Lionel Messi ties men’s World Cup goals record with a hat trick as Argentina tops Algeria
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Lionel Messi delivered his first World Cup hat trick and matched Miroslav Klose’s career scoring record before thousands of Argentina fans packed into Arrowhead Stadium for a match against Algeria on Tuesday night. The defending champions went on to win 3-0. Messi scored his first goal in the opening minutes, the second early in the second half, and the third just before subbing out. The performance came 20 years after his World Cup debut, when Messi also scored. Messi now has 16 goals in six World Cup appearances. The hat trick upstaged stars like Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland, each of whom also scored twice in their matches earlier Tuesday.
Argentina is defending its World Cup title, and its fans are more obsessed than ever
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Some Argentina fans shelled out tens of thousands of dollars to follow the World Cup defending champions around the U.S. One group made a 20-hour drive to Tuesday’s opening match in Kansas City against Algeria, living on sandwiches, to save money. But with Lionel Messi possibly playing in his last World Cup, supporters agreed that no drive was too long or ticket too pricey. The fans included Juan Martin who is spending $20,000 to follow the team. He likens the squad and its captain to the Chicago Bulls led by Michael Jordan. Supporters’ obsession was rewarded when Messi scored 3 goals.
Kylian Mbappé sparks France with 2 goals in 3-1 win over Senegal at the World Cup
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Kylian Mbappé scored twice to move past Pelé with 14 World Cup goals, Bradley Barcola added another and France rebounded from a surprisingly poor first half to beat Senegal 3-1. Mbappé had 14 touches in the scoreless first half, the fewest of any player, then showed his brilliance. He put Les Bleus ahead in the 66th minute and added a goal in stoppage time. Barcola entered in the 80th and scored two minutes later. Ibrahim Mbaye scored on an angled shot for Senegal in stoppage time.
Erling Haaland scores twice in World Cup debut as Norway tops Iraq 4-1
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Erling Haaland scored his first two World Cup goals, including one off a defensive blunder, to propel Norway to a 4-1 victory over Iraq in Group I. It was the 56th and 57th international goals for the Manchester City striker and came in Norway’s first appearance in the tournament since 1998. Leo Ostigard added the third goal in the 76th minute off a corner kick from Martin Odegaard. An own-goal by Iraq’s Aymen Hussein gave Norway its final tally just before the final whistle. Iraq briefly equalized just nine minutes after Haaland’s first strike on a goal by Hussein.
US official says Iran knew team would have to leave the country shortly after World Cup match
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is pushing back on complaints from Iran’s national team that it was forced to leave the U.S. immediately after its first World Cup match instead of having a day to recover in a hotel, saying that was the plan for the team all along. Andrew Giuliani is the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force. He told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the U.S. “was clear this was the process.” Iran winger Mehdi Torabi’s entry visa had also expired after the first game. Team officials and the U.S. State Department confirmed Tuesday afternoon that he had secured a new, multiple-entry visa.
Turkish state broadcaster drops veteran World Cup commentator over Iran-New Zealand mix-up
ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish state broadcaster TRT has removed a commentator from its World Cup roster after he mixed up the Iran and New Zealand teams. TRT says Murat Ekrem Çimen will not continue to comment on matches during the tournament. Turkish media reports that he confused Iran’s attacks with New Zealand’s moves during the opening minutes of the broadcast. The teams shared a 2-2 draw on Monday night in Group G. TRT called the mistake “unacceptable” and apologized to viewers, emphasizing that such errors do not meet its broadcasting standards.
Scheffler is chasing a career Grand Slam at the US Open. It’s not what motivates him
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler is on the cusp of a career Grand Slam at the U.S. Open. That could be the latest comparison with Tiger Woods. This is Scheffler’s first crack at joining golf’s most elite club. Woods in the only player in the modern era to get the slam on his first try. Standing in Scheffler’s way is a Shinnecock Hills course that is among the toughest tests in America even before the USGA gets involved. Rory McIlroy says the course is gentle at the moment. But with wind in the forecast, that could change in a New York minute.
Tale of the ticker tape: The quirky history behind the Knicks’ first NYC parade
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks’ ticker-tape parade will be a first. The new NBA champions have won the title before, in 1970 and ’73. But they weren’t honored then with New York’s signature procession. The ’70s wins came at a time when then-Mayor John Lindsay had reined in the confetti-tossing spectacles. Current Mayor Zohran Mamdani has predicted that Thursday’s celebration might be “the largest parade in New York City history.” New York’s ticker-tape tradition began in the late 19th century, when brokerage firm workers watched parades from office windows and flung out the narrow paper used by telegraph-era “stock ticker” machines.