The group stages of the first 48-team World Cup ended in a flurry of goals -- a fitting conclusion to an eye-catching first round. 

The opening phase of the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States witnessed a record 215 goals, at a higher rate per match -- 2.99 -- than any World Cup since the 1950s.

AFP Sport looks at what is behind the staggering numbers.

Golden Boot race

The race for the Golden Boot is often a sideshow, but this time it is anything but.

The world's elite forwards are driving each other on in a captivating battle to finish as top scorer.

Lionel Messi leads the way with six goals, ahead of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Vinicius Junior and Erling Haaland, who have four apiece. 

The long-standing single-tournament record of 13 goals set in 1958 by France's Just Fontaine appears vulnerable but this is a tournament for records.

Messi, who did not start against Jordan on Saturday, now has 19 goals over six World Cups after adding to his tally in Argentina's 3-1 win against Jordan.

Wobbly ball?

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart believes the Adidas Trionda ball is proving difficult to handle.

Hart said goalkeepers were struggling with flatter shots, with less spin.

"The calculation isn't quite there," he told the BBC. "I feel like the ball's coming on to the guys a little bit quicker than it looks off the foot." 

But he said the Jabulani used at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa was a whole different ball game.

"That Jabulani was a frightening football and it was really hard to control, but once they did get it on target, obviously you knew they'd crush it."

New format?

The World Cup includes 48 teams for the first time -- up from 32 at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

The expansion has led to mismatches, allowing top players to exploit weaker defences, but it is still difficult to draw definitive conclusions.

Germany ran riot against Curacao in their opening match, winning 7-1, but fellow newcomers Cape Verde defied the odds to draw against European champions Spain and made it out of their group.

And big blowouts are not unheard of. 

Spain hammered Costa Rica 7-0 in the group stages of the 2022 World Cup while England beat Iran 6-2.

Another potential factor is that the stakes are lower at the start of the group stage, especially for the big teams, with 32 teams making it through to the knockouts.

That may have contributed to more open, risky football in the opening matches.

Super subs

Substitutes have made an outsized impact at the World Cup, scoring dozens of goals.

Teams were first allowed to use replacements at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, but only two, with the number edging steadily upwards.

From the 2022 tournament, teams were allowed to make five changes -- plus one in extra time of knockout games.

The extra substitutions, plus the expanded 26-man squads introduced four years ago, mean coaches can inject fresh energy. 

Germany's Deniz Undav came off the bench when his team were 1-0 down against Ivory Coast, scoring two late goals to secure the win.

Defensive blunders

Ellyes Skhiri's own goal in Tunisia's game with the Netherlands was the 12th scored at the 2026 World Cup, equalling the record set in 2018.

And there is a long list of other high-profile defensive and goalkeeping errors, many of which have led directly to opposition chances.

In the opening match of the tournament, South Africa's Sphephelo Sithole was dispossessed on the edge of his own penalty area, allowing Julian Quinones to score for Mexico. 

Two of Iraq's three goalkeepers made costly mistakes leading to goals, and Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera asked to be replaced at half-time against Spain after a huge blunder.

jw/nf

South Korea's turbulent World Cup ended at the group phase on Saturday and could lead to the international retirement of captain Son Heung-min.

After three days of anxious waiting to see if they would squeeze into the knockout rounds as one of the eight third-placed finishers, results went against South Korea to send them home.

Hong Myung-bo's side had the last 32 within grasp only to suffer a shock 1-0 loss to lower-ranked South Africa on Wednesday.

Hong caused a surprise when he dropped the attacking talisman Son to the bench in a gamble that backfired.

They finished third in Group A behind the co-hosts Mexico and South Africa, having also lost 1-0 to Mexico.

They beat the Czech Republic 2-1 to start their World Cup, but that was as good as it got for the much-maligned Hong and the fading Son.

The criticism back home has been fierce, with Hong firmly in the firing line.

