FIFA World Cup Day 17 recap: Lionel Messi makes history again; Iran eliminated

With group play ending Saturday night at the World Cup, here’s the round of 32 TV schedule (all times Pacific):

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Austria and Algeria played to a thrilling 3-3 draw Saturday night in what amounted to a win-win result in their World Cup group-stage finale, allowing both to advance to the knockout round while eliminating Iran from the tournament.

The game was tied 2-all in the closing minutes, and Algeria looked as if it was content to run out the clock, when captain Riyad Mahrez scored his second goal with about a minute left in stoppage time. That put Austria on the verge of elimination, only for Sasa Kalajdzic to head in the equalizing goal moments later and rescue Das Team’s World Cup hopes.

Marko Arnautovic and Marcel Sabitzer also had goals for Austria, which finished second behind Argentina in Group J to advance for the first time since 1982. Its reward is a matchup with European champion Spain on Thursday in Los Angeles.

Rafik Belghali also scored for Les Fennecs, who became the ninth of 10 teams from Africa to advance. They finished third in the group but get a potentially easier Round of 32 showdown with Switzerland on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Iran would have advanced as one of the eight best third-place teams had Austria or Algeria won. But when Mahrez tied the game in the 60th minute, and the 2-2 score held the rest of the way, it was Team Melli that was sent home.

Skretta writes for the Associated Press.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Giovani Lo Celso became the first Argentina player other than Lionel Messi to score in this World Cup as the defending champions finished the group stage with a three-game sweep after a 3-1 victory over Jordan on Saturday night.

Lo Celso, in his first World Cup start, put Argentina ahead to stay when he scored on a direct free kick in the 19th minute. Messi added one of his own after entering the game in the second half, and the top scorer in World Cup history extended his mark to 19 goals.

Messi, the leader in this tournament with six goals, was among nine Argentina starters changed from the previous game since Group J was already clinched before the match. He entered in the 60th minute, three days after his 39th birthday, and in the same stadium where he broke the scoring mark last Monday, and scored in the 80th minute.

Their captain had scored all five of Argentina’s goals in wins over Algeria and Austria, including his first-ever World Cup hat trick and then two goals in his record-setting game on Monday. He has scored in seven consecutive World Cup games, breaking a tie with France’s Just Fontaine and Brazil great Jairzinho for the longest all-time streak.

In the first half, Lautaro Martinez put Argentina up 2-0 when he scored on a penalty kick in the 31st minute, in the same sequence when his close-range shot ricocheted off the crossbar.

Martinez, who was subbed out for Messi, and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez were the only players to start all three of Argentina’s group matches.

Argentina, which has seven wins and two draws in its last nine World Cup games, plays in the round of 32 on Friday against Cape Verde, the smallest country to earn a spot in the knockout round. That game is in Miami, the home of Messi’s Major League Soccer team.

This is the fifth time Argentina has won all of its matches in group stage, and first since back-to-back tournaments in 2010 and 2014. Argentina has 14 wins, two losses and three draws in its last 19 group games.

France and Mexico were the only other squads in this expanded 48-team World Cup to get the maximum nine points in the group stage.

Jordan, the world’s 72nd-ranked team, lost all three of its games in the squad’s first appearance in the international tournament. The team was outscored 8-3.

Mousa Altamari, who entered the game at the start of the second half, scored in the 55th minute for Jordan.

Lo Celso and Martinez both scored their first World Cup goals.

Only a couple of minutes after Lo Celso was offside when he kicked the ball in the net but not counting for a goal, he got a free kick after being tripped up just outside the penalty box by Mohannad Abutaha, who drew a yellow card.

That was the first direct free kick for an Argentina goal in a World Cup since Messi against Nigeria in 2014.

After Martinez shot off the crossbar, Julian Alvarez followed with a header that was deflected by keeper Yazeed Abulaila over the net. But a VAR replay showed that Alvarez took a kick to the face on the play, setting up the penalty.

Messi had scored all five of Argentina’s goals in wins over Algeria and Austria, including his first World Cup hat trick and then two goals in his record-setting game on Monday.

Nicolás Paz, who made his World Cup debut subbing in for Messi late in the 3-0 win over Algeria in the opener, made his first start in his spot this time. Paz and Lo Celso were joined by forwards Marcos Senesi and Giuliano Simeone making first World Cup starts.

Paz and Simeone are the first sons of former Argentina national team players to compete in a World Cup. Both were born in Europe.

