Erling Haaland made history as Norway's all-time World Cup record goalscorer last night with an electrifying brace in a 3-2 win over Senegal.
After Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe added to their tallies for the tournament to five and four respectively, the Manchester City forward kept himself within a goal of Messi as he scored a quickfire couple after the break.
Messi's Argentina ran out 2-0 winners over Austria, with the magic man moving two goals clear of Miroslav Klose to make the all-time World Cup goal record his own - 18.
But 27-year-old Mbappe netted a brace too, and now sits at an extraordinary second with 16.
Later on, Jordan suffered late heartbreak against Algeria, falling behind to 2-1 in the final 10 minutes.
Now, attention turns to the final four matches of the second round - as England return to the fray against Ghana this evening.
FULL-TIME: Jordan 1-2 Algeria
Jordan lose out in their bid for a first-ever World Cup win thanks to two late corners from Algeria.
They'll have one more chance to get one... against Lionel Messi and the reigning world champions.
Attention now turns to the final four matches of the second round - as England return to the fray against Ghana.
Portugal vs Uzbekistan leads day 13 later on at 6pm, before the Three Lions are in action at 9pm. Then, it's Panama vs Croatia at midnight, before Colombia vs DR Congo at 3am.
GOAL! Jordan 1-2 Algeria
Heartbreak for Jordan as Algeria go ahead just nine minutes from time. It's another corner. 2-1 - but it will be checked by VAR.
GOAL! Jordan 1-1 Algeria
It's a bullet header to level things up from Ahmed Benbouali. The midfielder rises up to meet Riyad Mahrez's corner - and buries a towering header to equalise. Game on.
Back underway in Santa Clara...
HALF-TIME: Jordan 1-0 Algeria
Jordan lead at the break - and they're on course for their first ever win at a World Cup as things stand. A huge 45 minutes coming up!
GOAL! Jordan 1-0 Algeria
Absolute scenes as Jordan take a shock lead through Nizar Al-Rashdan! He's lurking at the edge of the box and thumps his chance into the bottom corner. Algeria stunned.
KICK-OFF: Jordan vs Algeria
We're underway in Santa Clara for the last match of day 12. Here we go!
Jordan vs Algeria lineups announced
One more game tonight - it's Jordan vs Algeria, with both sides seeking a first win of the tournament.
Jordan: Abu Laila; Abudahab, Al-Arab, Nasib; Taha, Al Rawabdeh, Al-Rashdan, Haddad (C); Olwan, Tamari, Al-Mardi.
Algeria: Zidane; Ait-Nouri, Bensebaini, Mandi, Belghali; Maza, Zerrouki, Boudaoui; Chaibi, Gouiri, Mahrez (C).
FULL-TIME: Norway 3-2 Senegal
Despite a late scare, it's Erling Haaland's heroics which separate Norway and Senegal in the end. The hulking striker's two goals are enough to send his country through to the knockouts.
Norway and France face off on Friday evening to decide who tops the group...
GOAL! Norway 3-2 Senegal
Well then - 3-2! It's a second for Ismaila Sarr and Senegal - and suddenly, they have a lifeline. There are six minutes left to play, and we're all set up for a showpiece finish.
GOAL! Norway 3-1 Senegal
Erling Haaland once again! The big man delivers after turmoil in the box and Norway have their two-goal lead back. 3-1!
GOAL! Norway 2-1 Senegal
Senegal halve their deficit thanks to Ismaila Sarr. The Crystal Palace man manages to put it away while falling over in the box to bring his side right back into it. Game on!
We're back underway in New Jersey... And it's 2-0 Norway!
Just moments after the second half, it's the main men Martin Odegaard and Erling Haaland linking up to double Norway's lead.
The two needed to reflect on their missed chances at the break - and it sure looks like they have. Odegaard plays Haaland in beautifully before the Man City man rockets it into the top corner.
Haaland's three goals now place him as Norway's top goalscorer at World Cups.
HALF-TIME: Norway 1-0 Senegal
Norway lead at the break thanks to a solitary goal from Marcus Pedersen. Premier League stars Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard willl be ruing their chances in the dressing room after squandering opportunities to put their nation firmly in the lead.
Senegal will be looking to their talented front-line to turn things around very shortly...
FULL-TIME: France 3-0 Iraq
At long last, it's full-time in France vs Iraq. A brace from record-chasing Kylian Mbappe and a first tournament goal from Ousmane Dembele sends Les Bleus roaring into the knockouts.
