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June 17, 2026
Haaland World Cup: The 2026 FIFA World Cup's opening five days delivered a solid standard of play across the three host nations — the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Day six, however, marked a turning point. The tournament's biggest names finally stepped onto the pitch, and none of them disappointed.
Haaland Announces His World Cup Arrival With a Brace
Norway opened their Group I campaign with a commanding 4-1 victory over Iraq, and Manchester City striker Erling Haaland was front and center from the start.
Haaland broke the deadlock in the 29th minute, tapping in a cross from David Moller Wolfe with a clinical finish at the back post — a goal his club fans have seen him score countless times at the Etihad.
Iraq leveled through a header from striker Aymen Hussein, but the equalizer lasted only minutes.
Haaland's relentless pressing forced Iraqi goalkeeper Jalal Hassan into a costly error, gifting Norway a 2-1 lead just four minutes later.
Defender Leo Østigard added a late header to extend the advantage, and Aymen Hussein completed an unfortunate evening by turning the ball into his own net to seal a 4-1 final scoreline.
Haaland was electric throughout. He pressed defenders relentlessly, attacked space aggressively, and led Norway's line with the kind of authority that signals a player hungry for a big tournament.
Mbappe Fires France Past Senegal
In the same group, Kylian Mbappe delivered a performance that served as an early warning to the rest of the field.
France defeated Senegal 3-1 in their Group I opener, with Mbappe scoring twice. His first arrived in the second half, set up by a sharp assist from Michael Olise.
He then put the result beyond doubt in the 96th minute, rifling a rocket from 25 yards out into the net to close out France's opening win in style.
Messi Steals the Show With a Hat Trick
If Haaland and Mbappe dazzled, Lionel Messi reminded the world exactly who holds the spotlight.
Argentina dismantled Algeria 3-0 in their Group J opener, and Messi was the architect of every goal.
He opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a precise 20-yard strike past Algerian goalkeeper Luca Zidane.
He returned to the scoresheet in the 60th minute, then completed his hat trick in the 76th to wrap up a dominant victory for the defending champions.
On a day when two of the sport's most lethal strikers delivered memorable performances, it was the Argentine captain who ultimately commanded the headlines.
Day six of the 2026 World Cup served as a decisive statement.
The tournament's marquee stars have arrived — and based on the opening performances of Haaland, Mbappe, and Messi, the competition has just shifted into a higher gear.
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