Hawkins writes for the Associated Press.

Argentina 3, Jordan 1 — 80th minute

Lionel Messi scored on free kick just outside the center of the box, finding the lower left side of the goal with a shot past Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila.

With the goal, Messi became the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches. It was his sixth goal of this World Cup. He has 19 career World Cup goals — the most all-time.

Algeria 2, Austria 2 — 60th minute

Austria’s second lead of the game was short-lived.

Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez scored in the 60th minute to tie the score and keep its advancement hopes alive.

The Algeria captain took a perfect cross pass from Houssem Aouar while running into the box to find the bottom right corner of the net for his 39th international goal.

As things stand, Algeria and Austria would make the round of 32 and Iran would be eliminated.

Austria 2, Algeria 1 — 58th minute

Marcel Sabitzer scored his 27th international goal in the 55th minute to put Austria back into the lead over Algeria.

Sabitzer one-timed a long cross pass from Konrad Laimer to find the back of the net.

Argentina 2, Jordan 1 — 55th minute

In a somewhat shocking development, Jordan has cut into the defending champion’s lead in the second half.

Mousa Al-Tamari scored for Jordan after the team started putting pressure on the Argentina defense consistently for the first time as Lionel Messi warmed up on the sideline. Can Jordan pull off an epic upset?

Lionel Messi entered the game in the 60th minute.

Argentina 2, Jordan 0 — Halftime

Giovani Lo Celso and Lautaro Martinez scored for Argentina in a dominant first half against Jordan.

Argentina had five shots, including three on goal and controlled the ball for 72% of the half.

Jordan took three shots, but didn’t put anything on goal.

Lionel Messi did not play in the first half for Argentina, but he’s expected to come off the bench in the second half.

Algeria 1, Austria 1 — Halftime

Rafik Belghali scored in the 45th minute to tie the score.

Belghali drove from the right edge of the box and took two shots that were blocked by Austrian defenders before getting the ball a third time and finding the upper corner.

If the game ends in a draw, Iran would be eliminated from knockout-round contention.

Argentina 2, Jordan 0 — 31st minute

Lautaro Martinez scored on a penalty kick in the 31st minute to extend Argentina’s lead over Jordan at the World Cup.

Austria 1, Algeria 0 — 28th minute

Marko Arnautovic scored in the 28th minute to give Austria an early lead.

Argentina 1, Jordan 0 — 19th minute

Giovani Lo Celso scored on a perfectly placed free kick just outside the box to give Argentina the lead.

Jordan’s Mohannad Abu Taha received a yellow card for fouling Lo Celso as both players went for the ball just outside the top center of the box.

There’s not much at stake here since Argentina already clinched first in Group J and Jordan, playing in its first World Cup, has been eliminated from round-of-32 contention.

Lionel Messi, who became the World Cup’s all-time leading goal scorer earlier this week, did not start. However, he is expected to see minutes in the second half.

Algeria and Austria enter the game tied on points, so whoever wins will finish second behind Argentina in Group K.

A draw likely would send both teams through to the round of 32, with Austria likely being the No. 2 team in the group based on goal differential.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Colombia finished the World Cup ‘s opening round as the Group K winner after playing Portugal to a scoreless draw Saturday night.

Both squads had already secured spots in the knockout stage before the match, needing only to learn their opponents for the next round.

Colombia will play Ghana, which lost 2-1 to Croatia earlier Saturday. Portugal, which entered the expanded 48-team tournament as a favorite, will face Croatia as the Group K runner-up.

Both squads put forth lively efforts. Bruno Fernandez came close to putting Portugal ahead in the first half, but was denied by Camilo Vargas. Portugal’s Diogo Costo had six saves, more than in the team’s first two matches combined.

The match played at the home stadium of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins took place in front of a sellout crowd of 64,478 that included former Colombia soccer star Carlos Valderrama, FIFA President Gianni Infantino — who sat in a suite with FBI director Kash Patel and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio — NFL quarterback Jameis Winston, NBA player Jimmy Butler, actor Matt Damon and former NFL receiver Chad Johnson.

Multiple watch parties held across South Florida to accommodate those who couldn’t secure tickets to the high-demand match, including one with thousands in attendance at the home arena of the NHL’s Florida Panthers.

Thames writes for the Associated Press.

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ATLANTA — Congo advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time by rallying to a 3-1 win against Uzbekistan on Saturday night.

