World Cup 2026 Roundup: Haaland Fires Norway to Last 32, France Survives Storm, England Need Replying
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to deliver drama in its expanded 48-team format, and Monday June 22 was no exception. From Erling Haaland’s brilliance at MetLife Stadium to a two-hour storm delay in Philadelphia, here’s everything you need to know from today’s action.
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Norway 3-2 Senegal — Group I (MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ)
Norway sealed their place in the Round of 32 with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Senegal in front of a packed crowd at MetLife Stadium.
| Team | Goals | Scorers |
|---|---|---|
| 🇳🇴 Norway | 3 | Pedersen, Haaland (2) |
| 🇸🇳 Senegal | 2 | I. Sarr (2) |
Key Moments
Speaking on BBC Sport, former Nigeria striker Efan Ekoku praised Haaland’s composure: “He kept his composure, managed to take a couple of great touches and cleared the goalkeeper. Nice and cool.”
The result means Norway advance to the knockout stage with a perfect 6 points from 2 games. Senegal, despite a spirited performance, are left with work to do in their final group match.
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France 3-0 Iraq — Storm Delay Can’t Stop Les Bleus
France overcame a two-hour storm delay at half-time in Philadelphia to cruise past Iraq and book their spot in the knockout rounds.
| Team | Goals | Scorers |
|---|---|---|
| 🇫🇷 France | 3 | Mbappé (2), Dembélé |
| 🇮🇶 Iraq | 0 | — |
Kylian Mbappé scored twice and Ousmane Dembélé added another as the defending champions showed their class despite the unusual interruption. The storm brought torrential rain that forced players off the pitch at the interval, but France returned focused and professional to see out the win.
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Around the Groups — Standings Update
With the group stage approaching its climax, here’s how the top teams are shaping up:
Group A: 🇲🇽 Mexico lead with 6 points (W2) after beating South Korea 1-0
Group D: 🇺🇸 USA top with 6 points after victories over Paraguay (4-1) and Australia (2-0)
Group E: 🇩🇪 Germany are flying with 6 points, including a 7-1 demolition of Curaçao
Group I: 🇳🇴 Norway advance with 6 points from their two Group I matches
England’s Wake-Up Call
Earlier in the day, England manager Thomas Tuchel admitted his side received a “wake-up call” against Croatia. Speaking ahead of their upcoming match against Ghana, Tuchel emphasized the need for better defensive structure. The Three Lions currently sit in a strong position but will need to sharpen up at the back to go deep in this tournament.
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Upcoming Matches to Watch
| Date | Match | Group | Venue | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 22 | Jordan vs Algeria | J | MetLife Stadium | Late kick-off |
| June 23 | England vs Ghana | H | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | TBD |
| June 23 | Argentina vs Saudi Arabia | L | SoFi Stadium | TBD |
| June 23 | Spain vs Japan | F | AT&T Stadium | TBD |
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Looking Ahead
The expanded 48-team format means every group match matters more than ever. With only the top two from each group advancing to the 32-team knockout stage, every point is precious. Norway’s qualification tonight shows how quickly a team can seize their opportunity — and how dangerous Haaland can be on the biggest stage.
Which team are you backing for the World Cup 2026 title? Drop your predictions in the comments below!
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