The opening week of the 2026 FIFA World Cup featured a Lionel Messi hat-trick and a historic scoring milestone for Harry Kane.
These early results set the tone for the tournament, signaling a mix of veteran dominance and unexpected struggles for traditional football powerhouses as they compete across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Argentina opened the tournament with a dominant performance. Lionel Messi scored three goals [1] in a hat-trick that defined the first matchday. "Messi's hat-trick was the highlight of Matchday 1," TelecomAsia staff said [1].
England also saw a historic achievement during the first week of play, which ran from June 8 to June 15, 2026 [2]. Harry Kane tied the all-time World Cup scoring record with his latest goal, reaching seven World Cup goals to tie Miroslav Klose [3]. "Harry Kane tied the all-time World Cup scoring record with his latest goal," Sports Illustrated staff said [3].
While some stars excelled, others faced difficulties. Portugal struggled to find their offensive rhythm in a surprising 1-1 draw. Cristiano Ronaldo was held scoreless during the match, recording zero goals [4]. "Ronaldo was held scoreless in a 1-1 draw, a surprising result for Portugal," a Los Angeles Times reporter said [4].
Brazil also experienced unexpected challenges during the group stage matches. These results have created several early storylines as teams fight for positioning in the knockout rounds. The opening week's action demonstrated that established favorites remain vulnerable to upsets in the expanded tournament format.
“"Messi's hat-trick was the highlight of Matchday 1."”
The early results indicate a tournament of extremes where aging superstars like Messi and Kane continue to produce record-breaking numbers, while other elite teams like Portugal and Brazil are struggling to adapt to the tournament's opening pressure. This volatility suggests a more open competition than previous editions, potentially paving the way for underdog nations to advance.
