The weather is impacting World Cup matches, with heavy rain falling in Philadelphia during the clash between Iraq and France. Fans rushed for cover as the rain intensified, affecting play on the field.
Meanwhile, Norwegian fans showed their excitement for the Senegal game by miming a Viking row outside Madison Square Garden. Videos of fans performing the same row in Times Square and the NYC subway circulated on social media.
In Philadelphia, Iraq made its first substitution during the hydration break, swapping primary goal scorer Aymen Hussein for Ali Alhamdi, possibly due to injury. This came as France dominated the game with five shots, while Iraq had none.
Brazilian legend Marta, who once held the record for World Cup goals, saw her record broken by Lionel Messi, who now has 18 goals. It’s uncertain if Marta will compete in the 2027 Women’s World Cup to reclaim her status.
France took the lead against Iraq when Kylian Mbappé scored. His left-footed shot overpowered goalkeeper Ahmed Basil. Before this, Iraq had already received a yellow card due to Mbappé’s impressive performance.
Messi remains a World Cup king with 18 goals after scoring twice against Austria. France’s Mbappé, who has 14 goals, could be a future contender for the record.
Rainfall eased temporarily in New Jersey, but the flood watch persisted. Roads near MetLife Stadium showed significant standing water ahead of the Norway-Senegal match.
Argentina secured its spot in the World Cup knockout stage with a 2-0 victory over Austria, thanks to Messi’s incredible performance. Other teams in the knockout stage include Mexico, the U.S., and Germany.
Austrian defender Stefan Posch received a yellow card for a rough tackle on Argentina’s Thiago Almada during the match.
Iran left a note thanking Los Angeles for hospitality after the draw with Belgium preserved its chances of reaching the knockout stages. Despite challenges caused by joint U.S. and Israel strikes in February, Iran continues to compete.
Germany’s Nico Schlotterbeck will miss the remainder of the World Cup due to an ankle injury, affecting the team’s central defense. The coach expressed optimism despite the setback.
Excitement built in Dallas as Argentina prepared to face Austria, drawing an estimated 100,000 fans to North Texas to watch the defending champions play.
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