Sepahan Overview

Four nations made debuts at the 2026 World Cup, with Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan gracing the grandest stage in international football for the first time. It is the tournament with the most newcomers since 2006 and Cape Verde have achieved the feat of ending a 16-year wait for a debutant to reach the knockout stages, with the African nation to face Lionel Messi's Argentina on Friday.

Lionel Messi proved once again why he is the ultimate team player, opting to start on the bench during Argentina's 3-1 victory over Jordan to allow his team-mates valuable minutes on the pitch. Despite his limited time, the Inter Miami star still managed to find the net with a stunning free-kick, further extending his record-breaking tally on the world stage.

Lionel Messi continues to rewrite the history books after producing yet another moment of magic to secure a new World Cup record during Argentina's 3-1 victory over Jordan. The Inter Miami superstar came off the bench to score a sensational free-kick, leaving the opposition goalkeeper completely bamboozled in Arlington.

The group stages of the 2026 World Cup are in the books after a thrilling fortnight of action across the United States, Mexico and Canada. Despite a lack of eye-catching fixtures on paper in the new, expanded format, there has been drama aplenty, with all the big names showing up for their respective countries on football's biggest stage.