Jordan 1-3 Argentina: World Cup 2026 - as it happened
Key eventsNick AmesGive him half an hour and he will leave a mark that lasts for ever. Lionel Messi’s arrival from the bench had preoccupied the overwhelming majority of those under this vast roof, to the extent that the play before it felt almost self-consciously like a prelude. There was no risk, no edge, to an encounter between two sides who knew their fates so why not bask in seeing a little more history being made?Messi knew better than to disappoint. He had been wayward with a free-kick after coming on but, when he won a second 22 yards from goal, the outcome seemed predestined. A whip around the wall, an inordinate amount of bend that saw the ball finish in an almost central position, and the Jordan keeper Yazeed Abulaila could only look on. A sixth goal in three games; a 19th in World Cup football; a first since turning 39. Keep track of the milestones and then get ready for more, because Messi just keeps them coming.ShareThe round of 32 begins in just under 15 hours’ time with South Africa v CanadaShareThe group stage is done and dusted, and this is how the last 32 shapes up. The fixtures are listed according to the World Cup bracket, not the order in which they’ll be played.Germany v ParaguayFrance v SwedenSouth Africa v CanadaNetherlands v MoroccoPortugal v CroatiaSpain v AustriaUnited States v Bosnia and HerzegovinaBelgium v SenegalBrazil v JapanCote d’Ivoire v NorwayMexico v EcuadorEngland v DR CongoArgentina v Cape VerdeAustralia v EgyptSwitzerland v AlgeriaColombia v GhanaShareUpdated at 00.08 EDTFull time: Algeria 3-3 AustriaA result that puts both teams through to the knockout stage, but you can’t really accuse them of collusion after a veritable nerve-shredder.ShareFull time: Jordan 1-3 ArgentinaThe holders move into the last 32 with another comfortable victory. Lionel Messi came off the bench to score the third goal, his sixth of the tournament and his 19th in a World Cup finals, but never mind all that because AUSTRIA HAVE EQUALISED IN ADDED TIME!Dear me, what a game.ShareUpdated at 00.00 EDT90+4 min A late twist in Kansas, where Riyad Mahrez has scored his second goal to make it Algeria 3-2 Austria. I think that means Austria are on the way out and Iran will go through to face Switzerland.Revenge wears no wristwatch.Share90 min Five minutes of added time.Share89 min: Jordan substitutions Mohammad Abu Zrayq and Salim Obaid replace Abu Dahab, who is being stretchered off after a seemingly innocuous collision with Barco, and Ali Olwan.Share86 min A shot from Lopez takes a deflection and spins just wide of the far post. The third goal has flattened Jordan, who are 2-1 still had legitimate hope of an equaliser.Share82 min Jose Manuel Lopez replaces Julian Alvarez.That goal takes Messi to 19 in World Cups, three clear of Kylian Mbappe and Miroslav Klose. Fourteen of the 19 have come during the group stage, not that Messi will or should care.ShareGOAL! Jordan 1-3 Argentina (Messi 80)Lionel Messi has scored his sixth goal of the World Cup… already!Messi was fouled 25 yards from goal and there was a sense of inevitability about what happened next. It wasn’t his greatest free-kick, curled low and nowhere near the corner, but Abulaila wrongfooted himself and the ball rolled into the net.Messi has scored in seven successive World Cup games, another record to add to the list.ShareUpdated at 23.48 EDT76 min: Jordan substitution Amer Jamous comes on for Nizar al-Rashdan.Share73 min A reminder that Argentina will play Cape Verde in Miami on Friday. And they’ll want to play better than this have in the second half of this game.Share71 min: Argentina substitution Giuliano Simeone is replaced by Valentin Barco, once of Brighton.Share68 min Let’s all enjoy some hydration.Argentina haven’t really got going in the second half so perhaps the break will do them good.ShareUpdated at 23.31 EDT65 min Messi curls the free-kick over the wall and over the bar.Share64 min Mac Allister is fouled 30 yards from goal by al-Arab, who is booked. Otamendi is over the free-kick.Share62 min Algeria have equalised for the second time against Austria.Share60 min: Triple substitution for Argentina Lionel Messi, Thiago Almada and Alexis Mac Allister replace Giovani Lo Celso. Lautaro Martinez and Nico Paz.ShareUpdated at 23.47 EDT57 min Austria are back in front against Algeria, which means Iran are going through as it stands.Share56 min Al-Taamari was involved at the start of the move with some neat link play. When the ball was moved out to the right, he headed straight for the penalty box. Good thing he did: Haddad’s cross was impossible to defend and al-Taamari had a tap-in at the far post.ShareGOAL! Jordan 1-2 Argentina (al-Taamari 55)A lovely moment from the substitute Musa al-Taamari, who runs onto a devastating low cross from Ehsan Haddad and forces the ball past Emi Martinez! Jordan have now scored in all three games on their World Cup debut.ShareUpdated at 23.21 EDT55 min Lionel Messi is getting ready to come on. Meanwhile…Share53 min: Martinez hits the barMartinez has got the taste. He whips an extravagant curler from distance that pings the top of the crossbar, though I think Abulaila had it covered.Share51 min Lo Celso plays a cute through pass to Lautaro Martinez, who is shaping to shoot when Abu Taha makes a terrific sliding challenge.Jordan break and al-Taamari wafts over the bar from the edge of the area. That was halt a chance.Share48 min For the second time tonight, Giovani Lo Celso has a goal disallowed. This time it was for offside against Lautaro Martinez, the man who made the goal that wasn’t.ShareUpdated at 23.14 EDT46 min Argentina get the second half under way.ShareDouble substituion for Jordan Musi al-Taamari and Mahmoud al-Mardi replace Ali Azaizeh and Odeh al-Fakhouri.ShareUpdated at 23.09 EDTMore half-time readingSome gems in here. I implore you to check out Lefter Kücükandonyadis’s thunderbolt for Turkey against South Korea in Geneva in 1954.ShareHalf-time readingShare
Most Popular
