Day 6 of the 2026 World Cup produced several headline performances as the tournament continued to showcase established stars and rising names. The competition had already featured the likes of Lamine Yamal, Vinícius Júnior and Virgil van Dijk, and the latest slate of group-stage matches added more big moments, according to tournament coverage.
In New Jersey, France beat Senegal 3-1 as Kylian Mbappé scored twice for Les Bleus. Match reports indicate Mbappé’s brace was central to France’s victory, which kept the reigning power among the group-stage leaders.
Erling Haaland made his World Cup debut in Boston and immediately made an impact, scoring two goals in Norway’s 4-1 win over Iraq, according to match accounts. The forward’s performance helped secure a decisive victory in his first appearance at the tournament.
Argentina opened their title defense in Kansas City with a 3-0 victory over Algeria. Lionel Messi scored a hat trick and registered his 16th goal at World Cup tournaments, tying Miroslav Klose for the all-time scoring mark, according to official reports of the match.
World Cup debutants Jordan also featured on Day 6, playing their first-ever World Cup match against Austria. The group-stage schedule continued to deliver headline results and notable individual displays, as detailed in tournament summaries.
