FIFA live: Messi or Ronaldo? Mbappe weighs into GOAT debate

• LISTEN LIVE to the World Cup
• SYNC our World Cup commentary to your TV
• Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia FT
• Belgium 0-0 Iran FT
• Uruguay 2-2 Cape Verde FT
• New Zealand 1-1 Egypt

World Cup daily news. We will bring you the latest from around the world as the FIFA World Cup 2026™ finally gets under way (All times AEST).

ABSOLUTE RUBBISH

Roy Keane was not mincing his words when he was asked about Belgium’s 0-0 draw with Iran, slamming the match as “rubbish”.

The top 10 FIFA side looked stale for much of the encounter and they were lucky not to go a goal down after Mehdi Taremi’s effort was disallowed for offside.

"The time to judge a player is when you give him time on the ball. It's almost easier for Iran when they were sitting and defending.

"When they had the extra man, they almost didn't know what to do with it.

“In terms of the quality of the game, I thought it was rubbish. Really bad. Obviously, Belgium had a couple of really good chances, but the standard in terms of the passing, movement, decision-making...so poor."

It’s been a struggle for Belgium so far at the World Cup having also drawn 1-1 with Egypt in the opener. They will play New Zealand in their final match.

MBAPPE WEIGHS IN ON GOAT DEBATE

Kylian Mbappe knows what he is capable of but he insists it's the team mentality and ensuring France win the World Cup that is the priority.

The Real Madrid superstar will play his 100th cap for France against Iraq on Tuesday (AEST) but the personal achievements are not at the front of his mind.

"I want to make history for my country," he told L'Equipe. "I'm fully aware of what a World Cup is all about. I'm here to enjoy myself. To savour every day. I know I have talent, but I have to prove it on the biggest stage.

"It's always a pleasure to play for the national team. There's nothing bigger than the national team. 100 is a historic number, but the importance of the match is paramount. As for the record, I knew Leo would score ( a hat trick against Algeria ). He's Messi, he always scores. I'll try to keep scoring, but the most important thing is to win the World Cup.

"Lionel Messi, without a doubt. He's the best in the world along with Cristiano Ronaldo . I'm doing everything I can, on my end, to improve and help my team win the World Cup. The rest is just debate for the journalists."

"NO PRESSURE" TO HELP RONALDO

Portugal have been under the pump in the opening week of the World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo was heavily criticised for playing a "selfish" game against the DR of Congo which ended in a disappointing 1-1 draw. And questions were then asked about who was running the team with some pundits saying Roberto Martinez was "too scared" to sub Ronaldo off.

But Portugal winger Francisco Conceicao insists no one in the team is feeling any pressure to ensure Ronaldo has the ball.

“We don’t feel the need to pass him the ball,” Conceicao said. “I pass it to whoever I think is in the best position and unmarked.”

“Cristiano is an example because of his career and the hunger he still possesses at 41 years of age… an example of leadership and the goals he scores.

“There is no one like him when it comes to scoring goals… He is here to help, just like any other player.”

Portugal play Uzbekistan in their second and they go into the clash desperate for the three points.

MAKING HISTORY

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei has hailed his side for their unbeaten start to the World Cup saying they will be spoken about for years given the lead up they had.

Their participation in the tournament was in doubt for much of the year given the war with the USA and, despite the hardships imposed on them by US immigration, they are proving doubters wrong.

After their goalless draw against 10-man Belgium, Iran now need a win against Egypt to reach the knock-out stages.

"I want to go back six months," he said. "We were in war conditions for six months; we didn't have our league operating.

"Many teams cancelled the games they would play against us. We came ‌to the ⁠World Cup in the worst conditions possible.

"The players who came to this World Cup in this condition need to be congratulated," he added.

"We had the opportunity to win (against Belgium) but I think this is a great achievement.

"We have had two games at the World Cup with the conditions we had - we had less than 16 hours to do training before the game.

"This will be written in the history of our football and future generations will take about what we have achieved."

GOALKEEPER DISASTER

Cape Verde has scored their second World Cup goal and it's a miracle for them and a humiliating moment for the Uruguay keeper.

From a throw in, Cape Verde built up towards the goal but for reasons none of us will ever understand, Fernando Muslera didn't just come off his line he was out in the field of play!

Hélio Varela a national hero no doubt, he had only been on the pitch a matter of minutes and he scored the goal; absolute scenes on the field, in the dugout and in the crowd. Party time!

"It's a mistake from Uruguay, Olivera goes to play a pass to his centre-half, the keeper comes out but doesn't get anywhere near it," former England forward Sue Smith told the BBC.

"It's a lovely touch from Varela to get round him and then another guide it into the empty net with a great finish.

"It's a poor pass and a poor decision from Muslera to come."

MESSI STATUE STANDS TALL

An enormous statue of Lionel Messi has been unveiled in his home country as a tribute to the GOAT.

At 26 metres tall and weighing 70 tonnes, it is the largest statue of the superstar in the world.

