Norway returns to the World Cup after 28 years of absence

Colombia faces the Democratic Republic of the Congo this Tuesday with the opportunity to secure its ticket to the round of 32 of the World Cup. Los Cafeteros have just beaten Uzbekistan 3-1, but Congo’s draw against Portugal raised alarm bells.

Careful rival

The African team showed defensive solidity against one of the favorites. “This is not just any team; they already competed well against Portugal. They have very powerful tools, but we will also use ours,” commented Luis Amaranto Perea, technical assistant to Néstor Lorenzo.

The match will be played in Guadalajara. A Colombian victory would leave the team classified, waiting to define whether it finishes first or second in Group K.

Portugal seeks redemption

Hours earlier, Portugal faces Uzbekistan in Houston. The 1-1 draw against Congo generated criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo’s performance. Joao Neves, scorer of the Portuguese goal, said that Cristiano was “just another player”, which fueled the debate about his ownership. Coach Roberto Martínez justified keeping him on the field: “It makes no sense to take out the top scorer in world football in a game where goals are needed.”

Portugal will try to follow in the footsteps of Spain and the Netherlands, who after tying in their debut won decisively on the second round.

England against Ghana

In Boston, England wants to repeat the offensive display that gave them a 4-2 victory over Croatia. With a double from Harry Kane, plus goals from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford, the English are emerging as candidates for the title. Ghana, which beat Panama 1-0, trusts Thomas Partey despite allegations of sexual assault against him that prevented him from playing against Canada.

Mourning of the needy

Panama and Croatia meet in Toronto. Both lost in their debut and need to win to maintain their chances of qualifying. Croatia has Luka Modric as a reference, while Panama awaits the recovery of Adalberto Carrasquilla to seek its first World Cup victory after three defeats in Russia 2018.

Suspension due to electrical storm

The Group I match between France and Iraq was stopped during the first half. The cause: an electric shock in the vicinity of the stadium. The security protocol was activated immediately.

Before the break, the French team led 1-0. Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid forward, scored with a left-footed shot from outside the area. Iraq had planted a low block that Mbappé managed to break.

The pace dropped after the goal. A hydration break anticipated the heavy downpour. Then, the referee ordered the players to retire to the locker room, following FIFA guidelines.

How does the protocol work?

FIFA stipulates a waiting period of 30 minutes from the last download. During that time, the commissioner and officers monitor the weather radars. Only if conditions are safe do teams conduct a brief warm-up before resuming.

The storm has generated uncertainty. Fans and teams hope the weather improves to continue. FIFA reiterates its commitment to the safety of players and the public, prioritizing well-being in the event of any eventuality.

Before the match, Lionel Scaloni expressed his wish that Lionel Messi would always be happy. Less than 24 hours later, the Argentine star experienced a historic afternoon professionally.

Messi scored two goals against Austria. With the first, he reached 17 goals in World Cups, equaling Miroslav Klose’s mark. In the final minutes, he defined the match with his second score, reaching 18 goals and becoming the top solo scorer in the history of the tournament.

A victory that secures passage

The captain’s double gave Argentina a 2-0 victory over the Austrian team. With this result, the albiceleste took over the lead in Group J and mathematically secured its ticket to the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup.

Scaloni highlighted that Messi dosed his energy during the match to define at the key moment. The record achieved by the man from Rosario represents the culmination of an exceptional career in the highest football competition.