Argentina, France and Norway all secured their places in the World Cup knockout stages after recording important victories in their second group matches, with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland once again proving decisive for their respective nations.

Defending champions Argentina booked their place in the last 32 with a 2-0 victory over Austria in Dallas. The result ensured qualification with a game to spare and strengthened their position at the top of Group J.

Lionel Messi was the standout performer for the South Americans, scoring both goals and setting a new World Cup scoring record in the process. The Argentina captain endured an early setback when he missed a penalty awarded after a VAR review determined that Lautaro Martinez had been fouled inside the area. However, the 38-year-old quickly put the disappointment behind him and continued to influence the game.

Argentina controlled possession for long periods, although Austria remained organised and competitive throughout much of the contest. The breakthrough eventually arrived before half-time when Facundo Medina delivered a low cross into the penalty area and Messi applied a composed finish to put his side ahead.

The goal carried additional significance as it moved Messi clear at the top of the World Cup’s all-time scoring charts. Argentina continued to create opportunities in the second half, but Austria defended resolutely and remained in the match until the closing moments.

As Austria pushed forward in search of an equaliser, Argentina found space on the counterattack. Deep into stoppage time, Messi scored his second goal of the evening to secure the victory and complete another memorable performance. Having already scored a hat-trick in Argentina’s opening victory over Algeria, Messi now has five goals in just two matches and looks in excellent form as the holders continue their title defence.

Despite the defeat, Austria remain in contention for qualification after their opening win against Jordan. Their disciplined display and commitment suggest they still have a strong chance of progressing from the group in their remaining fixture.

France also advanced to the knockout stage after a comfortable 3-0 victory over Iraq in Philadelphia. Didier Deschamps’ side followed up their opening win over Senegal with another convincing display to move onto six points and guarantee progression.

As expected, Kylian Mbappe once again played a leading role in France’s success. The captain opened the scoring midway through the first half with an impressive strike from outside the penalty area, giving the French side the advantage after a dominant start.

France controlled much of the opening period, using their pace and movement to stretch the Iraqi defence. Iraq remained disciplined and worked hard to stay in the contest, but they struggled to create clear opportunities against a well-organised French side.

The match then experienced an unusual interruption. Severe storms in the Philadelphia area forced organisers to delay the second half for approximately two hours due to safety concerns. Players and supporters remained under cover while officials monitored the weather conditions before eventually allowing the game to resume.

Any hopes Iraq had of mounting a comeback disappeared shortly after the restart. France capitalised on a defensive mistake as Iraq attempted to play out from the back, allowing Mbappe to score his second goal of the evening and put the result beyond doubt.

The victory further highlighted Mbappe’s importance to France, with the forward continuing his excellent goalscoring form at international level. His two goals took him to four in the tournament and reinforced his status as one of the leading players in the competition.

France completed the scoring late in the match when Michael Olise produced an excellent run before setting up Ousmane Dembele. The winger calmly finished the move to score his first goal at a major international tournament, ending a lengthy wait that had stretched across appearances at both World Cups and European Championships.

With qualification secured, France can now focus on their final group match against Norway, a fixture that is likely to determine which team finishes top of Group I.

Norway joined France in reaching the knockout stage after edging Senegal 3-2 in an entertaining encounter at MetLife Stadium in New York.

The match took place under difficult weather conditions, with heavy rain in the area causing concern before kick-off. Although supporters were briefly cleared from the stadium earlier in the day due to safety precautions, the game eventually went ahead as scheduled.

Norway made a strong start and showed confidence throughout the contest, but Senegal provided a stern challenge and ensured the outcome remained uncertain until the final whistle.

Erling Haaland once again demonstrated why he is regarded as one of the world’s most dangerous forwards. The Manchester City striker scored twice in the second half to guide Norway to victory and continue his remarkable international scoring record.

Senegal remained competitive thanks to a brace from Ismaila Sarr, who caused problems for the Norwegian defence throughout the match. However, despite their efforts, they were unable to prevent Norway from securing all three points.

Haaland’s two goals proved decisive and continued an outstanding run of form for both club and country. His performances have been a major factor in Norway’s successful campaign so far and have helped the Scandinavian side reach the knockout stages after winning their opening two matches.

The result means Norway and France are both guaranteed places in the last 32, with their upcoming meeting set to decide first place in the group. Senegal, meanwhile, face a difficult task in their final match against Iraq and will likely need a convincing victory to keep their qualification hopes alive.

With Argentina, France and Norway all advancing after two matches, attention now turns to the final round of group fixtures as teams battle for positions and remaining places in the knockout stage. The performances of Messi, Mbappe and Haaland have provided some of the tournament’s biggest moments so far, and all three will be expected to play key roles as the competition progresses.