# World Cup 2026 Day 6 Preview: Messi’s Argentina, Mbappé’s France Headline Star-Studded Tuesday
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**Matchday 6 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is here, and it’s the biggest day of the tournament so far. Defending champion Argentina kicks off its title defense, France makes its tournament debut, and Erling Haaland leads Norway into its first World Cup in 28 years.**
## Monday Recap: A Day of Draws
Monday delivered a historic first — all four matches ended in draws, the first time that’s happened at a single World Cup since 1958.
| Match | Score | Group | Venue |
|——-|——-|——-|——-|
| Spain vs. Cape Verde | **0-0** | H | Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) |
| Belgium vs. Egypt | **1-1** | G | Lumen Field (Seattle) |
| Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay | **1-1** | H | Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) |
| Iran vs. New Zealand | **2-2** | G | SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA) |
**The biggest shock:** Cape Verde, making their World Cup debut, held Spain to a 0-0 draw. La Liga’s finest couldn’t break down a resilient Cape Verde defense, leaving Group H wide open.
**Egypt impressed** in their 1-1 draw with Belgium, with the Pharaohs looking dangerous throughout. New Zealand twice took the lead against Iran before settling for a 2-2 draw in a politically charged atmosphere at SoFi Stadium.
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## Tuesday June 16 — What’s on Tap
Four matches across Groups I and J, featuring three of the tournament’s biggest stars:
### 🇫🇷 France vs. Senegal 🇸🇳 — 3:00 PM ET
**New York New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ**
The 2022 runners-up open their campaign against a Senegal side looking to replicate their 2022 Round of 16 run. Kylian Mbappé leads a deep French squad that many consider the tournament favorite. Senegal, without Sadio Mané, will rely on defensive organization and counter-attacking speed.
### 🇮🇶 Iraq vs. Norway 🇳🇴 — 6:00 PM ET
**Boston Stadium, Boston, MA**
Norway makes its first World Cup appearance since 1998, and all eyes are on Erling Haaland. The Manchester City superstar has scored goals for fun in Europe, but can he deliver on the biggest stage? Martin Ødegaard pulls the strings in midfield. Iraq arrives battle-tested after a grueling Asian qualifying campaign.
### 🇦🇷 Argentina vs. Algeria 🇩🇿 — 9:00 PM ET
**Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, MO**
The main event. Lionel Messi, now 39, starts his sixth World Cup — and likely his last — as Argentina begins its quest for back-to-back titles. No nation has repeated since Brazil in 1962. This also marks Messi’s 200th international cap. Algeria, appearing in their first World Cup since 2014, will look to spoil the party.
### 🇦🇹 Austria vs. Jordan 🇯🇴 — 12:00 AM ET (Wed)
**San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, CA**
The nightcap rounds out Group J action. Austria, led by David Alaba, will look to stamp their authority against a Jordan side eager to make a statement.
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## Standings at a Glance (Groups G & H after Day 5)
**Group G:** Egypt (1 pt), Belgium (1 pt), Iran (1 pt), New Zealand (1 pt) — *all level*
**Group H:** Cape Verde (1 pt), Saudi Arabia (1 pt), Uruguay (1 pt), Spain (1 pt) — *all level*
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## Looking Ahead
After today, Group I and J standings will start taking shape. France and Argentina are heavy favorites, but as Monday proved — at this World Cup, nothing is guaranteed.
**Upcoming Wednesday (June 17):** Portugal vs. DRC, England vs. Croatia, Ghana vs. Panama, Uzbekistan vs. Colombia
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