World Cup opening round delivers shocks, stars and surprises

The opening round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has already produced standout performances, unexpected results and record-breaking crowds, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling tournament.

From Lionel Messi‍‍`s stunning hat-trick to Cape Verde‍‍`s shock draw against Spain, the first batch of matches offered plenty of talking points as teams began their World Cup campaigns.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi once again proved why he remains one of football‍‍`s greatest players. The 38-year-old delivered a hat-trick against Algeria, helping Argentina make a strong start while reminding fans that he remains a major force on the international stage.

The three goals moved Messi level with former Germany striker Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals, putting him within reach of the all-time tournament scoring record.

While Messi stole the spotlight, fellow stars Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland also made impressive starts, each scoring twice as the race for the Golden Boot gathered momentum.

The tournament was less memorable for Cristiano Ronaldo. Portugal‍‍`s captain struggled to make an impact during his team‍‍`s 1-1 draw with DR Congo, recording one of his quietest performances in a major international tournament.

The Portuguese star completed the match but had limited involvement and extended his goal drought in major competitions, adding to questions over his role in the team moving forward.

One of the biggest surprises of the opening round came from Cape Verde. Making their World Cup debut, the African nation held European champions Spain to a goalless draw in a result that stunned many observers.

Goalkeeper Vozinha emerged as the hero of the match with a series of outstanding saves. His emotional reaction after the final whistle quickly became one of the defining images of the tournament‍‍`s opening week.

The result also strengthened arguments in favour of the expanded 48-team World Cup format, showing that smaller nations are capable of competing with football‍‍`s traditional powers.

Off the pitch, fan interest has remained remarkably strong despite concerns over ticket prices. Stadiums across the United States have drawn large crowds, with FIFA reporting record attendance figures for a single day of World Cup action.

Meanwhile, discipline has also become a talking point. The tournament opener between Mexico and South Africa produced three red cards, raising concerns about officiating standards. However, referees have shown greater restraint since then, with no players sent off in the following 23 matches.

With star players delivering, underdogs making headlines and supporters filling stadiums, the first round of matches has provided an early glimpse of a World Cup that is already full of drama and surprises.