Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland both starred as France and Norway picked up vital World Cup victories to book their spots in the knockout rounds.
A chaotic weather delay couldn’t slow down tournament favorites France, who breezed past Iraq 3-0 in a storm-interrupted clash in Philadelphia.
Kylian Mbappe spearheaded the French attack, netting a brilliant brace to take his career World Cup tally to 16 goals. Former Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele also found the scoresheet, ensuring Les Bleus maintained their dominant form despite a lengthy two-hour disruption midway through the match.
Meanwhile, Erling Haaland continued his blistering start to the tournament over in Boston. The Manchester City striker bagged his second consecutive brace, guiding Norway to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Senegal and officially punching their ticket to the Round of 32.
Haaland now has four goals in just two games, keeping high pressure on the tournament’s top scorers. The exciting results set up a mouthwatering, winner-takes-all showdown between heavyweight rivals France and an in-form Norway side this Friday.