World Football

Three of the biggest names in men's soccer produced crucial goals for their respective teams at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Robert Lewandowski finally broke his World Cup scoring drought in Poland's 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia, Kylian Mbappe bagged a brace in France's 2-1 victory over Denmark and Lionel Messi scored for Argentina to keep its tournament hopes alive in a 2-0 win over Mexico.

Messi's goal was the most important one for the three teams because Argentina was staring at elimination if it lost to Mexico. Argentina now controls its own fate to reach the round of 16.

In Group D, France became the first team to book its spot in the round of 16. Australia, Denmark and Tunisia are all still alive for the second advancement spot.

Australia took control of that group with a 1-0 win over Tunisia, but the Socceroos still have to play Denmark in the final group stage game.

Group C

1. Poland - 4 points (2 goals for, 0 goals against, +2 GD)

2. Argentina - 3 (3 GF, 2 GA, +1 GD)

3. Saudi Arabia - 3 (1 GF, 2 GA, -1 GD)

4. Mexico - 1 (0 GF, 2 GA, -2 GD)

Lionel Messi ensured Argentina would stay alive for advancement into the final group stage game.

The Argentinian great rolled a shot from outside the box past a diving Guillermo Ochoa and into the right side of the net in the 64th minute against Mexico.

Argentina's lead was padded by Enzo Fernandez in the 87th minute. That tally moved Argentina ahead of Saudi Arabia by two on goal differential.

Saudi Arabia fell down to third place in Group C after it lost to Poland in the second match of the day.

Robert Lewandowski finished off the victory, when he took advantage of a defensive mistake in the 82nd minute. That was the first World Cup goal in five matches for the Barcelona forward.

Poland topped Group C with its win and now it will go head-to-head with Argentina for first place in the four-team group.

Poland just needs a draw to get through, but Argentina will be playing for the win. Argentina not only wants to avoid any danger in Group C, but the second-place finisher in the group will likely be matched up with France.

Saudi Arabia needs to beat Mexico and make up its goal differential on Argentina, if the two sides both win, to get into the round of 16.

Mexico first needs to beat Saudi Arabia to eliminate the Asian side and then the math becomes a bit more complicated.

A Mexico win and a Poland win would put El Tri through in second place. Mexico would have to make up a four-goal deficit in goal differential to leap over Poland, if the two sides finish on four points.

Group D

1. France - 6 (6 GF, 2 GA, +4 GD)

2. Australia - 3 (2 GF, 4 GA -2 GD)

3. Denmark - 1 (1 GF, 2 GA, -1 GD)

4. Tunisia - 1 (0 GF, 1 GA, - 1 GD)

France became the first team to advance to the round of 16 with its 2-1 win over Denmark.

Kylian Mbappé moved into a tie for the lead for the Golden Boot with a pair of second-half strikes against a Danish side that beat the reigning champion twice in the UEFA Nations League earlier this year.

Mbappé opened the scoring in the 61st minute and then secured the victory in the 86th minute. Andreas Christiansen scored Denmark's goal in the 68th minute.

The victory put France three points ahead of Australia in Group D. The French beat the Socceroos by three goals in their opening match in Qatar.

France should clinch first place in Group D in its final group match against Tunisia, who has not scored in the World Cup yet.

Tunisia is still alive for second place in Group D because it sits two points back of Australia.

However, the African side needs to be more productive in attack than it was against the Aussies and Denmark in order to even have a shot against France.

If France wins as expected, Denmark and Australia will fight for the second advancement spot from Group D.

Australia put itself in a great position to move on to the round of 16 through Mitchell Duke's 23rd-minute game-winning goal against Tunisia in Saturday's first match.

Australia needs a win over Denmark to get into the round of 16. A draw would be sufficient as long as France gets one point out of its match against Tunisia.

Denmark gets through with a win over Australia, while Tunisia needs an unlikely win over France and a better goal differential over Denmark, if the two sides are tied, to stay alive in the tournament.

Sunday World Cup Schedule

Japan vs. Costa Rica (5 a.m. ET, FS1)

Belgium vs. Morocco (8 a.m. ET, FS1)

Croatia vs. Canada (11 a.m. ET, FS1)

Spain vs. Germany (2 p.m. ET, FS1)

Ecuador opened the 2022 FIFA World Cup with one of the most commanding 2-0 wins you will see in international competition.

The South American nation rolled host side Qatar to kick off play in Group A on Sunday.

Ecuador's win, in the only game played on Sunday, put them on top of the group, which also features Senegal and the Netherlands, for at least 24 hours.

Senegal and the Netherlands will face off in the second game on Monday's slate. England kicks off the Group B slate against Iran in the first game and the United States finishes off the schedule against Wales at 2 p.m. ET.

