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This Morning's World Cup

Messi breaks the men's World Cup scoring record as Argentina beat Austria 2-0 to reach the last 32

Overnight in Arlington, Lionel Messi scored twice as Argentina beat Austria 2-0, taking him clear of Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in the men's World Cup and sending Argentina into the knockout stage. Before dawn France edged Iraq 1-0 through a Kylian Mbappe strike. Japan, who thrashed Tunisia 4-0 on Sunday to reach four points, have no game today and now look ahead to Friday's group decider with Sweden.

Jun 22, 2026 18:352 min readComments open
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While you slept

In the early hours in Arlington, Texas, Argentina beat Austria 2-0. Lionel Messi opened the scoring on 38 minutes and added a second deep in stoppage time, taking his men's World Cup tally to 18 goals and moving him past Miroslav Klose's 16 as the tournament's all-time leading scorer. Two wins from two send Argentina through to the knockout stage as Group J takes shape. Before dawn, at 6am (JST), France ground out a 1-0 win over Iraq through a left-footed Kylian Mbappe strike.

Japan today

Japan beat Tunisia 4-0 on Sunday to move to four points. They sit second in Group F, level with the Netherlands on points and goal difference, and within sight of the knockout stage. There is no Japan game today. Their next match is against Sweden on Friday 26 June at 8am (JST) in Arlington — a group decider in which even a draw would take Japan a long way toward the last 32.

Tonight into tomorrow morning (JST)

Groups I and J fill the day: Norway vs Senegal at 9am in Toronto, where Erling Haaland's side cannot afford to slip in a tight race behind France, then Jordan vs Algeria at noon. Overnight into the 24th come Portugal vs Uzbekistan at 2am, England vs Ghana at 5am, and Panama vs Croatia at 8am.

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