Yonhap News Agency called South Korea's premature exit "dismal".

"The national team suffered the humiliation of a 2026 World Cup group-stage exit after three days of agonising hope," Yonhap said.

A headline in Newsis said: "Fortune deserts Hong Myung-bo's side."

South Korea's tournament was overshadowed by a row between the squad and local media, while a drone also buzzed a crucial training session before the Mexico defeat.

Former Tottenham attacker Son, who now plays for Los Angeles FC, has hinted in the past at international retirement.

The daily Sports Chosun expects that to be it now for the player who has carried South Korea so often and scored 56 goals for his country. 

"Son Heung-min's final World Cup ends in heartbreak," a headline said.

He turns 34 next month.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung weighed in on the team's elimination, taking direct aim at head coach Hong and questioning the selection process that put him in charge.

"When loyalty and factionalism are valued over competence, and incompetent people are appointed to leadership positions, the outcome is all but inevitable," Lee said in a post on X.

"I offer my deepest apologies to the public for the profound disappointment caused by this unacceptable outcome,” he added.

"We will move swiftly to reform sports administration to ensure that nothing like this happens again," he said, without elaborating. 

pst-kjk/gj/dmc

Lionel Messi came off the bench to score his sixth goal of the tournament as Argentina warmed up for their World Cup knockout tie with Cape Verde by beating Jordan 3-1 on Saturday.

The ageless Messi tops the scoring charts in North America as the tournament heads into the last 32.

Cape Verde's players will be wondering how they can stop Messi when the debutants ranked 67 face the champions on July 3 in Miami.

With qualification already in the bag, Messi started on the bench but came on after an hour in Texas to huge cheers to get his side's third with a free-kick.

Argentina finished emphatically top of Group J with maximum points after also beating Algeria 3-0 and defeating Austria 2-0, all those goals coming from Messi.

The holders and their 39-year-old talisman look formidable, albeit in one of the weaker groups.

"We played a very good group stage. We knew we had very tough opponents, that it wasn't going to be easy," said Giovani Lo Celso, who scored Argentina's first of the evening.

"It's a pity about the goal we conceded today, we would've liked to end with a clean sheet.

"Still, I think it was a very good group stage. Now the most important part begins. 

"From now on, it's about turning the page and thinking about Cape Verde, who will be a very tough opponent." 

- Fans demand Messi -

A much-changed Argentina scored in the first half through a Lo Celso free-kick and a penalty by Lautaro Martinez.

Mousa Al-Tamari pulled one back 10 minutes after half-time for Jordan, whose first World Cup was already over.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni made nine changes, retaining only goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and forward Lautaro Martinez from the Austria win.

Jordan were already eliminated after defeats to Algeria and Austria, rendering the match inconsequential in terms of the tournament.

But competition in the Argentina squad is fierce and Scaloni wanted his side to join France and co-hosts Mexico with nine points.

Argentina also wanted to make a statement ahead of the meeting with surprise packages Cape Verde as they attempt to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups.

The home of the Dallas Cowboys was packed with Argentina fans and their team dominated from the off.

Lo Celso got the party started, bending in a free-kick on 19 minutes that goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila got nowhere near having inexplicably moved in the opposite direction.

A relaxed-looking Messi smiled broadly from the sidelines.

Soon after the champions doubled their lead when Martinez rifled in a penalty following a VAR review when Marcos Senesi appeared to be kicked in the face as he went for a diving header.

Minutes after half-time the crowd began calling for their captain Messi, the leading scorer in World Cup history.

As he stripped off to come on, Tamari stabbed in from close range to pull a goal back and stun much of the stadium.

The match felt like a friendly after that, before Messi bent in a tame free-kick with 10 minutes left to go with his hat-trick against Algeria and brace versus Austria.

pst/rcw

Colombia finished top of World Cup Group K after playing out a highly-entertaining end-to-end 0-0 draw with Portugal on Saturday.

