World Cup 2026: Messi Equals Scoring Record, England Prepares for Opener
Lionel Messi starts strong, while England faces Croatia and Northern Ireland awaits play-off draw
The 2026 World Cup is underway, with Lionel Messi scoring a hat-trick to equal the all-time scoring record, while England prepares to face Croatia in their opening match and Northern Ireland waits to discover their play-off opponents.
The 2026 World Cup has kicked off with a bang, as Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to equal the all-time scoring record in Argentina's 3-1 win over Algeria. Meanwhile, England is preparing to face Croatia in their opening match on June 17, and Northern Ireland is waiting to discover their play-off opponents for the 2027 Women's World Cup.
What Happened
Lionel Messi's hat-trick against Algeria has put him level with Miroslav Klose as the World Cup's all-time leading scorer. The Argentine forward's impressive performance has sent a message to the rest of the tournament that he is still a force to be reckoned with.
- Messi scored three goals in Argentina's 3-1 win over Algeria
- The hat-trick puts Messi level with Miroslav Klose as the World Cup's all-time leading scorer
- Argentina's win is a strong start to their World Cup campaign
England Prepares for Opener
England's World Cup campaign gets underway on June 17, when they face Croatia. The Three Lions will be looking to make a strong start to the tournament, and will also face Ghana and Panama in their group stage matches.
- England's World Cup campaign starts on June 17 against Croatia
- The Three Lions will also face Ghana and Panama in the group stage
- England's previous opening matches have been a mixed bag, with some impressive wins and some disappointing losses
Northern Ireland Awaits Play-Off Draw
Northern Ireland will be unseeded for their play-off semi-final and could face the likes of Portugal, Switzerland, Scotland, or Wales. The draw will take place soon, and Michael McArdle's side will be hoping to secure a spot in the 2027 Women's World Cup.
- Northern Ireland will be unseeded for their play-off semi-final
- The draw could see them face Portugal, Switzerland, Scotland, or Wales
- Northern Ireland have relished the underdog tag before and will be hoping to cause an upset
Key Facts
- Who: Lionel Messi
- What: Scored a hat-trick to equal the all-time World Cup scoring record
- When: June 12, 2026
- Where: World Cup 2026
- Impact: Messi's performance has sent a message to the rest of the tournament that he is still a force to be reckoned with
What Comes Next
The World Cup 2026 is just getting started, with many more exciting matches to come. England will be looking to make a strong start to their campaign, while Northern Ireland will be hoping to secure a spot in the 2027 Women's World Cup. Lionel Messi will be looking to break the all-time scoring record and lead Argentina to World Cup glory.