Day 6 Results — June 16, 2026
Lionel Messi scored his first-ever World Cup hat-trick to tie Miroslav Klose's all-time record of 16 goals, while Kylian Mbappé became France's all-time leading goalscorer in a day that will be remembered as one of the greatest in tournament history.
Group I — Match Results
France opened their Group I campaign with a 3-1 victory over Senegal at MetLife Stadium, but it was far from the comfortable win the score suggests. Les Bleus were stifled by a compact Senegalese defensive structure for long stretches of the match, with captain Kylian Mbappé finding space difficult to come by. The breakthrough came on the hour mark when Michael Olise threaded a brilliant pass through the Senegal defence, and Mbappé — playing on his home turf in terms of World Cup ambition — converted coolly past the goalkeeper. It was goal number 57 for France's captain, and more records lay in wait.
Bradley Barcola doubled the lead with a crisp finish on 82 minutes, assisted by Adrien Rabiot, and just as Senegal fans were celebrating a late consolation from Ibrahim Mbaye in the 90th minute, Mbappé struck again in stoppage time (90+6') to seal the win with his 58th international goal — breaking Thierry Henry's all-time France scoring record and cementing his status as Les Bleus' greatest-ever marksman.
For Senegal, Ibrahim Mbaye's goal was a moment of pride but not enough to salvage points in a Group I that is shaping up as one of the most competitive in the tournament.
Erling Haaland made the world wait 28 years before Norway returned to a World Cup finals — and he wasted absolutely no time making his mark. The Manchester City striker opened the scoring on 29 minutes with a clinical poke-in at the back post from David Møller Wolfe's low cross, and doubled his tally just before half-time (43') after pouncing on a defensive error. In between, Iraq equalized through Aymen Hussein's header at 39 minutes, giving Group I's clash at Gillette Stadium a brief sense of jeopardy.
The second half belonged to Norway. Defender Leo Østigård powered a header into the net on 76 minutes to make it 3-1, and the drama concluded when Aymen Hussein — who had given Iraq hope with his earlier goal — turned scorer for the wrong team, deflecting a Norwegian cross into his own net deep in stoppage time for a 4-1 final scoreline. Haaland's brace on his tournament debut ended months of speculation about whether Norway's talisman could step up on football's biggest stage. He answered emphatically.
Group J — Match Results
This was the night football held its breath. Lionel Messi, appearing in his sixth and almost certainly final FIFA World Cup at the age of 38, put on a masterclass that will be replayed for generations. The defending champions faced Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, and from the moment Messi struck a long-range screamer into the top corner on 17 minutes, the crowd — and the global audience — sensed history was imminent.
Messi added a tap-in on 60 minutes before completing his hat-trick on 76' with an exquisite curled effort into the bottom corner. Three goals. Three pieces of art. The significance was immense: with 16 World Cup goals, Messi now stands level with Miroslav Klose as the all-time men's FIFA World Cup top scorer. It was also his 200th appearance for Argentina, making him the first footballer — man or woman — to appear in six World Cups.
Algeria, making their mark on the Group J opener, were ultimately overwhelmed by the sheer brilliance of the opposition. The North Africans attempted to press high early but found no answer for Messi's movement and precision. Argentina's title defence is emphatically underway.
The match between Austria and Jordan at Levi's Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area delivered the tournament's feel-good moment of Day 6. Ralf Rangnick's Austria took an early lead through Romano Schmid, who according to reports struck a fine effort from outside the penalty area. But Jordan — appearing in their first-ever World Cup — refused to be a footnote.
Ali Olwan scored in the 50th minute to tie the match, and in doing so wrote his name into history: it was Jordan's first-ever goal at a FIFA World Cup. The Hashemite Kingdom erupted in celebration, and the moment demonstrated exactly why the 48-team format — bringing so many nations to the tournament for the first time — gives the competition such unique emotional depth.
Austria ultimately prevailed through what appears to have been an own goal from Yazan Al-Arab — reportedly off a corner kick — to seal a 2-1 victory. Despite the defeat, Jordan's debut will be remembered fondly, and their opening-game goal ensures they leave the United States with pride intact.
What It Means — Standings Update
Group I Standings (after Matchday 1)
| Team | PJ | G | E | P | GF | GC | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| France | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Senegal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Iraq | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
Norway top Group I on goal difference (+3 vs France's +2). France's two-scorer night (Mbappé 2, Barcola 1) was impressive, but Norway's emphatic demolition of Iraq puts them in the driving seat early. The head-to-head between France and Norway will be the match of the group when it arrives.
Group J Standings (after Matchday 1)
| Team | PJ | G | E | P | GF | GC | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Austria | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Jordan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Algeria | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Argentina lead Group J on goal difference (+3 vs Austria's +1). Both sides take three points into Matchday 2. Algeria will need to regroup significantly after the Messi hat-trick — their next opponents and results elsewhere will determine whether they can still progress. Jordan, despite the defeat, showed they belong and can score against top-tier opposition.
Today's Upcoming Matches — June 17, 2026
Day 7 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 brings Groups K and L into action for the first time, with three blockbuster fixtures:
- Portugal vs DR Congo — AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX · 5:00 PM UTC / 1:00 PM ET
- England vs Croatia — AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX · 8:00 PM UTC / 4:00 PM ET
- Ghana vs Panama — BMO Field, Toronto, Canada · 11:00 PM UTC / 7:00 PM ET
All eyes will be on the England vs Croatia rematch — a repeat of the 2018 World Cup semi-final won by Croatia — and on Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal debut against an athletic DR Congo side. Follow Group K and Group L coverage as it develops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lionel Messi scored three goals (17', 60', 76') in Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria on June 16, 2026. It was his first-ever hat-trick at a FIFA World Cup and his 200th appearance for Argentina.
Yes — Messi's hat-trick took him to 16 World Cup goals, matching Miroslav Klose's men's all-time record. Messi needs just one more goal to break the record outright and stand alone as the greatest World Cup scorer in history.
Kylian Mbappé became France's all-time leading international goalscorer with his 58th goal for Les Bleus, surpassing Thierry Henry's longstanding record. He scored twice (66' and 90+6') in France's 3-1 Group I win over Senegal.
Ali Olwan scored Jordan's historic first FIFA World Cup goal in the 50th minute against Austria on June 16, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area. Jordan ultimately lost 2-1.
Norway lead Group I on goal difference (+3) over France (+2), with both on 3 points. In Group J, Argentina top the table (+3) over Austria (+1), also both on 3 points after their opening victories.