{"id":22489,"date":"2026-06-17T22:25:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T19:25:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/?p=22489"},"modified":"2026-06-17T22:27:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T19:27:13","slug":"championship-world-cup-2026-messi-ronaldo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/world\/championship-world-cup-2026-messi-ronaldo\/","title":{"rendered":"The excitement of the 2026 World Cup: Messi\u2019s hat-trick, the England v Croatia clash and Ronaldo\u2019s swan song"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The football world has finally been swept up in the frenzy surrounding the 2026 North American World Cup. <span class=\"citation-3399 citation-end-3399\">The seventh day of the World Cup brings fans some long-awaited blockbuster clashes and sees the tournament\u2019s top favourites take to the pitch.<\/span> Whilst some legends are already rewriting history on pitches across the US, Canada and Mexico, others are just getting ready to step into the spotlight. The editorial team at UkrMedia News has compiled the top stories, sensational revelations and analysis from the hottest summer in football.<\/p>\n<div class=\"news-summary-box\">\n<div class=\"summary-title\">Briefly about the main points<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Argentina thrashed their opponents in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup.<\/li>\n<li>The tournament takes place in the USA, Canada and Mexico.<\/li>\n<li>The seventh matchday saw the main storylines of the championship unfold.<\/li>\n<li>The tournament favourites have begun their bid for the title.<\/li>\n<li>The football world is focused on the matches at the North American World Cup.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"12\">The Messi Phenomenon: Argentina defend their title<\/h2>\n<p id=\"p-rc_bb1cab2b2430ac37-70\" data-path-to-node=\"13\">Whilst the sceptics were writing off the veterans, <strong>Lionel Messi<\/strong> has once again proved that, for geniuses, age is just a number. <span class=\"citation-3392 citation-end-3392\">In the group\u2019s opening match against Algeria, the Argentine captain was 100 per cent clinical, scoring three goals against the opposition.<\/span> <span class=\"citation-3391 citation-end-3391\">The 3\u20130 victory showed that the Albiceleste had arrived in Qatar fully prepared to defend their gold medals.<\/span> Messi took the lead in the goalscoring charts from the very first round, setting an incredible benchmark for his long-standing rival <strong>Cristiano Ronaldo<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"15\">A battle of tactics in Dallas: England v Croatia<\/h2>\n<p id=\"p-rc_bb1cab2b2430ac37-71\" data-path-to-node=\"16\"><span class=\"citation-3390 citation-end-3390\">The main event of the day (17 June) is undoubtedly the big match in Texas between England and Croatia in Group L.<\/span> <span class=\"citation-3389 citation-end-3389\">This is a rematch of the legendary 2018 semi-final, and the anticipation surrounding the match is immense.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"p-rc_bb1cab2b2430ac37-72\" data-path-to-node=\"17\"><span class=\"citation-3388 citation-end-3388\">The English team\u2019s new manager <strong>Thomas Tuchel<\/strong> took a serious risk, which has been the subject of discussion in all the British tabloids for several hours now.<\/span> <span class=\"citation-3387 citation-end-3387\">Due to Bukayo Saka\u2019s Achilles injury, Tuchel fielded him on the right wing <strong>Noni Madueke<\/strong>, whilst on the left he gave preference to <strong>Anthony Gordon<\/strong>, leaving <strong>Marcus Rashford<\/strong> on the substitutes\u2019 bench.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"p-rc_bb1cab2b2430ac37-73\" data-path-to-node=\"18\"><span class=\"citation-3386 citation-end-3386\">The Croatians, led by <strong>Zlatko Dalic<\/strong> reflect a unique blend of experience and youth.<\/span> <span class=\"citation-3385 citation-end-3385\">Alongside 40-year-old legend Luka Modri\u0107, a young 19-year-old defender is in the starting line-up <strong>Luka Vushkovich<\/strong>.<\/span> Who will come out on top \u2014 Tuchel\u2019s pragmatic machine or the steely resolve of the Croatian veterans?<\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"20\">Today\u2019s World Cup fixtures (17 June):<\/h2>\n<table data-path-to-node=\"21\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Match<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Group.<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Venue \/ Stadium<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,1,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"21,1,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"><span class=\"citation-3381 citation-end-3381\">Portugal v DR Congo<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,1,1,0\"><span class=\"citation-3380 citation-end-3380\">Group K<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,1,2,0\"><span class=\"citation-3379 citation-end-3379\">Houston, Texas (USA)<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,2,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"21,2,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">England v Croatia<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,2,1,0\">Group L<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,2,2,0\">Dallas, Texas (USA)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,3,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"21,3,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Ghana \u2013 Panama<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,3,1,0\">Group L<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,3,2,0\">Toronto (Canada)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,4,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"21,4,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Uzbekistan v Colombia<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,4,1,0\">Group K<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,4,2,0\">Mexico City (Mexico)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"23\">Ronaldo\u2019s return and a historic moment for Central Asia<\/h2>\n<p id=\"p-rc_bb1cab2b2430ac37-75\" data-path-to-node=\"24\"><span class=\"citation-3378 citation-end-3378\">He is returning to the pitch in Houston <strong>Cristiano Ronaldo<\/strong>.