Their 3-1 victory also ensures the Pharaohs look set to qualify from the group stage for the first time in their history. New Zealand took a first-half lead when Finn Surman headed home Tim Payne's well-placed corner in the 15th minute as the All Whites dreamed of securing their first win in this competition. The Kiwis squandered leads twice in their opening game draw with Iran and ended up doing the same here. Egypt scored three goals in the space of 24 second-half minutes to move top of Group G after some tactical tweaks from manager Hossam Hassan. Mostafa Zico - named after the great Brazilian player - headed home Mohamed Hany's cross in the 58th minute. Salah then played a neat one-two with Zico in the area before finding the bottom corner to put Egypt in front. And the former Liverpool forward then delivered a corner for substitute Trezeguet to head home in the 82nd minute. Egypt's first victory in their fourth World Cup - their first appearance was in 1934 - means they will win the group if they beat Iran on Saturday. New Zealand are still searching for their first World Cup win and will need to find it against Belgium if they are to progress.

Having delighted fans with their shock 0-0 draw with Spain in their opener, Cape Verde took a dream lead against Uruguay through Kevin Pina's long-range free-kick which went through the middle of the wall in the 21st minute. Going ahead changed the game's structure as Cape Verde became more attacking and left themselves exposed at the back. Uruguay made the most of the extra space, with Maxi Araujo diving low to nod in an equaliser after defender Sidny Lopes Cabral flicked a delivery back towards his own goal. Agustin Canobbio, who was not in the starting line-up for Uruguay's 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia, then justified his inclusion by turning home an Araujo pass from close range in first-half stoppage time. Cape Verde's poor distribution in the face of a tireless Uruguayan press often made it difficult for them to build up through the pitch, although they kept trying to work openings. And Cape Verde found a way to hit back - thanks largely to a lapse in concentration from the Uruguay defence. Mathias Olivera tried to play the ball across his own box but did not notice the waiting Helio Varela, who controlled the ball to take it past the goalkeeper before guiding it into the back of the empty net. Uruguay nearly snatched a winner, but Federico Valverde had a goal ruled out for offside after bundling the ball over the line from close range. Both sides had further chances to win it in stoppage time but neither could find a crucial third goal. Second-placed Uruguay and third-placed Cape Verde have two points from two games in Group H and both remain in the hunt to qualify for the last 32.

Belgium have now drawn back-to-back matches at this World Cup and face the prospect of a second successive group-stage exit. But it could have been a very different story had Romelu Lukaku connected with Kevin de Bruyne's inviting cross inside the opening five minutes. The Napoli striker - his country's all-time leading scorer - was handed his first start since June 2025 and was expected to spearhead Belgium's bid for a much-needed victory, but looked off the pace. Instead, a string of outstanding saves from Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand, coupled with a costly red card for Belgium's young defender Nathan Ngoy, condemned the Red Devils to another frustrating night on the international stage. The result leaves the 2018 semi-finalists in danger of failing to progress from Group G. Belgium will still go through if they beat New Zealand in their final group game, but any other result would leave their progress in doubt. For Iran, meanwhile - who have only been allowed to fly into the United States a day before each match - the draw means it is the first time they have avoided defeat in their opening two matches of a World Cup.

The Barcelona teenager had been a second-half substitute in Spain's opening Group H game against Cape Verde, but he was unable to inspire his side to victory as the 2010 winners laboured to a deeply frustrating goalless draw. As expected, the 18-year-old was restored to manager Luis de la Fuente's starting line-up against Saudi Arabia – and he wasted little time in making his mark. Mikel Oyarzabal's low cross from the left evaded Saudi Arabia defender Hassan Al Tambakti before being tapped in at the far post by Lamine Yamal, who became only the second player aged 18 or younger – after Pele in 1958 – to open the scoring in a World Cup match. Reluctant to rest on their laurels, Spain continued to swarm forward and doubled their lead through Oyarzabal, who finished low past goalkeeper Mohammad Al-Owais after Saudi Arabia had failed to clear a corner. The Real Sociedad forward scored his second just three minutes later, sweeping home Dani Olmo's flick-on at the far post to all but end the game as a contest. Oyarzabal nearly completed his hat-trick with 10 minutes of the first half remaining, but he could only strike the crossbar after intercepting Al-Owais' stray pass. Lamine Yamal and Oyarzabal were both taken off at the interval, but their withdrawals did little to disrupt Spain's rhythm as De la Fuente's team continued to pin Saudi Arabia back in the second half. Al-Owais was equal to Marc Cucurella's powerful effort three minutes after the restart, only for the ball to rebound off Al Tambakti and into the back of the net to make it 4-0. Spain took their foot off the gas a little after that, although half-time substitute Ferran Torres almost extended their advantage when he dragged a shot wide after being played through on goal. Abdullah Al Hamdan registered Saudi Arabia's only effort on target with 10 minutes remaining, before Torres had a goal disallowed for offside - following a lengthy check by the video assistant referee - deep into stoppage time.

The forward, who turns 39 on Wednesday, got his 17th and 18th goals at tournaments to move two clear of Germany striker Miroslav Klose, whose tally came between 2002 and 2014. Messi's milestone moment came in the 38th minute of the Group J encounter in Dallas, sweeping home a first-time finish from just inside the penalty area after Thiago Almada had cleverly let Facundo Medina's pull-back go through his legs to tee up his team-mate. The talismanic frontman's second came in second-half injury-time as he fired home from a tight angle past two Austrian defenders after Julian Alvarez had been denied by keeper Alexander Schlager. However, Messi could have broken the record earlier in the match. After only eight minutes, Argentina were awarded a penalty following Stefan Posch's foul on Lautaro Martinez, with Austrian defender Xaver Schlager also making a challenge, but Messi fired the spot-kick wide. That disappointment soon turned to celebration, though, in another display of his class on a historic night. He is now the top scorer in the 2026 competition, with five goals in two matches following a hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Algeria in their opening group game. Before Messi's second, Austria - managed by former Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick - had a chance to make it 1-1. But Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez pushed away a powerful free-kick from Marcel Sabitzer, who was making his 100th international appearance. Argentina, with six points, now join Mexico, the United States and Germany in having qualified for the last 32, and they will be confirmed as Group J winners if Jordan do not beat Algeria in the later game (Tuesday, 04:00 BST). Having beaten Jordan in their opener, Austria still remain in contention on three points.