The African nation was playing in soccer’s biggest tournament for only the second time in its history after a 52-year absence. Two second-half goals from Yoane Wissa and one from Fiston Mayele sealed the win and saw Congo join Cape Verde as another surprise qualifier for the round of 32.

Uzbekistan led through Eldor Shomurodov’s first-half strike that looked set to end Congo’s hopes.

But Sébastien Desabre’s team, which had already pulled off one of the surprise results of the World Cup by holding Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal to a 1-1 draw in its opening game, fought back after the break.

Trailing to Shomurodov’s lobbed goal in the 10th minute, Congo equalized in the 68th when Wissa was brought down by Abdukodir Khusanov in the box for a penalty.

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Wissa picked himself up and sent Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov the wrong way by rolling the ball into the bottom corner to spark a dramatic finale.

Mayele fired Congo ahead 10 minutes later when flicking past Nematov at the near post after Meschack Elia’s shot was deflected.

Wissa put the result beyond doubt in added time with a curling shot into the bottom corner.

Robson writes for the Associated Press.

DR Congo 2, Uzbekistan 1 — 78th minute

Fiston Mayele scored in the 78th minute to give the Democratic Republic of the Congo the lead and revive its hopes of reaching the round of 32 at the World Cup.

The goal was set up by Meschack Elia moving the ball into the Uzbekistan box. Elia’s shot was partially blocked, but Mayele immediately gained control of the deflection and tapped it past Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov.

DR Congo 1, Uzbekistan 1 — 71st minute

Yoane Wissa scored on a penalty kick in the 68th minute to even the score and keep DR Congo’s hopes of advancing to the round of 32 alive.

Uzbekistan’s Abdukodir Khusanov fouled Wissa in the box, leading to the penalty kick.

Colombia 0, Portugal — 70th minute

Momentum shifted into Colombia’s favor ahead of the second-half hydration break, but it wasn’t able to score despite several strong chances.

Richard Rios, Luis Suarez, Davinson Sanchez, Jhon Arias and Gustao Puerta each had shots, with Arias’ shot requiring a big save from Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa to keep the match scoreless.

It’s been a shot-fest so far. Colombia has 21 total shots, with six on goal; Portugal has 11 shots, with two on goal.

Colombia 0, Portugal 0 — 60th minute

Both teams have exchanged scoring opportunities in the opening minutes of the second half.

Joao Felix had two shots, including one from the center of the box in the 51st minute that just went wide left of the goal.

Jhon Arias and Jefferson Lerma had shots on goal for Colombia, but goalkeeper Diogo Costa stopped both.

Uzbekistan 1, DR Congo 0 — Halftime

Despite controlling and shooting the ball more, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is in serious danger of not advancing to the round of 32 after lackluster first half.

Congo needs a win to advance. A draw would end its World Cup run.

Eldor Shomurodov scored in the 10th minute for Uzbekistan, which is holding its own despite being eliminated from round-of-32 contention.

Colombia 0, Portugal 0 — Halftime

Portugal turned on the pressure late in the first half, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Vitnha, Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Neves and Joao Felix each coming up short on quality scoring chances.

Portugal has two shots on goal and nine overall.

Colombia, which started strong, has 13 total shots with three on goal. James Rodriguez and Gustavo Puerta each had shots on goal for Colombia in the final minutes of the first half.

The 21 combined shots are the most shots in a first half at this World Cup.

Colombia 0, Portugal 0 — 23rd minute

Colombia has been the better of the two teams early on, keeping the ball mostly on Portugal’s side of the pitch. Colombia has seven shots, including one on goal.

Colombia’s best chance came in the second minute when Luis Diaz took a low shot in the Portugal box that was deflected. Another chance came in the 22nd minute when Jhon Arias got a shot in the box that was cleared.

Portugal had some opportunities, including one shot on goal.

Uzbekistan 1, DR Congo 0 — 10th minute

Eldor Shomurodov sprinted past a Congo defender into the box and kicked a chip shot over goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi to give Uzbekistan an early lead.

The goal was set up by a quick flick pass by Abbosek Fayzullaev that Shomurodov quickly pounced upon.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo needs a win to claim third place in the group and advance to the knockout stage. A draw would not be enough for them to advance.

Uzbekistan has already been eliminated from knockout-round contention.

Colombia has already clinched a spot in the knockout round and can take first in Group K with a win over Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal.

The stakes are equally as high for Portugal, which is looking to secure first in the group with a win.