<\/span> <span class=\"citation-3377 citation-end-3377\">Portugal kick off their campaign in the tournament with a match against the DR Congo.<\/span> For Krish, this tournament is a personal drama and an attempt to bring his epic international career to a fitting conclusion.<\/p>\n<p id=\"p-rc_bb1cab2b2430ac37-76\" data-path-to-node=\"25\"><span class=\"citation-3376 citation-end-3376\">Meanwhile, in Mexico City, history is being made.<\/span> <span class=\"citation-3375 citation-end-3375\">The Uzbekistan national team became the first country from Central Asia to qualify for the World Cup finals.<\/span> <span class=\"citation-3374 citation-end-3374\">Their debut against a star-studded Colombia side led by Luis D\u00edaz promises to be a fiercely contested and uncompromising affair.<\/span> The Uzbeks\u2019 solid defence against the Latin Americans\u2019 explosive attack is a real treat for football connoisseurs.<\/p>\n<p id=\"p-rc_bb1cab2b2430ac37-77\" data-path-to-node=\"26\"><span class=\"citation-3373 citation-end-3373\">Due to its expanded format (with 48 national teams taking part for the first time) and the logistical nightmare of coordinating events across three countries, this 2026 World Cup is already being called the most challenging in history, but the level of drama on the pitch overshadows any organisational issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"27\"><i data-path-to-node=\"27\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Keep up to date with live match results, text commentary and the latest sports analysis on the news portal <a class=\"ng-star-inserted\" href=\"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hveid=\"0\" data-ved=\"0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwj699WI-o6VAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQkQI\">UkrMedia News<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u0424\u0443\u0442\u0431\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438\u0439 \u0441\u0432\u0456\u0442 \u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0442\u043e\u0447\u043d\u043e \u0437\u0430\u043d\u0443\u0440\u0438\u0432\u0441\u044f \u0432 \u0431\u0435\u0437\u0443\u043c\u0441\u0442\u0432\u043e \u043f\u0456\u0432\u043d\u0456\u0447\u043d\u043e\u0430\u043c\u0435\u0440\u0438\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0441\u044c\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e \u041c\u0443\u043d\u0434\u0456\u0430\u043b\u044e-2026. \u0421\u044c\u043e\u043c\u0438\u0439 \u0456\u0433\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0438\u0439 \u0434\u0435\u043d\u044c \u0447\u0435\u043c\u043f\u0456\u043e\u043d\u0430\u0442\u0443 \u0441\u0432\u0456\u0442\u0443 \u0434\u0430\u0440\u0443\u0454 \u0444\u0430\u043d\u0430\u0442\u0430\u043c \u0434\u043e\u0432\u0433\u043e\u043e\u0447\u0456\u043a\u0443\u0432\u0430\u043d\u0456 \u0441\u0443\u043f\u0435\u0440\u043f\u0440\u043e\u0442\u0438\u0441\u0442\u043e\u044f\u043d\u043d\u044f \u0442\u0430 \u0441\u0442\u0430\u0440\u0442 \u0433\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0432\u043d\u0438\u0445 \u0444\u0430\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0438\u0442\u0456\u0432 \u0442\u0443\u0440\u043d\u0456\u0440\u0443. \u041f\u043e\u043a\u0438 \u043e\u0434\u043d\u0456 \u043b\u0435\u0433\u0435\u043d\u0434\u0438 \u0432\u0436\u0435 \u043f\u0435\u0440\u0435\u043f\u0438\u0441\u0443\u044e\u0442\u044c \u0456\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0440\u0456\u044e \u043d\u0430 \u043f\u043e\u043b\u044f\u0445 \u0421\u0428\u0410, \u041a\u0430\u043d\u0430\u0434\u0438 \u0442\u0430 \u041c\u0435\u043a\u0441\u0438\u043a\u0438, \u0456\u043d\u0448\u0456 \u043b\u0438\u0448\u0435 \u0433\u043e\u0442\u0443\u044e\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f \u0432\u0438\u0439\u0442\u0438 \u043f\u0456\u0434 \u0441\u0432\u0456\u0442\u043b\u043e \u0441\u043e\u0444\u0456\u0442\u0456\u0432. \u0420\u0435\u0434\u0430\u043a\u0446\u0456\u044f UkrMedia News \u0437\u0456\u0431\u0440\u0430\u043b\u0430 \u0433\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0432\u043d\u0456 \u0456\u043d\u0442\u0440\u0438\u0433\u0438, \u0441\u0435\u043d\u0441\u0430\u0446\u0456\u0457 \u0442\u0430 \u0430\u043d\u0430\u043b\u0456\u0442\u0438\u043a\u0443 \u043d\u0430\u0439\u0441\u043f\u0435\u043a\u043e\u0442\u043d\u0456\u0448\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0444\u0443\u0442\u0431\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0433\u043e \u043b\u0456\u0442\u0430. \u041a\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0442\u043a\u043e \u043f\u0440\u043e [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":207433346,"featured_media":22490,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_description":"\u041e\u0433\u043b\u044f\u0434 7-\u0433\u043e \u0434\u043d\u044f \u041c\u0443\u043d\u0434\u0456\u0430\u043b\u044e: \u0442\u0440\u0438 \u0433\u043e\u043b\u0438 \u041c\u0435\u0441\u0441\u0456, \u0441\u0443\u043f\u0435\u0440\u043c\u0430\u0442\u0447 \u0410\u043d\u0433\u043b\u0456\u044f \u2014 \u0425\u043e\u0440\u0432\u0430\u0442\u0456\u044f \u0442\u0430 \u0434\u0435\u0431\u044e\u0442 \u0420\u043e\u043d\u0430\u043b\u0434\u0443 \u0432 \u0421\u0428\u0410. \u0421\u0432\u0456\u0436\u0430 \u0430\u043d\u0430\u043b\u0456\u0442\u0438\u043a\u0430 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