have been able to score.

Lionel Messi’s free kick relatively close to goal was easily deflected in the 52nd minute.

Austria earned a free kick and Marcel Sabitzer’s boot was on target, but Emiliano Martínez earned the save.

Argentina 1, Austria 0, 38th minute

Lionel Messi makes history.

Argentina took possession at midfield, and raced up field. The team swung the ball to the left side of the box and Facundo Medina cut the ball back to Messi near the top of the box. Messi took one touch and whistled home a goal to the left of the goalkeeper.

Messi passed Miroslav Klose with his record 17th men’s World Cup goal. The score also ties Messi with Brazilian women’s soccer star Marta for most World Cup goals regardless of gender.

Argentina 0, Austria 0, 24th minute

Emiliano Martínez slipped the ball to Lionel Messi at the top of the box. Messi weaved toward goal, the Austria defense appeared to touch the ball as Messi was shooting and Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager was able to save the shot in the 19th minute.

Argentina later held its ground against taller Austria during a corner kick and the teams headed to the hydration break in the 24th minute.

Argentina 0, Austria 0, ninth minute

In the fifth minute, Xaver Schlager and Stefan Posch tackled Argentina’s Lautaro Martinez as he was about to take a shot in the box. After a VAR review, officials determined Martinez was fouled and awarded Argentina penalty kick.

Lionel Messi lined up for the penalty kick and missed it wide right off the post. Messi had a chance to become the all-time leader in men’s World Cup scoring, but the record will have to wait.

Argentina 0, Austria 0, 1st minute

Argentina opened its World Cup title defense with a 3-0 win over Algeria on a hat trick from Lionel Messi. The Argentina captain, playing in his record sixth World Cup, is tied with Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the most career World Cup goals (16). Austria, meanwhile, would all but assure itself of a spot in the knockout round with a point.

Fox is under fire for missing on-field action during the first match of the World Cup last week.

Many sports fans were irate when the network aired a full-screen ad when play resumed after a water break during last Thursday’s Mexico–South Africa match.

In the second half, the referee called for the newly instated hydration break, but the call came during a replay, which led to a miscommunication over when the three-minute break actually started.

More men have been elected president of the United States than have played for the U.S. in a World Cup game on home soil.

It is among the rarest of achievements in a country that has achieved so much.

Two dozen Americans have flown to the moon, 116 have sat on the Supreme Court, 25 have run a mile in under 3:51 and 76 have won the Nobel Prize in chemistry.

In a perfect world, you’d be able to take a helicopter from your home straight to Sofi Stadium during the World Cup. But unfortunately, we do not live in that world, so you’ll probably need to find a reliable and cheap way to get to the World Cup.

Fans from all around will flock to the Los Angeles area for the biggest sport event in the world, meaning that traffic will be worse (if you can imagine), buses will be fuller and Metro stops will drown in the flags and jerseys of all competing nations.

SEATTLE — Growing up the son of an NFL wide receiver, Alex Freeman said he felt a lot of pressure to play the American version of football, not the one the rest of the world plays.

“I always got asked if football was the path,” he said last summer. “But I always had a secret love for soccer.”

And he had to keep it a secret because he wasn’t sure his father Antonio, a Super Bowl winner with the Green Bay Packers, would understand.

VANCOUVER, Canada — When the first men’s World Cup game played in Canada kicked off last week, Anthony Totera sat in the stands and wept.

“It was a dream come true,” said Totera, who has spent most of his 57 years on earth promoting Canadian soccer. “I can’t describe the emotions. It was something surreal.”

How it started: A dream. A French machine-gun officer in the trenches during the First World War. A man named Jules Rimet, who believed an international soccer tournament would bring the nations together with the goal of peace.

How it’s going: The world’s biggest party. A 48-nation celebration of the world’s most beloved sport. Expected to generate about $8.9 billion, it’s become such a big deal that it’s being hosted by three countries — one of which, yes, launched a war on a competing nation in the months before the tournament.

PARIS — French sports media leader L’Équipe has disavowed comments by a female presenter who criticized Belgium winger Jeremy Doku for wanting to leave the World Cup to be at the birth of his first child.

L’Équipe also apologized to Doku in a statement late Sunday and said the comments by France Pierron did not represent its values.

Pierron described childbirth as “a disgusting moment, excuse me, where the dad is useless” when taking part in the television show “L’Équipe de Choc” on Friday.

