Day 6 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered plenty of drama, with France's Kylian Mbappe scoring a brace to move to 14 World Cup goals, just two shy of Miroslav Klose's all-time record. Erling Haaland struck twice as Norway marked their return to major tournament football after 26 years with a win over Iraq, while Argentina's Lionel Messi stole the spotlight with his first World Cup hat-trick, equalling Klose's record tally of 16 goals.
In the last game of the day, Austria recorded a 3-1 win against World Cup first-timers Jordan, rounding off their opening match of the tournament with a penalty from veteran forward Marko Arnautovic.
France squad
Goalkeeper: Mike Maignan
Defenders: Dayot Upamecano, Jules Kounde, William Saliba, Theo Hernandez
Midfielders: Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot
Forwards: Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe (C), Michael Olise, Desire Doue
Senegal squad
Goalkeeper: Edouard Mendy
Defenders: Kalidou Koulibaly (C), Krepin Diatta, Moussa Niakhate, El Hadji Diouf
Midfielders: Idrissa Gueye, Lamine Camara, Pape Gueye
Forwards: Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson, Ismaila Sarr
Kylian Mbappe scored twice as France overcame early wobbles to open their World Cup account with a 3-1 win against Senegal on Tuesday while reigning champions Argentina prepared to make their bow.
Senegal posed a serious challenge in the first half at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey but after half-time Kylian Mbappe scored the 13th and 14th World Cup goals of his career, the second a memorable strike from distance.
Bradley Barcola also found the net as he skilfully dinked the ball over Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Senegal got a consolation in added time as Ibrahim Mbaye smashed in a shot that France 'keeper Mike Maignan failed to stop.
France coach Didier Deschamps hailed Mbappe as "extraordinary".
"Not everything came off for him, but he can win games in one moment," Deschamps said.
Erling Haaland struck his first World Cup goals as Norway beat Iraq 4-1 on Tuesday in their first game at a major tournament in 26 years.
The Manchester City striker turned in from close range to give Norway the lead on 29 minutes in Boston, but Aymen Hussein's header brought Iraq level.
Haaland pounced on an error at the back to put Norway ahead again before half-time and take his goals tally at international level to 57 in just 51 matches.
Leo Ostigard headed in a third for Norway moments after coming off the bench to effectively wrap up victory. Norway got a fourth deep into stoppage time through a Hussein own goal.
The win left Norway on top of Group I on goal difference, level with France on three points after Les Bleus overcame Senegal 3-1 earlier in the day. The Norwegians face the African powerhouses in their next game in New Jersey on June 22.
Picking up the ball in midfield from a quick De Paul free-kick, he surges through the middle and lets fly from distance.
Lionel Messi scored a dazzling hat-trick for Argentina on Tuesday to equal Miroslav Klose's all-time record of 16 goals at World Cups as the defending champions swept Algeria aside 3-0.
On a night for the ages in Kansas City, the records kept tumbling for Argentina's miracle man, considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time.
When the match kicked off at the home of the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, Messi became the first player to feature in six World Cup tournaments, in his 200th international match.
And the 38-year-old lit up the occasion with three goals in a clinical display by the reigning world champions.
Messi completed his first hat-trick at a World Cup with an unstoppable finish in the 76th minute.
Austria recorded a 3-1 win against World Cup first-timers Jordan on Tuesday, rounding off their opening match of the tournament with a penalty from veteran forward Marko Arnautovic.
Jordan never stopped chasing the game and had the consolation of scoring the first World Cup goal in their history through Ali Olwan.