Right here’s a take a look at the viral moments and on-field controversies in addition to the most important gamers, greatest performances, targets and extra.
Printed On 24 Jun 2026
Cristiano Ronaldo joined the occasion, Lionel Messi set a brand new file, Iran as soon as once more displayed their combating spirit and Turkiye had been proven the door.
The second spherical of the 2026 World Cup group stage had a good quantity of drama.
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Al Jazeera breaks down the important thing moments:
Higher late than by no means: Ronaldo strikes for Portugal
Not like different high-profile strikers on the match who got here out all weapons blazing from the get-go, Ronaldo wanted a while to open his account. However his two goals in Portugal’s 5-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan on Tuesday had been sufficient to silence the critics because the 41-year-old grew to become the primary participant in historical past to attain in six World Cups.
Messi is saving his greatest for final
Age is only a quantity for Messi, who’s celebrating his thirty ninth birthday on Wednesday. His obvious final dance is bringing out the best in him because the Argentinian has set a brand new file for the most World Cup goals at 18 – a determine that’s certain to extend with La Albiceleste now the number one favourites so as to add back-to-back World Cups to their trophy cupboard.
Is Messi “Mr Argentina”? It’s exhausting to argue in any other case with all 5 of the crew’s targets scored by him. That additionally makes him the main Golden Boot contender with one purpose greater than France’s Kylian Mbappe.
Triple deal with: Messi, Mbappe, Haaland rating on similar day, once more
FIFA has come beneath criticism for a sequence of points this match, however one factor it’s received spot on is the scheduling of Argentina, France and Norway video games on the identical day. For the second time in a row, followers had been handled to back-to-back targets galore on Monday as Messi began the occasion with a brace earlier than Mbappe did the identical, and Erling Haaland topped it off with one other double.
Norway’s ‘Viking row’ goes viral
Again on the World Cup after 28 years, Norway celebrated their round of 32 qualification in typical vogue: bringing out the well-known “Viking row”. With the squad sitting in rows resembling these of a Viking longboat, captain Martin Odegaard started beating the drum to a joyous climax as hundreds of Norwegians within the stadium additionally joined the enjoyable.
Salah, Egypt rejoice on streets of Vancouver
It took Egypt an unbelievable 92 years to register their first World Cup win, so it wasn’t a shock that they celebrated in type. Shortly after beating New Zealand 3-1 on Sunday, the Egypt squad was pictured on the streets of Vancouver with followers, singing and dancing to music blaring from an enormous speaker. Mohamed Salah, nicknamed the “Egyptian King”, was the centre of consideration but once more, held up on the shoulders of a teammate, as he grooved to the tunes.
Japan are Asia’s greatest hope on the match
Whereas Asian groups loved a fantastic run through the first spherical of the group video games, just one crew – Japan – constructed on the momentum. After a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands within the first match, Japan thrashed Tunisia 4-0 within the subsequent fixture on Saturday, gathering 4 factors – the very best by an Asian crew to date. In keeping with Opta’s supercomputer, Japan have a 20.8 p.c likelihood of reaching the quarterfinals and 9.41 p.c likelihood of constructing the semifinals.
Persistent Iran combat exhausting to remain in competition
Regardless of travel restrictions imposed on them by the USA for his or her first two World Cup video games, Iran have remained unbeaten with two attracts. That retains them alive within the knockout race, and with the squad now allowed to fly into the US from Mexico two days before their next match as a substitute of 1 as was the case earlier, Iran can higher put together for his or her remaining group sport on Saturday in opposition to Egypt in Seattle. A win would see them by way of whereas a draw may also suffice, relying on different outcomes.
Turkiye’s proficient crew disappoints
From Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz to Hakan Calhanoglu and Merih Demiral, Turkiye is full of expertise throughout all departments. However none of them might flip round Turkiye’s fortunes as they crashed out of the tournament after shedding to Paraguay on Saturday. The early exit crushed the hopes of thousands and thousands of Turkish followers, who waited 24 years to see their crew return to the World Cup.
No Pulisic, no downside for USA
For years, Christian Pulisic has been the poster boy of the USA crew, however the cohost nation proved that they will get the job done even within the influential winger’s absence. With Pulisic dominated out with a calf damage, Alex Freeman scored one, and the USA benefitted from a Cameron Burgess personal purpose as they sailed into the knockouts with a 2-0 victory on Friday in opposition to Australia.
Purple-carded Almiron to go down in historical past
Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron made historical past, albeit for the mistaken causes, when he grew to become the primary participant to be despatched off on the 2026 World Cup for overlaying his mouth. Almiron – additionally handed a one-match ban – coated his mouth throughout a confrontation with Turkiye’s Mert Muldur. The straight crimson handed to him follows a new rule beneath which gamers aren’t allowed to cowl their mouths to disguise what they’re saying throughout confrontations with infringements resulting in on the spot dismissals.