Colombia will feel hard done by nevertheless as a marginal offside ruled out a late goal by Davinson Sanchez.     

The Colombians will play Ghana in the last 32 next Friday, while runners-up Portugal will see Cristiano Ronaldo face his old Real Madrid teammate Croatian icon Luka Modric on Thursday.

However, Ronaldo was a peripheral presence in the fast-paced match, outshone by another former Real teammate, 34-year-old James Rodriguez.    

The game watched by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and FIFA President Gianni Infantino was played to the backdrop of a cacophony of noise from Colombian fans. 

Colombia should have opened the scoring early on but Jhon Cordoba headed over from close range after being brilliantly teed up by Bayern Munich star Luis Diaz.

Cordoba went close again in the 17th minute, showing some sparkling skills to shrug off a Portuguese defender and unleash a piledriver of a strike.

Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa did well to beat it away.

Portugal have their talisman in the ageing Ronaldo but Colombia have their own in Rodriguez.

In his 11th World Cup appearance -- a record for his country -- the 34-year-old produced a typical piece of magic, a reverse pass found Jhon Arias, whose goalbound effort was cleared off the line by Ruben Neves. 

Ronaldo's sole contribution was a free-kick which went straight into the arms of Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas.

The Colombian goalkeeper produced a save of the highest order shortly afterwards to deny Bruno Fernandes.

Rodriguez was pulling the strings but he had a go himself close to the break, his shot was on target but Costa gathered it safely.

The second half began at the same frenetic pace, Joao Felix should have done better than send his header way over the bar from Diogo Dalot's cross.

Dalot raised his face to the sky in frustration.

Colombia replied with two fine attempts at goal, Costa fisting away Jefferson Lerma's shot and then Jhon Arias let fly from long range.

Ronaldo's blushes were spared when he shot wide with just the goalkeeper to beat, but he was flagged for offside.

Colombia midfielder Richard Rios went close just seconds after coming on, perhaps caught a bit cold he wasted an excellent chance to break the deadlock.

Costa was having a cracking game, fortunately for his weary defenders who were being run ragged by the vibrant Colombian attack, as he brilliantly denied Jhon Arias.

Rodriguez departed after a fine performance with 15 minutes remaining but Portugal coach Roberto Martinez preferred to replace others such as Felix and Vitinha whilst keeping Ronaldo on despite his being largely ineffective.

Costa came to the rescue again with the clock ticking down, sticking out a leg to clear a dangerous cross but the ball fell to Luis Suarez whose bicycle kick went over the bar.

Colombia looked to have finally got the goal they deserved when Sanchez headed home at the back post -- but it was ruled out for offside, seemingly by a toe, even after a VAR referral.

He wagged his finger in disagreement and the Colombian fans groaned in disappointment but they at least had reason to celebrate finishing top of the group.

pi/nf

England ground out top spot in Group L after eventually seeing off a stubborn Panama side on Saturday, though Thomas Tuchel's team showed there is further work needed to be true World Cup contenders.

After launching their title bid with a chaotic but thrilling 4-2 win over Croatia, England found life far tougher against lower-ranked opponents Ghana and Panama.

Until Jude Bellingham broke the deadlock an hour into the 2-0 win over Panama, England looked in danger of surrendering top spot and complicating their route back to New Jersey for the final on July 19.

It was never going to be easy for a team desperate to end 60 years of disappointment, but questions abound about England's staying power in North America.

"We had the goal in mind before the start of the tournament that we wanted to take it in sections. We've achieved our first objective, which was to win the group," said Bellingham.

"You want to try and craft your way through the tournament as best as possible. We've done that by winning today."

However, topping the group is hardly an achievement for a side that have reached the last two European Championship finals and the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup.

Bellingham has ended any pre-tournament conversation over his place in the team, as England's standout performer in the group stage.

The Real Madrid midfielder knows the team must step it up though as a last-32 meeting awaits with the Democratic Republic of Congo, before a potential showdown at the Estadio Azteca with co-hosts Mexico. 