It was designed by sculptor Aldo Veroisa and stands five metres taller than the Messi statue in India.

The Argentina striker got his country off to the perfect start in their group scoring a hat-trick in a 3-0 victory over Algeria last week.

Argentina play Austria tomorrow at 3am AEST.

BELGIAN DISBELIEF

Belgium’s Nathan Ngoy was in disbelief when he was sent off in the second half of his nation’s 0-0 Group G clash with Iran in Los Angeles.

The emerging defender was given his marching orders by referee Dario Herrera in the 67th minute for a professional foul on Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi.

Ngoy completely fluffed his back-pass and immediately panicked, putting his arm across Taremi who made the most of the contact.

Given Ngoy was the last defender the match official saw fit to brandish the red, reducing Belgium to 10 men with around 30 minutes to play.

The 23-year-old Lille man was in shock and disbelief when he learnt his fate.

But the BBC’s Dion Dublin reckons it was the right call from the ref.

“Wow. That is a unfortunate red card because Nathan Ngoy as the ball and Mehdi Taremi is 10 yards away from him, he takes a touch and then he wants to take another touch. Taremi gets on the ball, and then Ngoy grabs his shirt,” said the former Aston Villa striker.

“I think the referee has got that spot on.”

It was an entertaining scoreless draw.

Iran keeper Alireza Beiranvand had earlier made arguably the save of the tournament when denying Maxim De Cuyper’s close-range volley. It was a remarkable piece of reaction goalkeeping.

Hew did it again in the 85th minute to again deny De Cuyper.

His Belgian counterpart Thibaut Courtois was also required to pull out his best, denying the Iranians with some brilliant reflex action on two occasions.

Belgium have not scored themselves in a World Cup match since Michy Batshuayi netted in their opener against Canada in 2022!

They drew 1-1 with Egypt in their 2026 opener but the goal came from a Mohamed Hany own goal.

That's 406 minutes without a goal scored by a Belgian player.

The stalemate has Iran on top of Group G after two matches with two points ahead of Belgium by virtue of goals scored.

New Zealand and Egypt clash in the other Group G fixture in Vancouver from 11am AEST.

GOAL CAPE VERDE!!

History being made and it's an absolute banger of a goal from Kevin Pina on the set piece. Cape Verde - the second smallest country in the World Cup - scoring their first ever goal after just 21 minutes.

You could not write this script.

The lead lasted just 20 minutes before Uruguay took back control to go into the half time break 2-1 up thanks to Araujo and Canobbio.

US EASE IRAN STANCE

The USA looks set to ease restrictions on Iran for their final match of the World Cup group stage but coach Amir Ghalenoei has slammed the oppressive rulings made against his team.

Coming into the tournament tensions between the two nations were still high with the war ongoing since February.

Last month it was announced the Iranian team would not be allowed to spend the night on US soil and as such they were forced to relocate to Mexico causing significant additional travel issues and stress.

Iran plays their final group game in Seattle on Friday and will have more relaxed post match rules.

“They said in Seattle, you can do what you want, you can act the way you want to, and you can come earlier,” Ghalenoei said.

“But what I want, my problem is, why didn’t they let us come earlier for the first two games as well?

“That’s going to affect us mentally, especially me as a head coach, because I want to focus on technical stuff.

“And I think, because we have been flying too much, commuting, as a result of this long commute, we’ve been tired.

“I just know for the last game, yes, they’ve allowed us to decide, to make our own decisions with regards to planning the travel.

“But unfortunately, for the first two games, others made these travel arrangements for us, and the timing for us.”

Earlier in the tournament, Ghalenoei said his side were "the most oppressed".

“We’re supposed to stay here tonight to recover and return tomorrow lunchtime, but they haven’t permitted us,” Ghalenoei said. “To be honest, ‌I have no idea why. I think perhaps our team is the most oppressed one in the whole World Cup.”

🟥 RED CARD

Huge turning point in this game and Belgium are in trouble. They're down to 10-men and there's still 25 minutes to play

Nathan Ngoy was dismissed.

FINALLY ARRIVED

Spain have finally arrived at the World Cup. A 0-0 draw against Cape Verde in their opener stunned the world but Lamine Yamal scored on what was his World Cup starting debut as his nation dismantled Saudi Arabia 4-0.

"That was the plan, to play for a half and get some rest, but above all to help the team," Yamal said afterwards. "The first game wasn't really us, but now we've arrived and we're going for more.

"It turned out the way we wanted - being 3-0 up allowed me to rest, so it was perfect. Drawing a match that you feel you should win stings. It made us think a lot, and it helped us approach this match exactly how we wanted to.

"I’ve always dreamed of being at a World Cup, and being able to score in my first match as a starter is a dream. I watched the last World Cup from a classroom, so being able to score here with my mum and my family in the stands is a dream."

After drawing blanks against Cape Verde, Mikel Oyarzabal scored a brace while there was an own goal from Saudi defender Hassan Altambakti.