The 2026 World Cup is barely a week old and already it feels like we’re watching a greatest hits compilation every single day. Spain righted the ship. Mohamed Salah delivered a dagger. Iran and Cabo Verde made life hell for Belgium and Uruguay respectively. That was just the weekend.
Now comes Monday, June 22, and the sport’s three most dangerous goal scorers all step onto the field on the same day. Again. Last time Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland all played on the same matchday, they combined for seven goals. Seven. That’s not a typo.
Argentina vs. Austria (Dallas, 1 p.m. ET, FOX/Telemundo)
Argentina opened with a 4-0 demolition of Algeria. Messi bagged a hat trick. Austria beat Jordan 3-1. Nothing about that Austrian performance screams easy, though. This is a legit test for the defending champs, and the winner likely grabs control of Group J.
Messi is now tied with Miroslav Klose for the all-time World Cup goal record at 16. One more and he stands alone. The Argentines won’t get another hat trick from him every game, so Lautaro Martinez, Thiago Almada and Enzo Fernandez need to contribute. Julian Alvarez is still dealing with injuries and would be a huge boost if he can get on the pitch.
Line: Argentina -215, Draw +340, Austria +650
France vs. Iraq (Philadelphia, 5 p.m. ET, FOX/Telemundo)
France looked terrifying against Senegal, winning 3-1. Mbappe scored twice. He’s now at 14 career World Cup goals, tied with Gerd Mueller and one behind Ronaldo Nazario. If Messi breaks the record earlier in the day, the pressure is on the Frenchman to respond. These two have been pushing each other for years, and the gap is closing fast.
Iraq lost 2-1 to Norway in its opener. They’re tough defensively but France is a different beast entirely. This could get ugly.
Line: France -1100, Draw +1100, Iraq +2800
Norway vs. Senegal (New York/New Jersey, 8 p.m. ET, FOX/Telemundo)
This is the one. Game of the day, no question. Norway crushed Iraq 4-1 in its first-ever World Cup match as a nation. Haaland scored twice and looked every bit the unstoppable force we expected. But Senegal is not Iraq.
The Lions of Teranga lost to France but showed real fight. Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly and Idrissa Gueye bring the experience, while Bayern’s Nicolas Jackson, Monaco’s Lamine Camara and PSG’s 18-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye (who scored his first World Cup goal against France) bring the energy. Senegal has been to three straight World Cups. Norway is still figuring out how to win knockout games.
This one feels like it could be open and chaotic. Norway is better on paper, but Senegal has been here before. That usually matters.
Line: Norway +120, Draw +245, Senegal +235
Jordan vs. Algeria (San Francisco, 11 p.m. ET, FS1/Telemundo)
Late night West Coast special. Algeria lost 4-0 to Argentina. Jordan lost 3-1 to Austria. Both need a win to keep real hopes of advancing alive. Algeria is the clear favorite but Jordan showed enough fight to make this interesting.
Line: Jordan +550, Draw +330, Algeria -190
Three of the most dangerous strikers in history on the same day, two chasing records, one still just getting started. Turn on the TV. This is the kind of day World Cups are made of.
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