“There are hundreds of footballers who would kill to be in your place,” she said on the show, reacting to Doku’s comments in the United States.

Doku’s wife Shireen is due to give birth to their son in early July when Belgium hopes to be playing in the knockout rounds of the World Cup.

“No one wants to miss a birth,” said the 24-year-old Doku, who is a star in the Belgium squad and plays for Manchester City.

Pierron questioned Doku’s priorities as he was “living a childhood dream. It might never happen again in your life.”

It was unclear if Pierron would be part of Monday’s scheduled broadcast of the talk show on the cable channel run by the storied daily sports newspaper.

Doku received support from England forward Ollie Watkins, who was asked about the family choices facing players.

“He said it only happens once, your first child. Welcoming them to the world is a blessing,” Watkins said during a news conference at the England training camp.

“Someone labeled it disgusting. And I think for a start that’s not a way to label a birth. I don’t think it’s anyone else’s business what he gets up to after training,” Watkins said.

SEATTLE — If a pregnant Nigerian woman had been allowed to board a plane 25 years ago, the U.S. team’s path through this summer’s World Cup may have unfolded much differently. Instead, a gate agent turned her away, insisting it wasn’t safe for her to fly from New York to London.

So Florence Balogun returned to Brooklyn, where she had been visiting relatives, and waited for her second son to be born. And when Folarin arrived a few weeks later, entering the world just hours before Independence Day dawned, he did so as an American citizen.

SEATTLE — Cristian Roldan and Haji Wright grew up less than three years and 30 miles apart, Roldan in Pico Rivera and Wright in Culver City. The odds that they would go on to become teammates on not one, but two, U.S. World Cup teams seem astronomical.

Yet despite starting at the same time and place and arriving together at the same destination, the two players followed completely different paths to get there.

Wright joined the Galaxy’s academy at 14 and signed with Schalke of the top tier German Bundesliga days after his 18th birthday. Roldan was still playing for El Rancho, when he was 17, making him the only member of the U.S. World Cup team to play four years at a public high school.

SEATTLE — The World Cup is only a little more than a week old, but it’s already a historic one for the U.S.

With Friday’s 2-0 win over Australia, the U.S. matched its best World Cup performance ever with two victories. Their six goals match the most the U.S. has ever scored in the group stage and its goal differential of plus-five is also its best ever in the tournament. The U.S. also clinched a spot in the round of 32.

Imagine it. A neophyte coach, leading a team for the first time at any competitive level, and it being a high-profile assignment on the biggest of big stages.

A self-assured broadcaster, critical and competitive, having his bluff called, being invited to not just talk about it, but to be about it: Walk the walk, why don’t you?

A former player — scorer, shooter — being challenged to step up and right a listing ship while navigating politics and the push and pull of history and high hopes.

GUADALAJARA, México — While Mexico defeated South Korea at Guadalajara Stadium on Thursday in front of an elated crowd, protesters outside expressed a very different view of the World Cup’s impact on the city.

Community leaders, climate advocates and workers took to the streets to protest what they describe as “greenwashing through sports” by one of the official sponsors of the World Cup amid allegations of irregularities in its supply chain.

GUADALAJARA, Jalisco — Before the World Cup, critics and fans of the Mexican national team debated whether Javier Aguirre’s third stint as head coach was the right decision. Two games later, the coach has led Mexico to the tournament’s knockout round.

Thursday’s 1-0 victory over South Korea at Guadalajara Stadium made the World Cup co-host the first in the tournament to advance while also clinching the top spot in Group A with one group play game remaining. After South Korea’s goalkeeper fumbled a ball, Luis Romo scored the goal that gave the Mexicans six points and pushed them to the top of the standings.

Iran’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad World Cup got a lot better Sunday.

And it could wind up being the country’s best. Because after playing Belgium to a scoreless draw before another packed house at SoFi Stadium, Iran is in position to win its group and advance to the knockout rounds for the first time in seven World Cups.

To do that, it must beat Egypt on Friday in Seattle.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is well into the second run of group play, with every team still eager to post wins and most looking to secure a place in the knockout stage.

Here’s everything you need to know about matches being played Monday and Tuesday in the 48-team tournament across the U.S., Mexico and Canada (all times Pacific). Tuesday’s matches will conclude the first two games of group play for every team at the World Cup.

The first 11 days of the 2026 FIFA World Cup offered plenty of memorable moments.

Check out The Times’ daily recaps ahead of Monday’s four game slate:

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