"We have to go through all the best teams, all the teams that deserve to be in the next round," said Bellingham.

"We have to try and go through them as if they're the same thing. We also have to be aware that to win the World Cup, you're going to have to play against tough people."

On Saturday, Marcus Rashford pitched a compelling case to start in the next round as a consistent threat down England's left flank, while Bukayo Saka delivered the corner that led to Bellingham's opener.

Arsenal winger Saka, like Rashford, had appeared off the bench in the first two games after working his way back from an Achilles injury that troubled him late in the domestic season.

- Nobody at their peak yet -

Rashford could now retain his place ahead of Anthony Gordon. Saka also looks set to replace his Gunners team-mate Noni Madueke after proving his fitness.

"I don't think anyone's playing at their peak level that we've seen them play at during the season," Rashford told BBC Radio.

"But it's a good problem to have, because as individuals, as a team, we have strides to take and you never want your best performances to be in the group stage anyway. 

"We want to kick on and grow and go full throttle against teams and try to punish them at every opportunity."

Harry Kane bagged England's second goal to become England's all-time leading World Cup scorer with 11, but Tuchel could be left with another defensive headache after Jarell Quansah hobbled off late on.

Quansah was standing in for the injured Reece James at right-back, a position where Tuchel was already short on options after the withdrawal of Tino Livramento.

Despite keeping clean sheets against Ghana and Panama, England remain vulnerable in defence, as highlighted by their fragile display against Croatia.

Tuchel is confident England will build on a successful, if not entirely convincing, group stage campaign.

"We believe we will get better, and we will... it is no problem putting the work in and growing into a tournament like this," said the German.

"It is important now that we keep believing, focusing on what we can influence and every game will be different.

"There are so many different styles and cultures of football... the most important is to be brave and courageous and go step by step."

mw/gj

Yoane Wissa scored twice as DR Congo beat Uzbekistan 3-1 and qualified for the last 32 of the World Cup for the first time in their history on Saturday.

They will meet England after registering their ever World Cup win.

Eldor Shomurodov's lob over Lionel Mpasi gave the Uzbeks a perfect start in Atlanta.

But Newcastle striker Wissa levelled from the penalty spot before Fiston Mayele's goal sent the mainly Congolese crowd into a frenzy.

Wissa rounded off a historic night for the Africans with a fine strike in stoppage time for his third goal of the tournament.

Uzbekistan knew before kick-off they were realistically elminated given the massive swing in goal difference they would need to progress.

However, Italian great Fabio Cannavaro stressed the importance of a win as a legacy for their first World Cup appearance and his players flew out of the traps.

Shomurodov smashed home after just 30 seconds but was flagged offside 

Uzbekistan's captain and all-time leading scorer had to wait just 10 minutes longer for his moment to savour.

The Istanbul Basaksehir striker produced a sumptuous lob over Mpasi from a narrow angle.

Nathanael Mbuku thought he had brought the Congolese level with an equally fine strike that arrowed into the top corner.

However, after a VAR review Mbuku was punished for a soft foul on Sherzod Nasrullaev in the build-up as his hand brushed the face of the Uzbek defender.

DR Congo coach Sebastien Desabre said Wissa was showing the best version of himself after a poor first season at Newcastle since a £55 million ($73 million) move from Brentford.

Wissa scored his side's equaliser in an impressive 1-1 draw against Portugal, but fired wastefully wide with a huge chance to level early in the second half.

At the other end Shomurodov nearly produced a second sublime lob as this time his effort dropped onto the roof of the net from the edge of the box.

DR Congo were beginning to run out of ideas until a rash challenge from Manchester City's Abdukodir Khusanov on Wissa gifted them a route back into the game and into the knockout stages.

Wissa picked himself up to calmly send Abduvohid Nematov the wrong way and whip up an explosion of noise from the nearly 70,000 in attendance.