Updated Group A Standings

1. Ecuador - 3 points (+2 goal differential)

2. Netherlands - 0 (0 GD)

3. Senegal - 0 (0 GD)

4. Qatar - 0 (-2 GD)

Ecuador authored an impressive performance from start to finish in the World Cup opener.

La Tri thought it had a goal in the opening five minutes of the match, but Enner Valencia's header was ruled out due to a offside.

It did not take long for Valencia to find himself on the score sheet. He netted a penalty in the 16th minute and headed home a strike in the 31st minute.

Ecuador commanded the rest of the game. The South American side held Qatar without a shot on goal and it looked dangerous in other attacking instances in the final 60 minutes.

The victory placed Ecuador on top of Group A and it sent a bit of a statement to Senegal and the Netherlands as to how difficult La Tri can be as an opponent.

Ecuador extended its run of clean sheets to seven games. It faces its biggest challenge of Group A on Friday against the Netherlands.

The Dutch start their return to World Cup action on Monday at 11 a.m. ET versus Senegal, who is out without Sadio Mane.

Senegal suffered a huge loss when Mane was ruled out of the World Cup, but it will still be a tough opponent for the Oranje. Senegal has a strong defense that helped it win the African Cup of Nations last year.

The Dutch are led by Barcelona's Memphis Depay, who tied with England's Harry Kane for the most goals in UEFA World Cup qualifying. Kane and the Three Lions will be first up on Monday.

England takes on Iran at 8 a.m. ET inside the Khalifa International Stadium. Iran is viewed as the weakest team in Group B, but it is ranked 20th in the FIFA men's world rankings.

Group B's first matchday will be completed by the United States and Wales at 2 p.m. ET. That will mark the USMNT's first World Cup game in eight years and Wales' first World Cup match since 1958.

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar kicked off Sunday with an opening ceremony from Al Bayt Stadium ahead of Qatar's first match against Ecuador.

Actor Morgan Freeman began the festivities with a live appearance from the stadium:

The ensuing performances featured a versatile representation of each of the countries and teams that will compete over the next few weeks.

Many fans watching were dazzled by the colorful show:

Fans around the globe were also excited about an appearance by BTS star Jung Kook:

The ceremony closed with a fireworks show that was enjoyed by those both inside and outside the stadium:

Qatar is a unique host for the World Cup, becoming the first Middle Eastern country to hold the international event. The weather forced the tournament to begin in November rather than its customary time in the summer.

The opening ceremony still provided a quality start to the event and a great sign of things to come over the next few weeks of sporting action.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup is wide open, with several elite teams and some intriguing underdogs set to battle it out for the trophy in Qatar.

The upcoming tournament is an unusual one because it is taking place in November and December rather than the summer, giving teams limited time to prepare when compared to past years. It means matches might come down to pure talent over chemistry, with elite players making a difference for their teams.

Injuries are also a bigger concern than usual as the event is taking place in the middle of regular club seasons around the world.

It could lead to some major upsets and surprises over the course of the next four weeks. Here are our full predictions for the 2022 World Cup.

Group A

1. Netherlands

2. Senegal

3. Ecuador

4. Qatar

Memphis Depay and Frenkie de Jong have each had unusual seasons at Barcelona, but both players continually make an impact for the Netherlands, and that should continue at the World Cup to help the clear best team in the group.

Senegal not only has a chance to advance from the group stage, but the Africa Cup of Nations winner is a real threat to make a deep run. Even without the injured Sadio Mané, this defense can be tough to score against, especially if Chelsea goalkeeper Édouard Mendy is on form.

Group B

1. England

2. USA

3. Wales

4. Iran

A lot of eyes will be on the young American side, and the talent is certainly there to advance. Christian Pulisic, 24, will be out to prove himself, and he'' be determined to unlock the solid defenses from Wales and Iran.

England will have too much firepower in the attack, with Harry Kane and Phil Foden among those ready to carry the team to first place in Group B.

Group C

1. Argentina

2. Poland

3. Mexico

4. Saudi Arabia

Lionel Messi is 35 years old, but he continues to thrive at club level with Paris Saint-Germain, and he makes Argentina a legitimate contender once again. After winning the Copa America last year, the squad is fully prepared for another run at the World Cup.

The battle for second place in this group will be a good one, although Robert Lewandowski could do enough to lift Poland past an inconsistent Mexico.

Group D

1. France

2. Denmark

3. Australia

4. Tunisia

France continues to deal with injuries, with Karim Benzema the latest to go down after suffering a thigh injury in training. There still isn't anyone in this group who can contain Kylian Mbappé, especially when flanked by Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and others. The attackers can do enough individually to torch just about any defense in the world, especially those in Group D.

Denmark doesn't feature as many household names, although it's an experienced and organized squad that reached the European Championship semifinals last year. A healthy Christian Eriksen and a balanced roster should be enough to reach the knockout stage.

