Mbappe vs Haaland

Shortly after his team beat Senegal, Norway star Erling Haaland said he didn’t care all that much about their next game against France.

The rest of the football world sure does.

One of the marquee matchups of the World Cup takes place in Foxborough, Massachusetts today when Haaland and the Norwegians face France and Kylian Mbappe.

Mbappe, one of the world’s best strikers, has scored four goals in two games to push his World Cup total to 16, two behind Lionel Messi’s record.

Haaland has put on a show in his first World Cup, scoring twice each in wins over Senegal and Iraq.

This is a matchup even casual football fans won’t want to miss.

Also today, Spain can clinch Group H against Uruguay, who likely need a win to keep their knockout-stage hopes alive. Belgium face New Zealand in what is likely a must-win for both sides.

The winners of Group G will likely be decided when Egypt meet Iran in Seattle.

Senegal also face Iraq in a game both sides need to win to have a shot at advancing to the knockout stage as a third-place team.

IRAN VS EGYPT

The Egypt-Iran match will likely determine the winners of Group G.

The game in Seattle has an awkward backdrop.

By coincidence, the game will be a 'Pride Match' in Seattle, coinciding with the city’s annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community.

Egypt and Iran are two of the most repressive places in the world for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, and both sides tried to get the celebrations cancelled, to no avail.

Iran also has faced multiple hurdles playing in the United States in this World Cup because of the war in the Middle East. The Iranians had been forced to travel only on game days from their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, but US officials eased restrictions to allow the team to travel two days before the match against Egypt.