Just two minutes later, the majority of the fans saw the moment of history they came for.

Meschack Elia's deflected shot held up just enough for Mayele to nip in ahead of Nematov and flick the ball into the net.

Wissa completed the comeback by curling into the far corner from the edge of the area.

Congo's progress continued a stunning World Cup so far for African sides.

Only Tunisia of the 10 African teams at the tournament have been eliminated, while Algeria can join the eight nations to have progressed to the last 32 in the final group matches later on Saturday.

kca/gj

Australian goalkeeping hero Patrick Beach said he was feeling "the love" after a well-known strip of sand in Melbourne was temporarily renamed in his honour.

Beach headed to the World Cup as number two to seasoned shot-stopper and Socceroos captain Mat Ryan.

But in a shock he started their first game against Turkey and was retained for the next two clashes with the United States and Paraguay.

Melbourne City's Beach, 22, has kept two clean sheets and is again set to play when they meet Egypt in the last-32 in Dallas on Friday.

His breakout tournament is being celebrated with St Kilda Beach officially being renamed Patrick Beach for the duration of the World Cup.

"What's better than one iconic beach? Two," said Alex Makin, mayor of the City of Port Phillip where St Kilda Beach is located.

"This is about getting behind the Socceroos and sharing in the excitement of the World Cup at home.

"Renaming St Kilda Beach is a uniquely local way to celebrate the team and embrace the global energy right here in Port Phillip."

Beach told reporters in the United States that he was honoured.

"It is very much appreciated, and I think it's pretty funny as well," he said.

"It's great to see the country is getting around us, we definitely feel the love and support here from back home."

Beach is one of seven players with Melbourne City connections representing Australia at the World Cup.

The others include club captain Aziz Behich, Mathew Leckie, Connor Metcalfe, Jordan Bos, Aiden O'Neill and Kai Trewin.

"You spend years developing players and hope they make a World Cup squad," said Melbourne City chief executive Brad Rowse.

"Having a beach renamed after one of them wasn't something we'd planned for, but we're happy to take it."

mp/abs

Scotland manager Steve Clarke has stepped down following his side's elimination from the World Cup in the group stage, the Scottish Football Association announced Saturday.

"Scotland Men's Head Coach Steve Clarke has stepped down from his role. Our most successful National Team Head Coach has called time on his seven years in charge following our participation at the FIFA World Cup 2026," the Scottish FA posted on social media.

Scotland's exit was confirmed after Croatia beat the already-qualified Ghana in Group L on Saturday, meaning Clarke's side could no longer finish among the eight best third-placed sides in North America.

The 62-year-old led Scotland to their first appearance at a World Cup finals since 1998.

They began with a 1-0 win in Group C over Haiti, before a defeat by the same scoreline to Morocco was followed up by a costly 3-0 loss to Brazil. Despite their three points, Scotland failed to progress to the last 32 due to their inferior goal difference.

"The most emotional part of this goodbye is for my players, without whom we wouldn't have had any of the memories that we've accumulated from 2019 until now," Clarke said.

"They deserve all the praise and adulation that they receive and it was truly an honour to be called their gaffer.

"Thanks for having me and good luck to my successor."

bur-nf/gj

The Democratic Republic of Congo became the latest underdogs to roar at the World Cup on Saturday, battling into the knockout rounds for the first time as Iran's rollercoaster campaign ended in elimination.

A chaotic finale to the tournament's expanded group phase saw Austria and Algeria fill the final two berths in the last 32 late Saturday after battling to an extraordinary 3-3 draw in Group J -- a result that dashed Iran's hopes of advancing from their group.

A win for either Austria or Algeria would have allowed Iran to squeeze into the last 32, and it looked as if the Asian side would advance when Riyadh Mahrez scored in the third minute of stoppage time to put the Algerians into a 3-2 lead.

But Iranian joy was shortlived when Sasa Kalajdzic arrowed in a header in the sixth minute of injury time to snatch a draw for Austria and spark pandemonium in Kansas City.

