Los Angeles hosted both of Iran's Group G matches so far, with the team returning to their base in Tijuana, Mexico between games.

Lionel Messi is now a free man. He has been ever since he inspired Argentina to lift their third World Cup four years back in Qatar in 2022, completing the one missing piece of a career that already stood at the summit of football.

Argentina vs Austria [ Monday, 11pm, Bangladesh Time]

Mohamed Salah, Mostafa Zico and Trezeguet were Egypt's other scorers after Finn Surman had given New Zealand the lead after 15 minutes of the Group G match in Vancouver.

This performance in Monterrey suggested something different. It was not merely a win. It was a statement.

Lionel Messi has 16 World Cup goals in total and needs one more to become the outright all-time top-scorer in the tournament's history when the two sides meet in Texas on Monday.

Cape Verde boosted their hopes of reaching the knockout phase with their second point in Group H.

Having arrived at the tournament under the shadow of war between Tehran and Washington, Iran have drawn both their opening games, and remain in with a chance to qualify for the knockout rounds for the first time.

Spain boss Luis de la Fuente said his side had silenced their doubters after Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal inspired a 4-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

Iraq coach Graham Arnold has promised that his team of outsiders will try to take the game to tournament favourites France when the sides clash at the World Cup on Monday.

Ten-man Belgium were left frustrated after being held to a 0-0 draw by a determined Iran in their World Cup Group G clash in Los Angeles on Sunday, failing to find a way past the stubborn Iranian defence.

Lamine Yamal kickstarted Spain's World Cup Group H campaign as he returned to the starting line-up to open the scoring for the European champions in a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

Belgium face an Iran side who also picked up a point from their opening match after a 2-2 draw with New Zealand and Garcia faces a delicate balancing act with his squad of skilled veterans and emerging talents.

In a detailed interview, the 20-year-old spoke about her passion and analysis of the greatest show on earth, Brazil’s performances, her football idols, and Bangladesh’s women’s football.

Much was expected of Spain against the tournament debutants, but De la Fuente's team were unable to find a way past the African side, and need a statement win in Sunday's Group H game with the Saudis to restore some faith.

Salah was substituted in the 76th minute of that 1-1 draw in Seattle, with highly-rated teenager Hamza Abdelkarim coming on.

The Blue Sharks went a long way to proving their point when, making their World Cup debut, they put together a brilliant defensive display to hold European champions Spain to a 0-0 draw on Monday.

"I see myself as much better than people see me. I know the road ahead is very long and that I have many things to improve," he said in an interview with El Pais newspaper published on Sunday.

A wounded Spain will aim to get their World Cup challenge firmly back on track when they face Saudi Arabia in Atlanta on Sunday.

Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room joked that he deserves a statue on the Caribbean island after a jaw-dropping display that earned the team their first-ever World Cup point.