Here’s where things stand after wins by England and Croatia on the final day of group play at the World Cup.

PHILADELPHIA — Croatia earned a spot in the World Cup knockout round, getting goals from Nikola Vlasic and Luka Sucic to beat Ghana 2-1 on Saturday.

Ghana had already clinched a spot in the round of 32 for the first time since 2010.

Vlasic headed home Luka Modrić’s corner in the 83rd minute to score the winner and put Croatia back in contention after it finished third in 2022. The win means Croatia finished second behind England in Group L, with Ghana third.

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Sucic scored in the 31st minute for Croatia on an absolute rocket from outside the box for his second career international goal.

Derrick Luckassen scored the equalizer that —- after a brief review — sent thousands of fans wearing yellow into a frenzy. Luckassen, brother of the Netherlands’ Brian Brobbey, found the bottom right corner in the 73rd minute to make it 1-1 and the first of the five group stage games in Philadelphia where both teams scored.

Ghana goalie Benjamin Asare briefly kept it a tie game on a diving stop off the top of his hand that sent the ball over the net but failed only a minute later to stop Vlasic.

Vlasic wagged his tongue and ran toward his teammates with outstretched arms in celebration.

Sucic helped Croatia take a 1-0 lead into halftime in a game where a couple of near misses prevented it from building a more comfortable lead. Nikola Vlasic bonked one of the posts earlier in the half, and Modric’s cross on a free kick into the box was headed over the bar by Marin Pongracic.

Ghana seemed poised to tie the game late in the half when Antoine Semenyo beat his man and fired a shot that slid across the Kentucky bluegrass and went just wide of the left post.

Semenyo was one of the few prominent attackers in this tournament to go without a goal in the first three games. He finished third in the Premier League with 17 goals last season and was one of Manchester City’s best players after it bought him from Bournemouth, yet couldn’t connect in the World up against Panama, England and even Croatia’s backline.

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland have dazzled in the World Cup where every game has seemed like a showcase for the tournament’s top stars.

The good news for Semenyo is, there’s at least one more shot for him to bust through for Ghana.

Gelston writes for the Associated Press.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N,.J. — Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane scored early in the second half, lifting England over Panama 2-0 Saturday and into what appears to be a more favorable bracket for the knockout phase of the World Cup.

On a rainy afternoon before a vocal pro-England crowd that made MetLife Stadium seem like Wembley, Panama held the European power scoreless through a first half when neither team mounted threats and Kane had 10 touches, the fewest of any player.

Bellingham put the Three Lions ahead in the 62nd minute from Bukayo Saka’s corner kick. Held in bear hug by Jorge Gutiérrez at the top of the 6-yard box, Bellingham stuck out his left leg and stabbed the ball past goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera for his third World Cup goal, his second this year.

Five minutes later, Bellingham crossed from the left flank and Kane outjumped Andrés Andrade to head the ball in for his 82nd international goal. Kane became England’s record World Cup scorer with his 11th goal, one more than Gary Lineker.

Wearing red jerseys in a tournament for the first time since beating Sweden in a 2018 World Cup quarterfinal, England finished the group with two wins and a draw for seven points. The English play their Round of 32 match Wednesday in Atlanta, likely against Senegal or Congo. The team that advances faces Mexico or Ecuador in Mexico City.

If the Three Lions had dropped to second, they probably would have faced Colombia or Portugal, with the winner meeting Spain, Austria or Algeria.

Panama went 0-3 for the second time and joined Iraq, Haiti, El Salvador, Canada and Mexico — all but one from the CONCACAF region — as teams that lost their first six World Cup matches. José Fajardo put the ball in the net for the Los Canaleros in second-half stoppage time, but was called for offside.

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Supporters filled the field walls with Cross of St. George flags displaying club names that included Tottenham, Watford and Wolves plus some less-celebrated ones such as Crawley Town, Bristol Rovers and Faversham Town.

England, which won its only World Cup at home in 1966, reached the knockout rounds for the seventh time in eight World Cups.

Jarell Quansah, usually a central defender, replaced right back Reece James, sidelined by a hamstring injury. Nico O’Reilly took over from Djed Spence at left back. Coach Thomas Tuchel replaced three midfielder, using Bukayo Saka, Morgan Rogers and Marcus Rashford instead of Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Anthony Gordon.

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford played his 15th World Cup match, second among English players to Peter Shilton’s 17.

Blum writes for the Associated Press.