Group E

1. Germany

2. Spain

3. Costa Rica

4. Japan

Group E is arguably the strongest at the top with two title contenders in Germany and Spain, although few people will pick anyone else to advance here.

Germany gets the edge thanks to its midfield, featuring Joshua Kimmich, İlkay Gündoğan and Leon Goretzka. This group should control possession and get the ball to their attackers, preventing teams like Spain from doing much on the other end.

Group F

1. Belgium

2. Canada

3. Morocco

4. Croatia

Canada finished on top of the table in CONCACAF qualifying and won't slow down at the World Cup, thanks to an exciting brand of soccer featuring several players who can score at any given moment. Even if Alphonso Davies is limited, Jonathan David and others will provide plenty of offense.

Belgium should still top the group with a veteran squad led by Kevin De Bruyne and elite goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, and this might be the last chance for the country's golden generation to capture an international trophy.

Croatia reached the World Cup final in 2018, but the squad disappoints this time around as the 37-year-old Luka Modric can't lift the rest of the questionable roster.

Group G

1. Brazil

2. Switzerland

3. Serbia

4. Cameroon

Brazil has reached at least the quarterfinals in each of the last seven World Cups, and there is no reason to believe that will change in 2022. There are simply too many good players for the team to falter in the group stage.

Switzerland has proved to be a tough out in international tournaments and beat France at Euro 2020. They might not have many pretty matches, but the Swiss have what it takes to advance.

Group H

1. Portugal

2. South Korea

3. Uruguay

4. Ghana

Group H might be the most wide-open group, with nearly any plausible finishing order.

The health of Heung-min Son could be a difference-maker for South Korea. The Tottenham Hotspur forward suffered a fracture around his eye in a Champions League game against Marseille earlier in November. He was still named to the roster and should be able to make some key plays during the group stage.

Portugal wins the group as Cristiano Ronaldo gets closer to a World Cup title despite question marks about his club career with Manchester United.

Round of 16

Netherlands def. USA

Argentina def. Denmark

England def. Senegal

France def. Poland

Germany def. Canada

Brazil def. South Korea

Spain def. Belgium

Portugal def. Switzerland

There is seemingly a major gap at the top among contenders, and they prove themselves in the first knockout round.

The United States has hopes of keeping its run alive, but the elite Netherlands defense with Matthijs de Ligt and Virgil van Dijk keeps the Americans off the scoresheet. England holds off a feisty Senegal team in extra time as supporters begin to believe a World Cup win is possible.

In the biggest match of the round, Spain outlasts Belgium with its younger, deeper roster. The fresh legs are the difference as Pedri and Gavi emerge as the brightest young stars in world football.

Quarterfinals

Netherlands def. Argentina

Brazil def. Germany

France def. England

Portugal def. Spain

It's not coming home for England as its run ends in the quarterfinal. Manager Gareth Southgate can't figure out the best lineup to score, and France takes advantage with an Mbappé winner to reach the semifinals.

Portugal upsets Spain in the other all-European battle, but it's not because of Ronaldo. While everyone talks about the Manchester United man, it's Manchester City stars Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva who key the victory with their outstanding passing against the questionable Spain defense.

Brazil continues its scoring run against Germany, with Neymar helping the team finally avenge its embarassing semifinal loss in the 2014 World Cup.

Messi can't join his PSG teammates in the semifinal, however, with the Netherlands' stout defense holding Argentina in check. Lautaro Martinez can't pick up the slack for his veteran teammates this late in the tournament.

Semifinals

Brazil def. Netherlands

Portugal def. France

France has what it takes to be the first team to repeat as World Cup champions since Brazil in 1962, but the midfield will be a major story with N'Golo Kanté and Paul Pogba sidelined by injuries. Forward Christopher Nkunku also suffered a knee injury in training, removing valuable depth with Benzema unavailable.

It catches up to the team eventually, and Portugal can take advantage with the attacking ability of Bruno Fernandes and Bernando Silva.

Ronaldo might not play the full 90 minutes, but the 37-year-old can still come through with one or two key plays to help his team advance.

Brazil ends the run from the Netherlands thanks to the attacking onslaught featuring Gabriel Jesus, Vinicius Junior, Raphina and plenty more.

Final

Brazil def. Portugal

There are a lot of talented teams in this event, but no one can match Brazil in depth at nearly every position.

Neymar, Casemiro, Thiago Silva and Marquinhos have experience playing in the biggest matches in the world, while younger players such as Gabriel Jesus, Vinicius Junior, Richarlison and Antony can rotate and emerge as stars on the biggest stage.

With proven players everywhere on the pitch and a true leader in Alisson in goal, there are simply no holes.

After going unbeaten in CONMEBOL qualifying, Brazil will continue to cruise at the World Cup and win its sixth title.