The stars appeared to be aligning for Lionel Messi as he arrived at the Qatar World Cup as the talisman for an Argentina squad that has been simply unbeatable since 2019.

Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu is hoping the apprentices can upset the masters when they take on “role models” Germany in their World Cup opener on Wednesday.

Croatia have won five matches and lost once in 16 months, but the 2018 runners-up, led by midfield conjuror Luka Modric, will begin their World Cup campaign against Morocco on Wednesday with little fanfare and few predicting glory.

Belgium’s aging “Golden Generation” will begin their final shot at World Cup glory against Canada on Wednesday, but do so without talismanic forward Romelu Lukaku, who has been central to their success in recent years.

The young Spain players at the heart of coach Luis Enrique’s new-look side make their global debut on Wednesday when they face the experienced veterans of Costa Rica in their Qatar World Cup opening match.

Tunisia held Denmark to a goalless draw in their World Cup opener on Tuesday, kicking off their Group D campaign with a strong performance against one of the pre-tournament dark horses.

Do not adjust your television sets: England and Iran really did play nearly half an hour of injury time in their World Cup game.

Saudi Arabia produced one of the greatest World Cup upsets in history on Tuesday, stunning South American giants Argentina in a 2-1 group stage victory in Doha.

Saudi Arabia scripted a ‘totally crazy’ game of football during their famous 2-1 win over World Cup favourites Argentina at the Lusail Stadium on Tuesday, leaving Lionel Messi and Co ruing the mistakes.

Argentines woke up early in the capital Buenos Aires to cheer on their team in the soccer World Cup over morning pastries and coffee, but were left with a bitter taste after the team was humbled in a shock loss to Saudi Arabia.

The biggest of World Cup shocks paid out for at least one prescient punter who correctly predicted Saudi Arabia would stun Lionel Messi's Argentina 2-1 in their opening match in Qatar on Tuesday.

Soccer federations who had planned to wear the 'OneLove' armbands to make a statement against discrimination during the World Cup in Qatar were faced with "extreme blackmail" that led to dropping the planned action, the German Football Association (DFB) said on Tuesday.

Defender Andreas Cornelius hit the post and Denmark had a late penalty appeal turned down, while Tunisia wasted two clear chances in a 0-0 draw in their World Cup Group D opener at Education City Stadium on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia's Salem Al-Dawsari grabbed the world's attention with his match-winning wonder strike against Argentina on Tuesday but the winger has been a star in his home country for years.

The inspirational cricketer pointed out the flaws in the Argentine defence but stated that he would continue to cheer for Messi and Co in the upcoming matches.

Saudi Arabia's 2-1 victory over Argentina on Tuesday is rated the biggest shock in World Cup history by data company Nielsen Gracenote, moving ahead of the previous biggest upset, the United States' win over England in 1950.

Lionel Messi lamented Argentina's shock second half capitulation against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday but said he was not surprised by the threat from opponents 48 places lower in the world rankings.

Mexico kickstart their World Cup campaign against Robert Lewandowski-led Poland in their opening fixture.

Saudi Arabia stunned Argentina 2-1 in their opening World Cup fixture at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia stunned Argentina in the their opening match of the FIFA World Cup at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar with two goals within five minutes after the restart.