Croatia 2, Ghana 1 — 83rd minute

Nikola Vlasic scored on a header off a corner kick from Luka Modric to put Croatia back into the lead.

The corner kick came after Ghana goalkeeper Benjamin Asare made a spectacular, one-handed save on a shot by Vlasic.

Croatia 1, Ghana 1 — 73rd minute

Ghana’s Derrick Luckassen scored off a free kick from Ernest Nuamah on a goal that underwent a lengthy video review for offside before being confirmed by officials.

Ghana had been turning up the pressure on the Croatia defense before ultimately finding the net on its first shot on goal.

England 2, Panama 0 — 67th minute

The scoring floodgates finally have opened for England.

Harry Kane scored on a header off a perfect cross pass from Jude Bellingham to put England in position to win Group L.

Kane is England’s all-time leading goal scorer in the World Cup with 11 goals.

England 1, Panama 0 — 62nd minute

After putting near-constant pressure on the Panama goal, Jude Bellingham scored off a corner kick from Bukayo Saka to give England the lead.

Panama’s defense did not look ready for the corner kick, and Bellingham capitalized, sticking out his left foot to deflect the ball after it hit the pitch.

England 0, Panama 0 — 58th minute

England continues to be frustrated by the Panama defense despite getting some good scoring chances.

In the 52nd minute, a pass deep inside the box to Harry Kane almost inexplicably hit the English star and a Panama defender before a clearing kick by Andres Andrade sent the ball off a teammate after over the goal. The sequence left Kane looking bewildered.

Two minutes later, Marcus Rashford took a Panama turnover and raced into the left side of the box before failing to put enough angle on his shot and hitting the side of the net.

In the 56th minute, Panama nearly scored when Jose Luis Rodriguez broke into the middle and sent a right-footer from outside the box just wide of the goal.

Then, in the 58th minute, Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera had to make a spectacular save on a point-blank shot by Kane.

Croatia 1, Ghana 0 — Halftime

Ghana’s hopes of finishing atop Group L are appearing dim after its struggled to keep up with Croatia in it’s final group game.

Petar Sucic scored in the 31st minute for a Croatia team that looked stronger deeper in the first half. Croatia has five shots, including two on goal. Ghana has just one shot, but it wasn’t on goal.

Croatia is still in the running for group win if it can beat Ghana and England draws or loses to Panama.

Panama 0, England 0 — Halftime

Panama is trying to make its final match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup one to remember.

England was the dominant team through the first 45 minutes, but Panama has been able to weather the storm in rainy conditions at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

England, ranked No. 4 in the world, had a number of potential scoring chances — including a free kick by Marcus Rashford in stoppage time that just missed the goal — but it failed to capitalize.

Controlling the ball for 72% of the first half, England had nine shots, including two on goal. They also had 18 touches in the Panama box.

Panama 0, England 0 — 40th minute

England continues to be the dominant team, but Panama might be getting into its head. Panama continues to thwart prime scoring chances by England in the six-yard box.

England nearly scored in the 38th minute when a header by Marcus Rashford off a beautiful cross by Elliot Anderson went just over the goal.

England has eight shots, including two goal. Panama has two shots on goal. England has controlled the ball for 72% of the match.

Croatia 1, Ghana 0 — 31st minute

Petar Sucic scored on a long-range rocket of a kick that deflected off a Ghana defender and into the lower corner of the goal.

It was Croatia’s fourth shot in a game that has been increasingly tilting in Croatia’s favor since the hydration break.

Ghana has controlled the ball more, but hasn’t been able to create any opportunities around the Croatia goal. It has zero shots so far.

Croatia 0, Ghana 0 — 21st minute

Nikola Vlasic hit the post with a right-footer outside of the box on Croatia’s first shot in the 17th minute. Other than that, it’s been a evenly played match, with Ghana holding a slight edge in possession time.

But neither team has been able to break through and control the ball in the box so far.

Panama 0, England 0 — 18th minute

England mostly controlled the ball on Panama’s side of the field in the early stages.

England’s Marcus Rashford had the game’s first shot in the eighth minute, a right-footer that required Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera to make a diving save.

In the 15th minute, Bukayo Saka also had a shot on goal for England. Harry Kane tried a shot in the 17th minute off a free kick, but his one-timer went off a Panama player. The ensuing corner kick didn’t lead to anything.

Ghana is in the hunt for the Group L win, and a victory over Croatia coupled with it passing England in goal margin will secure Ghana first.

