world · 2026-06-23
FIFA 2026: Six Teams In, Four Out Already
712be20e-d604-4774-a3ad-416e748f0eea
Mexico, USA, Germany, Argentina, France, and Norway have qualified for the round of 32 after dominant group stage performances.Messi became the World Cup's all-time top scorer with 18 goals, a milestone that could define his legacy in what may be his final tournament.Haiti, Turkiye, Tunisia, and Jordan are eliminated. Haiti and Turkiye exited after 50-year and 24-year waits to return to the tournament.
How did Messi break the all-time record?
Messi scored twice against Austria in a 2-0 win, reaching 18 World Cup goals. He had earlier scored a hat-trick in Argentina's 3-0 opener against Algeria. He surpassed the previous record, cementing his status in a tournament where he already lifted the trophy in Qatar 2022.
How many goals has Messi scored this tournament?
Messi has 5 goals in 2 games so far, including a hat-trick against Algeria and a brace against Austria. That burst alone lifted him from 13 career World Cup goals to 18, a pace no player has matched in a single tournament's opening fixtures.
Could this be Messi's final World Cup?
At 38, Messi would be 42 by the 2030 World Cup. Historically, only a handful of outfield players have competed past 40 at this level. Roger Milla played at 42 in 1994, but he was a substitute. Messi's workload with Inter Miami makes another cycle unlikely.
Who held the record before Messi broke it?
Germany's Miroslav Klose held the record with 16 World Cup goals, set across four tournaments from 2002 to 2014. Messi passed that mark by 2 goals in just his second match of this tournament, a record many thought would stand for decades.
Why are so many returnee teams exiting early?
Turkiye, Haiti, and Tunisia all returned after long absences of 24, 51, and several years respectively. Long gaps mean squads lack tournament experience at this level. Turkiye lost to 10-man Paraguay, Haiti fell to Brazil and Scotland, and Tunisia conceded 9 goals in 2 matches.
What went wrong tactically for Turkiye?
Turkiye lost 2-0 to Australia in their opener, then fell 1-0 to Paraguay despite Paraguay having a red card. Their defense conceded from set pieces in both matches. Without competitive World Cup football since 2002, their squad lacked the composure needed in tight moments.
Does group stage format favor cohosts?
Mexico and USA both qualified first and second respectively. Cohosts avoid qualification campaigns but play frequent friendlies and warm-up matches on home soil. Mexico's 2-0 opener against South Africa showed the advantage of crowd support, with 80K fans at the Azteca.
How does lack of tournament play hurt squads?
Teams returning after long absences miss cycles of high-pressure knockout football that build institutional knowledge. Coaching staffs rotate, scouting networks thin out. Haiti's federation, for example, had limited resources to prepare players for the intensity Brazil and Scotland brought.
Which eliminated teams waited decades for this?
Haiti waited since 1974, 51 years. Turkiye returned after 24 years only to lose both games. Tunisia, despite being the first African team to win a World Cup match in 1978, have never escaped group stages. Jordan, a debutant, also exited after losses to Austria and Algeria.
Which African teams are still alive?
Ivory Coast lost 2-1 to Germany but remain alive for third-place advancement depending on their final group match. South Africa lost their opener to Mexico 2-0 but also have a game remaining. Algeria and Senegal each lost their second matches but are not yet mathematically eliminated.
Could any eliminated team have advanced?
Tunisia came closest on paper, having won a World Cup match historically. But conceding 9 goals in 2 games suggests a defensive collapse beyond recovery. Turkiye's loss to 10-man Paraguay was their best chance, a match where one converted chance could have changed their trajectory entirely.
What does Jordan's exit mean for Asian football?
Jordan were one of four debutants this tournament. Their exit after 2 losses, 2-4 on aggregate, mirrors Asian underdogs' typical World Cup arc. However, Saudi Arabia's 2022 win over Argentina showed Asian teams can compete. Jordan's FA will likely use this experience to build toward 2030.
Source: aljazeera.com