It was the final act of another enthralling day at the tournament which saw DR Congo emulate fellow African minnows Cape Verde by reaching the knockouts following a 3-1 defeat of Uzbekistan.

DR Congo's win in Atlanta -- their first ever victory in a World Cup match -- was enough to secure third place in Group K, setting up a dream clash with England in the next round.

"We love our national team. We love what we represent. I think tonight we just showed what it means for us is just to fight no matter what," said DR Congo striker Yoane Wissa.

"It's not easy in our country. There's a war in East Congo. Every day, every time we wear this shirt, we think about them."

DR Congo's progression continued a stunning World Cup for African sides. Only one of 10 African teams -- Tunisia -- failed to reach the second round.

- Messi scores again -

Elsewhere on Saturday, Argentina maestro Lionel Messi took his tally at the tournament to an incredible six goals in three matches after coming off the bench to score in the South Americans' 3-1 defeat of Jordan.

Argentina had already assured themselves of top spot in Group J following wins over Austria and Algeria, and were always in control against the eliminated Jordanians in a dead rubber in Arlington, Texas.

Messi's latest strike took his career World Cup tally to a record-extending 19 goals.

Earlier, England ensured their passage to the knockout rounds as Group L winners with a laboured 2-0 defeat of Panama at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane scored the goals that set up their date with the DR Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday.

Colombia topped Group K after holding Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal to a 0-0 draw in Miami -- a result that means the Portuguese will now face Croatia in the last 32.

England were made to work hard by a well-organised Panama team and looked to be heading for a repeat of their lacklustre 0-0 draw with Ghana until Bellingham opened the scoring on 62 minutes before providing an assist for Kane five minutes later.

"It was what we expected: a tough match against a physical opponent," England manager Thomas Tuchel said. 

"They are a difficult team to score against and we were the only team to create this amount of chances and score twice."

Croatia meanwhile made sure of claiming second place in the group behind England with a 2-1 victory over Ghana in Philadelphia.

Petar Sucic and Nikola Vlasic scored the goals for Croatia, as Ghana were forced to settle for third.

Croatia's win extinguished Scotland's hopes of squeezing into the last 32 as one of the best third-placed teams, sealing their elimination from the tournament. Scotland manager Steve Clarke promptly resigned.

Portugal had gone into their tussle with Colombia in Miami needing a win to top the group -- and give themselves a theoretically easier route in the knockout rounds.

But after a thrilling, end-to-end battle Portugal had to settle for a point against a Colombia team who so nearly snatched a win in the dying minutes only to see a fractional offside decision deny them a winning goal.

The result means Portugal will face a tricky tie with the experienced Croatians in the last 32 -- and potentially a meeting with European champions Spain in the last 16.

rcw/gj

Cape Verde wrote another chapter in their fairytale debut World Cup campaign on Friday, battling into the knockout rounds for the first time to set up a dream showdown with Lionel Messi's Argentina.

The tiny Atlantic archipelago drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia to clinch second place in Group H and advance to the last 32 where they will face defending champions Argentina at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on July 3.

Cape Verde's third consecutive draw saw them finish the group with three points, behind European champions Spain who made sure of top spot with a 1-0 defeat of Uruguay.

Two-time World Cup-winners Uruguay, who were stunned by Cape Verde in a 2-2 draw last Sunday in their second game, were eliminated from the competition with just two points.

The Group H results brought further clarity to the knockout rounds, ensuring that England, Portugal, Ghana, Egypt and Paraguay would also advance.

Earlier Friday, France lit up the tournament with another dazzling attacking performance, swatting aside Norway 4-1 to clinch top spot in Group I.

France's reigning Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele scored a first-half hat-trick as Les Bleus maintained their 100 percent start to the tournament at the Gillette Stadium.

The pre-match hype had focused on a duel between France striker Kylian Mbappe and Norwegian counterpart Erling Haaland.