Croatia must earn at least a draw to stand a good chance at advancing to the round of 32.

England stands the best chance of finishing first in Group L, provided it beats a Panama team that has already been eliminated from knockout-round contention.

England, ranked No. 4 in the World, will advance even if it loses, but its path in the knockout stages would be difficult. Of course, even with a group win, England could potentially face Mexico in Mexico City in the round of 16.

The rain is falling at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., so the weather could be a factor in this one.

Before the match, a moment of silence was held for the victims of the earthquake in Venezuela.

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.

It was that quirk of fate that allowed Balogun, who lived just two months in the U.S., to represent the country on soccer’s biggest stage.

VANCOUVER — It started with a whimsical idea. Why not transform the landmark Science World museum in downtown Vancouver, the geodesic dome-topped building not far from BC Place stadium, into a gigantic 17-story soccer ball for the World Cup?

Easier said than done, actually. But now the larger-than-life replica match ball has become the iconic symbol for Vancouver during the World Cup, a favored shot by both broadcasters and social media posts.

Some two years ago, Science World, stadium and host city officials were discussing the best ways to capitalize on the World Cup coming to their city.

“We were kind of saying, well, we should definitely wrap the dome as a soccer ball, right? And it was kind of a joke, because then it was like, well, who’s going to pay for it and how do we do it? So many questions,” said Rob Hollingsworth, senior director for commercial Sales and partnerships at Science World. “But I think in this instance the idea was actually the easy bit, because you know we’ve got a massive ball on our roof.”

Adidas, which designed the World Cup’s official match ball, agreed to allow the replica. Local businesses, organizations and government agencies pitched in to help pay for the project. The only question left was how to pull it off.

The normally silver dome has been a fixture of the Vancouver skyline since it was built for the 1986 World’s Fair. At the 2010 Winter Games, it served as the Sochi House to preview the 2014 Olympics. And it has long housed Science World, a museum that includes an IMAX theater.

But when the decision was made to transform it into an enormous soccer ball there were some complications. The only schematics for the building were the original hand-drawn blueprints by local architect Bruno Freschi.

So a drone was dispatched to take detailed laser measurements of each of the geodesic dome’s many panels. To everyone’s dismay, all of the panels were slightly different.

Yet, pliable panels were manufactured and numbered for their precise locations, then installed and connected with special ties to give slightly in windy conditions.

“We’d orientated it really with broadcast in mind, so you’ll notice that the logo on the ball, that the trophy faces kind of southeast, so that if you’re getting the shot, that iconic Vancouver shot, that lines up Science World, with the stadium, with downtown, with the water and the mountains, you get everything in one,” Hollingsworth said.

Turns out, however, that Science World isn’t just a soccer ball during the World Cup, it’s still a museum and it’s hosting a special exhibit, Soccer and Technology, from the FIFA Museum.

It’s the first time the immersive exhibit has been displayed outside of Zurich. Science World tweaked it to add a bit of Canadian flavor, like national star Christine Sinclair’s jersey worn during the gold medal match at the Tokyo Olympics, and the match ball from the 2022 men’s World Cup in Qatar when Alphonso Davies scored Canada’s first-ever goal in the tournament.

The museum has seen a rise in visitors during the tournament, but nothing prepared Science World for the visual explosion on social media, which is filled with photos of the dome, Hollingsworth said.

“We hoped that this would be what happened, but we had no idea, really. In the context of the World Cup, we were one of 16 host cities, so we didn’t know what everyone else was doing, we just knew what we were doing. But we hoped above all it would be a shot that broadcasters would pick up as being kind of the iconic Vancouver shot, and that it would travel around the world in that way during the tournament, and I believe it has,” he said. “What we didn’t know or necessarily foresee is just the organic earned media and the organic social media that’s happening every single day.”

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.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Spain, ranked second in the FIFA rankings and the favorite to win the World Cup, did not play its best game, but did enough late Friday to defeat Uruguay 1-0 and eliminate the South American team in one of the most anticipated matches of the first round.

Spain finished first in Group H, while first-time participant Cape Verde advanced in second place with just three points, the result of three draws. Uruguay was eliminated from the tournament with only two points, following two draws and one loss.

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.

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.”

If the 1994 World Cup, the first held in the U.S., forever altered the direction of American soccer, this summer’s tournament, which Canada is sharing with the U.S. and Mexico, has the potential to do the same for that country.

