Some wild weather brings the World Cup to a standstill, but not before Lionel Messi lights it up to rewrite the record books.
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These are the quick hits from another day at the 2026 World Cup.
1. Wild weather brings World Cup to a halt
All eyes have been on the temperature gauges so far, but monsoonal Philadelphia rain has struck the first major blow for the weather at this World Cup.
There were warning signs in the lead-up to France’s game against Iraq when the opening of the gates was delayed due to heavy rain, but the game started on time and there was hope it would remain unaffected.
The rain did not deter many of the fans in Philadelphia. (Getty Images: Darrian Traynor)
Shortly before half-time, the rain began to bucket down. Iraq coach Graham Arnold took shelter under a clipboard, and the players sprinted for the comfort of the change rooms when the half finally ended.
That wasn’t the worst of it though. Some lightning in the area during the half-time break meant the stands had to be cleared and the game delayed.
Fans had to clear the stands when the weather warning came in. (Getty Images: Dan Mullan)
After a delay of nearly two hours, the game finally got back underway and France picked up quickly where it left off, running out a comfy 3-0 winner.
2. Messi ticking off records left and right
Against Austria, Argentina’s Lionel Messi became the greatest goalscorer in World Cup history.
His 17th goal took him ahead of Germany’s Miroslav Klose at the top of the men’s charts, and his 18th took him above Brazilian legend of the women’s game Marta on the overall charts.
Lionel Messi had an afternoon to remember against Austria. (Getty Images: Maja Hitij )
But those weren’t the only records Messi broke in this game.
This game was Messi’s 28th in a World Cup, a record.
It was Messi’s 18th win at a World Cup, a record.
Messi took his overall minutes tally at World Cups to 2,489, a record.
And, to round it all off, Messi missed his third penalty at a World Cup. Another record.
3. Arnie’s dirty night
Graham Arnold knew he had his work cut out for him as soon as Iraq was placed in the brutal Group I, but it turns out he didn’t know the half of it.
It’s been tough going so far for Graham Arnold at this World Cup. (Getty Images: Kevin C Cox)
Iraq has now conceded seven goals in its first two group games, losing 4-1 to Norway and 3-0 to France. He had to endure the worst weather seen at the World Cup so far, copping a drenching and wrestling a poncho before the two-hour delay.
And when play finally did resume, he had to watch his centre-back Zaid Tahseen produce the biggest blunder of the World Cup, unfathomably stuffing up a goal-kick so badly that Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé could raffle off a tap in.
So how did Arnie react to these setbacks? He put a clipboard on his head to provide shelter from the rain, sang along to Livin’ On A Prayer and immediately, after Tahseen’s mistake, he rage-subbed him straight out of the game.
Graham Arnold doing whatever he can to stay dry. (Getty Images: Shaun Botterill)
With Senegal still to play, there could still be some more pain to come.
4. The Continuing Adventures of Merlin the Duck
Earlier in this World Cup we introduced you to Mexico’s unofficial mascot, Merlin the Duck. Well, we have a Merlin update — he’s met the president.
Wearing the green jersey of Mexico’s national team and a FIFA tie, he waddled into the room ahead of President Claudia Sheinbaum, took a seat facing reporters and quickly became the star of her morning news briefing.
Merlin didn’t take any questions. His owner, Carla Gómez, did that for him.
Sitting beside the lectern, with Merlin at the centre, were her sons, Carlos, 22, and Cristian, 14, who “doesn’t rest after school” and helps her every day by selling goods and carrying packages.
Merlin, he said, is “the boss of our little business. He’s the one who follows behind us, making sure we’re working and doing things the right way”.
Looking sharp, Merlin. (Getty Images: Daniel Cardenas)
The family takes great care with his diet, feeding him small fish, crickets and, on Sundays, even a meat taco. Well in, Merlin.
5. Doku makes it back for the birth
The Belgian football federation congratulated Jérémy Doku on the birth of his son, Praise, one day after a French media organisation apologised for a commentator’s criticism.
Doku missed the team’s 0-0 draw against Iran because of a respiratory illness, but was cleared to fly back to London so he could be with his wife.
Jérémy Doku made it home for the birth of his son, Praise, and has returned now to the Belgian camp. (Getty Images: Henry Rodenburg)
“As he had already been receiving the appropriate medical treatment for several days, he was able to fly without any medical risk in order to be with his family during this very special moment,” Belgium team doctor Brahim Hacene said in a statement.
“He was accompanied by my colleague, Dr Brecht De Coninck. Everything went perfectly, and the mother, father, and baby are all doing wonderfully. Jérémy will rejoin the group tomorrow evening in Seattle.”
French sports daily L’Equipe disavowed comments by a female commentator who criticised Doku for wanting to leave the World Cup to be at the birth of his first child.
L’Equipe apologised to Doku in a statement late Sunday and said the comments by France Pierron did not represent its values.
Pierron described childbirth as “a pretty unpleasant moment, excuse me, where the dad is useless” when taking part in the television show L’Equipe de Choc.