But that much-anticipated showdown never materialised after Norway opted to leave Manchester City star Haaland on the bench.

Instead it was left to Dembele to grab centre-stage from team-mate Mbappe, scoring three times in the opening 32 minutes to set up the win. Dembele's PSG team-mate Desire Doue bagged France's fourth in stoppage time to complete the scoring.

- 'Important moment' -

Dembele later played down the significance of his quick-fire hat-trick, turning his attention to the bigger challenges awaiting in the knockout rounds.

"It's a unique and important moment for me but I preferred my performances against Senegal or Iraq," Dembele said.

"I think I was much more influential in those games. I believe we need to stay focused because there are important things ahead."

Friday's game had gone ahead against a troubled backdrop for France, with coach Didier Deschamps leaving the team earlier this week following the death of his mother.

Both teams meanwhile paid tribute to the victims of the devastating Venezuela earthquake just before kick-off, lining up for a moment of silence.

France will now face Sweden in the last 32, while Norway take on Ivory Coast in Dallas on June 30 for a place in the last 16.

Senegal meanwhile gave themselves a fighting chance of reaching the last 32 with a 5-0 drubbing of Iraq in their final group game, boosting their goal difference to win their first points of the tournament.

The west Africans, who have three points, must now wait for the remaining group games elsewhere to play out before learning if they have done enough to squeeze into the knockouts.

"Our future is no longer in our own hands," Senegal coach Pape Thiaw said. "We will have to wait and see. But we got the job done." 

Later Friday in Group G, Egypt are aiming to clinch top spot with victory over Iran in Seattle in a game that has been laced with controversy.

Friday's game is part of city-wide events to celebrate Pride in Seattle, and was designated as the "Pride Match" by local officials before the identities of the teams involved was known.

Iranian and Egyptian officials have both raised objections to the Seattle Pride celebrations around their fixture.

Homosexuality is illegal in Iran under Islamic law and can be punishable by death. In Egypt, homosexuality is often penalized under vaguely worded laws prohibiting "debauchery." 

In the other Group G game, Belgium's ageing squad featuring Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku will attempt to reach the knockout rounds with a victory over New Zealand.

rcw/gj

Ousmane Dembele produced his best ever World Cup performance with a stunning first-half hat-trick in France's 4-1 win over Norway on Friday, and then insisted it was his least impressive performance of this year's tournament so far.

The 29-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward showcased the lethal finishing which saw him win last year's Ballon d'Or as he netted three times in the space of 26 first-half minutes at the Gillette Stadium near Boston.

His goals, as well as a late Desire Doue header, allowed France to complete the first round with three wins out of three after earlier victories against Senegal and Iraq.

They progress to the last 32 as Group I winners, and there is clear evidence that France can be contenders to win the World Cup even if Kylian Mbappe is not scoring the goals.

"This is a unique and important moment for me. But I preferred how I played against Senegal or against Iraq," Dembele claimed.

"I think I was much more influential in those games, so I think we need to stay fully concentrated because we have important things ahead of us."

Dembele's focus was striking, almost as impressive as his finishing against Norway, as he scored only the fourth hat-trick by a France player at a World Cup.

Just Fontaine scored two during his incredible 1958 tournament, including four goals in the third-place play-off against West Germany.

Kylian Mbappe then netted an astonishing hat-trick in the 2022 final, which France lost on penalties to Lionel Messi's Argentina in Qatar.

It is easily forgotten now in the madness of that game, but Dembele was actually substituted before half-time with France trailing 2-0 and appearing listless.

He had played a key role on their run to the final, having also made four appearances as a 21-year-old during France's triumphant campaign in Russia in 2018.

- Transformation -

But he had never scored a World Cup goal before breaking his duck on his 13th tournament appearance, in last Monday's 3-0 win over Iraq on a stormy evening in Philadelphia.