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.

SEATTLE — Jaysen Dickinson flew to Seattle from Vermont to cross an item off his lengthy bucket list.

“To see the World Cup and the U.S. play in the World Cup,” he said.

Mauricio Pochettino has made the unconventional conventional since taking over as coach of the national team 18 months ago. He’s experimented with formations and tactics, shaken up his roster and motivated players by demanding to know why they can’t make a deep run into this World Cup.

On Thursday he may have pushed that contempt for convention a little too far, with Kaan Ayhan goal’s deep in stoppage time giving Turkey a 3-2 win and spoiling the Americans’ unbeaten start.

With the U.S. having already locked down a spot in the knockout stages of the tournament, Pochettino emptied his bench, making nine changes to his lineup for the group-stage finale with Turkey and giving 21 players a start in the first round. And this time the roll of the dice didn’t work, with Turkey getting its only win of the tournament on its last touch of the World Cup.

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.

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.”

I rose from my living room couch before Mexico’s World Cup match against Czechia when the Telemundo announcer stated it was time for the Mexican national anthem.

The public address system at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City played a short string intro. My back straightened. I pressed my right hand against my chest horizontally in the traditional gesture that accompanies the tune. And then I recited the opening lyrics to a song I’ve heard all my life but that I only began committing to memory this month:

Mexicanos al grito de guerra / El acero aprestad y bridón / Y retiemble en sus centros la tierra / Al sonoro rugir del cañon

“Do you have an extra ticket?” a man shouted outside SoFi Stadium last Thursday.

The World Cup has been drawing fans from around the globe. But for many, getting a seat in the stadium has come at a steep price.

VIDEO | 01:28

How much did people spend to go to the World Cup?

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Some were lucky enough to nab $400 to $500 tickets through official World Cup lotteries, others paid thousands of dollars to catch the action IRL. Tickets for the upcoming USA versus Turkey match were selling for more than $1,400 on resale sites.

The demand has been so high that authorities have been warning fans about how to avoid ticket scams.

As crowds flocked into the stadium, we asked attendees about how much they paid to get into the most-watched sporting event in the world. Here’s what they shared.

A bowl of lemons sits on a table in the conference room Mauricio Pochettino has turned into an office at the U.S. men’s soccer team’s beachfront resort in south Orange County. The citrus fruit, the coach believes, has the spiritual ability to absorb negative energy. On the corner of another table, the flame from a candle flickers.

“I like candles,” says Pochettino, who believes they release therapeutic fragrances and create a calming environment.

But it is the massive, blood-red mural covering the entire south side of the room that truly reveals what Pochettino believes. In the center of the wall, just behind the coach’s desk, white block letters spell out “Why Not” above a script “U.S.,” which, despite the periods, is meant to be read as “us.”

Christian Pulisic is back. Back like Captain America, revived and ready to go after being put on ice for a spell, needed to save the day.

Forget everything else about Thursday’s match against Turkey at SoFi Stadium and marinate on that.

Never mind the United States’ 3-2 loss in their final World Cup Group D match; the result was inconsequential. The Americans knew they were going through to the round of 32, and more, they’d already won the group. No pressure is a privilege, well-earned.

Never mind how the match ended, with a gut punch of a goal from Kaan Ayhan in the final moments of stoppage time.

It’s crunch time at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with teams looking to stay in contention for the knockout stage or improve their placing in the round of 32.

Many teams, including tournament hosts the U.S., Mexico and Canada have clinched spots in the round of 32.

Here’s everything you need to know about World Cup matches being played Saturday and Sunday across the U.S., Mexico and Canada (all times Pacific).

The first 16 days of the 2026 FIFA World Cup offered plenty of memorable moments.

Check out The Times’ daily recaps ahead of Saturday’s six-game slate.

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June 22, 2026

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June 22, 2026

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FIFA World Cup Day 10 recap: Japan, Netherlands dominate; Curaçao makes history

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June 20, 2026

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June 19, 2026

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FIFA World Cup Day 8 recap: Switzerland, Canada and Mexico win

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June 18, 2026

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June 15, 2026

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FIFA World Cup Day 4 recap: Sweden dominates; Netherlands plays to draw

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June 14, 2026

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FIFA World Cup Day 3 recap: Australia and Scotland win their openers

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June 13, 2026

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FIFA World Cup Day 2 recap: Canada plays to draw; U.S. wins its opener

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June 12, 2026

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