GOAL! Norway 1-0 Senegal
Marcus Pedersen puts Norway in front! Martin Odegaard sends the ball forward, but it bounces off Kalidou Koulibaly right into Pedersen's path. 1-0!
GOAL! France 3-0 Iraq
It's three, and Ousmane Dembele finally has a major tournament goal for France. They lead Iraq 3-0 now - could this be turning into a landslide?
GOAL! France 2-0 Iraq
In what must be the longest gap between two World Cup goals in the same game, Kylian Mbappe has just buried a second.
In a monumental mishap, Iraq's goalkeeper has just handed the ball to Ousmane Dembele, who passes to Mbappe - who then slots into an open goal.
The 27-year-old star now has as many World Cup goals as Miroslav Klose - but after Lionel Messi's brace today, he's still two behind the all-time record.
And finally... France vs Iraq is back on
We're back underway after more than two hours for the second half of France vs Iraq. Finally...
KICK-OFF: Norway vs Senegal
We're underway in New Jersey!
France vs Iraq set to restart in 20 minutes
France vs Iraq STILL delayed... Meanwhile, lineups announced for Norway vs Senegal
Horrid weather means that France vs Iraq is still delayed - though there's a bit of action in the tunnel right now.
In the meantime, we've got the latest on Norway vs Senegal. The lineups are out.
Norway: Nyland; Wolfe, Heggem, Ajer, Ryerson; Aursnes, Berge, Odegaard (C); Nusa, Haaland, Sorloth.
Senegal: Mendy; Diouf, Niakhate, Koulibaly (C), DIatta; Gueye, Gueye, Camara; Mane, Jackson, Sarr.
Iraq coach speaks out amid delay
Iraq assistant manager Rene Meulensteen has expressed pride in his side's display so far.
"Well, obviously the quality of Kylian Mbappe. We are up against world-class players, and they haven't got one, they have five or six," he said.
"I think after the goal from Mbappe, we did not concede any big chances. So we are still in the game. We have to make sure we stay in the game in the early parts of the second half."
There's no end to the delay in sight just yet.
Second half delay incoming
The weather in Philadelphia is...unpleasant. And very British.
It's bucketing down with rain, while there's also thunder and risks of lightning.
As a result, the second half will be delayed until the storm subsides. 15 minute delay from each lightning strike. Grab your coffee if you intend on staying with us...
Goal! France go 1-0 up as Mbappe scores
Wow.
It's not taken long, but France are ahead.
Kylian Mbappe has broken the deadlock to move level with Ronaldo on 15 World Cup goals, with the Real Madrid star unleashing an unstoppable effort into the top corner.
I'd be highly surprised if he doesn't add to his tally for the rest of the game...
France vs Iraq is under way
It's been a quiet start so far, but France look composed on the ball.
Kylian Mbappe has also looked bright. Remember, he's just four away from Lionel Messi's record. Surely not...
What's to come tonight?
Following that Lionel Messi masterclass, it's over to Kylian Mbappe...
France face Iraq at 10pm, with Dider Deschamps' side looking to make it two wins on the trot.
Norway face Senegal at 1am, with Jordan and Algeria to do battle at 4am.
Set your alarms for that one...
Read our Lionel Messi analysis
For years, the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo debate has enthused and divided football purists.
But with the Inter Miami star shining for Argentina at this summer's World Cup, with five goals from just two matches, there might not be anything left to argue about come the end of the tournament on July 19.
Many thought Qatar 2022 would be Messi's final swansong. The way he illuminated that tournament, with seven goals, it was hard to see him ever scaling such dizzying heights again.
Yet here we are, just two games in to this summer's tournament, and Messi's magic is mesmerising once more. Already a World Cup winner, he is playing with the shackles off and a smile on his face. With the 38-year-old in such fantastic form, Lionel Scaloni's team are serious contenders for glory once more.
Game over: Argentina 2-0 Austria
Lionel Messi's Argentina have made it two wins from two now.
He nearly grabbed a hat-trick right at the end, sending a free-kick narrowly wide.
Game over. Argentina are through. With Messi playing like this, consecutive World Cup triumphs are a very, very big possibility.
Messi scores again!
It had to be him.
Lionel Messi is lighting up this World Cup and has now fired Argentina into the knockout stages.