Against Norway he displayed his ability to score with both feet, his first goal coming with his right, and his next two with his left.

Dembele's transformation from thrilling but injury-prone and sometimes wasteful winger -- as he so often was at Barcelona -- into Ballon d'Or winner, came after Luis Enrique moved him into a central attacking role early last season at PSG.

He went on to score 35 goals in all competitions as the Parisians won the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history.

The season that just finished saw the old injury worries reappear, and there was a falling out between PSG and the France team when he suffered a hamstring problem on international duty in September.

But PSG managed his fitness brilliantly.

He started only 11 Ligue 1 games, but was still named player of the year in the French top flight. And he scored seven goals in the last seven matches in the Champions League knockout stages as PSG retained their European title.

Now he is showing that France need not only rely on Mbappe, who netted a brace in each of France's first two games but did not score against the Norwegians.

"He had a great game. It's good for us. It's great to have a player like that who can make the difference," defender Maxence Lacroix said of Dembele.

His interchanging of positions with Michael Olise between the right wing and the number 10 role is proving a real headache for opponents, and France's attacking arsenal is frightening.

"Their front four is the best in the competition by far," said Norway coach Stale Solbakken.

Apart from Mbappe's strikes, France's other goals at this World Cup have all come from PSG players: Dembele, Doue and Bradley Barcola.

"That can only be positive," said assistant coach Guy Stephan, as France prepare to face a third-placed team in New Jersey in the last 32 next Tuesday.

"These are players who have not stopped winning things in the last two years. They can take players on, score goals, set up goals. It is a big plus for us."

as-lh/gj

England coach Thomas Tuchel said right-back Reece James would miss Saturday's final World Cup group game against Panama with a hamstring injury but was hopeful he could return for the last 32.

The Chelsea right-back has started England's first two games of the tournament but felt tightness after the 0-0 draw against Ghana on Tuesday.

James did not travel with the squad from England's training base in Kansas City and his absence leaves Tuchel short on regular full-back options.

"Reece has a minor hamstring injury. He was not able to train the last two days. He is now in an accelerated rehabilitation program," Tuchel told reporters on Friday.

"We take it game by game, but we strongly believe that he will be available for us in the tournament."

England are all but assured of a place in the knockout phase and will travel to Atlanta to face a third-place finisher on July 1 if they finish top of Group L.

Tuchel did not rule out James returning for that match but admitted it would be a race against time.

"We have hopes for the next match, it can be a tight one," he said.

"No one could see that coming. Reece was in good shape and feeling good. It's a bit unlucky.

"We would love to have Reece, he's a key player. We would love to have him available. He is not available. We will find solutions. That's what we do."

Tuchel said Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson -- who is set for a British transfer record move from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City -- were both available though after reporting minor issues following the Ghana match.

Rice is at risk of being suspended for the next round if he collects another yellow card against Panama, but Tuchel believes the Arsenal midfielder has enough experience to handle the situation.

Bukayo Saka is pushing for his first start of the World Cup after working his way back from an Achilles problem. The 24-year-old Arsenal winger has appeared off the bench in the first two games.

"He is now, since many days, fully free of pain, fully free of discomfort, and he's ready to go," said Tuchel.

"He's ready to start like Marcus (Rashford), like Ebe (Eze), like Noni (Madueke). There's a lot of options, and they make it difficult for me to take a choice."

England crushed Panama 6-1 during the group stage of the 2018 World Cup. However, the Central Americans have proved stubborn opponents in this tournament.

The Three Lions must match Ghana's result against Croatia to be certain of coming first in the group. Panama are already eliminated following successive 1-0 losses to Ghana and Croatia.

"It's a team that is difficult to break down, they've hardly allowed any chances," said Tuchel.

"We see a well-coached, well-drilled team and a clear identity. The world ranking is on the same level as Wales and Serbia. 

"It's not the most famous or the most well-known football nation, but they can play the role of underdog and play without any pressure."

mw/gj