
Four teams have secured their places in the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup after winning their opening two group matches.
Argentina led the way with a 2-0 victory over Austria in Group H on Monday night. Lionel Messi missed an early penalty but made no mistake later, scoring twice to seal the win and take the defending champions to six points.
The brace also saw Messi become the highest goalscorer in World Cup history with 17 goals, surpassing Miroslav Klose’s long-standing record.
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Mexico, USA and Germany also confirmed their progress to the knockout stage with identical records, joining Argentina in the next phase of the tournament.
The early qualification of the four sides sets up an exciting second half of the group stage, as other teams battle for the remaining spots in the Round of 32.