He's just netted his second goal against Austria to take his tally to five goals from just two matches in the tournament.
Lionel Messi makes World Cup HISTORY
Lionel Messi has moved past Miroslav Klose on 17 World Cup goals after scoring for Argentina against Austria on Monday night.
The 38-year-old, who missed a penalty earlier in the match, broke the deadlock in the 38th minute with a side-footed effort.
The veteran rolled back the years to finish with aplomb just inside the box and sparked wild celebrations around the ground.
He now has one more than Klose, who previously etched his name into the history books at the Brazil World Cup in 2014.
Lionel Messi misses penalty
There's been some early drama in the match between Argentina and Austria!
Lionel Messi has missed a penalty, slicing his effort wide, after Lautaro Martinez was brought down in the box.
Messi remains level with Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals. The record will have to wait...
Teams for Argentina and Austria
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has made a single change for his side's World Cup clash with Austria, with Nahuel Molina replacing Gonzalo Montiel in defence.
Lionel Messi retains his place after scoring a hat-trick in Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria and is set to make his 28th World Cup appearance.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner could also become the outright leading goalscorer in World Cup finals history with another strike.
Austria boss Ralf Rangnick has made three changes following the 3-1 win over Jordan, bringing in Kevin Danso, Michael Gregoritsch and Paul Wanner for Sasa Kalajdzic, Philipp Lienhart and Phillipp Mwene.
Argentina XI: E Martínez, Medina, L Martinez, Romero, Molina, Almada, Fernandez, Mac Allister, De Paul, Lautaro Martinez, Messi.
Austria XI: Schlager, Laimer, Alaba, Danso, Posch, Schlager, Seiwald, Sabitzer, Wanner, Schmid, Gregoritsch.
Keane hits out after Tuchel praise
Roy Keane believes England's players have overplayed the impact of Thomas Tuchel's half-time team talk following their 4-2 World Cup victory over Croatia.
The former Manchester United captain argued that motivating players and making tactical adjustments at the interval is simply part of a manager's job.
Harry Kane and Declan Rice both praised Tuchel's message, but Keane insisted the German merely recognised what his players needed in that moment, rather than doing anything special.
Argentina vs Austria preview
Argentina take on Austria looking to build on their brilliant opening win over Algeria
|REUTERS
Argentina face Austria in a fascinating Group J showdown with both sides coming off opening victories at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Argentina cruised past Algeria 3-0, while Austria impressed with a 3-1 win over Jordan, setting up a battle for top spot in the group.
Lionel Messi remains the headline act after scoring a hat-trick in the opener, taking his World Cup tally to 16 goals and drawing level with Miroslav Klose's all-time record.
Messi also holds the World Cup appearance record with 27 matches. If Argentina's captain scores again, he will become the tournament's outright leading scorer, adding extra intrigue to a crucial contest.
France vs Iraq preview
France can take a major step towards the World Cup knockout stage when they face Iraq in Group I.
Les Bleus opened their campaign with a 3-1 win over Senegal, scoring three times from their first four shots on target.
Iraq, meanwhile, conceded four goals in a 4-1 defeat to Norway and enter the match needing a response.
France have won seven of their last nine matches in all competitions, while Iraq have kept just one clean sheet in their previous six games.
With attacking stars firing and qualification within reach, France will be expected to maintain their perfect start.
Saka injury boost
Bukayo Saka rejoined full squad training on Sunday, delivering a significant fitness lift for England before their World Cup encounter with Ghana in Boston on Tuesday.
The Arsenal forward had been working through a separate programme on Saturday whilst managing an Achilles complaint that troubled him during the latter stages of the domestic season.
Ollie Watkins confirmed the winger has participated in every session at England's Kansas City base since their opening victory. "I'm not in the physio department, but he hasn't missed a day of training, so I think that's a good thing," Watkins said.
Saka came off the bench against Croatia, setting up Marcus Rashford's fourth goal in the 4-2 triumph. Thomas Tuchel has indicated the 24-year-old is unlikely to feature from the start until the final group fixture against Panama.
Alan Shearer: Messi's brilliance is impacting Ronaldo
Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in Argentina's World Cup opener against Algeria | REUTERSSpeaking to Betfair, Alan Shearer said: "Lionel Messi is staggering. He's just incredible how he keeps going. He looks as good as ever and he's got a team now who are prepared to do more running for the sake of him to try and get him on the ball. It's fascinating watching him because everyone's first thought is 'can I pass to Messi?'
"Everyone thinks about how to get the ball to him and rightly so. That left foot is deadly. I've ran out of superlatives to say about him. It's staggering what he's done and is still doing.
"I'd imagine the frustrations from Ronaldo the night before watching Messi score three and then him going out and not playing well at all, looking very frustrated. You can imagine what he's feeling.
"Messi and Ronaldo are both amazing players, but I've always edged on the side of Messi. I really don't like comparisons because they're so different in terms of ability and attitude and how they've got to the top. It's all very different. I'll always edge for Messi though."
France vs Iraq in peril
Tonight's World Cup Group I fixture between France and Iraq at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field could face significant disruption from violent storms forecast in the area.
FIFA regulations mandate that play must be halted whenever lightning is detected within eight miles of the venue.
The match, scheduled for 10pm local time, may experience extended delays or potentially be pushed to the following day.
Iraq find themselves in a desperate position following their heavy 4-1 defeat to Norway in their opening fixture. The Lions of Mesopotamia have never won a World Cup match, with their only previous tournament appearance in Mexico 1986 ending in three consecutive losses.
France, meanwhile, arrive brimming with confidence after dismantling Senegal 3-1, with Kylian Mbappe netting twice, including a spectacular 30-yard effort.
Barrow hit back at FIFA
Barrow AFC shared a 'new temporary club badge' for the World Cup after the ban | X/BARROWAFCA group of Barrow FC supporters found themselves barred from bringing their St George's Cross flag into Dallas Stadium for England's World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday.
The flag featured the National League club's crest, which includes a submarine honouring Barrow-in-Furness's proud shipbuilding heritage.
Barrow responded to the peculiar ruling with characteristic wit, unveiling a modified version of their badge on social media.
The club posted a photoshopped crest with the submarine deliberately blurred out, announcing it as their "temporary club badge for the duration of the World Cup."
But they did not stop there...
Sunday round-up
Sunday’s World Cup action delivered goals, drama and a few surprises across four entertaining group-stage matches.
Spain produced the performance of the day with a dominant 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia, inspired by teenager Lamine Yamal and a clinical display from Mikel Oyarzabal. The result put Spain firmly back among the tournament favourites after an underwhelming opening draw.
Belgium and Iran played out a tense 0-0 draw in Los Angeles, with Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand starring and Belgium reduced to ten men late on after Nathan Ngoy’s red card.
Uruguay were then held 2-2 by tournament surprise package Cape Verde, whose fearless attacking football continued to win admirers.
In the final game, Egypt beat New Zealand 3-1 as Mohamed Salah scored a crucial goal to keep Egypt on course for the knockout stage.
Lineker to Richards: "Shut the f*** up!"
After Gary Lineker's appearance on ITV, Micah Richards mimicked the former Match of the Day host by introducing their podcast: "Hello and welcome to the Rest Is Football with me Micah Richards."
Lineker jumped in immediately: "Woah, woah, woah, woah. Micah that's my job."
Richards then appeared on a TV monitor, declaring: "It's not nice is it? Absolute traitor you are. 26 years of blood, sweat and tears to the BBC then you go over to the rival."
Lineker's response was blunt: "Hang on a minute Micah. Shut the f*** up," before switching off the screen.
When Richards demanded an explanation, Lineker was ready with his answer.
"I was making an appearance to promote my show 'The Box', which is also on ITV in September," he insisted.
Scotland triple injury scare
Scotland's preparations for their pivotal World Cup encounter with Brazil have been disrupted by fitness concerns surrounding three key players.
Aaron Hickey, Scott McKenna and Lewis Ferguson were all absent from Steve Clarke's group training session on Sunday, with the trio instead undertaking individual work at the squad's North Carolina base.
The development comes just days before Wednesday's decisive Group C fixture against the six-time world champions in Miami.
Clarke's side currently sit third in their group following a narrow victory over Haiti and a subsequent defeat to Morocco, leaving them needing a positive result against Brazil to secure what would be a historic achievement for Scottish football.
England fans see flag banned
Fifa has barred a group of Barrow fans from flying their flag at the World Cup - because of a picture of a submarine.
The Barrow AFC supporters wanted to display their club's version of the St George's flag, but were rebuffed due a ban on "imagery of weapons or military".
The fan said: "I couldn't believe it really. It's a little bit harsh that they've done it for something like that."